Next To You

Chapter 4

"I remember you on the bus. Are you that clumsy?" He was being nice until he remembered that day. "I'll get a bandaid" he stood up and walked into the kitchen. "Rose, you can go. I'll take care of this."

Rose gave me an evil look, then left. "I'm sorry." I apologized to the CEO. He walked over to me and put a bandaid on my finger. "Go, get back to work, I'll have someone clean this up." We both walked into the hall. "Sorry about the bus incident. I'm also sorry about the vase", I kept apologizing. I didn't know what to do. He smiled at me, put his hand on my shoulder. "It's okay"...I sighed in relief. "Really?" I asked in surprise. "Yes, because it's all coming out of your pay. You might need a second job, that vase is pretty expensive." he added. I gasped. "What?" He gave me a stern look."Get back to work," he ordered, then he rushed off. I clenched my fists. "Arrogant jerk", I muttered. I went back to work with an attitude. This lousy job.. I thought, I already hated it. Well not exactly, this man they call CEO, I didn't even know his name.

It was lunch break and I was starving. I checked my phone to see if there was any news about Beth's husband. Nothing. I had only enough money to buy coffee and I wasn't able to leave for a lunch break. I'm so hungry, I thought to myself. I'll eat when I get back to the coffee shop. I was missing it already. Maybe I should reconsider working here. I sighed and laid my head down on the table.. I looked up and a few tables down I saw him. How was I so unlucky today? I was too weak and hungry to move to another table. A girl walked over to the CEO and whispered. He said something back and she walked away. Wife maybe? Mistress? Just wondering.. the man was mysterious. A few minutes later the same girl brought me a plate of food. "Hello, I'm Mina, Mr.Park thought you might be hungry." She set the plate of food gently in front of me. " I don't have any money," I told her. "It's already paid for."She smiled. "Enjoy" she said and walked away. I looked over to see him and he was gone. Food, that's enough to win my heart, Mr.Park.I was puzzled, but are anyways. I had to hurry, lunch break was about over and I didn't want Miss evil Rose to yell at me.

Thank goodness the day was about to be over. I was so tired and I didn't hear from Beth. It was almost 6 pm. My shift ended soon. I rushed and cleaned the last room. It took me awhile to clean it. It was a huge mess. I found toys and put them in the lost and found. I went to my locker and changed my clothes, I was about to leave when I noticed it storming. I didn't drive, so I had to walk. I decided to wait it out awhile and fell asleep in the lobby. I woke up about 8 pm and it was still storming. It was worse than before. I had to get to the coffee shop. I walked outside and saw a lot of lightning, I didn't stop, I kept walking until I heard a voice. "Get in, I'll take you home." It was Mina. I got in her car and I told her I had to go to Coffee Haven but didn't say why. "We're here." She smiled. "Thank you so much for the ride. Do you want to come in for coffee and donuts?" I asked her as I was getting out. "Sure" Mina agreed and walked in. I quickly explained my situation. I told her I was worried about Beth's husband. Mina told me about the CEO, Zayne Park. His name was nice, but he was strange. "Mr.Park is a good guy. This is the first time he bought someone lunch, he usually doesn't do that." She went on about how his family and him weren't that close. "His dad is mean and his mom died at a young age. He really doesn't have anyone. Also, beware of Rose, she has a mad crush on him. He's not interested in her at all." she explained. "What about you?" I asked. "No , I'm happily married. Mr.Park and my husband play golf together." she smiled and told me she had to go home and make dinner for her husband. We had a good chat, Mina left and I called Beth. "Hello" Beth answered. She sound as if she been crying. "Beth? What's wrong? She was sobbing heavily. "My husband has stage 4 cancer" she explained. "I can't run the coffee shop for awhile." I offered to help. "Are you sure?" she sniffled. "I can juggle the the hotel and the coffee shop" I assured. "Okay, keep me up to date. I appreciate this Camille." After I was done talking to Beth, I hopped in the shower. I made a cup of cinnamon tea and stared at the hotel. I wonder if he was still there. Mina said he works late often, he orders food all the time. Wait, I had an idea. I decided to take him coffee and pastries. I had to kiss up so he could shorten what I owed for the vase. I boxed up 12 cookies and 12 donuts and put some coffee in a thermos. I wasn't sure if he would care or maybe he would be angry. It was worth a try. It stopped storming, so I was able to walk there.