Cassius, as she'd come to learn that he was called, had carefully placed the drinks in the back of the car and ushered her into the passenger seat before taking his seat beside her.
Her initial evaluation of him had been proven right. He was a very sweet guy, despite the way he looked.He'd insisted on carrying all the drinks himself, a gesture she appreciated for two. One, it was very gentlemanly of him. Her second reason was not very ladylike.She and all the other ladies in the cafe had spent the short few minutes it took him to ferry the boxes of drink to the car drooling after him with their eyes.He was definitely aware of the effect he had on them. She caught a slight smile on his face on one of the trips.Now she was locked into a tight space with this force of a man. Even though the air conditioner was on, she felt hot. The heat was coming from his body and pressing over her. She cleared her throat and discreetly fanned herself.He looked over at her and grinned. Yup, he definitely knew the effect he had.She looked for something to say--anything. "So...where are we going?""To the office.""That man's office? The one who placed the order for the drinks?""Yup." Cassius certainly wasn't a man of many words."Who is he?""My boss."She was starting to get the idea that she wouldn't get much out of this man. She needed to change her tactics. "Your boss is kind of an a*s."Cassius burst into laughter. He shook his head. "Don't let him hear you say that.""You didn't deny it. You agree."Cassius smiled. "He's cool.""Assh*les can be cool too."He paused to think about it. He grinned. "I suppose so.""Do you know what he wants with me?""Yes."She hadn't been expecting that. She turned to him sharply, the seat belt straining with the effort. "Are you going to tell me?""Nope.""Why not!?""He can tell you himself.""But--""Look," he pointed out the window on her side. "We're here. You'll find out yourself soon enough.""Holy sh*t--" She couldn't help herself. The words fell out before she could hold them in. She glanced at him. "Sorry.""It's cool. I've been known to swear a bit myself." He winked at her."Err..." She cleared her throat and looked away from him. This man was too sexy for his own good. "This is that man's office?" She looked up at the building, a glass skyscraper that reached so far up that she had to crane her neck back to see the top."Yup.""Like, he owns the building?""Yes.""That is insane. How rich is he?""A lot richer than me?"Faith rolled her eyes at the intended joke. "Oh Lord, what could someone who owns a building like this want with me?""Let's go find out, shall we?"They stepped out of the vehicle just as another man in a crisp white uniform came rushing up. Cassius handed him the keys. He bowed and made to enter the car.Cassius held up a hand to stop him. "Hold on. I need to get some things out of the car." He pulled out his phone and dialled a number. A few short words later, the phone was tucked back into his pocket.Before long, three women rushed out of the building to them. "Good afternoon, sir.""Good afternoon. There are some drinks in the back of the car. Get them out and put them in the Tea rooms, will you?""Okay, sir." They rushed to get the drinks."Okay, let's go." Cassius led her to the revolving doors and into the building."How many tea rooms are in this building?" She asked."There's probably one on each floor.""How many floors are there?""Just 10.""10!? There won't be enough drinks to go around!"Cassius laughed. "That's what you're worried about? You're an interesting little lady, Miss Faith.""Just Faith is fine.""Okay." That was his only answer.He led her to an elevator where five people, obviously employees, were already waiting.They chorused, "Good morning, Mr Casius.""Morning."They all got in together. He planted his feet slightly apart and folded his arms. His clothes bunched up, straining against his muscles and shirt.Faith unconsciously shifted, positioning herself to see him better. She noticed the other women in the elevator do the same, while the men hung back, away from him.The elevator made a few stops along the way. Eventually, they were the only ones left in the elevator as they rode to the very top.She was both disappointed and relieved when the elevator eventually stopped and the door slid open.Cassius stepped out first and signalled to her to follow him. They walked through a small passageway before bursting out into a big office.At one end of the office, there was a sofa and table. The table held a jar filled with sweets. A huge television was hung up in front of it.On the other end of the room, there was a table and chair set up. A single woman sat at the table. She was older than Faith.She seemed to be about 25. She was gorgeous, a smack-bomb redhead. Her luscious mane was draped over one shoulder. Her makeup was flawless.She tapped away at a keyboard with perfectly manicured hands."Hey there, Cassius," she said in a voice that was unconsciously sultry. "What do we have here?" She looked Faith over."Who." Faith corrected."A feisty one, isn't she?"Faith frowned. She didn't like being spoken about like she wasn't standing right there."Tell the boss I brought the girl."She nodded and disappeared through a door close to her desk. Faith watched her go. The woman was stunning. She was dressed in a white shirt and a tiny black skirt that hugged her curves tightly.It was impossible not to watch her sway as she walked, her red shoes click-clacking against the floor.It wasn't long before she reappeared. "The boss will see you in fifteen minutes.""Fifteen minutes? Why can't he see me now? I've got things to do."The woman gave Faith a look. "The boss is a really busy man." She returned to her desk without sparing Faith another look."Calm down. The time will be up before you know it. Come, let's sit over here." Faith fumed but allowed Clacius to lead her over to the sofa she'd spotted earlier. They sat.He reached into the glass bowl and grabbed a handful of sweets. "Want some?""Might as well." Faith snagged one from him and popped it into her mouth. She folded her arms and glared at the television.Calcius was right. The time really did fly past. Before she knew it, she was told to go in.Faith cleared her throat. "Are you coming in with me?" Somehow, she'd come to see Calcius as an ally despite the man not saying more than 50 words in total to her so far."Don't see why not." He hopped to his feet. "I was getting bored out here anyway."They went through the same door the woman used earlier into an office that was easily two times the size of the one they just exited.The man she'd met earlier was seated behind a huge glass table which seemed to double as some sort of device screen he was operating. He looked up at them and steepled his hands under his chain."Well, Hello again," he said."Delivered her safe and sound boss." Calcius casually walked up to the screen desk and dropped into one of the chairs facing the man."Good job." His voice dripped with sarcasm. Calcius didn't respond. He simply pulled out his phone and typed away. So much for the camaraderie she was expecting."I figured you'd come after all." He said with a smirk.Faith huffed and folded her arms. What could she say to that?"I take it you don't think I'm a kidnapper or rapist anymore then."Cassius snorted. The man eyed him. Calcius didn't look up from the screen."How would I know?" Faith scowled at him."So let me get this straight, you still aren't sure that I'm not a kidnapper or rapist yet you came all the same?"Again, she didn't answer."You're more interesting than I thought.""You didn't give me much of a choice! My manager was going to fire me, remember?""So?""So!? So!? I need that job, you assh*me."He seemed taken aback by her outburst. "Why not just quit?"Faith shut her eyes and cla
Faith was on cloud nine. She practically floated back to her hostel. Honestly, she wasn't entirely sure how she got there. All she knew was that she'd entered a cab and was dropped off at the University gate. Her body hadn't even registered the walk to her hostel.She walked the Halls of the hostel blankly. This time, she didn't stop to think about the fact that a single room here was more luxurious than her entire house back home.When her parents and siblings drove down to drop her off at the start of the semester, she could tell that they were all exceedingly jealous of her even if they didn't say it. She didn't blame them for it.She'd felt guilty and awkward standing in front of them, knowing that she would now live here with the rich people she'd so desperately wished she were a part of from childhood while they would have to go back to their shabby home. She was officially the one that made it out. She felt guilty about that. The least she could do was finish well, get a good
"You know him?" Faith asked with surprise. She looked over at Adele who was also gaping at her."Who doesn't know him?" Sheila shook her head at Faith. "Girl, have you been living under a rock?""No, just living under a lot of work."Sheila rolled her eyes but didn't make any comment about that. "He is one of the richest, most successful people in the country.""It's true. He owns a tech company." Adele chipped in. "I can't believe you don't know him. He's always in magazines. He was voted most eligible bachelor by the Star Magazine last year.""So he's like a big deal?""The biggest deal. I can't believe that he's schooling here and no one knew till now. They really worked hard to keep it out of the media." Sheila shook her head."You seem to know him quite well.""More like I know of him. My father does some business with him so I've met him a few times. Nothing deep."Faith gulped. If her super-rich friends were acting so wonderstruck, just how important was this Devlin character.
"This is Devlin. Here's my direct line. See you at 6 on Monday for our first session. Address attached."That was the content of the message that had turned her stomach to a sludge pudge for the past four days.From the moment she read the message, she was filled with apprehension. At first, she didn't understand why. After all, this was not her first rodeo. She'd tutored all through high school for the extra bucks.But this time, the stakes were higher. She wasn't tutoring for a few bucks anymore. This job was now her lifeline especially since she dramatically quit two of her jobs over the past few days.She recalled her encounter with Anthony the manager just two days before. She'd come in to work as she was scheduled and gone in the back to inform him that she wouldn't be working there any longer.He did not take that information well. "You can't quit now! Where do you expect me to get a replacement? The session is already underway.""Perhaps you should look in the same place you
"Want a ride?" Devlin's devilish face smiled at her from the comfort of a black BMV Convertible with the top down.Why was he laughing? What was there to laugh about? Frustrated and angry, the tears burst out from Faith in torrents."Are you crying?" Devlin asked in disbelief. He stepped out of his car and hurried up to her. "What's wrong?""What's wrong?" She repeated. "What is wrong is that I've been walking through this massive graveyard of an estate for thirty minutes."The words were coming out in torrents. "The guard wouldn't let the cab in which you could have told me ahead. He sent me into this maze with no directions. Nothing! Devlin stood quietly, letting her vent. "All I have is your stupid house number, 387A. But the numbering here is insane! Why would 157A be right next to 226A? And WHY IN THE WORLD would it be opposite 228B!" She finished her rant, breathing heavily.Realizing that she was done, Devlin finally spoke. "I'm sorry. It's my fault. I didn't even think of th
Devlin gave her a confused look. "Fired? Why would I fire you?""I d-didn't arrive on time. You said we should meet by six but it's almost seven now.""I don't see how that's your fault. Isn't that what you were yelling at me earlier? That's it's all my fault?" He grinned at how flustered she became as she remembered yelling. "Why would I fire you for something that's my fault?"She didn't have any answer to that. She groped around her mind for what was appropriate to say. She finally settled for, "Thank you." "Yeah, whatever. I know I'm awesome."Faith rolled her eyes and turned to enter the bathroom. There was no way she would sit there tutoring him looking like a homeless racoon.Before she closed the door behind her, she held his eyes, "And I absolutely don't have any mucus on my face." She slammed the door shut in his face.The sound of Devlin's laughter filtered through the thick door. Faith stood before the mirror and checked herself out. She looked horrid. Her eyes were swoll
Faith prepared herself to grab the steering wheel. She would rather die than be kidnapped for whatever evil purposes a CEO would kidnap a person for.Her mind moved rapidly, reminding her of every bit of alarming information she'd heard on the news; from sex rings to strange rituals. She would do down swinging, and take the bastard with her.Devlin glanced at Faith. He must have seen the mad glint in her eyes because he finally deigned to say something. "Calm down, will you? I'm just taking you to your d*amned hostel."It took a moment for his words to register in Faith's half-crazed brain. "What?" She said slowly. "Why would you do that?""Because I'm a gentleman?" He scoffed.Faith responded with a scoff of her own. Gentleman, indeed. If he were a gentleman, then she was the pope."Doesn't seem right to leave you to make your way back this late when I can just drive you home." Faith squinted at him suspiciously. What did that mean? That he was trying to be nice. She don't think he
Faith traipsed self-consciously to her morning lecture. The events of the past few days had set her on edge.As predicted by Sheila, she'd quickly become the talk of the campus. She'd also appeared in several tabloids and YouTube videos.Granted, she'd always dreamed of being famous but not in this way. Rather than being known for her brain and dedication, she was now wildly known for being Devlin Bank's potential love interest.She couldn't go anywhere on campus without people looking at her, pointing at her and whispering about her. Going out of her room at all had become a serious problem.Just to attend her lectures today, she'd donned a face cap pulled down over her eyes and a nose mask to mask her identity.It was surprisingly effective. Sure, some people gave her an odd look or two but they didn't stop to stare and whisper.That very unfortunate night that Devlin drove her back, she'd gotten a text from a reporter at StarTimes requesting a sit-down with her. That very night!De