Chapter 3

Julia "The expansion of CeeCee's will bring only good things to your table, Mrs. C. You can hire more workers and even turn one part of the building in a restaurant like you always wanted. You'll be making more than what you are making here, and you know what that means, right?" Instead of waiting for the woman sitting across from me to answer, I continue, "You can finally finish that bucket list like Mr. C wanted you to."

Her husband Titan Chancellor passed away four years ago, and his last wish was for his wife to travel to the places on the list that they created. But unfortunately, after his death she had to use the little they saved up to pay loans.

"That does sound like a great idea. I can see it now," she paused, and it seemed as if she was imagining it all, "But I wouldn't have anyone to go with me."

"What about Emmie? She seems lovely," I said. Emmie was the name of the cashier. In a short time, I found out that she was a senior over at Greengrove High. She lives with her dad and six-year-old brother.

I watch as Mrs. C’s face lights up. "That's a good idea. The Lord knows she needs a vacation, and you could help me with the hiring."

I could tell she was excited about the expansion. The only thing Rome needed to do to get her to agree was to approach the situation properly by laying all the cards on the table for her to see.

"Of course, I will be there with you every step of the way," I smile.

"You better, young lady. I always knew you were smart but leaving to attend business school sure did a number on you."

I forced a smile. Gina must have been the one who told her that was the reason I left. I guess making me look better in this situation was her only option to hide her cruel ways.

Instead of correcting her I asked, "Are you ready to sign?"

Josh, Rome's lawyer, showed up five minutes after Rome had called him. He helped me carry my groceries out of the store.

"I must say I'm impressed, Ms. Roderick."

"Please, call me Julia."

Rome walked ahead of us, keeping to himself. Even though he finally got what he wanted, he was still grumpy. I thought he would be planning a celebration, but I guess I had too many expectations for a man I just met.

"Julia, Rome has been trying to get her to sign for four months now and you just did it in a couple of minutes," Josh said as we stopped by Rome's car, "Mrs. Chancellor mentioned you went to business school. Was it Blanton?"

Blanton was a well-known business school three hours away from Greengrove, in Palmville, which was close to where my apartment was. It was quite expensive, and all the best businessmen and women went there.

"I didn't attend business school. Mrs. C has it wrong," I told him. This was a conversation I didn't want to have, and Rome seemed to not care, but Josh looked like he wanted to ask more.

"I prefer not to talk about why I think she said that," I said in one breath, before sighing, "Now which one of you gentlemen wants to drive this damsel home?"

"You can use my car to take her, Rome. I'll just stay and wait for the tow truck to show up," Josh says handing Rome my shopping bag and his car keys before leaning against Rome's car.

Rome did not seem to be pleased with this, but instead of complaining he took the bag and keys and walked towards Josh's car.

Josh nodded at his moving figure. "You should go before he leaves you Julia. It was nice meeting you."

"Nice meeting you too, Josh, and thanks for carrying my bag for me."

He gave me a small smile. "What am I here for if not to help a beautiful damsel?"

I returned his smile. He wasn't bad looking himself, tall with short brunette hair, blue eyes, and impeccable bone structure.

"See you around, Josh," I said when I heard Rome start the car.

I got in and before I had the chance to put my seatbelt on, he drove off at a fast speed causing me to jerk backward.

"Gosh, I thought you would be nicer to a girl who was making your dreams come true, and not to mention your new roommate," I told him happily.

"About that," I heard him say, his focus on the road, "You cannot stay with me."

I turned my attention to him. “What do you mean? We had a deal."

He gripped the steering wheel and continue focusing on where he was going.

“I wasn't thinking straight. I can't have you living under the same roof as me."

"Why not? Are you afraid that your girlfriend is going to get jealous when she sees that you have a beautiful young woman living with you?"

"I don't have a girlfriend," he mumbled.

"A boyfriend then?" I asked intrigued. I wanted to know why he suddenly changed his mind after all I did for him.

"No."

I rolled my eyes and looked out the window. I wasn't going to force a stranger to let me live with him even though I could not put up with Gina for long. Instead of replacing my car, I'll just use the money to find a new apartment somewhere nice and far away from her.

"I don't even know why I thought you were in a relationship. You couldn’t pay someone to stay with your moody ass."

Instead of answering, I felt him throw something on my lap. I looked down to see it was his phone.

"Type your email in. I'll email you my address and your schedule. I'll allow you to work until you have enough to purchase a new car."

I raise a brow at him, "Email?"

"Are you hard of hearing?" He glanced at me before focusing back on the road.

This man is strange, for sure. The phone was unlocked, so I went to the contacts and added my number along with my email address before returning it. If he didn’t contact me by email, he could at least text me the information.

When the car arrived at the crossroad where I crashed into him, I asked him to pull over. It was a seven-minute walk from here to Gina's. The last thing I wanted was for Gina to see a billionaire drop me off.

"Don't you want me to drop you at home?" I heard Rome say as I leaned over to get my bags from the backseat.

"No, it's fine. I doubt you want to anyway."

Rome She was right. I didn't want to drive her home. I couldn't stand being in the car with her any longer. I enjoy peace and silence, but she doesn't seem to know what that is.

"You're right," I agreed, there was no point in denying it when it was obvious.

She smiled at me, something she did often, which I found annoying. Why would someone smile so much? What does she have to be happy about all the time? Even when I insult her, she doesn't seem phased.

"I know I am."

I watched as she struggled to open the door with three heavy bags, one of which was filled with beers and cigarettes. I was curious why she bought so much liquor and cigarettes? Of course, I wasn't going to ask that.

Before she could pull the door open, I started the car and drove in the direction her car was coming from when she crashed into me.

"Where?"

"What are you doing? I don't want you to drive me," she complained. I glanced at her to see a worried look on her face.

I didn’t know what that was about, but I couldn't let her walk with those heavy bags. I might not like her much, but she did convince the old lady.

"Don't be a pain in the ass," I said. I'll just drive in the direction she drove from, and she would have to stop me at some point.

"Me, pain in the ass?" she asked, pointing to herself, "That would be you, Mister. Have you met yourself?"

"Tell me where I should drop you," I said, ignoring her. She was too dramatic.

She sighed and leaned back in the seat. “Just stop at that white house down there with the mailbox knocked over."

I glanced at her, and she didn't seem happy. I wondered why she wanted so badly to stay at my house. Despite the unkempt lawn, the broken mailbox, and the paint peeling from the walls, living there did not seem so bad.

As soon as I stopped the car in front of the house, she pulled the door open and grabbed her bags, "Thanks for the ride, Mister," she said before rushing out as if her ass was on fire.

I didn't have time to answer her, not that I planned to anyway. I drove the car into a driveway nearby and turned the car around. I looked at the house where I dropped Julia to see her making her way up the front steps towards a badly dressed woman who grabbed the bag from her the moment, she was close enough. It seemed as if she was arguing. She looked at my car and said something to Julia while pointing. Instead of looking back she push past the woman and entered the house.