MONALISA
“Irene” I called after her as she headed out of the lecture room.
“Irene” I called again but she wasn’t stopping. I grabbed my bag and rushed after her.
“Irene” I stopped in front of her with a smile and she removed the ear pods from her ears.
“Hey, Lisa” She called softly.
“Hey” I replied, catching my breath.
“Anything wrong?” She asked and I shook my head and then shrugged.
“The truth is that the only person I associate with very much is Francesca and after what happened between us, I barely have anyone and I am not sure who can even be a true friend to me and so…”
“And so you think I will be a true friend to you because I gave you a hint on what your previous best friend and your ex boyfriend were doing?” She cut me off and I went mute.
Maybe Irene didn’t want to be friends. Perhaps she just wanted to be alone and not be disturbed just because she gave me a hint on what Francesca and Bryant were doing.
“If that is what you think, then you are absolutely right” Irene suddenly added and my eyes lit up, seeing a small smile on her face.
“I will be glad to have a friend as pretty as you are” She added and a smile spread my lips.
“Do you want us to hang out sometime?” I quickly asked her, feeling glad that Irene was going to be my friend. I just had the feeling that she was going to be the right friend to me.
“Sometime? Are you busy now?” She asked and I thought for a few seconds.
“Not for the next five hours” I responded and she walked to me, threw an arm around my shoulder lazily.
“Do you have any place in mind?” She asked and I immediately thought of the cafe but cancelled the thought of it instantly.
The cafe had way too much memories of I and Francesca and I did not want to have to be there.
“I guess you have nothing in mind. How about we go to the restaurant right next to the hotel where my mum works? The restaurant serves the best food”
Damn! I never ever knew that Irene could say so much words in just a couple of minutes.
“Sure. I am a bit hungry so a restaurant would be perfect indeed” I affirmed and we were on our way in no time, talking about random stuffs, things we liked and our dislikes.
I and Irene were quite different from each other but in some way, it seemed like we were getting along with each other pretty well.
*
“This place really has lovely food” I commented, surprised at how tasty the meal was.
“Right? I love their food so much and I come here a lot to eat since my mum works just over there” She pointed out of the restaurant to a huge hotel that was definitely not unnoticeable.
It was huge and even from the outer decors, it looked expensive and luxurious.
“That’s a huge one. What does your mum do there?” I asked.
“She is the manager. The job pays a lot.”
“I bet it does. Being the manager of such a huge hotel must really pay a lot.” I nodded and then recalled that I also wanted to get myself a part time job. If I could get a part time job in this luxurious hotel, I was sure that I was going to be well paid and I would make mum proud too but it seemed too early to ask Irene about getting a job.
“You have a question you want to ask?” She asked, noticing that I had been staring too long at the hotel.
“Yeah… oh, I meant no.”
Irene threw her head back.
“You don’t have to hold back if you have a question.” She said convincingly.
“I was just wondering if you could perhaps help me ask your mum if there is a part time job I could do there? I could use a job yunno.”
“Oh, that. I don’t really know since I have never really being interested in mum’s job but let’s go ask her now. She doesn’t pick calls when she is working so let’s go in and see her”
“Like right now??” I was surprised by the amount of willingness.
“Yes, unless you want to stay back and eat more, of course” She replied and I gave my full stomach a rub.
“I am very full already”
Irene rose up from her seat and I did the same.
“You are very lovely, Irene” I grinned as I followed her out of the restaurant.
We crossed the road to the other side and Irene waved at one of the securities of the hotel. The guy waved back at her with a clear sense of familiarity and I could only smile sheepishly as I followed her into the hotel.
Heavens! This place was hugeeee! And it was so damn expensive. It was just the reception but it was so big that it had a water fountain in the middle of it. My eyes immediately caught the sight of the beautiful flowers in majestic vases.
“Those vases are so well made!” I squealed.
“You have a thing for vases?” Irene asked.
“Yeah, kinda” I shrugged.
“They are indeed pretty” Irene affirmed, bringing her phone out of her pockets as we approached the receptionist.
“Hey Irene” The receptionist smiled.
“Hey, do you have any idea where my mum is?” Irene asked.
“Not sure but I think she was in a meeting with the chairman. I don’t know if she is done with the meeting”
“Oh, alright then. I guess I will go wait in her office”
“Alright”
“Let’s go, Lisa” I followed Irene to the elevator door and when it opened, my heart skipped to find Lucius Devine in the elevator with other men dressed in black behind him.
“Da…”
“Lisa?” He called my name and stepped out of the elevator.
“Good day sir” Irene greeted but his eyes were on me as he made his way to me. His eyes scrutinized me for a few seconds before he spoke up.
“What are you doing here, Lisa?” He questioned, standing right in front of me and filling my nostrils with his cologne.
He smelt heavenly! And that was it. This man was messing up with my head without doing anything.
“I came here with my friend, Lisa” I replied.
“That wasn’t the question and you know that”
“Well… I came here to see if I can get a part time job around here. I had no idea I was going to meet you here” I replied and he lifted my jaw up and made me look into his eyes.
“You are seriously searching for a job?” His eyes squinted as if it was unbelievable that I was searching for a job.
“Yes sir” I refrained from calling him daddy in front of everyone.
“This place is majestic and I am sure they pay decently. It will also give me a chance to witness how working is” I smiled and Irene nudged me.
I glanced at her with brows raised.
“He is the chairman” She mouthed and my brows lifted even more.
I looked back at him and he reached for my wrist.
“Come with me, cupcake”