The Besotted

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I was halfway through the lobby yesterday, jaw clenched tight with tears threatening to fall, stomping my heels hard when I heard a voice call my name behind me.

It was a man's voice so there was no way it was Brie, she never returned from getting her shit, and I doubted that it could ever be Mr Sin-- he doesn't strike me as the type to chase women through lobbies- so that only lefy one person.

I stopped and turned around, and  just as I predicted, it was Zayn rushing towards me.

Every piece of me wanted to run away before those tears made it down my face and I embarrassed myself in front of some man and those jerks at the reception but I forced myself to stay rooted and forced my tears to stay in my eyes if they knew what was good for them.

And it wasn't that I was crying over anything that asshole of a man said or how he said it, I was just frustrated if that's even the right word. I had exhausted all options available to me, I didn't know what I was going to do

"Hey, look, I am sorry for my brother," Zayn said a bit out of breath, "He is, well he is -"

"No need to apologize for your brother, he's a dick but he's not obligated to give me a job," I explained to him how it's nobody's fault but mine that I am royally fucked, "He doesn't know me from under a rock in the ocean, so there's nothing to be sorry for."

"No, I know that. It's just his demeanor that bothers me," He said, "He shouldn't have been so rude about it is all but listen, let's go to lunch so we can talk -"

I immediately refused, "No, it's okay, thank you. You look like a nice person and everything, but I should be getting home."

And pick up cans in the streets. That's what I'd have had to do to replace the money I spent on yesterday's fruitless excursion.

He smiled kindly showing faint dimples on his cheeks, "Relax Imani, you need a job and if I am to convince my brother to rehire you then I should at least know a thing or two about you."

Convince his brother to rehire me?

"Brie tried already."

"Brie is full of shit."

"And you're not?" I'm a very suspicious person.

"Listen, I'd hire you myself, but I already have a housekeeper, and it would be unfair of me to replace her with you. She's been working with me for years."

I weighed his offer - the lunch meant better food, at least, but do I really want to work for a person who doesn't want me working for them?

Did I even have a choice?

I took the nth deep breath of the day, "Ok, Mr Sin, lead the way."

He rewarded my response with a big, closed mouth smile and led me outside to where his black car was parked, and I have to say that car is a beast.

He opened the passenger door for me, then rounded to the driver's side and got in.

"Nice car," I complimented when he started the engine, "Thought you'd be in a limo or have a driver or whatever shit you rich people do."

He laughed and tore off the pavement, "No, my brother and I like to do our own driving."

"So you are not very trusting then?"