Chapter 16 - Samanta

A couple hours went by since Samanta began her shift at work and she could not stop looking at the huge LCD screen in the sporting goods store. People gathered around to watch the World Cup opening ceremony, although Samanta wasn't particularly keen on the World Cup, nor soccer, nor the $200 Carlos bet on Germany. She only cared about one thing, actually, one single person.

Sam was serving coffee and cleaning tables out of inertia, she was good at her job, but mechanically. Her mind was not there, but at the Stub Hub.

“Your man better win” Carlos told Samanta, as a joke.

“Not my man” she cleared that out and cleared her throat, “besides, I would appreciate it if you were not spreading it” she turned her head slightly and noticed the two girls dispatching a couple customers at the bar. “I wouldn't like those two finding out.”

Carlos followed Sam's stare and saw Megan and Stacy, who seemed immerse in their own worlds. He laughed remembering how Samanta loathed them, a feeling that grew not out of nothing at all they were so petty. He could not explain himself how Gordon kept them around. Oh, right! They are the daughters of the VP, who had put them there to teach them a lesson on the value of earning things with their own efforts and hard work.

“Whatever, he better win” Carlos insisted. “I bet part of my vacation on him.”

Samanta couldn't fight a smile, her friend was one of a kind.

Right when she was about to focus, the image on the screen made her heart skip a beat. The camera was portraying the moment Dominik walked into the field. He looked really focused and, at that time, Samanta felt so stupid to have not recognized him. Now that she could see him in detail, she understood Carlos was right, she had indeed seen him a couple times and actually admired him a few more, that butt of his.

The match begun and Sam had to fight the urge to watch sometimes, some people would cram the place and she had to dispatch them, but she could watch most of Dominik's work. He was really good. For the first time in her life, Samanta felt very interested in soccer.

“I don't believe my eyes” Carlos mocked her, seeing how she kept staring at the screen, she seemed to not even blink sometimes.

The ball went to and fro, and Samanta's eyes followed wherever it went, completely ignoring her friend's remarks.

I know, in order for you to be interested, I have to introduce you to one of the players a few hours before each game —he went on, but Sam was hypnotized watching Dominik.

«Watching Dominik», the phrase bounced around in Carlos's head. He felt kind of jealous. His friend was not one to grow interest in somebody so out of the blue, let alone so intensely. Except for that bone head Alan, Samanta was hard to get.

«Conquest? What the hell? She barely knows him!». Carlos shook his head hard to get that thought out. He could not let jealousy cloud his judgment.

 A couple people came up to the bar asking for service. Stacy came by, but Carlos stopped her and looking at his friend, called her name.

“Samanta!”

She turned around to see the customers.

“Right away” she responded and came to serve them.

“I had them” Stacy said to Carlos.

“I know, but I want Sam to do it” the temporary manager stated.

That was the perfect excuse to keep Samanta from watching that sweaty guy running around in shorts all over the place.