Billionaire Bad Boy, Broken Underneath

Chapter 10

Carissa's POV

It's the weekend and I decide to visit my best friend, Rachael. It's been a while we saw each other so we have lots of catching up to do. We opt to hang out at her apartment instead of going to our usual spot at a cozy cafe downtown. I don't feel like cooking today so I grab lunch and some cheese cake for dessert on my way to her house.

I arrive just in time and ring the door bell. It opens in seconds with a very giddy Rachael smiling from ear to ear. She grabs my hand and pulls me into a bear hug.

“Girl, I've missed you so much, I'm gonna scream. It's been what? 5 years since we last saw each other?” she deliberates jokingly.

“Oh please. Stop exaggerating. I saw you two weeks ago” I say as I move past her into the small living room, items in hand. I drop them on the coffee table and Rachael takes the cheesecake to the kitchen. She puts it in her fridge for later.

“Now, tell me everything that has been going on in your life. It's been ages” she slums beside me on the comfy sofa and I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

“I should be asking you that question. You know my life is no where as eventful as yours” I grab an apple and bite into it.

“Nothing eventful has happened. I want to hear about you. How's the new job going? You know we haven't gotten to talk about it in detail. How’s your new boss and collegues like?” she turns down the volume of the T.V and tuns to me, getting into full on gist mode.

“Well, I don't particularly have colleagues at this job” I say, avoiding her eyes. Rachael is similar to Olivia in some ways. I know she wouldn't buy the idea of my present job situation.

“What do you mean? You can't be the only person working at this job, right?” she sends a skeptical look my way. I stay silent for a while. “Hold on. What's the nature of your job, Carissa?” she presses further

I take a deep breath and look at her. “I'm working as a private chef to a man in his home. It's a live-in job. But I get the weekends off” I wait for her outburst.

“What? You're living in the same house as people you don't know? What happened to being security conscious, Carissa?” she asks concerned.

“Well, except his housekeeper, Miss Michelle, it's just him living there. My boss, I mean” I study her face as she tries to take in the information.

“You mean to tell me you're living alone with a single man, in his house? Alone?” she emphasizes.

“Rachael, I know how this looks but it's nothing like that. My boss is hardly ever at home. I'm just there to cook his meals. You know I need this job. I told you about the mortgage. Time is not on our side. I can't watch my parents thrown out from their home” I explain

“I understand your point, Carissa, but you should be careful. I don't want you endangering your life in a bid to save your parent's house”

“My life is not threatened if that's your concern. Honestly, this job has been smooth so far so there really isn't anything to worry about. My parents don't know the nature of my job though. I just told them I got a second job. They don't even know I resigned from my job at the restaurant” I look down at my fingers.

“Of course they don't. You parents would never allow you take on this job. But you know lying to them is not right” she presses

“I know, and I feel awful about it but I don't have a choice. You know how Dad is about letting us help him out”

“So how do you want to go about settling the debt?” she asks

“I'll just pay it off first and then figure out a way to tell them. No matter how angry he would be at me, we'll still have our home to ourselves so…” I let out a deep breath.

“Girl, you better know what you're doing. I really hope this doesn't blow up in your face”

“Thanks for being supportive” I say, sacarsm dripping from my voice.

“What? I'm just telling the truth. You know I'll always keep it real with you” her face breaks into a small smile.

“Whatever”

“So, tell me about your new boss. What's he like?” The glint in her eyes tells me she's hoping for juicy details but unfortunately there's none to give. I have the most annoying, stuck up boss ever. What's there to tell?

“Asides him being annoying and stuck up 99 percent of the time, he's alright” I rise up and walk towards the kitchen to get cups. I had brought some leftover freshly squeezed juice from home. I find the cups and walk back to the living room, placing them on the table. Rachael grabs the juice and pours a substantial amount into both cups.

“You can't tell me he's just alright. Give me more details” she takes a sip of the juice and I do same.

“What's there to tell. I cook for him and he eats what I make. That's practically what we do around each other. I don't know anything about him asides his name” I place my glass on my laps, still holding onto it.

“What's his name?” she asks

“Ezra” I reply

“Girl, give me a surname. If you won't tell me about him, I'd find out myself” she grabs her MacBook from the table and opens it, going into detective mode.

“I think it's Ezra King” I say casually. She looks up at me abruptly with a questioning look.

“Ezra King?” she asks and I nod. “Well it had better not be who I'm thinking it is” she stypes away. After some seconds, she turns the device towards me and a picture of my boss takes up half the screen and what I'm guessing is his details on the other.

“Tell me this isn't your boss” she gives me a look.

“That's him” I take another sip from my glass

“What!?” Rachael yells and I almost choke on my drink.

“Why are you yelling? You almost made me choke” I wipe the corners of my mouth and give her a disapproving look.

“You’re living with Ezra King? The Ezra King? Are you insane?”

“What about it?” I really don't know why she's acting this way.

“This man eats women for breakfast. He goes through women faster than he drinks water. What the hell are you doing in his house?” she argues

“Ummm I work there” I give her a confused look. “And about the women, tell me about it” I roll my eyes. “It's crazy, I know, but it's none of my business. I'm only there to do my job”

“This is crazy and you know it. Not only is he promiscuous, he's drop dead gorgeous but you can't fall for that handsome face, Carissa” she states seriously and I almost laugh.

“So you agree that he's gorgeous?” I smile

“I mean, that fact is undeniable but that's not the point. I don't want you to get roped into his life. Men like him will only hurt you” she says in a softer tone.

“I get what you mean but you don't have to worry. That won't happen” I reassure her.

“Alright. Just be careful. So how's living in his mansion like?” she pries

“Girl, that house is huge and beautiful. I'm most excited about the kitchen appliances though. They're very efficient and they make my work easier, I couldn't ask for anything else” I smile

“Well, I'm glad you're okay at least”

We soon turn to the T.V to watch the movie she picked out for us. I spread out the Chinese food I brought on the coffee table as we get comfortable.