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"No, I do," I say quickly, taking out a pen from my purse.
He snaps his fingers the same way Paul would call his cat. "Aren't you going to read it?"
I glare at him. This human seems to be very disrespectful.
He inclines his head to the side and crosses a leg over the other. "Yes, aren't you even going to take a look at it? Have your lawyer look at it?"
"What's the pay?" I ask him.
"You get 5000 dollars deposited to an account signed under your name every month. It's all in there." He points at the document in front of me.
5000? That is way more than what I earned at the Cuisine. More than I expected to be paid. I don't even have to work round the clock. I will be housed and fed by the residence too. "Will I be performing cleaning duties?" I ask in doubt of the price they are willing to pay just for cooking services.
"Well…" Ivan bob's his head, then he adjusts in his seat, and feels his wristwatch. A Rolex watch, the kind that Paul likes to fawn over when he visits the internet with Maya's laptop. "It depends. I only know of cooking. Yes, that's all. Surely, the Romano's canafford decent cleaning services. You don't have to worry about getting your hands dirty."
"I wasn't worried about—"
"Perhaps, we should just go ahead and sign the document. I have another appointment in my office at 2 o'clock. I don't have all day." He rolls his eyes and pretends to be bored with all my questioning.
I frown, flip open the file, and sign here—and there—flip over. There is another page. I sign. Flip over to the last and sign.
"Wonderful." Ivan gleams. He seems like a jolly good fellow, but one too proud and obsessed with class to be considered likable.
He claps his hands and begins to gather up the document. When he has the papers tucked into a leather bag, he stands to his feet and extends his hands for a handshake.
The supposed interview happens in a flash, and Ivan, who I presume will have the enthusiasm to taunt me, has another engagement much more important than ogling the outline of my breasts for a second time.
I take hold of his hand and we shake. When I try to pull awayhe squeezes my hand and panic grips me.I thought he didn't have any other interest?
He narrows his eyes, appearing grim. "I am curious. Have you had any chance to…" his eyes search my face. "To meet with any of the Romanos?" I feel my spirit sink.What is he playing at?
"No, I haven't."
He hums. His hands are still holding mine. The waitress behind the counter is whispering something to her co-worker.
They giggle and I flush; they must-have the wrong idea. Well, I don't know the idea they have at all because the only thing Ivan ordered was a mocha. We don't come off as a couple on a date.
"Hmmm, interesting. Alright." He dismisses me and pulls his hands away. My muscles relax, and I stand up straighter, gripping my purse tighter. SomehowI am unaffected by his touch no matter how attractive he looks.
"I'll be seeing you around then, Emily." I never gave him permission to address me that way. I guess to him I am just a mere cook anyway. "Congratulations." He places a hand above his three-piece suiteand hurries out of the restaurant.
I barely make it out the door when I hear someone at a table close to the glass doors whispering, "She is one of the survivors of that fire. Told you she looked familiar. I am sure of it." I don't bother to look in that direction. I have had enough to deal with for one day. I'll just go home now and celebrate with the cat before Paul returns.First I'll have to get a bottle of cheap wine from a store and purchasea new set of glasses because the stupid cat broke the last set Paul had gotten.
I hope Paul won't mind. It will be the last time I'll use his credit card. I am finally moving on to a new life. One I hope will be better than my previous life.
The night before I move to the Romano residence, I leave the hospital after visiting Maya and head toward the lake.
I don't think it through, I merely act on instincts because I crave to feel that comfort and warmth that I have missed so much. Paul has no clue where I am, and I hope the stupid cat doesn’t rattle me out. Paul will definitely be mad if he notices I am not home early.
Just like Mike, he worries over my safety when it's dark. He says he works in a nightclub now, and he realizes how dangerous the streets can be for a woman. He has seen a lot of women get harassed in public, and he has been caught up in several bar brawls.
I simply tell him that he lives in a different world now. All I have to do is stay clear of the bars.
The air is kind of humid, so I have chosen to wear a light dress, pleated from the waist. I stand before the lake and let the silence sweep me away.
Memories return, but my eyes are much too dried up to release a tear.
I smile and toss the last note he sent to me into the lake.
