DOG SIT.

CHAPTER: 3.

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"Hello, Loverboy!" Vanessa called out the second she caught sight of the boy.

Adrian smiled. "I don't understand how you keep calling me that. I've never been in a relationship and yet you call me Loverboy." 

"You're a Loverboy, you're loveable and it's only an asshole that would see you and not love you." Adrian laughed. Well, she did get that one right since almost everyone who's met him takes a special liking to him immediately, the only person who's hated him so much so far was Famous, the boy didn't even take the time to get to know him first, he just up and hate him, just like that! Noah isn't his best friend either but at least the boy tries not to be an ass about it. 

"Everyone but Famous." Adrian pointed out. "You know, Oliver beat the crap out of him two days ago." He told her.

"Damn, that boy!" Vanessa placed her hands on her slim hips and bit her lower lip.

"I know, I just can't wait to save up enough to get my own place and Alison is around for a couple of days so I endure restless morning and afternoon because of Famous and his one thousand and one friends!" Adrian yelled.

"It sucks living with those who dislike you. You shared a three-bedroom apartment with these guys and none could keep you in their room except Oliver." Vanessa frowned.

"Oliver is the only true friend I have and he's really tried for me. I just need to get out of there." 

"That would take a lot longer with you waiting tables, Loverboy," Vanessa replied honestly. 

"I just have to work harder." All the while they spoke, Adrian was changing into his work uniform. All done, he grabbed his notepad and fixed a pen in his mouth, ready to start the night. The restaurant is filling up as usual and Adrian knew it was going to be a long night. A few hours in and Vanessa came running to him. 

"Adrian!" She called excitedly. 

Adrian turned around to meet the excited girl's face. "What?" He asked. Maybe she has just been tipped handsomely. Something has to make her this happy for her to have called him Adrian.

"You see that lady over there?" She asked pointing towards the VIP section. Adrian saw a lady seated alone, with her beautiful brown hair tied up in a bun, she wore a black skirt on a red blouse, with one crossed smooth long leg on another that swayed rhythmically, the action causing her black stilettos to glitter, she looked fashionable and rich. 

"Yes, I see her…" Adrian reluctantly replied. That table is also waited by Vanessa which made this even more confusing. 

"She just gave a job proposal, but I can't do it since you know I will be leaving the city to visit my sister who just had a baby-"

"Van, please you're doing it again!" Adrian called her attention back to the present. She has this habit of shifting topics very quickly and he is impatient to learn about what this job proposal was.

"Sorry," she laughed awkwardly. 

"She's the personal assistant to Elijah Wealthmoor-"

"Elijah, what now?" Adrian asked. If he was confused before, now he's completely lost. 

"You don't know the famous multi-billionaire Elijah Wealthmoor?" She asked and Adrian stared wide eyes at her. "The Mr.Wealth of the E.Wealths Group Of Companies!" She yelled with eyes wide open as if Adrian is supposed to know who she was talking about. Just when she figured he still didn't get it, she heaved a sigh and went into more detail. "You can't seriously tell me you don't know or haven't heard of E.Wealths, the Company is too huge for you not to have heard of it!" She yelled.

"Well, maybe not too huge since I haven't heard of it." Adrian rolled his eyes. He doesn't understand the girl anymore and besides, what's this got to do with anything anyway?

"No, it means you are living on another earth, E.Wealths is everywhere, fashion lines, wine, beer, spirit, cars, Colognes, five-star hotels, all over the world!" She eyed the boy. "You still don't get it, do you?" She asked.

"No." Adrian shrugged. 

"You know that five-star hotel, the very massively gorgeous hotel you walk past every day from work?" She asked and as Adrian's eyes widen, she smiled. "Now, you're getting it."

Adrian was dumbfounded, he also felt pretty stupid, how did he forget that gold name that always winks at him every time he walked passed it? Maybe he really was living on another earth after all. 

"That's a big name." He whispered. 

"I know right." The girl squealed excitedly. 

"But, what's that got to do with anything?" Adrian asked.

"Mr. Elijah happens to be in town as we speak, and he came with his all-time spoilt dog Billy and just so you know, he doesn't go anywhere without that dog. They even walk red carpets together!" She explained and just like that, they were back where they started. 

"So?" Adrian asked but this time a little bit embarrassed. 

"Since Mr. Elijah doesn't go anywhere without Billy he needs someone to dog-sit when he is away." She finally let the cat out of the bag.

"You want me to-to?" Adrian asked bemused.

"Oh, believe me, if I wasn't going away, I would be jumping in line for that offer trust me." The girl replied.

"But, why did she pick you?" Adrian asked, referring to the Fancy lady. 

"Her name is Rachel Blair and she didn't pick me, she only asked if I'd love to. I mean, that was a dumb question if you ask me since almost everyone would gladly jump in for the offer but I told her I have to leave town and she asked if I knew someone and Adrian, you really need to get this job, nothing will give you more money faster to get out of that house than dog sitting Wealthmoor's Billy." She finished proudly. 

"I don't know what to say," Adrian muttered.

"Don't say anything until you've got the job. Now, go on and meet with her before she leaves." She pushed him forward but Adrian stood still. "What?" She asked. 

"Since he is so famous, that makes him a celebrity, right?" Adrian asked with raised brows. 

"Yes?" Vanessa asked.

"So, as a celebrity, shouldn't he be getting professionals to handle his favorite dog?" 

"What are you getting at?" Vanessa asked confused. 

"It should be professionals and not commoners like you and me."

"Why don't we find out why he wants commoners and not professionals as you so put it after you have met with Rachel." She shoved him forward again.

"But-" Adrian started.

"You're stalling," Vanessa observed.

"No!" Adrian dragged out. 

"Well then, go!" She pushed him harder this time and ran into the kitchen.

Adrian breathed in and out a couple of times and then took careful strides as he made his way toward the table. The closer he got to that red blouse the more anxious he becomes. Once he made it to her he pats himself on the back.

"Good evening, madam." He greeted, and he felt proud of himself. He thought he was going to stutter or do something to embrace himself.

"Hello, you must be Adrian, and please just Rachel, the whole madam thing makes me feel old." She whispered and Adrian laughed quietly. She seems really cool and very beautiful with her eyelashes that were rather too long and tick. How does she sleep at night? Adrian wondered. The woman smiled as if she had read his mind. "I know what you're looking at but believe it or not, they're real." She said pointing to her lashes. 

"Ooh..um..they're beautiful." He replied while mentally slapping himself.

"Sit." She said with a serious tone this time. Adrian sat and looked everywhere but at her. The woman picked up her purse from the table and then pulled out her tablet, then she swiped through it and hand it over to Adrian who reluctantly took it but instead of looking at it, he stared at the woman. "Well, look at it." She gestured with her hand and then took her wine glass for a sip.

Adrian saw the French bulldog laid comfortably on a huge bed that seems rather too big for a dog but remembering that Vanessa had called the dog spoilt, he shrugged it off.

"He will be interviewing you." She said and Adrian gawked. 

"What?" 

She nodded with a smile. "So far, twenty-two people have failed the interview." She told him.

"How does he interview?" Adrian didn't know if that was a smart question but he was confused.

How can a dog interview someone?

"He is Billy, but just know that once he turned his back on you, it means you failed the interview. I'll see you by 2. p.m tomorrow afternoon." She gave him a card that contains an address and a phone number, then she signaled for him to be excused. 

Adrian clutched the paper tightly in his hands and walked back into the kitchen, where he met Vanessa and told her everything. The girl laughed and laughed until her stomach hurts. 

"I wish I could see such an interview, I told you he's a spoiled dog. Well, good luck. You'll need it." She giggled and made to leave. "Oh, and one more thing," she turned back to Adrian. "I guess now you know why he wants commoners." She quoted with her fingers and then, she ran out laughing.

Adrian has never owned a dog, he doesn't even know if dogs like him. He hasn't taken the interview yet but somehow he felt he had already failed. 

What does he even know about dogs? 

Nothing, that's what. 

He simply slipped the card into his bag and went about his job. 

***********

Another long day over and he was found walking down the lonely streets again only this time when he got to the big hotel, he stood and looked at it for what seemed like forever. The hotel is huge and Van said Mr. Elijah owns hotels all over the world along with all the other things she mentioned, quickly he pulled his smartphone out and googled the name Elijah Wealthmoor. He kept himself busy reading about the man while he walked the ten minutes distance to the bus stop. For starters, he was pretty confused seeing that the man is still very young, probably in his early thirties. He was honestly expecting an older man. How is it possible that he is still young and yet owns so much? He saw pictures of the hunk of a man, he was the hottest thing Adrian ever saw. His carefully sculpted perfection was not so hidden in the tux he wore. Hazel eyes burned into his soul, for the first time in twenty-four years, he has a crush but soon the crushing came crashing down when he saw another picture with the man and a gorgeous woman with two kids, and when he read more he discovered that not only was Elijah straight but also married with kids. As soon as his crushing journey began, it came to an abrupt end. Adrian didn't read anymore, he just tucks his phone into his back pocket and smiled at the bus approaching him, well at least there is one more person who could make him smile.

The bus stopped and he got in, the smile on his face disappeared when he noticed that it wasn't Jonathan who drove the bus this time. 

"Where is Jonathan?" He couldn't help but ask. In three months, this had to be the first time the man didn't pick him up.

"You must be Adrian then." The driver smiled and then reached beside him to pull out an envelope. "Jonathan is sick and he asked that I deliver this note to you." The man said and Adrian rushed over to grab the envelope from the man. He felt the brown paper on his hand and his heart skipped with fear. With how fast he grabbed that note he couldn't get himself to tear it open and read for fear of what he might learn inside. He quietly walked back to his favorite spot and sat down. He didn't do his usual stretches rather he stared at the brown envelope. 

Jonathan is sick.

Slowly he tore the envelope and unfold the note and then he began reading. As he read tears ran down his face slowly. After he finished with the note he folded it back into its envelope and put it in his backpack.

Jonathan has been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.