Chapter Nine
Vincent sat close to her, unable to stay away. He was dying to kiss her, to pull her into his arms. His legs brushed her creamy ones and he felt himself go hard by just the simple touch. She looked for a pen and Vincent took one out of his breast pocket and handed it to her. She took it out of his hand and signed the document.
It was over and done with and she wouldn't need to see him again at his office from tomorrow. She handed him the documents and then got up to leave. He caught her wrist and pulled her onto his lap.
"Why do you torture me so much Anna?" He said, as he held her close to his body, his hand clamping her in his lap.
"Please Vincent, let me go," she pleaded. "I can't do this to Sien."
"No, she doesn't care about me. She doesn't love me. You do," he said, his hand holding her more tight.
"I will try to go away. You should be happy with Sien," she said, looking down at her hands. She struggled to get up, her skirt rode higher up. She blushed at their nearness.
"I won't let you go anywhere. I won't marry Sienna. I will elope with you. Please Anna, kiss me," he begged her. His hand pulling her close to his body, his face going to her neck and inhaling her sweet scent. "Kiss me, I beg of you," he pleaded.
"No, Vincent. It's wrong," she said. She pushed him with all her strength and rushed out of his office as fast as her legs could carry her. She would have to be stronger. She would have to avoid him. She couldn't be the cause of disgrace to her parents.
She completed her work and took a bus to go home. At home, her mom was sitting talking to Vincent's mom, making plans about the wedding. Sienna was in the kitchen. She was least interested in discussing anything related to her wedding.
Julianna went up to her room, freshened up, changed and came down to dinner. Her dad was also at the dinner table. Julianna helped lay the table.
Sienna looked at her with irritation, "You could cook for a change," she said, going to the dining room.
"Teach me," she answered. She never said she wouldn't cook. She didn't get any opportunity to learn like Sienna got. With college and a job she really had more than she could manage. Sienna on the other hand came back from her university and lazed around the whole day thereafter.
"Why should I? Figure it out yourself, " Sienna said as she sat down and started to serve herself.
Julianna decided to learn cooking over the weekends. She could attend cooking classes and learn with her first salary. The car could wait. If her mom knew she would have asked for help, but sadly her mom couldn't cook to save her life.
"Why can't you teach her? She goes to college and then manages a job as well. How will she figure it out herself?" Said her mom, not liking Sienna's attitude.
"That's not my lookout. Why don't you teach her then?" Sienna said to her mom and her face fell.
"Serves you right. Why do you bother even talking to her?" Said their dad. Sienna rolled her eyes at them.
Julianna quietly ate her dinner. She was tired and didn't need such a bickering family. She finished her food, washed all the dishes that were piled up at the kitchen sink. Her parents finished dinner and she cleaned their plates too. Sienna too dumped her plate and walked away.
She finished the cleaning up of the table and the kitchen and then went upstairs to her room to complete her college assignments. She went to sleep thinking about Vincent and his ideas of eloping together.
The next day Julianna completed her college and again took a bus to her office. She was late because the bus broke down on the way and she had to take a can and arrive. Leroy Martin summoned her to his office as soon as she set foot in her cubicle.
She rushed upstairs to meet him, nervously fidgeting with her fingers, expecting a blasting for arriving late. She knocked on his door.
"Come in," he said loud enough for her to hear it.
She opened the door and went inside the huge office which looked a little too ornate and heavily furnished to her taste. Leroy Martin indicated a chair in front of him.
"Sit down Julianna," he said, looking at her.
"Good afternoon, sir," she said, formally.
"Oh you can call me uncle Martin," he corrected her. She looked so young and innocent, it was obvious why Vincent was crazy about her. There was an angelic, ethereal quality about her. Leroy Martin considered his decision for the first time in his life. Was he making a mistake? Should he choose Julianna instead of her sister? Then he thought about his wife. She would be furious. She didn't like any girl apart from Sienna. She never bonded with another girl. Sienna was the only girl Christina Martin liked.
"Your work is very praiseworthy, Julianna," said Leroy Martin. Considering that she was still an intern, the output she gave for the last few days was very impressive. Leroy could see that the girl was good at what she did. "Why are you late to work?"
"The bus broke down today. I had to get a cab," she said, guiltily looking down at her hands.
"How long does it take to reach here by bus?" He asked.
"45 minutes, uncle Martin. My college gets over and I come here immediately," she said, her eyes wide with nervousness. Will he throw her out?
"Don't you have a car?" Asked Leroy Martin.
"I will buy after two months with my second salary," she said, looking at her hands.
"Why the second salary? What will you do with your first salary?" He asked in amusement.
"I'll enrol into a cooking class on weekends," she said, shyly. Leroy Martin stared at the young girl. He felt bad for her. She must love Vincent very much. There was a sadness in her eyes that didn't escape him.
"Oh. The company will provide you with a car, Julianna," he said.
"Oh no, sir. I can manage. I'm just an intern. I don't mind travelling by bus," she said, panicking.
Leroy Martin was taken aback by her humbleness. He liked her immensely.
"You can go back to your work now. Once you learn to cook, do invite me to taste your dishes," he said and Julianna grinned at him happily.
"Yes, sure uncle Martin, " she said, getting up and leaving the office with a smile on her face.
