The Girl He Never Noticed [ep19]

“You can start now.”
“Um… ah… I’m Jade
Collins, 20 years old.” My
palms were sweating
now, and I rubbed it on
my brown floral dress. I
really felt so nervous.
“Go on, Miss Collins.”
“I was born in New
Jersey and lived there
until two years ago. We
transferred in South
Bronx, when my dad
died. He died of lung
cancer… I’m currently
living with my mom,
and sister. My mom is
working as a babysitter.
She’s not allowed by her
cardiologist to do
strenuous jobs,
because of her heart
disease. My sister
Sapphire is fifteen and
still finishing high
school…”
“Tell me about your
education and work
experience.”
“I graduated high school
in New Jersey Princeton
High School. When my
dad died… we lost
everything, including our
savings for my tuition
fee in college. I was
supposed to take Arts
and Design course, but
because of what
happened, I ended up
working in a coffee
shop.”
“So, you’d been working
in the coffee shop for
two years already?”
“Um… no. Only for a
year.” My heart started
to hammer very fast.
Please don’t let him ask,
please….
“Okay. So, what did you
do, a year before that?”
The question I loathed
to answer, because I
didn’t have a choice, but
to lie.
“I… I… stayed with my
grandma. She was
alone… and… and… she
needed someone to be
with her.” I stammered.
But it was partly true.
“So, you worked in a
coffee shop. How did
you learn to make
delicious coffee?”
“The barista, George,
taught me how to do
art designs for coffee. I
was so interested on it,
since I love arts and
designing anything. I
helped him every time
the coffee shop
became so busy. Then,
he taught me how to
make coffee, the
techniques and the
baristas guidelines in
making coffee…”
I was rattling about the
coffee shop, the
coffee, George and even
about Mrs. Chang, for
about twenty minutes
already, when I noticed
that he was not
responding anymore.
“Mr. Petrakis? Mr.
Petrakis…” I almost
whispered.
What happen? I wished
I could see his eyes. I
wanted to know if he
was still listening to me
or already… asleep.
“Mr. Petrakis?” I said his
name again, but he
didn’t even stir.
Then, I heard a soft
knock on the door. I
tried to ignore it, but
there it was again. I
slowly went to the door
to open it, very careful
not to stumble.
“Hi. Is Mr. Petrakis, in
there?” A boy in a
messenger uniform
peeped inside.
“Yes. Over there.” I
pointed at him, behind
his desk.
“Oh, he’s asleep.
Anyway, I’m Tom,
from Dr. Travis Clinic. I
was asked to deliver
these eyeglasses here,
I bet this is yours?” He
whispered.
“Yes, this is mine.” I
whispered back at him.
I was so happy that my
broken eyeglasses
were replaced with a
new one. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I have
to go.”
The moment the
messenger left, I
opened the case of my
eyeglasses. Wow! It
was exactly the same
as the broken one. I
loved it. I immediately
put it on. Thanks God,
now, I can clearly see
everything.
I looked around his
office. It was a very
huge room, probably,
the same size as his
father’s office, but the
ornaments and
furniture were all
modern, in black and
white colors. I looked
around, awed by the
beauty of my
surroundings. Expensive
white leather couches
and chairs with unique
table design, book
shelves, and a glass
cabinet full of plaques,
trophies and awards.
The wall to wall large
glass windows that
viewed the skyscrapers
of New York City was
so amazing.
Then, my eyes focused
at the man behind the
desk. I tried to hold my
laughter, by clamping
my mouth with one
hand.
I couldn’t believe that
the powerful billionaire,
Mr. Eros Petrakis fell
asleep on his chair.
Either he was so tired,
or he was so bored
listening to my stories.
Whatever.
I studied his physical
features. The five
o’clock shadow of his
beard already appeared,
giving him a very manly
look. His jet black hair
was thick and silky
straight, made him look,
strikingly attractive.
Then, my eyes caught
at one lock that fell a
little forward onto his
head, I was staring at
it, tempted to brush it
back on his head. No! I’ll
be dead if I do that. I
observed him. He looked
so tough, lean and
sinewy even while
asleep.
I made some noise to
wake him up. I jumped
up and down. I dragged
my seat, tapped his
table, even tried to
move his chair. But still,
he wouldn’t wake up.