Chapter Two- Found love again

Rose left Mike’s house with tears in her eyes. She blocked him from all her socials, deleted all their messages and his photos from her phone. She had made up her mind to move on. Although, part of her wanted to forgive him, but she wasn’t ready to risk her future all because of love.

Rose was devastated, spending nights in clubs became a routine for her. Even though this caused her to miss work, it was a coping mechanism for her after the break up.

Her phone rang. She picked it up.

“Good evening, Rose,” came a stern voice, it was the manager of the cement factory.

“ If you don’t need this job anymore, you can resign. There are plenty of people begging to work here, you can’t just not show up for five days without informing me. If I don’t see you tomorrow, you’re fired.”

The following day, Rose showed up at work with a terrible hangover. 

“Good morning sir,” she said with her red and tired  eyes, barely the toll the nights had taken on her. 

“I’m sorry, sir. ”I fell ill, but I think I’m good now.” She lied.

“Well, you look tired, Rose. But we need people to do the work here. Please get to it immediately.” The manager replied.

Rose struggled through her shift, despite the body aches. The alcohol made her feel uncomfortable. That evening, she managed to get a cab home. 

“Babe, I made your favorite meal.” The memory echoed in her mind as she collapsed into bed exhausted. She missed Mike. But she couldn’t afford to feel that way. She made some quick pasta, and prepared to head out to the club once again.

“Please can I get three shots of vodka?” Rose asked the bartender.

“Please, I need a minute, let me attend to him quickly,” the bartender replied, pointing toward a man at the corner of the bar.

 Rose followed his gaze.

“Why is he always alone?” She muttered to herself.

She had seen him several times over the past few nights, always in a black tailored suit, always treated  differently.

He intrigued her. 

His quietness, his presence, his style. She leaned towards the bartender again.

“Doesn’t he speak? And why is he always given special treatment?”

“I don’t know,” the bartender said with a puzzled smile. “I only work here ma’am, you could find out for yourself,” tilting her head toward his direction.

Her curiosity grew. She couldn’t stop staring. He was  charming undeniably, and something about his silence  made her more interested.

Then, she noticed a fat roll of cash drop from his suit pocket, while he was trying to keep it there.

“Hey!” Rose tried to call him, waving her hand toward his direction to get his attention, but he had earphones on and he was too engrossed in whatever he was listening to.

Then it dawned on her. This was the perfect excuse to talk to him.

She approached his table and picked up the money. 

“Hey, this fell from your pocket” handing it to him.

“Oh, Thank you,” he replied with a smile. Rose froze for a second, shocked. She had never heard him speak,  let alone smile.

“Do you need a drink?” He asked, gesturing to the seat beside him. 

Rose nodded and blushed. She had already ordered one  but she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to speak with him.

“So, what’s your name, Mr. Enigmatic” she teased as she sat down.

He chuckled. “Hmm. That’s some nerve. No one in this club has ever asked for my name. I’m Austin, And you?” 

“Am I supposed to be scared of a mysterious man in a suit,” she said with a grin. “I’m Rose.” 

Out of curiosity, she asked “What song were you  listening to earlier? I tried getting your attention.”

“Oh.. “Will you still love me tomorrow by__”

  “Amy wine house,” Rose finished for him.

Austin was surprised. “You’re a fan of Amy Winehouse?

“Not a fan, but I listen to her songs”. Rose answered.

“Well, that’s still a good start.” Austin responded.

Their conversation flowed so effortlessly, people in the club began to stare.

“Why is everyone looking  at us?” Rose asked, puzzled. 

“Because you’re talking to a billionaire,” Austin replied casually, rolling his eyes. 

Rose’s eyes widened. “Oh really? What line of business are you in?”

“I don’t discuss business at the club,” he said, sipping his drink. “But I’m a business man who switched career paths because of my father.” 

Rose found herself watching his lips as he spoke. Austin continued. 

 “My dream as a kid was to be a musician, But, unfortunately, my father had other plans for me.” 

“Aww, A Daddy’s boy?” Rose teased playfully and continued “Nothing should stop you from chasing your dream, daddy’s boy.”

“Nah,” he replied. “ I’m going to invest in my son going into music.”

  

Rose smiled, caught up in his words.

“Does that mean you’re married with a son?” She asked, her gentle voice tinged with jealousy. 

“No, I’m not married, neither do I have a son,”

She felt relieved.

“There’s this karaoke lounge I’ve been wanting to visit, want to come with me? Austin asked 

“Yes,” Rose answered with a timid smile, watching the way he sipped the drink from his glass.

He paid for the drinks they ordered, and they left the club for the karaoke lounge. 

Austin held her hand gently as they played and sang together. Their connection felt like a dream to her, because it was something she hadn’t felt before. 

Later that night, they took a stroll toward a quiet hill just behind the lounge. There, they found a bench. Austin removed his jacket and laid it across the bench for Rose to sit comfortably.

They were silent for a while, their eyes fixed on the stars. It wasn’t the awkward kind of silence, it was one that felt safe, as he placed his hands on her thigh. 

Rose folded her arms and leaned into his side. “You ever wonder what it would feel like to live up there?” She whispered.

Austin looked at her. “Sometimes I think I already do. Just floating. Far away from everyone else.”

He gently reached for her hand, His touch was warm. 

“You have really soft hands for a billionaire,” she teased.

“And you have really cold ones for a laborer,” he said, brushing his thumb across her knuckles.

Time slowed. 

And for the first time after the breakup, Rose felt happy again.

“Hey, It’s late, are you sure you can make it home safe at this time?” Austin asked gently.

“Yeah,” she replied hesitating.  “Oh no, my estate gate will be closed by now,” Rose added, touching her forehead.

 “That’s fine, we’ll spend the night at a hotel, if you don’t mind” 

Rose hesitated. “Hmm…”

“A princess like you shouldn’t be outside alone at this time.” Austin said to her, rubbing her cheeks gently.

“Okay,” she said softly, smiling.

Austin found a hotel nearby and checked them in the executive room. At the door, he opened it for her, and as they entered the room, he pulled her close, placing his other arm around her waist.

Looking straight into her eyes, he asked playfully,

“Who’s your favorite artist?” While tapping her nose. 

Lana del Rey,” she laughed.

“Hey Siri, play me Young and beautiful by Lana del Rey.” Austin asked, his gaze remained fixed on her, deep and intense. Rose couldn’t resist his lips. She stretched and reached for his face and kissed him deeply and passionately. That night he made her feel special as they made love.

The next morning, Rose woke up with a smile, replaying the night in her head.

“Why is the room so silent? Is he still asleep? “Should I smile when I turn to him?”  “Will he still find me attractive after last night?” She whispered to herself.

  

She finally turned, only to find the other side of the bed empty.

She got nervous and flung the blanket off and rushed to the bathroom. No one was there. None of his things were there either.

“No…it can’t be,” she whispered. “He probably went to get us breakfast” 

But when she looked out the window, his car was gone.