Julie was deeply lost in the streets of Europe with Robert Langdon is one of those Dan Brown's thriller novels. Her face was covered by the hardback she had just bought the day before and was already halfway through the 600 plus pages story. Her coffee cup was half empty, her croissant half-eaten, her eyes nailed to the sheets.
"Julie?!" a voice called her name which she pretended to not hear, she was three pages away from the next chapter. The source of the voice didn't call on her again, instead, he took a seat in front of her in silence. Her eyebrows furrowed as she was finishing a few more paragraphs before she slid her book to one side and startled at the sight of Nathan.
"Nathan?! I'm sorry I was ..." she was lost for words.
"In the middle of a chapter? Don't worry, I'm like that too ..." he laughed softly, showing a row of perfect teeth between his perfectly shaped lips. "Are you alone? Can I sit here?" he was direct.
"Sure ... " being an introvert, she didn't know what else to say after that.
"Why aren't you in class? I just dropped Kelsey at the campus and thought I stop here for coffee," he peeked at the coffee cup in front of Julie. "Do you want another one? I think we should get another one." Nathan was definitely an extrovert who was more than comfortable in his own skin. He had continuously spoken four sentences in a row without needing a reply.
Julie raised her eyebrows and said, "Okay," with a smile.
"Just the girl I need to talk to, sorry to bother your reading, is it a good time?" he asked as he settled in his seat.
She needed a break from all the running around with a police detective, a conversation with a new friend was a good one. "No ... no ... I can finish it later, what's up? Anything I can help you with?"
"Actually, there is ... you know about my business in Bhorma, right? I was thinking if you'd be interested in taking your internship at my restaurant, I offered Kelsey but she said she won't be able to take an internship 'til next year," he was eager to get a favorable response.
"What would the job description look like for an intern?" she asked.
"I was thinking, it'll be good for you to come up with ideas for my company and the chain I'm building ... maybe we can sit down and work on a map so you have an idea of what I'm working on and the vision that I'm trying to achieve," he was down for business.
Julie was intrigued, it was the kind of learning experience she was looking for. "Alright, my internship will be for three months starting December, I'm going to put in my application for the campus to go over it and get approval, so I'll need a letter from your company to state that I will be doing an internship there." She deliberately chose to start in December because she didn't really want to spend the winter holidays with her family. That way, she can finish even earlier and start working as soon as possible.
"Does that mean you'll do it?" Nathan was hopeful.
"I don't see why not? If I can put in my ideas in a new business and help you get everything rolling, that would make my report more comprehensive, and I'll be learning a lot more than if I join an already successful establishment, in which I would probably fill in a post as an assistant or administration job, that would suck for me," she said truthfully.
"That's awesome, December sounds perfect, I will be down on staff on holidays, and you can even help me recruit interns ... well we should start mapping when you have time," Nathan was fired up with the idea.
Julie picked up her backpack and reached inside it, she took out a pen and a notepad, "How about now? I have time now, I'll just take notes on the information I need from you and then I'll map it out on my laptop later and we'll see from there," she was excited.
They ended up sitting there until lunch and another cup of coffee to discuss the basics of Nathan's business. He was thrilled to have her in his team, it was obvious that she would make a great addition to his company, or even a partner because she thinks like one. Even from the first time they sat down, she was absorbing all the information and processed it in that brilliant mind of hers more than anyone he had ever encountered.
Nathan on the other hand had been working on building a whole chain of restaurants on his own. The task was a lot to carry for someone as young as he was and inexperienced. Even though he had some help from his parents who had their own successful chain of meat companies, he was determined to be independent and took as a minimum handout as possible. He was more than capable, it was evident that he had the knack to be a diligent businessman.
"I can't believe how efficient that was," Nathan's eyes were bright as sunshine, he knew right then Julie was the person he needed. In just one seating, they managed to map out the recruitment system, some purchasing system and already brainstorming about the computer system that the company needed to integrate all its departments and eventually all their future chains together. Julie had a satisfied smile on her face, she too had just found an employer that she felt like she can work with for the long run.
Nathan couldn't shut up about it when he picked up Kelsey later that day. "That's wonderful news, babe, now you can leave all those tedious work to Julie and spend more time with me," she nipped his neck.
His eyes were still bright with ideas, he leaned over to her and kissed her mouth, "You're underestimating my skills babe, I can do both when I need to." And that was just the kind of comment that sends Kelsey tingling with desires.
Whenever she's not in a class, twice or three times a week at various coffee shops they would meet to discuss work while Kelsey attends her classes. They made tremendous progress just by brainstorming, making phone calls, and work on Julie's laptop. Sometimes Kelsey skipped class to join them, to see what the work was like but then she was bored after a few hours and decided that she was better off in class.Julie went to the counter to order some coffee and snacks whenPreston approached her. "Hey, I thought I'd find you here," he greeted her. He was standing really closeto her, their arms rubbed with each other and it made her uncomfortable."Hey Preston," she replied in a monotone."My birthday is coming up, I wanted to invite you," he said.Julie shrugged, "Oh I don't think I can come, but thanks for inviting me, I'll let Kelsey know.""Come on, Jules, this been go
The party was at his house. Preston's family also owned a house in Gastonburry, but he chose to live in the dorm because he didn't get along with his dad. It was a better choice for his love life too, it would've been disastrous to bring his dates home and meet his parents in the morning.Kelsey was right, Preston was a slut, he sleeps around with everybody. He had the looks, he got the reputation, and he was a singer in his band which was gradually making a name for itself. Even though he took the Business Major, his musical talent was pulling him in another direction.His girlfriend for the past couple of years was an on and off relationship because he couldn't keep his pants on. It left Julie feeling like an idiot for letting him in her room that night and fell for the same trick that he probably used with every girl he slept with. Or maybe he didn't need a trick at all, because most girls would open their door to him just because he was
'I broke up with Naomi' the girl who he cheated on with her. So? She thought. It couldn't be undone, she slept with someone else's boyfriend. Something she never thought would happen. Especially not when her last boyfriend cheated on her because she wasn't sure about giving up her virginity to him.She shrugged it off. She remembered how hewas when she opened her dorm room that night. He was drunk, he said he couldn't sleep, he was smelling like booze with a tint of Hugo Boss, he hadan unopened bottle of Vodka in his hand.Preston always smelled nice, even under a stale cigarette odor. He took his jacket off, leaving his thin worn out The Doors T-shirt hanging loose above his jeans. He threw himself on the floor next to her, their backs leaned on the bed. He opened the bottle with his teeth and they started drinking.He went on about the thousands of fights he had with Naomi, that night being the peak o
The first time he was introduced to Julie, the most obvious thing about her was her quietness. People would assume she was shy. She doesn't talk much unless it was something that interests her. The next obvious thing was her intellect, she can talk about anything that nourishes her brilliant mind. She knows her music, she knows her books, she knows her artists like they were her friends.She laughs at things most people find offensive, she laughs at herself, her laugh was contagious. She knows how to be focused, she knows when to let loose. She listens like you are the most important person in the room. She'll tell you the nicest things about yourself and the worst things without judging you. By this time, you'll see her as your best friend. And then he sees it, the way she threw her head back when she laughs, the creases in the corners of her eyes, her smart comebacks, the way she tucked her hair behind her ears. She was pretty. Pretty amazing.
Kelsey came back later that day looking exhausted. She threw her arms up and fell on her bed like a log. She let out a long sigh of relief.Julie was on her laptop editing Preston's videos, she glanced at her suspiciously, "Long day?"Sheprobably had spentthewhole afternoonsexingupwith Nathan,thesigh didn'tsoundlikeagood one.Kelsey turned her head lazily, "Hhmm ... he didn't bring his A-game today, and I was wearing my go-to jeans and lucky thong ... I guess it's not so lucky anymore."Julie chuckled, "Why? What happened?"Kelsey rolled on her stomach, "I don't know, something was weighing on his mind, I think it's probably work, he's nervous for next week ... the recruitment and everything ... it's starting to feel like we're married."Julie nodded, "Yeah he does have a lot on his plate, he'll be meeti
Julie closed her laptop and gave a sigh of relief, "I think that's it for now, are you ready to go back and start everything?"Nathan sat back on his chair, "Ready as I'll ever be ... I'm glad you're on board, can't wait for December, it's gonna be exciting.""Me too, I feel like I'm a part of it already, I have so many ideas that I want to share with you for Ardor."Nathan sipped on his coffee, "Please, give me everything you've got, draft them up, send it through email or Skype me, I want to hear all of them, 'cause I got plenty of those too ... just not sure if they're doable, I guess we're gonna have to wait 'till we get all the team ready.""True, at least you know what to look for when you're recruiting, we're setting a pretty high standard for a new business," Julie said."I'm willing to compensate them for their contribution though, I believe that I need them more than th
The last couple of nights in Gastonburry, Kelsey stayed at his place. He indulged her with his best meals, his best wine, put on his go-to music for a quiet romantic night with his girlfriend."Are you going to be okay while I'm gone?" he finally asked her.Her eyes flickered as she sipped her wine, "Of course not ... I will miss you terribly."He smiled, "Me too," and then he was quiet.Kelsey went over to him and sat on his lap. She brushed his hair with her fingers, looped her arms around his neck. Something was on his mind, but he couldn't say it. She kissed him. "Are you okay?" she sensed it."Kelsey ..." it was right on the edge of his tongue, she waited for it. "Should I be worried?" he said it."About what?""About us ... I mean, I can't help but feel like ..." he couldn't bring himself to say it. "Neither of us has ever been in a
It started out as a friendly night out, just a couple of beers at a quiet pub in the gallery. The gallery was a row of cafes, pubs, and restaurants about fifteen minutes away from campus where students from all the Universities in Gastonburry blend in like a melting pot. It was the only area for nightlife other than the two clubs they had for more lively entertainment.It often started like that with Kelsey, until she meets her friends who also came to the same place and then the night would grow longer as it progresses. The drinks would come more than they initially planned, then they ended up hopping in the car to go to the club because everyone was drunk enough to invite each other for more drinks with louder music and a dance floor.They were still at the pub when Julie's phone rang. It was close to 10 PM, it was Nathan."Hey." His voice at the other end."Hi! You've landed!" she was half shouting."(Chuckl