Picked up by the billionaire

Chapter3

Rosy’s POV

My eyes popped open with surprise as she came out of the house with my luggage. I was shocked to the bone and I couldn't fathom why she was doing this.

“ Mum, what's going on here, I asked, hoping it wasn't what I was thinking.

She shot me a death glare and threw my bag towards me. “ I can't keep housing you, Rosy. Your dad has been late for close to two years and I can't continue to accommodate you, Rosy.”

“What? Mum. Where do you want me to go?” I asked, wondering why she collected the money in the first place.

“I don't care, Rosy.”

“Mum, please. You know I don't have friends.” I said, hoping it would change her mind, but she must have made up her mind.

“Do I look like I care? I don't want to see you here or have you in my space,”

“But mom….”

“ …I am not your mum, Rosy. Please, leave.” She said and banged the door in my face.

I picked up my bag and stood on the veranda of the house.

What changed?

This house used to be very lively when Dad was still alive. I had the best childhood and I thought things would remain the same way even after Dad’s death, but I was wrong about everything.

Somehow, Nancy, my stepmom, blamed me for his death because I nagged him into taking me shopping for my prom dress, and he didn't return because an accident happened on our way home after he bought me a beautiful yellow dress.

I looked around and there was no place to stay. I picked up my bag at the bookstore not too far away hoping the store owner would allow me to stay.

“Hello, Mr Smith” I greeted him, making my way into the store with my bag.

“ Hey Rosy. What is it this time around?” he asked, taking a glance at my bag.

“She sent me out of the house “ I replied, and he heaved a sigh.

Mr Smith has always been a sweet man, right since when I was still a child. I would go to the bookstore and stay for the longest time reading children's books without paying a dime, and he would never get upset, not even for a second. My frequent visits to his store made him a family friend and cemented the friendship between him and my parents.

“Do you want me to talk to her?” he asked, sitting next to me and patting my hair.

I nodded negatively, my head resting on Mr Smith's chest.

“Please, don't. You know how she is,” I said, my eyes already heavy and baggy.

“Ouff!” He grunted. “Have you had lunch?” He suddenly asked, and the sleep wiped off my eyes as the thought of Robinson enveloped me.

I pulled my head away from his chest and smiled “Yes, I've had lunch. Someone bought me lunch” I said, grinning from ear to ear.

He looked at me for a while and cleared his throat. “Do I know this person who bought lunch for you?”

“No, you don't.”

“Why is that?” he asked, his eyes peering into mine.

“Because I don't know him either,” I responded and stood up immediately, his eyes filled with disbelief.

“A stranger bought you food, and you accepted?” he asked, and I couldn't control my laughter.

“Chill, please.”

“I'm calm, trust me,” he said, giving me his full attention.

“Okay, so, Nancy sent me out to go look for a job today and a car nearly ran over me but…” I tried to continue but he interrupted me.

“Wait, a car almost ran you over? Hope you didn't get injured?” He asked and I nodded.

“I wasn't injured, Simon,” I said, and he held my hands.

“I don't want anything bad to happen to you. Please, promise me you'll be fine, and you will be careful next time,” he said, his eyes full of concern and his voice filled with so much love.

“I promise, I will be careful,” I responded, grateful for his genuine love and concern.

“ You didn't ask how every other thing went after I was almost knocked down,” I said, and a curious look formed on his face.

“What happened afterward?” he asked, anticipating what I had to say next.

“ He offered to take me to the hospital to check if I was okay, but I declined. He then asked me to come to lunch with him and boom! We went to that fancy restaurant on the next street.”

“And you followed him there?” he asked and I nodded.

“Of course, the food there was so good. That's why I'm not bothered about the three hundred dollars Nancy collected from me.”

“He gave you money and Nancy took all of it?”

“Yes, she did.”

“She's so cruel”

“I don't want her negative energy to affect me in any way, that's why I want to get a job and rent an apartment where I could stay.” My mind was made up, and I was ready to fight for myself.

“You can stay here, you know?” His eyes looked sincere, but I couldn't accept the offer.

“Thank you so much, Smith, but I want to look for a job all by myself, away from Nancy and her children. I need all the space I can get away from them,” I said, and he looked at me closely before taking his eyes off me.

“When you get the job, you can stay with me and head for work from my place,” he said, and I couldn't be more grateful.

“Thank you so much, Smith,” I said and hugged him closely.

“Thank you for looking out for me, I love you * I said, resting my head on his chest.

“I love you too, and by the way, your dad could have done the same for me too if he had been in my shoes.

************

Getting out of bed the next day, I had this feeling that something special was going to happen, but I didn't know how or when exactly. Mr Smith and I stayed at the bookstore until it was time to close, and I followed him home.

Turning around, I stretched out on his couch and so many thoughts ran through my mind, but I was focused on keeping only the positive vibes and making the most of the day.

“Hello, Rosy. Did you sleep well?”. He asked and, for the very first time in years, I missed my dad so much, and I wondered why he had to leave this way.

“Yeah, I did. I slept like a baby,” I said, and he smiled, taking a seat beside me.

“I am here for you, Rosy. You can also stay for as much as you like” he responded, and I jumped off of the couch immediately.

“No…no…no…noo. I need to search for a job!” I said, remembering I wanted to start job hunting.

“Rosy, come on, you can work at the bookstore and I will pay you. You don't have to go through the stress of job hunting,” he said, taking my hand in his and patting it gently.

“Mr Smith, Thank you for wanting to help me. I am grateful, I really am, but I just have to work for someone who doesn't know me to make me take my job seriously,” I said, walking out of the sitting room.

“Okay, fine. Get a shower and then go find a job that you like.”

“Thank you, I will go take a shower now.”

“Yeah, you should. I will make breakfast before you are done from the shower.” He said, walking towards the kitchen while I walked to the room to take a bath.

As I got in, the mirror stole my attention and I walked up to it, and looked at my reflection.

Damn, girl. You're so hot! Your hair might be messy, but you still look so cute.

I walked to the shower and took a warm bath, allowing the water to run from my hair to my toe. I stood there reminiscing about my life and how it was going to be in a few years, but nothing was coming forth.

Go out there and be great, Rosy. Make mum and dad proud of the strong woman you'll become.

I wiped the water off my face and stepped out of the shower.

I don't know how, but I have this conviction that I will find a job today. Rosy, put on your best and look stunning while at it.

“Rosy, are you done?” Smith's voice echoed from outside the room, and he quickly walked out of the bathroom and dressed in the hottest gown I had.

As I opened the door, Mr Smith was momentarily blown away as his mouth was wide open so wide.

“ You're so beautiful, Rosy,” he commented.

“Thank you so much, I am off.”

“Have some tea, bread, and scrambled eggs before leaving,” he yelled from inside the room.

“Yes, sir. I will try.”

“Rosy, don't try. Eat something. Don't go out on an empty stomach,” he said, and I rushed to the table and took a little portion before running off.

“See you soon, Mr Smith,” I said before banging the door behind me. “ I will get a job today.”

The first forty-five minutes in three different stores were one of my worst days, as nobody either wanted me or there was no vacancy left.

Tired and frustrated, I walked out of one of the restaurants nurturing the idea of stopping job hunting entirely until I bumped into a masculine body. As I looked up at the person I had bumped into, I was shocked and my face couldn't hide it one bit.