UNDAUNTED (One step at a time)

9

Jake was rather the best tour guide anyone would actually seek. He seemed to have it all figured out and within an hour, he had already show her all the places in the town where she could get technically all she needed. Claire had been learning all the routes and seen all the bus stops she needed to see. It would be pretty much easier for her to come out the next day on her own for job hunting. A couple of places they passed had what seemed like notice boards in front of them which Claire suspected were possible advertisements for an employee.

Jake took her now after a while to get the best place to get really good food and of course a quick meal. He explained to her over their meal that the place was a branch of the numerous branches of the same restaurant run by one of the most successful bachelors in the country. According to him, the guy himself used to be a chef and had studied out of the country. It was rumoured he studied some place like Italy although he was not certain. However he had come back and began establishing his branches all over the country.

"This one is his most recent branch yet although we are yet to see him. He has not visited this one." Jake said

"Are you talking about Tristan Jenkins?," Claire asked him

"Oh, you know him?," Jake asked

"He's my favourite celebrity. I watch him on television from time to time," she said dreamily

"Yeah, I get the feeling. The man has such an impact especially on our ladies with that look of his." Jake said.

It was true however. At twenty six, Tristan had accomplished quite a lot that would be considered too much for a man like him. His origin was not well known but he had started from the very scratch as a chef. Claire had seen him from time to time and somehow she had to confess that he inspired her when it comes to cooking. She learnt a lot from him and tried out the few she could afford on her own.

However, at some point he had suddenly gone missing from television and his show handled by one of his famous chefs. Claire had eventually given up on ever seeing that handsome face again. She wished to be in one of his restaurants someday and had not expected it to happen this way. She had Jake and his mother to thank for that and continued their meal in silence and all smiles. Towards the end of their meal, Jake's phone rang and he told her he needed to get something done at his place of work. The construction site which he worked at was not so far and he might have to come back. Claire of course asked him not to sweat about it, she still had a lot of sightseeing to do.

He sighed and told her to give him her number then so he could call her just in case she lost her way. Claire's look changed for a sad one. She told him she had no phone and he was shocked at that bit. He asked how she gets on with social media and Claire told him she never had any social media account before. He was rather shocked but tried his best not to show it. He patted her back and began explaining to her the nearest bus stop home.

Claire laughed and told him not to worry about her. She was a grown woman and would definitely find her way home. He smiled at her and asked her to remember his mother's offer for a meal with them. She nodded and watched as he walked away to his car. She was about leaving the restaurant when a woman angrily walked out of the restaurant. It was one of the workers and she seemed rather pissed. A young man was about running after her when the head stopped him. He asked him to let her go as she would return when she cools off. Claire sighed, obviously their own issues. She on the other hand had things to do to keep her mind sane.

She took a walk around and found the grocery store where she entered to buy a couple of necessities. Of course she left a couple of bucks which she hoped she would have to use pending when she gets a job. On her way out, she discovered that the grocery store was hiring. Claire was excited and she went back inside to ask the store keeper about it. The man asked her if she had all the requirements ready.

"What requirements?," Claire asked

"Didn't you see it, it's on the board there," he said to her

"Oh I'm sorry, I was rather very excited that I did not stop to read." she said trying to hide her fears.

The man commended her for having the right attitude an employee was supposed to have. He went on to tell her to come over the next day with her credentials which happened to be those she did not have. She had to go along with her pretext and then walked away blaming herself for being such a dummy. Claire asked herself what it was she had been thinking when she saw the other words written underneath the advert.

She walked for a while to the bus stop and found a bus home. She dropped off and began strolling home when she saw the park not so far from her home. Claire smiled inwardly, perhaps someday when she was really down in spirit, she would come out there to hang around. The place felt really peaceful and calm. A good place to ease her weary spirit, she thought.

She got home and walked inside expectantly. Claire had seen the familiar car from the morning parked outside and turned to ask Martha if her father was home. The woman nodded that he was in his study and just when Claire might have called out to him, she stood her. Claire could not understand her reason for that action.

"What is it Martha?," she asked her

"Well, he did say that he would not be disturbed no matter what." she said sadly.

The girl thought for a while and flashed the woman a smile before going straight to her room as quietly as she could. She got the drill, she was a nuisance. She was in her biological father's home yet she could not help but feel like a total stranger just passing through.