Chapter 7

Jasmine

Why would dad introduce me like that? 

First thing , he doesn't ever introduces me to any of his co workers or friends and second thing , at least never like this...but I ignore my pulsating instincts and look at the man dad just introduced me to. 

Our eyes stays on each other and I gulp before I nod and smile at him , only - he doesn't smiles back at me , he merely accesses my face.

Rude! 

Of course ! After all he is dad's friend ! How else could I expect him to be?

Why did I even smile in the first place?

"Jasmine Brandt!" He says with special emphasis on 'Brandt' and roams his eyes on me from top to toe , deliberately pausing on my hip and then on my breasts ,unabashedly- right in front of dad and William! 

What does he thinks of himself?

As though I'm some dead chicken and he's checking which part has more meat to feast on..

Oh lord! 

What's happening these days ! 

I rush to stand up and purse my lips as William chuckles on something I don't understand - dragging extra stool for Mr Alrick to sit in since we have two people sitting arrangements and looks at me before he adds "can you bring us coffee , dear?"

I bite my tongue at the unease feeling sitting in my tummy before i just nod to no one in particular and catch Mr Alrick smirking as he walks in and I walk towards the countertop to prepare coffee as dad adds "She will!"

Why does he sounds as if he has to show something about me to Mr Alrick? 

As if he wants to show him how he treats me for some weird reason...

I swallow a heavy lump as Mr Alrick chuckles "like she should".

At this, I turn around in a whipping flip like movement and narrow my eyes at him.

I can understand why dad's words are demeaning but who does he thinks of himself to say 'like I should'

I hate arrogant men like this! I hope I'll never see him again because if I ever caught him alone without dad and William,  I will show him why he should watch his tongue when speaking to me!

I start making coffee with pursed mouth and feel eyes on me and without even looking up , I already know it must be him! 

What's his problem ?

Is he here for dad and William or for me? 

I look up with narrowed eyes and see his eyes on me as he speaks to dad and William..

As though he's talking about me...

Either he is talking about me or he's not paying attention to the conversation going on and paying attention on me but I can't tell which one is happening since from here I can't hear them.

I am quick to pull away my eyes as I whisk the coffee in cup and from no where dad's words from that morning hits me again and my heart thuds.

Alrick...

Alrick! 

He's taken his name before! I remember !

That morning...

On that call...

My eyes closes and his exact words hits me.

'What did Alrick say?'

'We will make him see her'

'Enemy's enemy is supposed friend'

Suddenly my hands stops and my face whips up towards him again and he is still checking me out as though he can't check me out enough.

He's not even considerate of dad and William sitting right here...

What's happening? 

Is he here to see me only ?

I put three cups in tray and slide the glass of countertop to pull out biscuits and Mr Alrick smirks and rolls his eyes at me before he nods at my father and speaks something I can't hear.

I put everything in tray and walk towards them and Mr Alrick looks back at me , keeping track of my steps as he speaks to Dad "I might make some changes in plan , maybe instead of approaching overseas for selling , I'd buy and pay you in cheque as you offered, buddy"  

He says and twists his head at me before he winks at me.

What?

He winked at me? For real?

Did I see it right?

Ugh! Men!

as I put the coffee tray on table "I like what I see" he says and my eyes meets dad's.

Did dad see Mr Alrick winking at me?

God! 

If he sees , he's going to end up thinking I gave flirt signals to his friend or colleague whoever he is!

And I am not doing it!

No way!

My eyebrows lifts up in frustration as I try to not think too much and see Mr Alrick smirking- who is he smirking at?

My heart thuds and the urge to soothe my anxiety becomes unbearable.

What I feel is happening here , can't be true . Dad doesn't meets my eyes and my eyes darts to William but he doesn't looks at me as he picks up his coffee and Mr Alrick raises his hand to take his cup , I gulp and turn around to leave in time a cup crashes on floor and hot coffee drops  spills and splatters my bare leg.

Oh my God! 

Ouch! 

Who broke our cup?

"Oops, my bad! Miss Jasmine" Mr Alrick says and I turn back towards him and he gestures towards his coffee that is now spilled on floor.

Perfect! 

So Mr weird Alrick can't even hold his cup properly !

"Do you mind?" William says to me , tusking his tongue at our broken crockery and I nod and get on my knees , even though I don't feel like kneeling infront of this weird man!

As I start collecting the pieces of broken cup , I feel Mr Alrick checking out my cleavage from the top of my tank top.

Is he serious ?

He knows my father is sitting right here! 

He knows I can see and feel and how wrong it is !

I suck in a breathe as I lift my head and glare at him "next time be careful with our crockeries! We will charge the next time!" As soon as I speak , he tilts his head and unabashedly stares at my breasts with raised eyebrows , in the exact point of my nipples as though trying to see my nipples through my top and I add "understand?"

He chuckles and Dad jumps in with shocked and slightly annoyed voice "jas!" 

Really? Dad is stopping me?

As if that wasn't enough , William follows "Jasmine , dear ? Be polite with customers" 

What?

I become polite ? While customers harasses me with their gaze?

They didn't see anything ? 

Before I could say anything 

"Its okay , I like her and her smart mouth" Mr Alrick says with a hint of sarcasm in his voice and lower his eyes to my crotch of my hot pants shamelessly and my jaw clenches as I don't say anything and stand up with the pieces and walk away , suddenly being too conscious of my back , I merely take six steps as I feel Mr Alrick standing as the metal screeches on floor.

Dad and William stands too .

"Meet you tomorrow after signing at Zander's" Mr Alrick says as I bend to grab the wipe cloth to wipe the coffee spilled on floor, with the corner of my eyes I see him shaking hands with dad after William and then he looks at me and darkly smirks again and then his eyes darts to the wipe cloth in my hand - his eyebrow slightly raises and then he steps on the spilled coffee , smears it a little on floor with his shoes and looks around the shop as though he owns it.

This asshole! 

What on earth does he thinks of himself?

He nods at Dad and William and walks out , leaving coffee footprints all over the shop as dad and William starts to follow him with paced steps to keep up with him and I rush "Dad? What's happening here?" 

I speak because I couldn't not ask and squeeze the wipe cloth as my eyes wettens and I bite my tongue.

I'm asking even though I could feel what is happening...

And what I feel couldn't be happening...

"Nothing!" 

He speaks in a sharp voice and I look at William , he lowers his eyes as hurt flashes his eyes and I see pity for myself before they both turn on their heels and the windchime I made with my hand tinkles and twirls at the tune of breeze and I sigh.

Dad and William , as though about to leave... 

Dad's that phone call...

Him saying he'd make Mr Alrick see something or rather someone and then bringing Mr Alrick in shop...

They both speaking of selling...

That talk of enemies enemy is supposed friend...

My instincts roaring to run...

What is happening? Is it all linked? Even if it is , how come I am midst all this? 

I hope it's all just in my head 

I swallow and take a deep breathe before I walk towards the coffee spilled on floor and drop the wipe cloth on it to clean with questioning heart and screaming instincts.

Who was Mr Alrick...?

Was he hinting at something with his obvious dirty gaze?

Why all of the sudden this feeling of being all alone and vulnerable is gnawing at my instincts?

That stranger who flirted with me... he looked like a king under cover , Mr Alrick wasn't normal either and men like that don't stop by at shop like ours until for some other motive and sure his motive wasn't to eat...

Was it a coincidence that dad spoke of suspiciously dark and dirty things and powerful men have started walking in , in our small shop? 

Men who check me out like they own me?

I shake my head and stare at the church that is opposite side of our shop as the bell of prayer rings.

I never did wrong to anyone...

Nothing wrong will happen to me too... right ?

My heart beat rings in my ears as whatever happened plays again and again in my head as I clean the floor and then wash my hands once the shop is presentable again for customers and then I pull out tender romance novel and sit in a corner chair to escape real world.