Chapter 5: 20°Celsius

lost love

Flashback

"How dare you break these cups!! I will cut your entire pay!"

"No ma'am please!!I am really sorry. It won't happen again...please I need this money..."

The lady with specs looked at me with a disgusted face

"Then go to the guest and ask for his forgiveness, if he forgives you then I will as well.."

I turned around and looked at the handsome man who was standing at his seat and wiping the coffee stain on his white shirt.

O man I an damned today I thought.

I dried the sweat on my palms on the apron of my dress and made my way towards him.

He was surrounded by his associates who kept shouting that how ill mannered the waitress was and how she destroyed his thousand dollar shirt.

As they saw me approaching their accusing fingers pointed towards me

"Hey you!! Where did you ran off to!! Come here this instant !! Come and clean this mess that you have created!!"

"Who hired an incompetent employee like you!! "

"Fire her!! Call the manager !'

I stood in front of the man I just spilled the coffee on.

He was still trying to clean his shirt with the napkin and his eyes were still hidden from me.

His hands frantically moved rubbing the stain again and again

The wet handkerchief I held could remove the stain I thought.

Automatically my hand moved forward and I dabbed the handkerchief on his shirt ,when I did so his hands stopped and he looked up at my face.

'His grey eyes are beautiful 'was the first thought that came in my mind.

I looked down at his chest where my hands were lightly rubbing the stain.

He kept staring at me and

I could feel my cheeks turning red

"I am really sorry!!..I Didn't meant to..I got ..my foot stuck in the chairs leg ..and I lost my balance...This shirt must be very ..expensive...I can't even afford it and I just stai-"

I stopped when his hand held my wrist in his, stopping me from trying to clean his shirt.

"It's alright ..don't worry ..this is just a mere shirt!"

I looked up and when I saw his reassuring smile all my nerves calmed down .

I thought he must be fuming with Anger because of my stupid stunt but instead he was as calm as the ocean.

"Are you sure..I mean it must be worth thousands of dollars.."

"Worth of clothes is defined by the person who wears them not the other way round....ragazza carina"

I was spell bound not only by his looks but also by his words.

Do gentlemen like him still exist?

" Sir we had a meeting after this...you can't go like this....."

"Non dirmi cosa fare Russo ... e non penso che i vestiti siano importanti quando tutti sanno chi sono!"

(Don't tell me what to do Russu and anyways I don't think clothes matter when everyone knows who you are)

"no, signore, no"

The person who interrupted us said and bowed down

Who is this man!!

With so much power and beauty and not to forget that fluent Italian he spoke and that melodious voice.

The manager arrived who was the same lady with specs

"I am really sorry on her behalf Sir...we will take full responsibility for her actions.."

His eyes again landed on me and I looked down unable to meet his eyes without gawking at his beauty and aura.

"It's alright...this was just an accident so don't blame her for anything whatsoever..."

He said referring to me.

I looked up to see him already staring at me

"..No ..sir I won't ...then she is forgiven I guess?"

Manager looked expectantly at him

"fu perdonata nel momento in cui posai gli occhi su di lei"

(She was forgiven the second I laid my eyes on her)

I gave him a confused look as he passed me a small smile

He held out his hand for me to shake

I again wiped my sweaty hand on my apron and held it out shaking his large strong ones.

"Nice meeting you Bambino...I am Alessandro Romano"

"I am...Sapphire Brown Mr Andro"

He smiled a contagious smile at the nickname I gave him and left leaving me star struck with his beauty and personality.

Flashback over

"Saph!!Saph !! Hey hurry you need to clean the pool ..Maria will eat you alive if you don't do it!!"

"Hhh??"

I looked at Arie to realise I have spaced out

"Hurry!!Maria is coming and the pool-"

"O h sh** I jumped out of the bed and ran passed the corridors collecting the cleaning supplies and pool net on my way.

As I opened the door to the pool area bright light evaded my eyes blinding me for a few seconds.

Sounds of water splashing could be heard and I realized I was late ...very late.

My duty is to clean the pool everyday before anyone uses it but today someone was already inside the pool.

I moved ahead to see someone with a very toned back swimming in it.

Diverting my eyes I started sweeping the floor near the pool ,every time my hand would reach near the edge of the pool I maintained distance from the pool because of my fear of falling.

Looking into the depths of the pool and not knowing how deep it goes is scary especially for a non swimmer like me.

Everyday I cleaned it like this only

I even asked Maria to change my duty as I was not comfortable near the pool but her words were

'Jump into it and get comfortable ,don't give me these lame excuses'

I was busy staring at the floor looking for any spots I missed when a large splash of water landed on me making me scream in surprise and drenched in water from head to toe.

I looked around and saw Andro's face coming out of the surface of water

He ran his fingers through his wet hair and looked at me .

He just dived into the pool and that also deliberately near me .

I need to talk to him

At least I need to try

"Andro ....I mean.....Sir...I...I...was serious when...I said ...i'll do anything for your forgiveness...please give ..me a chance"

.

.

There was silence for a minute as he kept staring at me

"Okay then jump into the pool"

He said straight without blinking an eye

He knows I can't swim

Then why is he asking me to jump into the pool..

Is he testing me?

"What happened Miss Brown? Afraid? Are we?"

I looked into his eyes to see he was dead serious

I took small steps towards the pool

This is my only chance to get forgiven

I have to do it.

With each step I took my heart beat accelerated.

When I was a few steps away from the pool I saw blue water and thought of how deep it went scared me

It is very very deep...If I jump I will die

I thought

"Come on ..this is your only chance"

Andro said leaning on the wall of the pool with his elbows resting on the edge of the pool.

I looked at him and debated what to do....my legs were shaking and I don't know if another panic attack was coming

"I......I.....am.....af... afraid...of...water...I can't..."

For a second Andro had a look of concern on his face but next I felt a strong grip on my ankle and I was pulled towards the pool

It was so sudden that I didn't even got a second to hold on my breath and as my body landed on the surface of water large amount of water entered my mouth blocking my oxygen supply.

I moved my hands frantically trying to find anything to hold onto

Hoping for anything but was met only with water.

I opened my eyes to see blue colour everywhere

My view was hazy but still through it I could see bright sunrays over me.

I tried reaching for them...moving my arms legs everything but all in vain.

All of a sudden I felt myself coming on the surface of it,I sucked little amount of oxygen I could but before I could breathe I was again pulled back into the depths of water.

Sunlight was going further and further away,

My body was sinking deeper and deeper ,

My lungs were exploding and the little amount of air that I had managed to hold till now was escaping as bubbles.

My attempt ceased from exhaustion

My eyes got heavy and as I was going to accept death a strong grip on my arm pulled me back.

I was being pulled up and that sunlight was coming closer and closer.

Next I know my face surfaced on water and I inhaled huge amounts of air

The water constricting my throat gushed out in forms of coughs.

And as I inhaled my first breath after nearly dying I opened my eyes to see bright light around me and between this bright light those gray eyes were staring at me.

I was still in water holding onto Andro for my dear life

My hands were around his neck and I was clinging to him tightly.

His eyes were staring at me trying to find something

I soon realised that he was only in his boxers and I was nearly touching his entire body with mine.

I pushed myself away from him feeling ashamed and embarrassed.

But as my body pulled away from him I again started sinking and the fear of drowning again returned.

Without another thought I again clinged to him.

I felt his hands on my upper arm trying to push me back but I refused

"Atleast let me breathe!! you are strangling me!"

He said and I released my grip a bit

He looked into my eyes and saw the fear in them next I saw his gaze shift to my lips which were blue and were trembling continuously.

"..An..dro.....please.....don't...let...go....it's very..deep"

I said

He placed his hands on my waist and pulled me by my waist towards him..I landed on his hardrock abs and he started moving towards the corner

I felt a bit relaxed with his hands protecting me.

After going a little further he stopped

"You lost your only chance ....I thought you really wanted my forgiveness but guess what I was again wrong...."

His breath could be felt on my earlobe as he whispered his next words

'....you only want to come back in my life for money.."

With this he pulled himself away from me making my heart jump in fear

I grabbed his biceps laden arm refusing to let go

"Pl...ease....Andro....don't leave.."

His strong hands unwrapped my arm from his and left my hand...

I shrieked with fear as I felt myself going down while he turned around and got out from the pool.

"Andro...I...am...dr..owning!!!!!"

I shouted with all the strength I have hoping he will come back to save me

He is not coming back

O god I am going to die today

"You can't drown in a 5 feet pool when you are 5'7 inch ....idiota!"

He said turning around

Hhh?

I left all the struggle and let loose my body

Within seconds my feet touched the floor of the pool

Ohh I am safe

Silly me!