Broken Pieces, L. S. [brene brown rising strong .txt] 📗

I am not on duty yet. Is he thinking he can take me out anytime he wants?

“Can you meet me in my car?”

I looked around trying to look for his car but I didn’t find it. I don’t know if I should go with him and do what he asked but I'd rather not to. We slept together because it’s what I do and it doesn’t mean I know him or I trust him.

“I will talk to you but not in your car. If you want we can talk inside the coffee shop.” I suggested.

I still need to prioritize my safety, Keith knew I was with him the night he took me out but now everyone knows I'm at school.

“I'd rather talk to you inside my car or maybe in my penthouse but the coffee shop will do.” he replied.

“I'll meet you there then.” I said and was about to hand the phone back to his bodyguard.

“Please let Marcus tail behind you.”

I didn’t understand why I should need to have this guy walk me to the coffee shop but I agreed anyway. I just want to hear what he will say and continue with my agenda; finish my reports.

Carter is already inside Starbucks when I walked in. I wonder where he was earlier and how he was able to get here so fast. He was sitting on the chair near the window. I think he was trying not to catch any attention. As usual, he looks like a Greek god wearing his usual suit and tie but I noticed his hair was comb in a nice mess that suits him and made him look a little younger.

I walked towards his direction and sat on the chair opposite his. Marcus stood there behind him not saying anything at all. Just standing there like a military statue. I wonder if that's how he directed him or Marcus intentionally did that to himself but regardless Marcus presence creeps the hell out of me.

“Hey” he greeted me with his Greek god smile.

I gave him a slight smile. I feel so under dress cause I was wearing my usual faded jeans, my sweatshirt, converse and of course my back pack and I didn’t even bother combing my hair I just tied it in a messy bun. I know I look the exact opposite of a stripper.

“Coffee?” he offered.

I nod. It's the main reason why I am here in the first place. I was about to stand and fall in line when he waived his hand gesturing me to sit down. So I did. Then without Carter saying anything, Marcus just walked in the counter and ordered us the coffee.

“Is he always like that?” I asked cannot stop myself from bursting my curiosity towards his guard.

Carter smiled.

“Like what? Obedient?” I nod. “Yes, they all came from the army so it’s natural for them to be a bit stiff and strict.” he explained.

They? Does that mean he has a lot of body guards? I have seen two of them. The driver and Marcus. Now, I wonder what this guy really does that he needs a bunch of body guards to protect him. Is he running a casino or something? Maybe another club?

“So what it is that you want to speak with me about?” I asked.

I am kind of a bit brave now knowing I am in a crowded place. Admit it or not, I am curious on what he is going to say to me.

Instead of answering, he gave me another Greek god smile, this one showed his super bright beautiful white teeth. Marcus came back after a couple of minutes with two venti coffees in hand. Then he walked out of the shop and I saw him stood still near the door. I think Carter said something to him.

“Alright, I'm sorry about Marcus. I know he makes you uneasy.” he said as he sips on his coffee.

I hold the cup but haven’t tasted it yet.

“You saw my note, right?” he asked.

“Yeah, I did” I replied then sip on my coffee.

I felt a sudden satisfaction as the bitter taste of coffee and sweet taste of sugar came down on my throat.

I looked at him and he was watching me intently and do I see amusement on his face?

“You never left me any contact number.”

What? Contact number? Why should I? Do I need to? This man never fails to make me curious and intrigue about him every time we cross paths.

“I didn’t know you want to hear from me again.” I said.

“Of course I do, you still not aware how much you drive me crazy right?”

He was looking at me straight in the eye and cannot meet his gaze so I look down again playing the lid of my cup.

“You never left my mind from the very first day I saw you, you were very pissed when your car broke down and you have no idea how to change a tire. You were so beautiful that day.”

I was mortified. How did he know my car broke down? That was just a month or so ago. It was the first day of school and I was on my way home when Keith's car broke down and I had no idea on what to do. I just started driving, Nicole taught me and that was my first time to drive around on my own. That was a very unlucky day for me.

“You wonder how I knew?” he asked.

He's sitting there, his back resting on the chair, staring at me with so much amusement in his eyes.

“I was driving around town when I saw you trying to fix your tire. I wanted to get off my car and help you but so I was star struck with you. You were just so beautiful that I can't stop myself from staring at you and watch you. Since then, you never left my mind, you were in my dreams every night and I don’t even know why? Until the day that I couldn’t take it any longer, I knew I needed to see you, I needed to find you, so I hired a secret agent, and you really gave him a hard time though. It took him weeks before he finally found you working with Keith Stevens. I didn’t expect that you're working in a club so it took me sometime to finally have the guts to meet and that was the night I took you out.”

I didn’t know what to say, first he knew everything about me, second he hired a person to investigate and spy on me and third it took him sometime if he wants to talk to me because he was disgusted about me.

He sips on his coffee.

“I am glad that you are continuing your studies. So I have this proposal.” he blurted out.

Proposal? What he just told hasn’t sunk on me yet and now he has a proposal? What does he really want? I can’t find the words to say cause I really don’t know what I should say or what am I supposed to say.

“I want you to come with me in L.A.”

LA? As in Los Angeles, California? Is he serious? What am I going to do in LA? Is he going to take me to another strip club in LA? Wait, why am I even considering the idea? Of course I won’t go to LA, I have settled my life here already and I don’t even know him.

 “What?” that’s all I was able to say.

He rested his hands on the table.

“You might be thinking I am insane and maybe I am. I am insanely crazy about you, I don’t want any other guy to have you, and it kills me to even think about that. So I want to take you with me. Live with me, you can continue your studies in LA, you don’t have to work anymore. I can pay Keith any amount he wants to let you go.” he said with so much sincerity that he actually meant every word he said.

Earlier, I kept on asking what he is doing to me. But now I realized that the right question is what I did to him so he could think things that are insanely impossible.

“I know you don’t know me, I am not rushing you. Just think about my offer but let me buy your nights because I could no longer take the thought of you being with someone else's hand. Let me show you my world.”

I shook my head. No. I won’t consider anything from him. I don’t even know him. He’s just a guy who I slept with one time and that’s it. I am not going anywhere with him.

“I’m sorry but my answer is no.” I said hardly.

He reached for my hand, I tried to pull it from him but he was holding it tightly.

“Please, try to consider my offer. I’ll give you anything you want Jillian, just give me a chance.” He pleads

I can see the pain deep within his beautiful green eyes. I don’t know but it seems like he meant everything he said. Like it really kills him knowing I can be with different guys every night. I looked down, I don’t want to meet his gaze, and I don’t want those eyes to change what I have already decided.

“No. I’m sorry.” Then I took my hand back, put the backpack on my shoulders and made my way out of the shop.

I even heard him called my name but I didn’t bother looking back at him maybe because I don’t want to see his pleading face that will make me change my mind.

 

 

Right after my conversation with Carter I decided to just go home instead of going to the library and do some research. I know what he told me will not leave my mind at all, and I was right. Throughout the entire time I was driving my way back to club his words kept popping on my mind, like I actually hear them.

Nicole was in the living room watching TV when I came inside the house.

“Hey.” I greeted her trying to be as cheerful as possible.

She smiled at me.

“You’re early” she said her eyes still on the TV.

I glanced on the clock hanging on the wall and it’s just 3:30 in the afternoon. I am indeed early because I normally go home around 5 PM just an hour before the club briefing starts.

“My class ended early.” I answered. “I’ll just take a nap, okay?”

She nods. Then I went to my room. I change to something comfy and went to the bathroom to wash my face. I lied on my bed trying to get some sleep or at least rest my mind but I can’t find my slumber. Carter’s words keeps on replaying on my mind. I don’t understand what he saw in me that made him wants to take me to Los Angeles. As far as I know there nothing special about me, I am just a simple girl, maybe I became extra ordinary because of what I’ve been through but shouldn’t he be disgusted about me? I mean a lot of men had come my way. I’ve slept with a bunch of guys. I am being paid to do it. I was able to support my schooling from stripping and getting fucked. Maybe he has lost his mind completely.

 

 

It’s exactly five in the afternoon when I woke up. I didn’t know how long I was asleep but it felt like I didn’t sleep at all. I got up to get some water from the fridge and I saw Nicole applying makeup on her face. She was done showering and already dressing herself up.

“Hey sleepy head” she yelled as I passed by her room.

“Hey” I replied.

I took a glass from the cupboard and poured some water in it.

“Tired much?” I heard her asked from her room.

“Yeah, exhausted!” I answered.

She went to the kitchen wearing her red pair of underwear and a towel in her hair.

“I