Between Gasps and Glances

Chapter Two -FURY, LUCK AND TRAGEDY

Noelle's POV

‘Dear Lord!’ I was almost so sure I was in heaven now. The man standing before me could pass for an angel, or maybe a demi-god.

I found myself lost in his light olive skin, his full, well-groomed beards, his sharp jawline and jet-black hair. His intimidating height and muscular build up, all of which were nothing compared to his sharp, piercing gray eyes.

“I’m sorry again,” I cleared my throat and held out the iPad, but he already had another in his hands.

I felt extremely stupid, especially with the way he and the man behind him were staring at me.

“Go make me some pasta,” the man said, and then walked around me.

“Huh?” I reacted. Of all the things I was hoping to hear, that was definitely not one of them.

“Ms. Carter, you don’t have a hearing disability, do you?” he probed with a very plain and emotionless face.

I pulled back a little, adjusted my standing and stared at him. I needed answers to questions I wasn’t asking.

“You’re here for the job of a chef. How else are you supposed to get the job, if you don’t cook?” he said.

“I’m sorry, but I am here to see Mr. Hayes, and if at all I were to take any orders, it would be from him.” I defended myself. I was not the kind of woman that came trembling at the feet of a man, not even a man I was having a huge crush on.

“Very well then,” he said, stretching his hand to the back, taking something from the man behind him.

“Damian Hayes,” he walked towards the stairs, “Pasta in fifteen minutes,”

I watched him every step until he was out of sight, then I took a deep breath.

“This is bad, really bad,” I whispered.

I didn't even need a bad reputation to ruin this job. I took a deep breath and went into the kitchen to do my magic.

Never in my life did I have a reason to be as detailed, yet quick as I was with the meal. I put my heart and soul into the meal because I felt the need to make up with skills which I lacked in coordination before Mr. Hayes.

“Pasta is served sir,” I reported to Hayes, who was in the second living room.

He gave me a really heavy stare, got up quietly and headed straight to the dining room.

“I said fifteen minutes,” he took his seat.

“It's only three minutes late,”

“And that's a lot of time. Time enough for a man to starve to death,”

“Clearly it's not enough time, otherwise you'd be dead,” I whispered under my breath.

“If you have something to say, say it confidently, Ms. Carter,”

I pulled back a little from him. At that time, I couldn't see the big crush, I just couldn't imagine how condescending he was.

He carried himself like he owned the world and everyone else was obligated to respond to him.

“Uhm, the iPad is in good shape sir. There's just a little scratch on the screen,” I reported, “but it's…”

“It's yours,” he responded.

What he said sounded like the kind of news that would make someone happy, but I couldn't be excited about it.

I smiled weakly, “Thank you for your kind gesture, sir, but I couldn't accept it even if I wanted to.” I pushed through my sentence, stammering. “It's just…”

“Ms. Carter, save your breath!” Damian shut me out. “I wouldn't have a need for a scratched gadget and, since you think it's in good shape, you might as well keep it.”

“It's obviously in better shape than you are.” He said in the same sarcastic whisper that I had.

I had never received a gift I felt so upset to have. I stood there in fury, thinking of what I was possibly going to do with it. I knew it was worth a good amount of money–good enough to cover my rent for a while, before I found myself in the streets.

Damian did not say a word to me. I stood there for fifteen minutes, watching him eat. His face had no expression and I kept wondering what he thought. If he liked the meal or not, or if he was going to hire me or not.

When he finished, he got up and was about to quietly leave, when I summoned the courage to speak.

“How did you know I was the chef?” I probed, attempting to raise small talk, so he'd probably consider giving me the job.

“I know every single person in this building, because there are not a lot of people welcomed here. Besides, your clumsiness preceded you. Only someone who doesn't live here would be in such a rush to leave,” he said firmly.

Damian shut me down at every turn. His eyes were cold and mean, and I wasn't sure how much longer I could hold, or if I wanted to work here at all.

He ascended the stairs.

“You have the job. Get your things over here and get settled in. Breakfast is at 7:15am every morning and for tomorrow, I'll have scrambled eggs and toast.”

Damian dished out his instructions as he walked up the stairs and I had to strain my ears to pick the rest of the instruction.

I stood there, buried in a lot of contrasting emotions.

‘He didn't know?’ I thought. ‘I actually had the job, and he didn't make reference to the past!’

That part felt like a miracle. I rushed to my phone and called Jace to tell him the good news.

“Hello,”

“Noelle,”

“Jace, I got the job.” I squealed, “I get to be…”

I heard a loud crash that immediately shut my mouth.

“Jace?” I called,

“Jace?”

There was nothing but utter silence in the background. Only for a few seconds before the call disconnected.