Her Dragon Lover

Ara sat on the plastic chair. It was not the most comfortable chair. She was still and motionless. Her mind was busy imagining a large body of water. A lagoon, to be exact. 'Two more years of saving money and I will be able to buy that piece of land!' she told herself dreamily. 'I'll buy a tiny house and--' "Hey, Ara!" Jo waved a paper in front of Ara's face. Ara blinked. "What?" "I was talking to you but you didn't respond. Aren't you feeling well?" Jo asked in concern. "Um, yes. I'm fine. Why?" "Oh, well, I was asking you if you could pay in advance this month. I splurged a bit on my last date. Our rent will be due next week so..." "I'll transfer the money tonight," Ara promised calmly. Jo was her landlady and friend. She rented the closet-turned-bedroom in the apartment. Ara was grateful because Jo had offered her a space to live when she was just newly graduate, four years ago. They met while applying for work. They had become friends when they were both accepted. Ara and Jo were both products of broken families. Ara had been able to go to school because of an educational insurance that her father had bought for her. "When you finished college, I'm done with you!" Her father said coldly during the one time Ara met him at a restaurant. Aragon Gray was a businessman with a roving eye. He was collecting wives and discarding them when they had kids. He had eighteen female children and a son. Maybe, he would stop accumulating women now that he had a boy child. Ara was hurt because no one seemed to love her. Winnie, her mother, had no love for her. She had a family with three sons. Dencio, her stepfather, always looked at her maliciously. "Your father sent you money every month. You should send me money, too!" Winnie always asked for money. Ara had arranged a scheduled monthly transfer of money to her mother's bank account. She changed her cellphone number, then she forgot about her disappointing parents. It had been nine years since Ara saw both her father and her mother. It was a lonely existence but she survived. "You must be wondering what I have seen in Onin," Jo continued her chatting with Ara. "He is a great lover! Literally! Look at how huge his feet are!" "I'm not wondering," Ara said lamely. She could not understand what Jo meant. "Of course, you're a virgin! Oh, are you a virgin? At twenty-five?" Jo could be vulgar! "Jo! Change the topic, please!" Ara did not know what should be her reaction. "Ara, don't be embarrassed." Jo had malice in her voice. "Men don't like to play with virgins. They're messy and tricky, y'know." She lighted a cigarette as she talked. "No smoking in my waiting area, please!" a middle-aged woman shouted. "Go to the smoking area, you two!" "I don't smoke, ma'am." Ara showed both her hands and shook her head. "Jo does." "Okay, you remain while 'Jo' go out!" The matronly woman marched towards them. "Okay, okay, I'm out!" Jo grumbled with irritation. The accumulation of advances to Ara's rent payment was enough to pay a room for herself. Jo was abusing her gratitude. Maybe, it was time for Ara to find a place in the real estate market. She noticed the other people who looked at her as though she was peculiar. She was not ashamed because she was inexperienced with men. She had no desire to have a relationship for now. All her energies were focused on working hard and saving the bulk of her earnings. Ara continued her daydreaming. *     *     * Emyr Viceroy was walking by the door of his personal assistant's office when he heard a woman's shrill voice uttered the word, 'virgin.' 'Virgin!' his dragon-self repeated. He stopped and glanced at the calm woman. She was the center of attention by her fellow applicants. She was not proud nor ashamed of her virginity. It was just a fact. 'I want her,' he decided assertively. Emyr entered his opulent office and pulled out his cellphone. "Mrs. Dean, kindly bring the personal file of applicant number eleven." "Okay, sir," the matronly woman replied. "Ara Gray. Twenty-five years old. Graduate of Computer Science." Emyr read aloud. He closed his eyes and relived the woman in his mind. Ara Gray was not a beauty but she had an appeal that called out to him. To his inner dragon self. It was a long time since he shifted to water dragon form. He had a desire to change back to his original shape and to rejoice... for what? Would he finally get the mysterious 'gem?' Emyr could not resist the seductive thought. He was getting excited but he should curb his growing enthusiasm. Emyr got up and walked out of his office. He wanted to see the woman once again! 'There she is!' Ara Gray was being interviewed by Mrs. Dean. The older woman was looking for her temporary substitute. She was needed by her husband, who had an accident and fractured his ankle. Mrs. Dean knew that Ara Gray should join the short list. Her boss had asked for the personal file. She saw Sir Emyr peeping by the door of her office. She smiled to herself because he seemed interested on Ara Gray! Sir Emyr was picky when it came to women. In her ten years as his personal assistant, her boss had not paid attention to a woman. Sometimes, she thought her boss was gay. 'Will see Ara Gray last,' Emyr texted the message. Mrs. Dean scrutinized the woman before her. She peered at the heart-shaped face closely. Ara Gray had a mysterious aura. "How old are you, Miss Gray?" "Twenty-five, ma'am." "Why did you apply for the post?" "For experience, ma'am." "If you were chosen, you will be personal assistant for Mr. Viceroy. You keep in mind that this is just temporary." "Yes, ma'am," Ara replied in a reserved manner. 'She will pass!' Mrs. Dean assessed the young woman in front of her as someone who seldom lost control of herself in a situation.