Chapter Four

CHARLOTTE'S POV

"Call him already!!!" 

Anika, my best friend shouted, today is Saturday, a day after I quit working, unlike how people in the TV act when they quit a job, they wake up late, get to do their exercises and work out, they meet new people, no, I didn't wake up late, I woke up to the thought of how I was going to get the bills paid, and I'm already two months due on my rent, not to mention, my mother and her constant need for money.

 I picked up my phone and called the one person who could understand me, and that's Anika. We've been besties since highschool and even as she's married with two kids, Laila who turned three, two weeks ago, and six months old baby Neyo, she still made time for me.

After I told her everything that happened last night, she was so mad that she said,

"You could have called me, I would have pulled up there with a baseball bat and beat the shit out of that bastard" 

I knew she always got my back, I told her about the offer by Daniel Lee and she wanted me to call him.

I was wondering what his job offer was, after so much pondering about what kind of job he was offering.

"You know I don't have a degree to work in his office, I need to know what kind of job-"

"Well your bills don't care what kind of job you do, it just wants to be paid, anyway, what if he wants you to be his cook, I mean you've cooked at Cosbow so many times when their chef got sick, I guess he ate your food and liked it."

"Ha, that's a dream, and for the times I cooked at Cosbow, the chef still got the credit"

I really need a job, any job and if a billionaire is offering one I should jump at the opportunity and not hesitate, dialling the number on the card, I put the phone on my ear as a click was heard and an hello

" Hello, this is Charlotte Barns"

'ah, Miss Barns, I was wondering if you were ever going to call'

 his gruff voice responded, was he waiting for my call ?,

"I wanted to ask about the offer"

'yeah, Come over to my office on Monday, we'll have a better discussion' with that I ended the call and 

Anika jumped at me

"What did he say?, What's the job about?"

"I'm going over to his office on Monday"

"So, he didn't tell you" I shook my head, pouting my lips, but this got me curious on what kind of job it was

"You are going to meet him on Monday, right?"

"Yeah, after I've sent out my applications"

"Yeah do that too"

*****

MONDAY MORNING

I stood outside of the humongous skyscraper with glass walls that showed the reflection of the clear blue sky.

 I always envied people who 

worked around this district of Manhattan, they probably make between, a hundred grand annually and some millions even, I took a deep breath before walking inside the building, the floors was busy with men and women dressed business like hurried along the hallways, I clutched my handbag, being here, seeing this made me feel small, with their designer clothes and shoes, I'm sure they felt like I was a beggar, I averted my gaze as I felt people watching me, probably wondering what I was doing here.

I walked towards the smiling receptionist wearing a blue blazer jacket, her name tag read 'Mirabel'.

I gave her her a thin smile

"Hi" I greeted

"Hello, how may I help you?" She sounded professional and nice.

"I'd like to be directed to Mr Lee's office" 

She squinted at that, probably wondering why I wanted that

"I have an appointment with him"

"Last floor, you'll meet his secretary there" 

I thanked her and got into the elevator

I was amazed at how the interior of the reception was, but here at the last floor was like a different earth, the lighting and walls spelt money and power, I couldn't hold the gasp that escaped my lips as my eyes took in the magnificent building.

I asked a random lady, where was the office of the secretary to the CEO was and she pointed it to me, I walked over to her and my palms began to sweat, I noticed as I entered, how beautiful their female staff was, slim, long legs and beautiful face, but looking at his secretary, I began to wonder if he did an audition for only beautiful girls to work here, she had shiny blonde hair and grey eyes and a perfect nose, and while she talked on the telephone and smiled, I noticed her perfect white teeth even, I felt a pang of jealousy, why should they have everything, a stable job and a perfect body, and here I am, lacking in both of them, well not for long, I will have a Job, soon, with that thought, a smile left my lips.

She ended her call, then turned to me

"Hello, how can I help you?"

"Ummm..he..llo" I stuttered, my hands were sweaty and I felt a bit nauseous, so I took deep breaths

"Hello, I'm Charlotte Barns and I'm here to meet with Mr Lee"

She sized me up with her eyes, before she asked.

"Do you have an appointment with Mr Lee ?"

"I'd say yes"

She looked on a computer, before

"I don't have here, any appointments with any Charlotte Barns, I'm sorry you'd have to leave"

Wow...rude much, I took deep breaths to calm myself, no need for any reaction, I talked calmly to her

"We talked over the phone on Saturday, he asked me to come today, so, umm..., Call him to confirm"

"I can't do that, you're not on his list of visitors, and there's no appointment with you, so leave before I call the security" she replied rudely.

"Please, if you'll just give him a call to confirm, if he said he doesn't, I'd leave, he really did ask me to come" 

She huffed at me, before putting the telephone on her ear, 

"Sir, there's one Miss Barns asking to see you?" 

I couldn't hear the reply, but I guess it was a good one, cause her eyes widen and then looked at me guilty, I couldn't help the smirk that left my lips, because I knew she felt she's wronged me by trying to chase away her boss's guest, I hoped she was going to apologise, but she just turned to me with a sneer.

"Mr Lee, would see you now"

Okay, I'm guessing this girl has issues, she walked with me into his office I took in the exquisite room, if the exterior and interior of the building was beautiful, I don't know the right adjective to use for this office, the whole room could fit the building where I lived and maybe extra rooms, and right in the middle was a exquisite table and swivel chair, everything here spoke money and wealth. Mr Daniel Lee was seated with a telephone in his ear, but when he saw me, he ended the call and gestured to me to sit down on the chair opposite his.

"I'm really sorry, was there any trouble on your way here?"

I wanted to report his secretary's attitude towards me, but I held it in, she was probably doing her job, and I would have done the same if I were working here.

"No"

"Thank you for meeting me Miss Barns, I have a proposal for you, and I think you suit the job perfectly"

I shifted around the seat, trying to get comfortable, and the vinyl underneath crackled, this is what I came here for, I need to listen.

"You see, Miss Barns, I want you to be my girlfriend and I'll pay you for your services"

One, two, three, did I just hear that statement right, like I paid a ten dollars cab, dressed in the most expensive cloth in my wardrobe to hear this, 

"What?!!"

 "Miss Barns, I'm in a situation where you can help me, and then I'll pay you"

"You'll pay me for what? to be your personal whore?"

His brows furrowed, as he straightened himself on his chair

"I didn't say that, I said I want you to be my girlfriend and I'll pay you"

 I was seething, how dare he say that to me, what does this rich people think they are, they can offer money to anybody to get anything they want, 

"Mr Lee, I came here thinking you were offering a job as a cook, but this..., I'm sorry, I'm not the right person for this"I rose up from the seat, grabbing my purse, careful not to get it cracked, 

"You didn't let me finish-"

"What should I hear next, how you want my body-"

Now, that got him ticked, because his jaw tightened and his voice became stringed as he said

" If you could sit down and let me finish," he said, gesturing to the seat where I sat, his voice was commanding and there was something in his eyes that said if I didn't obey, he would force me to, so I quietly sat down.

"You misunderstood my words, Miss Barns, you see, I'm in a situation where I need your help-"

"How?"

He swallowed, clearly annoyed by my interrupting him, but I didn't care, I needed to know what he wanted to say, and he should say it fast.

"If you could stop interrupting me, I'd say it" he said with clenched teeth, I gave an eye roll, but he continued anyway, not liking that, he glowered.

"Like I said, I'm in a situation, you see, my grandma wants me settled down, she's been getting me in so much blind dates, to cut the story short, I lied to her, that I have a girlfriend which I don't, so I need you to meet with her and act like you're my girlfriend" 

I listened to him, but had to ask, 

" You couldn't get an actress for it?"

He gave a half smile and I couldn't help but stare at his face as my heart begins to pound, what a beautiful smile, with the sun rays and that smile he looked like those kpop idols Anika watch on YouTube, I blinked to get out of it as I listened to him.

"You see, if I get an actress, my NaNa would know, I need someone to be my girlfriend"

" Wait let me get this, you'll pay me to be your girlfriend, how's that different from paying someone to sleep with you ?"

He shakes his head, as a little blush crept up his face.

"I don't want your body, I just need your personality, that's all"

Shame coiled up around me, I know I'm not as perfect as those models he always dated, but he should not say that to my face. 

"Mr Lee, I'm really sorry, but I'm not the right person for this job," I rose up to leave, this time nothing could stop me.

"I'll pay you, fifty thousand"

A sick feeling hit me as I suppressed the urge to gag, who does this man think he is ? I turned to him, my body simmering with anger.

"I know money revolves around your world and that it's easy to pay to get whatever you want, but not me" 

"Before you make a decision, why don't you think about it" his firm voice said

"I've thought about it, and my answer is No" 

With that I left his office and trudged down the hallway, there was the rude secretary. She held a face of disgust as I passed by her, I snorted and flipped my hair. Well, nothing will make us meet each other again so I walked out of the building.