Obsession to rejection

CHAPTER ONE I sat patiently at the cashier's desk waiting for the next customer of the day. I plugged in my earphones listening to my favorite music. Taken away by the jazz music, I stood dancing to the tune of the music, ignoring my duty post. My slender body whines slowly, I nod my head swiftly. “I need to dance away my sorrows,” I said to myself. Startled by an unexpected touch that felt like an electric current from an unknown individual staring at me, I halted, my limbs became weak. I felt an unusual sensation burning within me. Could it be the manager or a customer? The fear of being fired by the manager, who finds delight in threatening me about getting fired most times, suddenly engulfed me. “Hello”, a baritone voice said. So ashamed of myself, I turned slowly to look at the figure standing before me. My heart raced fast. Alas! Standing before me is a huge, muscular man with chiseled jaw dressed in a well-tailored dark suit, in his late thirties. His blue eyes are encircled by long lashes. I felt a bit relieved. His appearance gave me goose bump. I managed to utter my normal rhyme. “Hello, welcome to Anny’s flower shop. My name is Jennifer. How may I help you?" With a stern look, he replied “I would like to get a bouquet of red rose flowers.” I moved from my desk and led him to the flower shelf. I focused on assisting him with selecting good flowers. I noticed whenever I turned, he was staring at me seductively. I ignored him because most men that come into the store usually get their jaws dropped as they couldn’t resist the beauty before them. Some give their compliments and move on. He is not an exception, I thought. He walked toward the flowers silently without uttering any word, sniffing each of the flowers. This time we made eye contact. His look swept me off my feet. I followed him like a sheep as I swung my hands to get hold of myself. After checking out the flowers, he was able to pick one. Not sure of what was running through his mind, I smiled shyly. He made payment, picked his flowers and headed for the door. A few steps away from me, he stopped and looked at me. “I think not uttering any tangible words while shopping for flowers is not very good and if I were you, I would find it offensive”, he said as he walked towards me. “Well, I would take no offense if I were you”, I smiled. “Pardon my manners, I am Edward Brown hill.” He said with a broad smile. That name sure rang a bell, but I was too shy to think straight. “Can I have you for tonight?” I halted half dead, not sure of what I heard. “You say?” He cleared his throat. “I said? Can I have you for tonight?” I roared in laughter, holding my belly. What does he take me for? What is he thinking? Am I safe? These thoughts dawned on me. “You are joking, right?” He leaned forward to kiss me; my body shivered as I dodged him. He chuckled. He licked his lips and rubbed his hands against his dark, well-trimmed hair. “I am damn serious.” I looked at myself thoroughly. I am dressed in a free T-shirt with blue boyfriend jeans! Not a skimpy skirt or revealing blouse that would have made the wrong impression. Afraid of his next move, I moved to the security alarm, ready to press the button. “I will pay you well, just let me have you tonight” ,he said, bringing out a bundle of cash from his pocket. This is just like a dream. What kind of man does this? My eyes became red; I looked at the bundle of cash. “Oh s**t!” Life has a way of dealing with me. Indeed, life hasn’t been a bed of roses for me. At twenty-nine years old, I have a family of four to cater for. I glanced at the bundle of cash, wanting to snatch it away from him and dash out of the store. He snapped his fingers to let me out of my thoughts. I moved closer to me like a slow moor. I felt a warmth rush down my cheek. I caressed his hot body, trying to play with his emotion. He moaned at every touch, wanting me to fall into his nest. I laughed hysterically; does he think I am a good catch to warm his bed tonight? I moved a few steps away from him. Gazed at him for a few seconds, thinking if I should take his offer, “I am no b***h", I said firmly. His chiseled face furrowed, “I would double the cash, just for tonight.” “No” , I said with heads bowed down. He moved closer to me and raised my jaw. I brushed his hands from my face and returned to my desk with my hands making a fist. “It is fine, I will take my leave now”, he winked at me as he headed out. What a shameless man! I bowed my head to the desk, tears rolled down my cheek. “This job has caused so much humiliation to me." I felt dejected. Swimming in my sad thoughts, I decided to take a nap since it is lunch break. I was woken up by a tap on my desk. “Not again!” I muttered. “Sleeping on duty?” a soft familiar voice said. I stood rubbing my eyes. “Alexis?” “Thank God you came; I am literally having a bad day", I “What a horrible experience working as a sales rep, may our path never cross again", I said, narrating my experience to my best friend Alexis, who had been listening attentively. Alexis has always been my diary; she literally knows everything about me, and she links me with short-time jobs. She is the same age as me. She has a round shape and a pointed nose. “Wait, girlfriend, but the name Edward Brown hill sounds familiar." Alexis opened her mini bag and grabbed her phone. She typed the name on Google. Her eyes opened wide. “Oh my God!” “You just missed a golden opportunity; the man is the CEO of Gold Empire!!! What! My eyes almost popped out.