2 The first encounter

"Why aren't you getting a boyfriend already? It's time Julie..." Here we start. I could only stare at Katelyn's remarks and smile to only get arched brows from my three high school friends.

"I don't know…I guess I will get someone too." I got my focus back to my plate.

"You do realize that you never had a boyfriend. Or you are still hoping that Liam will…" Katelyn continued but I was quick to cut her off.

"He is off the plate. I am sure I am not thinking about him. You guys know Rachael's condition. And, I can't leave her or my sisters…"

"But a boyfriend won't hurt…" Katelyn commented.

"Leave her already. She earns nice now…I am sure her workload will reduce and she will have a lot of time to meet someone special." I smiled looking at Cecilia who had a two-year-old now and was planning to remarry. I don't know why getting a boyfriend depended on my income. I mean I know I will have nice clothes to wear or maybe money to offer gifts but shouldn't such things happen naturally? And, I doubted if any guy was willing to date a caretaker of an eighty-year-old.

"I don't know. I am still twenty-three girls. It just happens that every other girl in my gang is already settling down." I replied as the matter of fact and got Katelyn's eyes on me.

"If you don't get marry in your early twenties…later you get too used to your single life…this is what stat says." Katelyn was already married and planning a baby. My other friend Josephine was the one we were gathered here because her boyfriend proposed to her. Her ring was beautiful and was our topic for half an hour before our conversation gets to why I was only the single woman in my high school group now.

"…we are worried about you," Katelyn said now focused on her plate too. Her new blonde hair was getting my attention more. I wonder how much she would have spent on her hair. Well, the girl never sees money as an issue so I don't know. Plus, she had an edge of having the silky straight hair while I have brown shade with curls spreading to all over the place.

"I know…but there are other things than getting settled right now. I would love to clear the loan, and then there is apartment rent, Rachael's surgery or maybe waiting for a little until my sisters get to graduate their school." Of course, I didn't tell them about my landlord, Joe who was making it difficult for me. So, changing our apartment was topping the list right now. I wanted to provide my two sisters with all that dad would have given them if he was still alive and that includes their protection too.

They gave me the look that says I am being mean to them and that made me shrug my shoulders. It was after four months that we were seeing each other. And, I don't know why they had to ask me such questions every time we decide to meet up.

"Fine, if I get a chance to get into a relationship I will, but that guy has to understand that marriage is not anywhere before the next five years."

"You can come to my club? Dylan has a lot of single friends and their salaries are good too…you are totally going to meet someone." Josephine got excited.

"And, why it is important? I will find someone when my right time will allow me," For once I wanted these girls to understand me.

"Or you can talk to Andy. He was interested in you in school. I have heard he got a breakup." Katelyn said and that got my mouth dry in an instant. I recalled a shady guy from the school. From Katelyn, I heard he was doing better in life but I couldn't believe it. And, I didn't have the kind of time to become someone's rebound.

"Girls, I guess I need to go," I said getting up and they only looked at me knowing I didn't feel comfortable staying here now.

Only if these girls knew how hard it was to take a single leave from my work they wouldn't have been proposing this to me. I have told them that my workload is crazy but I guess they weren't ready to accept this fact. I was so over this conversation now and didn't have any appetite left.

"But you…took the leave today. Didn't you?" Katelyn interrupted while I got my coat back.

"Yea, but I promised Sarah that I will be home soon. She needs some help with her math." I wasn't lying. My sister indeed wanted help but it was after two hours. And, I would love to spend this precious time as my time.

I leaned in to share a hug with them before I left the restaurant that wasn't very far from my neighbourhood. My friends planned to meet here so it could be easy for me. The times when we used to live in the same area were left behind. All of them had real jobs after graduating from colleges and had their own apartments now unlike me who barely got her high school certification and now hopping from one job to another.

I wonder if I wanted to marry this soon. The answer was indeed no but I guess it was a great feeling to have someone to tell whatever I have been through. The one who cares and appreciates whatever I was doing for my family because my best friends didn't have any interest to hear about my sisters or step-mother. They only remembered Rachael who was very rude to me when I used to depend on the budget that Rachael believed was hers or her daughters. But now when I think about it I guess she wasn't much wrong. I was ten when my father found me in the foster home. I who was always told that I was not needed…felt the luckiest knowing my father out there was always looking for me and never gave up on me. And, that it was only my mother who got rid of me.

If I was at Rachael's place maybe I was going to be mad too. But now was not the time to tell her to take care of her girls on her own. I could see my father in my sister's eyes…they are family and abandoning them for a relationship I haven't even experienced was the foolishness I didn't have any nerve to commit.

I walked back home while Sarah's shoes or Anna's dress was all my mind can think of. Though I work for a wealthy man and my salary is good too, I was more focused on paying the loans. Changing our apartment was topping the list because our forty years old landlord was such a pain in the ass. He was a freak and married but Anna had been telling me that he often tries to talk to her. Rachael has made sure since that day to limit girls' outside activity.

I exhaled a long sigh while stuffing my hands in my coat. Don't worry Julie, this will pass too.

I knew my job was nothing in my friend's eyes but I was going to be on the streets with my family if it wasn't for this job. Everyone has their own paths or maybe from the next time I should hang with my colleagues. I was sure they won't consider a twenty-three-year-old single woman a huge deal. I smiled recalling David, the driver of the Lucca family. If I am not wrong I have been sounding rude declining his offers to dine. But I didn't want to lead him in. Come on, Julie…a friendship won't hurt. My thoughts intervened. I smiled recalling David's advances I was ignoring blatantly. He was so cute.

All of a sudden, my eyes lay on a beautiful wedding dress. "Wow!" I whispered. It could make someone to get married. I recalled Josephine sweating over the bridal dress and decided to click a picture. But the moment I found my bag empty my heart stopped beating.

"Oh my God…my phone," I cursed and took long strides back to the restaurant.

"…We are not going to invite her from the next time. You already know she is going to refuse. It is so obvious Josephine she is jealous of us…"

"…I don't know. She didn't care about having a single picture together with all of us." Josephine's voice came making my mouth dry.

"…It doesn't matter. It's not like we aren't seeing each other without her. Maybe it's time to let her go. Her life doesn't match us…did you notice the confidence in her voice today. It is so obvious she is happy that she is earning more now," Cecilia added,

"…but girls not to forget she is still a caretaker of an eighty-year-old. Someone who can die and what is the guarantee of her job?" Josephine remarked.

"…I am sure she is not going to attend your wedding even," Katelyn said but I got my feet ahead plastering a fake smile.

"I forgot my cell phone," I tried my best to stay unaffected. Though the sting in my throat told me I will break into tears at any moment.

"Hey," Katelyn whispered while I noticed them embarrassed. I couldn't manage any other word and only nodded before getting out. I had a tear burning my cheek and my mouth felt bitter while I took many steps away from the restaurant. My shoulders were heavy when I came back home to find Rachael's voice.

"How was your day?"

"It was good…you need anything," I asked and tried to give her a smile.

"Yea…I was hoping if we could sit for a while and have some coffee," I turn to look at her watching TV. She had grown too weak since my father left. I was sure she was going to talk about dad. And, to be honest, I couldn't complain about that. It's been six years since dad left but it still feels like yesterday.

I was about to get into the kitchen when she called, "I will make the coffee. You just go and freshen up." Rachael got out of the living area but only taking a few steps was enough to make her breathless.

"It is fine Rachael, only give me a few minutes." I passed her a reassuring smile before hanging my coat. I was fixing my cell phone to the charger when I got a call from Winston who was the butler of the Lucca family.

"Hello," I wonder what it could be.

"Miss Cole, Mr Lucca is in hospital. He needs you here," I got my eyes narrowed.

"What?" I got shocked. It didn't make sense. I only had one day off in a month and the same thing happened on my last month's leave too. But I shook my head and now was sweating over Mr Lucca's health. How much I wish it was nothing serious.

"Miss Cole?" His voice came again in the absence of my reply.

"I will be there soon," I whispered while looking at Rachael who was asking me who is it with her eyes. How much I wanted nothing to happen to this person. He was a good person and not to forget that I have applied for the loan that totally depends on the fact that I have this job.

"I need to go to…Mr. Lucca is in hospital." The exhaustion was so apparent in my voice while I hurriedly took the jacket off the hook.

"But…you only get one day off in a month. I am sure someone else can fill your space...and why he has to get sick on this day AGAIN," Rachael seemed pissed, and though I wondered too, I huffed, "Good money is never easy," I was earning more than my friends since the last four months. So, couldn't really complain. And, if I maintained this job for the next two years I was hoping to save enough to get my life a little straight. I didn't want to be mean but money was the only thing on my mind nowadays. I so wanted Rachael to get this surgery. If anything happened to her I knew everything will collapse.

My answer made Rachael silent. And, though I always want to get her operated she always convinces me to get the loans clear first. I walk to her to give her a hug and was stunned when she whispered,

"Are you sure you are not doing anything you shouldn't be doing?" Her question made my eyes narrowed.

"Like what?" I asked,

"This old man doesn't sound good to me. Why you are the only one who gets one leave in a month. You can leave this job if…"

"No…no, Rachael…no…he can be very particular with his thousands of orders but he is not a man like this…and in fact, he just made a lot of donations to foster care. Everything is professional. He…he never made me feel…uncomfortable." I smiled back at the wrinkles on her forehead before bidding my farewell.

I took a bus to get to the hospital while my friends' faces were all I could recall. I checked my phone for the fifth time to see if it has any message from them but there was none. I was familiar with his private room where he was always attended. I got in without any problem and didn't announce before going in.

My eyes fell on the empty bed first though I collected someone was standing facing the beautiful view. I got my focus on the man in the suit with black trimmed hair and asked,

"Where is Mr Lucca? Is he alright?" The man didn't turn and that got me to notice his tense posture. He was tall with his hair trimmed to perfection. I took a few steps in the room to register his expensive perfume or the smoke he was blowing out of his mouth. And, that was strange because the hospital doesn't allow smoking.

"Excuse me? I am talking to you." I tilt my head but he still took a few seconds to turn. But the moment he turned it got me chills. I could swear I have never seen such perfection but the way he looked at me made me feel like I owe him something. His grey eyes were narrowed and thin lips were pressed. One can tell he was not having a great time.

"Do you know…about Mr Lucca?" My voice came out more meekly than I wanted but felt weird when he twisted his mouth in disgust and started getting his eyes lowered to my body. My hands got fasten around my handbag without my knowing. I could only stare at his eyes that with all liberty was checking me out and the moment he got his face a little tilt to look at my back I had to excuse myself,

"I…I guess...I am in the wrong room."

I hope you liked the chapter. The next one will be coming soon.