Chapter 4
1218 Words
Charlie.
I got to work twenty minutes early, another new personal record. My timeliness earned me a raised eyebrow from the lady at the front desk again. I wondered what time the lady at the front desk came to work. She was omnipresent. And I’d have to find out what her name was one of these days. I couldn’t keep on calling her ‘lady at the front desk'. It was a mouthful.
I was in a black pencil skirt and an elbow sleeved boat neck top. I was wearing my favorite manolos. They weren’t my favorite last week though. They’d become my favorite after Mr. Castarr had said he liked them. I was oddly disappointed that I wouldn’t be seeing him today.
On my desk was a small box. I picked it up and opened it. There was a beautiful gilded fountain pen inside. Beside the box was a single red rose. There was no name or card. I grinned. Mr. Castarr was such a charmer.
“He digs you Char." Saint said after work when I told him about my unique gift.
I rolled my eyes “nobody ever says digs saint.”
Saint shrugged and pushed the trolley along the isle. A blonde woman nearby winked at him. I rolled my eyes again. At this rate, my eye sockets were going to fall out. Saint was good looking, tall and lean muscled, broad shoulders and a shaggy blonde gold mane . And the brown-green eyes and thick lashes that made him look all dark and brooding.
He had definitely gotten all the good genes in the family while I was stuck with the untamable red hair.
Many girls must have been really heart broken when they found out he played for the other team.
Saint raised a brow when I threw in two large tubs of ice cream “how do you eat so much and stay slim?”
“Genes. I got mum’s slimness and I go gyming every Sunday” I said, “want to come with?”
“No thanks”
“You are still brooding? I never knew you were such a softie.”
“I’m not a softie. For years I’ve been doing everything with Sean. Doing stuff without him now, feels weird.”
I wondered if I’d ever get heartbroken. When my first and last boyfriend had broken up with me, I had just shrugged and carried on like nothing had happened.
“What are you thinking about?” Saint asked “your brows are all bunched up”
“I’m wondering what heart break feels like”
He stared at me in surprise “you’ve never been heartbroken before.”
“No” I said, “I haven’t dated anybody since I was a junior.”
“You haven’t dated anybody since Ben … But you are – hot. What’s up with that?”
“Jesus. Boys are so single minded. Not all hot girls get boyfriends.”
“I’m sure you can have anybody you want.”
I gave my brother a look. “I don’t know. Guys look at me, take in all the physical aspects of me and think about having s*x with me. I guess it never really bothered me till El and Di found love. I don’t know one guy that has wanted to know me or even cared about me. They look at me and see arm candy or a brainless twit. When I say I’m an architect, they grin like I’ve cracked a joke. I’m a f*****g professional and I’m damn good at my job and that’s why I get promotions and a larger salary not because I’m sleeping with the CEO or whatever.”
“You know, char, I’m actually guilty of thinking you were shallow” he said sheepishly.
I whirled at him with narrowed eyes “really?"
“You look like a college student, and you could be a Victoria secret model if you wanted. It’s a general stereotype. Nobody will look at you and believe you are a nearly thirty-year-old professional.”
I grumbled.
“Face it Char. You are too beautiful for your own good.”
I groaned. “So why do you think Mr. Castarr digs me?”
It was the saint’s turn to groan. “You are never going to let me live that down, are you?”
“Never, ever, ever”
By noon on Sunday, I and saint were making lunch when my phone began to ring in my pocket. I wiped my hands with the kitchen cloth and picked the unknown caller’s call.
“Hey”
“Hello Miss Wether”
My breath caught in my throat. "Mr. Castarr?”
“Erick, please. You can call me Erick."
“Is there a problem?” I asked worriedly.
“Ah. Not necessarily” he said, “I said I’ll call you if I had a question, right?”
“Yes. what’s the question?”
“Would you like to have dinner with me?”
Oh. I nearly squealed. Nearly. Instead, I cleared my throat and said "Yes, I’d love to."
“So, will you?”
I rolled my eyes “yes. I will”
“I know you rolled your eyes Miss Wether. It’s semantics “
I giggled. Giggled! Like a f*****g coed.
Saint raised an eyebrow at me. I ducked my head and blushed furiously.
“Would you prefer I pick you up from your apartment?”
“No, I will take a cab.”
He paused then said, “I will text you the details.”
“Okay” I hung up. Then wondered how he got my personal phone number.
After the rose and fountain pen on Tuesday, a Pocahontas silver figurine came on Wednesday. A bouquet of hyacinths on Thursday. A nude bottle of nail polish that matched the color I’d worn for our meeting. His gifts were cheap, but they made me smile.
I had had a lifetime of flowers and chocolate and diamonds. Men could be very uncreative.
“Sooooo." Saint drawled. "Hot date tonight?"
My face went hot. “Not that it’s any of your business, but yeah.”
“Is it your Mr. Castarr?”
“He is not my mister anything."
“Why is your face like a tomato."
I shot him a sour look “how soon can Sean come collect you?”
“Teasing you is way more fun.”
“Than s*x?” I gasped “are you sure we are siblings?”
“Are you always thinking about s*x?”
I nodded.
Then I turned panicked eyes at him “what will I wear? You definitely have to help me pick a dress."
His eyebrows went so high on his forehead. Any higher and they would have disappeared off his face.
“You are stereotyping gay people. I’m not one of your girl best friends. I don’t know anything about women’s fashion, I don’t say ‘omg!’ and wear super skinny jeans. I’m just literally your average guy that likes a guy. I like beer, sports, muscle cars and dark colors.”
My eyes narrowed at him. “sheesh, you are no fun”
Saint gave me a side eye “and you are entirely too much fun.”
- Writer
