Chapter 13 Interview with the Jerk

“What is your story. Okay, Let’s hear it. I told you mine already, so please tell me yours.”

Mr. Dawson is not your typical guy who would just go straight up asking personal questions. Odd because we’re not even the friendly type of boss-employee relationship. We barely even made eye contact. Like real human being type of eye contact. Okay well, except when we bicker, that I see how he shoots a glare at me for talking back.

“My life is boring, Mr. Dawson. You don’t want to hear it.”

“Come on. I’m bored. I want to hear it.”

Freakin’ psycho. For the sake of my beloved job, let’s do it.

“Uhm, I graduated from Ohio University, I majored in economics, I have foster paren—”

Intentionally told him the usual line when introducing him to someone. His face twitched in annoyance, disappointed with my response.

“No, I mean your story.” He interrupted.

Should I tell him about Ricky? About my messed-up relationship?

“What do you want to know?” I asked.

“Your childhood dreams? Your family, friends? Ex-boyfriend?”

Why does he always sound like he really wanted to know my love life? The constant little sketchy questions just to get information from me started to bother me. Well, maybe he just wanted to know me better. Way too being nosy, Mr. Dawson.

“Okay. I wanted to be a flight attendant, actually. But my foster mom doesn’t like it. She doesn’t want me to be away from her.”

“Okay, you wanted to be a flight attendant but ended up majoring in economics. What else?” We are sitting comfortably inside this cramped car talking about my life. Talk about knowing each other, is it really normal for a boss to ask questions like these? Well, whatever. Better talk anything to kill time and get away from this traffic.

“I have a pet dog named Bruno. He is a Rottweiler. Gosh, I miss him. He’s so cute, by the way. I left him at my foster mom’s house. Also, a goldfish named Jolly.” I laughed at the sight of us talking nonsense topics with him gripping the steering wheel with his left hand and a small smile on his face listening intently to me.

“Now, Let’s talk about your love life, Ms. Hernandez. What happened? You told me you broke up with him…”

“Why is it that you always seem to be curious about my love life. Mr. Dawson? If you don’t mind me asking.” There, I said it.

“A boss should know about it, Ms. Hernandez. I have to make sure your love life will not be a hindrance to your work.

Oh, he is concern about my work, now?

“Sure, it is. We broke up because he cheated. We’ve been best friends since childhood, we fell in love then fell out of love.”

“Where is he now?”

Seriously, what is he up to now?

“Uhm… he is actually working here in the city. I don’t know what company, and I don’t want to know either.”

“Do you still love him?”

I really don’t know where this conversation is heading. It’s making me uncomfortable, for Pete’s sake!

“Why are you asking?” I am now starting to lose my cool, and my voice began to sound rude like talking to an old friend.

“Nothing. I am just curious.” A sickening smile appeared on his face and I am all ready to make snarky remarks but it would just be a waste of time.

“No, I don’t. I don’t love him anymore.”

Taking the cue to change topics, Mr. Dawson instantly felt that I am not comfortable and asked me how is it like working in the company, instead. Of course, I told him it was great, though I never make close friends and am okay being alone that working in his company has never made me feel like I’m all alone. Well, except Elizabeth that continuously bothers me with my relationship with Mr. Dawson.

We stayed inside the car for almost two and a half hours with non-stop conversation about work, probabilities with company assets, and slight bickering about nonsense stuff. The airport is pretty jampacked with passengers but we took another route to get to the private area with three bodyguards tailing before us. It didn’t dawn on me that we literally have bodyguards on us, not until now.

After we were guided by some mechanic that happened to be Mr. Dawson’s friend, we finally are able to settle inside the plane. Cream leather seats and elegant interior greeted us. Leaving me in awe, Mr. Dawson nearly toppled over me when I suddenly stopped from walking. Two flight attendants came to help me get on my feet with the two bodyguards snickering before us.

“I’m very sorry, Mr. Dawson. Are you okay?” I asked looking at Mr. Dawson holding his forehead. Adjusting his suit, he walked past me and settled on the lone leather seat near the window. The flight attendant ushered me to the opposite seat where I was offered a cup of coffee and a thick blanket. Whispering a ‘thank you’ I can finally have some sleep now. It’s already three in the afternoon when the pilot announces we are about to take off.

“Are you okay, Ms. Hernandez?” Mr. Dawson asked looking at me intently with a slightly worried expression.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Biting my tongue with my lie, Mr. Dawson nodded at me and went back from reading on his magazine and sipping on his coffee.

“Is this your first time riding a plane?” Casually asking me like I am not holding on to my chair for dear life.

I did not answer him and drank the coffee in one gulp.

“Oh no,” I muttered when the plane began to rattle, shaking us inside like we were riding a rollercoaster.

“Stay calm, just breathe. You will be coming with me now very often. Get used to it.”

I now look like a mother in labor by how hard I am breathing. My knuckles went white from gripping the chair tightly and I swear I can see Mr. Dawson staring at me at the other side of the plane. When the shaking stopped, he came over and sat beside me.

“Here, hold my hand.” He offered to hand out his hand to me. How come he looks so calm with all of this?

“No, I’m okay.” I gulped and I can feel the bubble of sweat on my forehead.

I was taken aback when Mr. Dawson hold my hand with his comforting stroke on my wrist. It’s so warm, smooth and his long fingers slipping through the spaces between my fingers. I froze staring at our entwined fingers. Speechless, my gaze met him and he is not even bothered with what he is doing.

“You are shaking. Calm down.”

With a gentle squeeze, I miraculously felt somewhat calm as my mind was diverted from our fingers. I stared at the two bodyguards at the farthest end of the plane with their sunglasses on. I swear I saw how one of them smiled a bit before sporting a straight face.

Our fingers remained intertwined until we landed. It was me who initiate to retrieve my hands because it's so freaking uncomfortable. I never even got the chance to say thank you for calming me the entire ride.

“I’ll go meet the Rodriguez family. You can stay in the hotel first, Rob and Miller will be assisting you there. Get some rest, we will be having a meeting with them tomorrow.”

He explained like he is the secretary and I am the boss. Didn’t waste more time, an assigned driver assisted him on a black Mercedes Benz and drove away in a blink of an eye.

“Let’s go, Ma’am.”

Bill called out while Miller loading all the suitcases in the trunk. We drove for almost an hour passing through different towns of London. City lights and busy streets can be seen as we made our way to the hotel. I can feel my hand tremble and my lips quiver as I stepped out of the car.

“Wow, how can be this cold in this place?”

It's not winter season yet, but the air is so unbelievably cold. No wonder people are wearing trench coats and mittens. Rubbing my hand together, Miller put a coat over my shoulder and guided me to the hotel lobby.

“Will Mr. Dawson be okay? I mean, you and Rob are here with me. No one is watching over him.” I asked Miller while we proceed to the room after checking in.

“Yes, he will be okay Ms. Hernandez. Besides, we will be with him in the next couple of hours after we settle you down.”

“No, I can take it from here. You can go now, Miller. Someone is supposed to be with him at times like this.”

Mr. Dawson is one of the most famous businessmen in the field of finance and investments. I remembered the last time we went on one of his business trips. We only have Rob with us. With his frail built, well we can’t blame him as he is just the driver and not a bodyguard, we were swarmed with paparazzis asking nonsense questions. Rob barely controlled the commotion and it was the first time I saw Mr. Dawson ran for his life. I mean, we literally ran from the building back to our car and chased after our breath like two freaking dragons on the run.

“Are you sure, Ma’am? We will help you with the suitcases first and then we’re out.”

Miller hauled two suitcases over his shoulder with his long strides, we arrived in our hotel room in just a blink of an eye.

“I’ll take it from here.” I smiled at the two boulders standing in front of me and literally shooed them away. My room is adjacent to Mr. Dawson’s room so it got a lot easier for me to transfer our suitcases. I spent almost two hours just arranging his clothes and set up his laptop along with his schedule for tomorrow.

It didn’t dawn on me that I fell asleep until I heard my phone rang. It was Mr. Dawson calling. Probably getting ready for tomorrow’s meeting.

“Yes, Mr. Dawson?”

“Did I wake you up?”

“Uhh, no… I am just a little bit tired, I guess?” I lied even though it’s quite clear in my voice that I just woken up.

“Bill will be there, in an hour. I sent you an address, meet me there.”

Before I can respond, he hung up leaving me in awe. This must be a dinner meeting with his prospects. I saw his text stating the address of a restaurant. So thankful I brought one of my casual dresses. Bill arrived in the hotel with a paper bag on hand.

“I’ll wait for you at the lobby, Ma’am.

I never got the chance to respond when he slammed the door close on my face. I settled for a simple brick-red short sleeve dress and paired it with my black shoes. I opened the bag and found a brown trench coat and mittens in it.

I smiled at the sight of it. The fabric looks warm and comfortable and I can’t wait to wear it. This must be expensive.

We arrived at the restaurant and surprisingly there are only two to three people in there. The place looks fancy. Fancy enough to make customers stay away from burning cards for the food. After inspecting the place, I found Mr. Dawson sitting at the corner part of the restaurant, near the window.

What I am expecting is him and a few Rodriguez family members that will be investing in our company. But he is sitting alone with his phone in his hands. I casually walk towards him and he looks like been here for a couple of minutes now because of his empty cup of coffee.