chapter 1: Carol

CHAPTER 1

CAROL

Dirty old pig, firing me just because I refused to sleep with him.

What do men think of themselves nowadays? That they can just come along and dispose of us however they want, simply because they know we need a job?

Well, it’s not like it was the best job anyway; being a waitress in a bar wasn’t exactly a big deal. I graduated in Real Estate, and yet, how did I end up as a waitress? Just great.

I kept walking down the street through St. James’s Park, letting my thoughts distract me from all the problems I had to face now. I made a quick stop at a coffee shop to buy a cappuccino and some donuts. I’d eat them at home while I figured out what to do.

As I was leaving the place, my phone started ringing. I pulled it out of my bag and looked at the screen: great, I wanted her to drop the subject already; it wasn’t right. Seeing her name, I answered.

“Hi, Susan,” I said, resuming my walk.

“Am I interrupting something?”

“No, don’t worry, it hasn’t been a good day.”

“What happened?”

“Fired. That’s what happened.”

“What? But why?”

“It’s complicated, and I’m not in the right place to talk to you about it.”

“Alright. I’ll see you at your place then.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll bring wine. See you,” I hung up and put my phone away.

I kept walking, watching people rushing by, overwhelmed in the middle of April. It was amazing to see them pass you by, lost in their own thoughts like zombies in an empty shell.

I stopped at a corner to wait for the light to change so I could cross. When the signal changed, I was swept away by a human avalanche where people acted like animals crossing the street; they push, hit, and step on you. It’s as if they were blind.

Just as I was about to set foot on the sidewalk, I slammed into someone, causing my coffee to hit the ground from the impact. I was about to go after it when a strong arm wrapped around my waist and held me steady.

It all happened so fast that I didn’t have time to see the face of the person holding me, as I was focused on grabbing the box of donuts and my bag. People swerved around us so they wouldn’t have to stop. He lifted me up, and I could feel my feet leave the ground, pressing me against his body and taking me with him to the side of the crowded sidewalk.

“Who does this guy think he is, grabbing me like this?”

I tried to break free, but I lost my balance and he caught me again. I looked up, ready to tell him he could let me go, when a pair of incredible gray eyes stared back at me with a frown.

I fell flat on my face mentally. I didn’t say or do anything. He seemed annoyed. What was his deal?

“You can let me go.”

“Are you sure? Because I have no problem holding you,” his voice was so deep and smooth, a perfect combination that only he could achieve.

I stared open-mouthed at William Ashford, the sexiest man I had ever seen, wearing a black three-piece suit. His light brown hair was perfectly styled, and his face was clean-shaven, without a trace of a beard.

I wanted to tell him no, that I wasn’t ready for him to let me go, not yet. With him pressed against me, my legs felt like jelly, but I was aware of where we were and how the curious onlookers passing by were watching us.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

I squirmed in his arms; he sighed and, reluctantly, let me go. I turned my head and looked longingly at my spilled coffee on the ground.

“I’m sorry,” I blinked a few times and looked at him.

“Excuse me?”

“I’m sorry for knocking over your coffee,” he said, nodding toward where it lay.

I tried to pull away, but I lost my balance again, and he caught me once more.