worries to work instead, although her mind was in a co

te, framed brunette in he

nor." She turn

om the kitchen and have it

d promptl

o do as in

aven black hair, who was dressed in an exquisite corpo

s smoothly combed back over his head, he was a heightened shade of attractive. His tailored dark gray suits fit snugl

exuded an aura of superiority

inent figures in the VIP dining section of the res

side and braced her shoulde

somewhat stiff, as if ther

to come for lunch together when they had suc

s making an attempt to lessen the tension in the air around them by awkwardly havin

ening,"

with a single nod, focu

She mentally willed her hands to set their orders on the

elt goosebumps break out on her skin as

t her hands begin to shake while she t

, and her chest heaved while she

and rushed down to the bathroom to sneeze as loudly as sh

two and excused herself silen

e this," the lady

cape; the urge was now so heavy that s

e air, her chest feeling more constricted

to step out quickly, please," Emily requested,

at her, addin

rows. "Get this off the table thi

, but it's urgent that I step out fo

flashed in

tug at her chest. "Ah!" she rasped, starved

, her mouth turni

hed in fury thr

ip. "I'm sorry. I'm allergic to your perfume. I tried exp

he side this time to do that, sn

rned her face back to apologize once more, a wince esc

at the lady, as shocked a

y, the side of her face

escape her from her proximity to the woman. She gasped f

pped on all corners by the hea

ross the cheek again, her annoyance inte

is breath. "She's allergic to your perfume. Even I had been strugglin

ed it out of his grip. "I regret meeting yo

eling is mutual,"

issing sharply under her breat

catch her breath. The scent of the perfume still linger

peatedly, covering her n

extended his han

his status, she expected he would lash out at her fo

hing out slowly in surprise. "Thank you," she mur

ing in embarrassment as she recalled how

u instead," he said, a lil

throat as she closely assessed his face. "Pardon?" The mann

told her. "I will have a better excuse t

lush on her face in embarrassment. "I will handle the situation so it do

allet and extended them to her. "Tak

of cash he handed o

ks," he said once more, and

ith her gaze, still stunned

s Nicholas was? She wondered as

nnered. What other attributes coul

ad given her and the handkerchief,

forehead to see if she had a tempera

od, she

ere hadn't been enough time for her

keep his promise to keep the situation that had occur

ard to meeting with Mrs. Connor and awaiting what would

, resetting the table, and wheel

mi

called as she wheeled t

wered, fidgeting about how

on about what Mrs. Conn

ase." She swept the air with her billowing ski

ind her, biting ne

an as they both took their respective seats on the plush seating arrangements in

nor." Emily apologiz

ther partner, to avoid further occurrences, Emil

Mrs. Connor's statement. "

ctions when you were employed. I was assured you are medic

plea in her voice. "I'm at a critical

at Emily. "There's nothing I can do. Now, if you would excuse me, I hav

transferred to your account once it is calculated before the end

together, chills snaking thro

atement, Emily pushed herself up to h

of the office to the dressing room to chan

he restaurant. Her gaze lingered on the restaurant''s roof sign as she stepped out of it, a wistful sigh es

t been easy for her to secure the job at the high-end luxury restaurant, a

another job hunt for a similar job; that would be if she w

in the night. She had hoped she would be able to leave there so

n't be happening anytime

reached the road and got in. Thoughts raced in

the odds against her. She ruminated over the possible places and people

ompassion of each of them once she reached home before

re over to the man, alighting from the cab and continui

us enough to accommodate her and her belongings, and although it looked shabbily furnished, she had done

she was unable to keep up with the rent on the previous more spaciou

inder of them, but she had had to let go of the others as there

she had kept her parents phone book

ttendance at her parents' funeral, they had all lost connections with o

reak, but this time, she knew better that she was i

able to call wouldn't be much of a help as they told her they had m

time she left for her night job, to get back to it

significant help from her family side gnawed at he

r head about where else she could get financial help. Tony, her boss, had called

ervousness creeping down her spine as she stood in the di

en an inkling of the depravities that went down on th

me

de, and she pushed the door i

walked into his office. He leaned back in his

nd Emily resisted the urge to cover her nose from how heavily the

ou haven't been yourself since the time y

throat before she spoke, while she struggled not to inhale th

wed hard.

s wrong with you. I know that," sai

en't always attached to strings. Strings as foul as the inconspicuou

k to

wered her gaze, silently praying against losing this job as well, although she wanted nothing more to be rid of it

, Emily?" Tony asked

considered telling Tony about her situation; perhaps he could loan her years worth of her salary to foo

ught quickly to th

the expression on her face. "I can give y

ds. "You will grant me a loan?

tter idea," he said with a crooked grin on his f

ell y

her teeth, her fingers balled i