VELDANA

He leans in again, his warm breath on my ear sent chills."Let me drop you off princess" he muttered as his bright face gave room for seriousness.

"I can manage..."

"We aren't seeing again, shouldn't we end this little us in a good way?" He said that pointing at me and then him.

There's no us please.

And I just couldn't refuse.

"Fine! Just a ride!"

"At your service princess"

With that said, he takes my luggage and then walked me to the garage.

***

I blinked my eyes several times at him and the jet in the harbor he had brought me to.

It wasn't a long drive even though I had squeezed myself like a ball on the seat at the back, avoided his seducing eyes from the rear mirror, fought for my sanity and the brief flash of last night.

And now, I'm here in one of his harbour.

How rich is he?

"You said a ride?"

"Yes?" He responded in a casual tone as he handed my luggage to a bodyguard standing at the jet bridge.

"And now I'm going home in a private jet?" I screeched frowning at him like I didn't like this idea.

"Yes?" He repeated as his brows pulled at me.

"Should I get you another private jet? To accompany this one? Or sign this off in your name?"

My jaw dropped as he meant it with that serious face as though trying to please me but just don't know how.

"It's just that... it's...too much"

"It's okay veldana, you're a princess. You should be treated as one" he calmly said leaving me speechless.

"Thank you"

Saying that had him spreading his arms for an embrace and for a moment, time stopped.

"A little hug will do, that way, I might appreciate your gratitude to me"

His words, they always leave me startled as I swallowed hard.

I was skeptical if perhaps, I should fall into those arms but then...my smile faded and I turned around to walk up the stairway.

He's my best friend's father.

I kept singing that in my head, not to get too comfortable.

"Safe trip princess. It was a wonderful experience with you"

The two hostess standing at the galley entrance giggled while I widened my eyes.

I threw a glare to him and he returned it with a wink.

It's like I'd want to tell everyone here that I'm just his daughter's friend, there's nothing between us.

"Thank you Mr Tyler." I responded beneath my breath but it was more like a threat and he smiled at me warmly.

I must say, I had the best 24 hours here and it's all because of him.

***

The flight home was heavenly as for once, I felt so important to be served as an elite that I didn't want this exotic flight to end.

But when the taxi I boarded from the airport down to my apartment left me at my pavement, it felt like I was face to face with my misery.

I guess the expensive trip on a private jet ended too soon but at least, I returned with gifts.

Cadence has been calling that it felt more like a torture to me, turning off the phone was the best thing.

My house was a mess and so to keep my mind away from the trip in tucany, I decided to do some little cleaning.

But after days of my return, all I could still think of is that man, Tyler, his enticing eyes, his voice and when he smile, the whole stops to take a look.

Not forgetting his sweet act.

I need help, he has possessed me.

I tried so hard to shake him off my mind, and a distraction came when I decided to open my laptop and search all my inbox for a good news at least.

Recently, I had applied for my dream job at a perfume company and with my fingers crossed, I was hoping I got selected.

I screamed when the first message in my email was "Congratulations..."

I didn't care to read the next write up as I jumped to my feet screaming.

Finally, after 40 rejections from that company, I'm in.

It's been rumored that only the wealthy and influential people stands a chance there, now luck fetched me out on this one.

They were inviting me for an interview too.

In a haste, I decided to tell it to Lena as she had been a bundle of hope, since the three days I returned.

"Wow! That's huge!" She said over the phone as soon as I delivered the news to her while I struggled to wear a pair of sneakers.

"Yeah and it's my dream company" I muttered roughly tying my hair while moving to and fro like a flash to get dressed.

"Seems like someone's about to have a perfect revenge with this one"

I chuckled dragging my coat from the dresser and then rushed out to leave.

"I wish I could do that on cadence but it's okay. I've called off the wedding"

"Is he aware of that?"

"He'd figure out but right now...I want my peace of mind and this job will take me away from troubles"

Of course he has been trying to reach me but I tried to stay invisible when he comes knocking or trying to ask about me in my apartment.

"I also have something to say, about my mom and dad" she said excitedly and rather than smiling, I suddenly felt broken.

Mr Tyler.

I should stop thinking about him, as he's just an illusion I made up.

To be sincere, the rest of the words she was saying blurred out until the call got terminated because I stopped it.

"Mr Tyler" I muttered letting out a soft smile like he'd appear here.

Right now... securing a job is all I can think of.

Soon, I was out of my apartment, heading straight to the company with positivity.

I'm getting that job.

***

I was nervous where I sat watching people trooping in and out with sad faces like they didn't make it with the interview.

I shouldn't have been joyous over it, I embraced my file like it were my heart.

Rushing down here like my life depended on it, cannot be a waste. I kept singing in my heart that I'd succeed and I want to.

Calming my legs were the worst as I didn't want to screw up.

I badly need this job for...

"Miss. Veldana?" A voice called which had me shooting up to be at alert if she meant I should walk in.

I lifted my head to look at the young lady by the door opposite me, who's eyes dragged me from head to toe.

Her fingers runs through a paper in her hand like she's deciding who fits and doesn't.

"Another loser" the colleague beside her hints while I stood up gently from the waiting chair.

"That's what the poor think, that they could actually reach to us" she responded so loudly that it was discouraging.

I turned to look at the weary man whom they were mocking, he was holding on to his little daughter who waited for him at a corner.

I doubt if he was here for a job but a pending pay.

"He should go and hang himself and die, the peasant population is too much!" The second cussed taking a quick glance at every one of us, waiting in line to be interviewed.

No one could even speak back at them for being so cruel. That's what the world has turned us into, look away and fight for yourself not others.

It shouldn't be of concern to me but I was hurt.

"Not because you have the privilege doesn't mean you abuse it. People like you barely have ideas to sustain a position." I argued back, pissed off.

The secretary scoffed at me as she dumped the notepad in her hand on the chest of her colleague while glaring at me.

"Excuse me?"

"You don't joke with death. He served you guys, isn't it fair enough to give him his earn?"

Her colleague chuckled like I was ridiculous while she narrowed her eyes at me as though observing me.

"Look who's speaking. You barely stand a chance here and you're running your mouth"

"And you who have the chance advise people to kill themselves?"

"Oh, someone wants to play the Saint? I'd see to it that you don't get a job here"

"And if I get the job?" I asked chesting out like I had some kind of confidence or connection"

"How will you? When I won't even let you in"