Billionaires PA

Strong People Need Help too

  There was nothing spectacular about the next day. Except it was Thursday meaning one more day until the weekend. I was ready for a break from this place and to get my first paycheck. I was beyond excited to get paid. I was going to be able to spread my money out in order to pay some bills I was behind on and work myself out of debt with my land lady. 

The day went by relatively fast. Jace was bound to his phone for most of the day and I to mine. I did not understand people who could work overtime constantly. Not only was it exhausting physically but mentally. I always started at an all-time high being extremely friendly and by the end of the day I wanted to fight everyone.

    It was not as if I was judging people who did but it was not for me. I am sure their paychecks showed the fruits of their labor. Caffeine was my friend and I did not care what form it took. I drank energy drinks, coffee, and caffeine patches from the break room, but nothing could get rid of my feeling to long for sleep. I did enjoy the flavor of coffee and energy drinks, so it did not seem to be a chore. The patch I would not waste my time again with. The energy drinks were my favorite! I was happy to find these things were free of charge to employees as well as a variety of other items in the building. Such as feminine care products, this made me proud on many levels.

    Many places charge but it is a necessity! It made no sense to me. Just because I was born to a certain gender group which I did not get to choose I was forced to buy products every month to care for it. I do not understand the logic on these things.

    The day was full of task to be done. I had stacks of documents I needed to approve as well as get Jace to approve them and sign some of his own. Appointment setting, responding to emails and voicemails, answering calls, planning the next day in detail and prepping for next week. I could handle it, but it was a lot to do.

    At the end of my shift I punched out and made my way out of the building to catch the next bus home.

    I arrived home around seven pm. I was beyond exhausted and ready to burrow my face deep within my pillow after a steaming hot shower. I needed to relax as much as possible to make it through tomorrow. It was my first week but because I was self-sufficient, I continuously took on more work. Eventually I would have to do the task regardless. I felt the sooner I was able to learn the better I would be at the task. It takes time to get in the groove of a new job.

    I started my shower ignoring the sound of my phone ringing in the background. I removed my clothes and stepped into the shower allowing the water to relax my muscles. I washed my hair and body before staying beneath the shower head letting the water cascade down my body. The sound of a pounding disrupted my peaceful state. Waiting for moment to see if the noise subsided, I turned the water off to investigate when it did not. I pulled the towel from its rack wrapping it around my body as I walked to the door my hair soaked the ground as I walked.

    I unlocked the dead bolt leaving the chain. Only one person came banging on my door ever… My landlord.

“I will have your money Sunday Ms. Chan”, I started as the door cracked open.

“Who do you owe money?”, I looked at Jace.

“What are you doing here? I clutched my towel tighter to my chest.

“You left quickly I wanted to make sure you got home safe and ate”, my stomach growled as soon as he mentioned food.

“I am and I will”, I responded.

“Let me in I brought food”, He held up the bag of food in his right hand I failed to notice before.

“Uhm”, I looked back into my simple apartment it was nothing compared to his house, “I don’t think that is a great idea”

“Are you really going to make me leave after coming all the way here and buying dinner for two?”

“I didn’t ask you to do that”, I seethed.

“You didn’t answer your phone either”, He countered.

“That does not give you permission to show up to my home without invitation or warning”, I crossed my arms while rolling my neck.

“Please”, his voice softened, “I would really like to have dinner with you tonight, I will leave as soon as we finish eating”, I thought about it surprised he asked instead of demanded or forced.

    This was the only reason I was contemplating letting him in. I was in no mood to be ordered about in my own home. I wanted to relax and get away from the work environment. I figured his personality was assertive but clearly he had the ability to be nice.

    I nodded my head before putting up a finger to tell him to wait. I left the door cracked with the chain on to signal I would be back before going to my room to get dressed. I dried my body and hair before moisturizing them and getting dressed. I decided on a simple oversize shirt and a pair of shorts. I ran to the kitchen grabbing the mop to get the water I trailed off the floor before stuffing all my misplaced items into various unseen places in the apartment. Under the couch, back to the rooms closet, in the linen closet I quickly shuffled around. I did not have people over. My unfolded clean clothes were littered around the apartment with the dirty ones. A sniff test would confirm in the end. After this I would need to sort my clothes from each other and put them where they belonged. I lived in organized chaos. I knew where everything was even in its chaotic state.

     I took a final glance around the apartment taking the time to try and catch my breathe. I did not want it to seem as if I was running around like a headless chicken before letting him in. I was but it was none of his business. I closed the door a slight bit to remove the chain. I opened the door to let Jace in. Closing and locking the door behind him I pulled my hair into a messy bun taking a seat on my couch. I was a bit flustered knowing he would be assessing my home and judging it while he was here. As he wordlessly placed the bag on the table, I started to untie it causing my stomach to sound off another war cry. I was beyond starving at this point in the day. It took three days to make new habits and I was accustomed to eating all meals in the day or at least lunch and dinner.

    I pulled the contents of the bag out hyper aware that Jace was still looking around my dim lit apartment. I silently prayed I did not leave any underwear or bras lying about in the living room. I did not own a kitchen table, I ate most meals in bed standing in the kitchen, or on the couch. There was no TV for entertainment just books from goodwill and other secondhand stores. Along with the couch the living room contained a bookshelf filled with cheap yet good reads, a coffee table, coat rack and few random photos also from goodwill or salvation army.

“Are you going to sit?”, I pulled the last dish out initiating conversation.

“Yes”, he sat beside me our knees unnecessarily touching.

“OK”, I grabbed one of the containers, happy to find Chinese food within.

    I opted for a fork not sure how to use chop sticks.

“That goes against the experience”, Jace spoke as I stuffed more than a mouthful of food in my mouth.

    So attractive, I know. I groaned leaning my head back as I chewed the food in my mouth. I leaned forward stuffing more food in mouth. I pulled my legs on the couch criss-cross. I looked at him confused to what he was referring to.

“What are you talking about?”, I inwardly cringe after realizing what I must look like talking with a full mouth. “Sorry” I apologized swallowing my food.

    He smiled not seeming bothered, “No enjoy your food but I mean to use a fork instead of chopsticks”

“Ohh, no I can’t use those”, I took another bite of food pointing to him and the box. I did not want to sit here with him watching me eat. I was also ready to sleep.

    He picked up his box opening it, he used chopsticks skillfully to eat his food. I shrugged unbothered by his judgement on my eating methods. Continuing to eat I ate almost all the food on the plate. I honestly did not know how hungry I was until he mentioned food. My body was extremely happy with the food and was starting to succumb to sleep. I held my fork in one hand and my plate in the other taking a moment to close my eyes and regroup.

    I was grateful for the food and company. We ate in a comfortable silence which I was grateful for. It was enough to have to talk all day. I enjoyed the peaceful silence but reassurance and comfort his presence brought. I had never experience it before. He was a decent person after getting to know him a bit better, but I knew firsthand the front people could put on if they wanted something. What did he want? This thought brought me back to reality.

    I opened my eyes to find the fork and container no longer in my hands or line of sight. I looked to the left and Jace was still here, currently looking at me in a weird manor.

“How long was I asleep?”, I yawned stretching.

“30 minutes or so”, his jaw was hard as if he was annoyed.

“You should have woken me up”, I sat up ready to stand.

“Its ok I know today was a long day”, I nodded in agreeance, “Why didn’t you ask for help?”

“What are you talking about?”, I was genuinely confused. I did not sleep that long …

“I put the food in your kitchen, you don’t have any food”

“Oh that… I am fine we get paid this weekend its not a big deal”, I stood my bones cracked in the process.

“I am not just your boss; I am here to help”

“And again, I appreciate it, but I would rather buy my own things or find my own way to make ends meet”

“Why are you so prideful you cannot accept help?”, he stood voice as well rising a bit.

“Because I do not need your help”, I sighed too tired for this “I am truly fine, I may be struggling but I am strong, and I always make it work… You’re simply catching me at a bad time”. This was true I did not always struggle sometimes it was just tight living paycheck to paycheck.

“I am not calling you weak, even strong people need support or help sometimes Ryan”, he stepped closer to me.

“Well I do not need your help. I will do my job and buy what I need with the money I have earned”, I rolled my eyes, my irritability levels were rising quickly.

“This is not up for discussion”, another step and with each advance my heart beat sped up, “This goes for all my employees if anyone in my company needs addition assistance I help not for a tax write off but because my employees are important to me and I want them to have the best conditions they can”.

“Okay then focus all of this on an employee who need it”, I threw my hands in the air.

“You may not think you need it, but I know you deserve it”.

“Jace you barely know me”, I sucked my teeth.

“I know enough”, he smirked.

“Enough to what”

    He took his final step pulling my flush to him with his lips on mine.