A New Beginning

The next morning met us on the way to a far, far away land Paula called Washington. 

Paula’s seat on the plane was a few rows from me, she was actively taking pictures of the skies, clearly enjoying the takeoff.

My eyes fell on an older couple beside me, giggling and chattering with each other and my heart ached uncontrollably.

“Home-wrecker…” I cursed under my breathe, and a few tears dropped from my eyes.

“I will never love again!” I muttered to myself. I was too numb to think, too heartbroken. My pains, now very accustomed to me patted my back gently, and I drifted off to sleep.

Seven hours later, I was startled awake by the screeching sound of the plane landing.

I scanned the aircraft for Paula and our eyes met,

"Welcome to Washington!” She mouthed, beaming excitedly as we deplaned.

We stepped down to the Terminal and we immediately spotted a lady with a “welcome back cousin!” placard, waving happily at us.

“Lydiaaaa!” Paula squealed excitedly, running towards the girl. She looked a lot like her, only, Lydia looked older. 

I could see Paula talking to her and gesturing at me, so I knew she was telling her about the evil that had befallen me. 

Of course, it was a good story to use as rent for a few weeks. 

Lydia smiled, offering that sorry smile of pity at me and I shrunk immediately, darting my eyes away from her, hiding my shame and embarrassment.

Sheepishly scanning across the hall, looking at no particular thing, my eyes fell on the most handsome man I have ever seen in my life emerging from the baggage claim. 

“Woah!” I gasped, the sight of him melted all my worries and sorrows at once and I was flustered by his presence even though he was tens of feet away from me.

Unexpectedly, he turned towards my direction as if he could hear me gasping for air and our eyes met briefly.

My heart sank and I instinctively dashed my gaze to the floor, blinking hard to be sure I wasn’t hallucinating, but when I opened my eyes, he was still there, still staring in my direction.

I felt my face fluster and flushed pink at the handsome face that was staring in my direction.

He stuck out in the crowd of hundreds of people, glowing handsomely as he emerged from the bag unit. 

His hair was neatly styled to befit the outfit he wore. 

If I hadn’t learnt anything working with my former Boss, I had at least, learnt the kind of Suits only the top one percent of the world had access to.

He wasn’t wearing Italian, nor Lorenzo. 

This man was braced in a custom made Stuart Hughes diamond Suit that cost around two million dollars for one. He carried the newest model of a travel Luis Vuitton bag that showed he was just returning from a business trip. 

“Oh!” I drooled, unconsciously charmed by his effortlessly graceful strides. He wasn’t close enough for me to see his eyes, but they were glowing even from a distant.

“Rosé!!” Lydia and Paula exclaimed, calling me back to reality. 

I instantly tore my gaze from my eye-candy and went over to them.

“Our cab is waiting!” Paula announced.

I nodded apologetically and hurried behind them as we walked out of the terminal.

Unexpectedly, I caught a glimpse of that man, stepping into a tinted car protected by other cars. 

If I wasn’t mistaken, I would call it a convoy.

In Ontario, convoys were reserved for only the Mayor. Was he the Mayor? The Mayor in Ontario wouldn’t be on a commercial Airplane… except that was a chartered first class airline.

“Wow!” I exclaimed, 

“Gorgeous and wealthy” I gasped in awe, watching the entourage drive past the mini camping van, that Paula and Lydia called a cab.

The day ended but I was stuck with the gorgeous image of him in my mind, his graceful gestures gave me a strange soothing feeling of consolation, massaging my core with the soft graces of his features, slowly relaxing my fatigued mind and body until I drifted to sleep.

-------

The atmosphere in Washington felt different, I wasn’t woken up by the whooshing of the morning breeze, neither did I stay in bed enjoying the silence and serenity of the morning like I did in Ontario. 

I was well-awoken by the honks and loud shouts of cab drivers as they began their day’s hustle and bustle. It felt like a minute of sleep, but when I scanned my surroundings, Paula and Lydia were already dressed, looking over at me on the bed. 

“Won’t you wake up?” Lydia said with a grimacing grin.

“You have a job interview!” Paula added, 

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, don’t miss it. Be ready in fifteen minutes!” She exclaimed, swaying her hips out the room. 

“Fifteen minutes?” I repeated, still trying to make sense of everything. 

Suddenly, my reality hit me. 

“A job!”

I needed a job, no matter how I feel. 

“I’ll feel worse without a job…”

With that thought, I jolted from my bed and scurried in to the bathroom. In no time, I was out and, horrendously rummaging my luggages for something to wear.

“Yellow gown…No!”

“Blue Jumpsuit…No!”

“No!”

“I think you’ll scream “No” until tomorrow and still not find what to wear…” Paula whispered, startling me unbelievably.

“Paula, thank goodness you’re here. What job interview is this? I need to know so that I can prepare..” I panted.

“Lydia had to pull all her strings for this job. It’s not a high paying position but you need something to get your mind off… you know who.”

I nodded agreeably.

Paula put her hands on my shoulder and steadied my nervous body. 

“You’ll be alright if you allow me dress you up, because…”

“Yes, this will do…” she said, tossing a dark red body con dress at me.

“I don’t think I can wear this… it’s an interview, Paula” I protested, looking at my reflection on the dressing mirror. 

The gown glued to my body like a second skin, highlighting all my curves and legs. I felt uncomfortable in it and if anything made me uncomfortable, it meant I looked sexy, rather than beautiful.

“This is too short” I cried, feeling inappropriately dressed in the skimpy dress.

“No, this is Washington, Rosé. You have to look hotter at an interview than you look in a club, trust me.” 

Paula’s conviction had settled the case and off I went.

I composed myself as I walked over to the receptionist, repeating the name on the card Lydia had handed me.

“Jason Mannor…” I spluttered as I approached the receptionist.

The receptionist corked her eyebrow and stared at me in confusion.

“I am here for an interview with Jason Mannor…” I corrected myself.

She smiled in fakery, handing out a tag as she said, 

“Eleventh floor, Hall six.”

“Thank you… thank you ma’am.” I smiled awkwardly, walking off.

The elevator dinged open and my eyes fell on the tag on the door. 

“Conference Hall Six…” 

“This must be it” I said to myself, almost leaping over to the door.

I scanned the hall and there was no sign of an interview. 

Instead a classy looking lady emerged from the room, speaking fluent French on the phone.

I quickly went closer to her and said

“Bonjour ma’am, je suis ici pour une interview”

(I’m here for an interview, can you help?)

She turned and looked down at me, then said reluctantly. 

“l’entretien est termine” (The interview is over)… and walked past. 

I ran after the lady, trying to understand what was going on. It was barely 8: 30am.

“How could the interview be over?!” I exclaimed in English. 

My French was as rusty as my Spanish. I was born in France but I only lived there until I was seven.

The French speaking lady turned to me and her nostrils flared in irritation.

“You are in no position to question me!” She seethed. 

I was taken aback by her rage-filled responses. We had only just met. She sized me up and down and went,

 

“This is no place for filth like you!” She seethed, her voice was as high pitched as the elevator that dinged open.

Inexplicably, the atmosphere in the hallway changed, it was suddenly diffused with a manly scent of wood and citrus. 

A scent so strong, all my nervousness and frustration dissipated into thin air, leaving a stir of curiosity in my head.

We both looked up, in search of who was unleashing such oxytocin on us. Looking from my left side, my eyes met with the charming gaze of a man, so graceful, so beautiful.

It was that man! 

…The eye candy man!