Chapter 2

Melissa’s POV

After the interview that didn’t happen, I took a nap, then just sat around, thinking about the baby, while flipping through a magazine. And that is when Mr. Hot Stuff’s words come back to haunt me. 

Did you do your research about this company at all?

I try to ignore that question, but it just won’t leave my head.

Well fuck it, I might as well do the research. 

I go to my room and turn on my laptop. I pull up a search engine and type Edwards’ Enterprise. A result comes out immediately.

“Edwards’ Enterprise headquarters and branches. The history of Edwards’ Enterprise. The face and brain of Edwards’ Enterprise. That sounds interesting.” 

I am talking to myself. I click on the face and brains of Edwards’ Enterprise. I leave to get the bowl of ice cream left in the fridge while the page loads.

“Let us have a look at what my future boss looks like, shall we, Molly?” I ask my dog, and she barks in response.  

I make my way back to my room, with Molly following closely behind me. The face that greets me on my laptop shocks the shit out of me and I almost drop my ice cream. But a girl can’t afford to lose her last bowl of ice cream, can she?

At least I can’t afford to lose my last bowl of ice cream.

It can’t be him. Oh, Jesus. What have you done, Mel?

I sit down and slowly scroll down to confirm if he is actually who I think he is. His bio is written at the end of the picture.

 

Name: Javier Edwards

Position: CEO and Owner of Edwards’ Enterprise

Age: 28 years

Marital status: Single

 

“Good. He is older than me by four years. That is not much.”

How on earth did he accumulate such wealth at such a young age?

He can’t be single. He has a daughter, right? I continue scrolling until I get to the part of his bio that talked about his baby. 

Her name is Luciana Edwards, and my guess is spot on. She is just nine months old. Her mother, Gabriella, died in a car accident two months after Lucy’s birth, and that was all about Lucy. 

There is just a picture of her mother and no picture of Lucy at all. Her mother was so beautiful. Lucy will surely grow up to be a gorgeous girl, judging by her mother and father’s looks alone. There are no details about Gabriella and Javier’s relationship with her. But it is such a pity that the cute little pumpkin will have to grow up without her mother.

“Since he is very single, you still stand a chance with him, Melissa.”

Hold your horses, young miss. Where the hell did you get that thought from?Nobody is standing a chance with anyone. I quickly close my laptop before I get tempted to search about the relationship.

 

“Melissa, open the door,” Ben shouts, pounding the door at the same time.

You are probably wondering who Ben is. Well, Ben is the owner of this building. Ben is way older than me, like thirty years older than I am, but the silly man wants a relationship. He is always giving me this weird look and staring at my body like a creep. I’ve told him off already, but he just won’t budge.

Did I mention he is really creepy? He is a fucking creep.

“Melissa,” he shouts louder this time, and his pounding gets louder, too.

“We better go answer him before he kicks the door down,” I tell Molly. 

You can’t blame me for talking to Molly all the time. She is the only company I have.

I open the door and slip out, closing the door behind me. I can’t afford to be alone with Ben. Talking right outside my door is way safer than letting him in. 

Have I mentioned that Ben is obese? Like, I mean, really huge. Well, let me tell you: Ben is big. Like, so fat that he could crush me with the palm of his hands alone.

I know it is not nice to call people fat, but with Ben, it’s different. He doesn’t seem to care about his shape at all, and I think he probably believes himself attractive. Why else would he think I would want anything to do with him when he looks like… a motherfucking bulldozer? 

Maybe he doesn’t own a mirror.

“You still haven’t paid your rent, Melissa,” he reminds me.

I cringe. “I know, Ben. I still have time, right? You gave me a deadline, and it is not here yet.” I try to remain calm as much as I can. I don’t want to piss him off by pushing the wrong button. 

He can crush me in a heartbeat.

“But it will be here soon,” he coos, giving me that creepy look.

 You know the creepy look I mentioned? Well, he is giving me that look again, and I try my best not to shudder in disgust.

“I will pay up before then,” I assure him. 

“You know, you can always pay up another way.” He eyes my body with lustful eyes.

I try really hard not to vomit. “There is no need for that, Ben. I will pay you.”

He shrugs. “The offer still stands anyway. I know one day you will take my offer.” He winks and leaves. 

“Over my dead body, Ben. I would rather be homeless than sleep with your fat ass,” I mutter to myself. But I can’t say that to him just yet. I can’t afford to have him throw me out, can I?

My deadline is on Saturday, and today is just Monday. I have to get myself that job no matter what I have to do. 

I enter my apartment and close the door after Molly walks in after me. “Let us go to bed, Molly. Tomorrow is another day.” I hope it’s better than today.

And the interview actually happens.