Chapter Six

The ride was short and sweet, and the restaurant hosting the event had become her favorite though she would have to work a year and some to afford it. Everything was going terrific, especially the mayor's aspiring speech that had been incredibly friendly and polite.

The food was splendid, as well as the wine. When desert had come around, Sharlene's eyes were like twinkling stars, the alcohol most likely spinning her head.

The appearance of an outstanding character with the mayor had also captured her attention, apart from his handsome features. But she instantly forgot his name. That was one of her flaws.

The names of others were difficult for her to remember, except her family or friends.

Taking another sip of her wine, she scouted the room with a lovely smile.

It was astounding that she could see amazing people who accomplished so much in their lives. Her boss was generous enough to introduce her to her closest associates. She was even more enamored when the mayor stated the hospital was implementing free service to the public, especially women. Though an hour and thirty minutes later, she suspected her boss was ordering her around as if they were in the office. All the beautiful gestures she had done for her turned to ash.

The whole reason Madam Sinclair had brought her here, and whispering it into her ears, was to meet the outstanding business-man, Nicholas Ross.

She also wanted her to be her spokesperson. That made her cross, and so, she quickly excused herself with two glasses of red wine in her system to the bathroom. Effortlessly, she escaped.

Entering the pristine and large environment, Sharlene groaned as soon as a toilet flushed.

She was slightly tipsy, she realized, as she conversed with her reflection.

"Why is this job so hard?! A secretary is not a delivery lassie!"

Slightly pulling her phone from her bag, she glanced at the time on the screen. It was twenty minutes before 12.

She would waste fifteen minutes in the bathroom, but it was easier said than done. After two minutes, she was getting bored, and so she distracted herself by muttering about her bad weeks and mimicking her boss. She removed her favorite lipstick from her bag to re-apply on her lips, and a foolish idea popped into her head. Drawing a heart on the glass, she tipsily murmured incoherent words that when a man had suddenly entered the room, she screamed.

"What are you doing here?!"

The man's eyes were wide with surprise.

"I should be the one asking you that question, lady."

"What do you mean?!"

Shrieking, she pushed herself further into the sink.

"You are in the men's washroom?"

Glancing around with wide eyes, Sharlene screeched when she realized the man was right. She had also pinpointed a man's black shoes underneath one of the closed stalls.

"I'm sorry."

Blushing due to embarrassment, she shoved the lipstick into her bag and rushed out of the room. Leaning against the wall between the two bathrooms, Sharlene closed her eyes with a small groan.

"How can I be so stupid? They had two distinct signs."

Face palming her hot face, Sharlene rushed into the female bathroom that was surprisingly empty. Ten minutes later, she went back into the large hall. She quickly returned to the table where her boss was chatting with successful people. Upon seeing her, she excused herself before enthusiastically asking.

"Did you meet, Mr. Ross?"

She sat next to her with a sheepish smile.

"No, I did not."

Madam Sinclair's smile slowly left her face. Glancing around the room, she frowned, for she saw no sight of Nicholas Ross. Sighing, she took a sip of her red wine.

"How unfortunate. Do you want to go home?"

Eagerly, Sharlene nodded.

"Then be on your way. The driver is outside in your car."

"Thank you."

She bade the people at the table a small bye; before exiting the room and then the building.

When she arrived home, she rushed into her house and crashed onto her bed. That is how she stayed until a loud knock echoing from her front door woke her up.

She glanced at the phone. Her eyebrows raised when it was thirty past midnight.

"Who is here at this time?"

Groggily, she climbed from her warm bed. On her way downstairs, she grabbed a small bat from the corner of the winter wardrobe with a loud yawn. Kicking off her bunny slippers, she walked towards the door like an intruder was standing before it, and maybe there was. The silhouette of two people reflected on the glass door. Again a loud bang issued, and she jumped.

She was wide awake now.

Two feet away from the door where another furious bang issued, she frowned when she heard her brother's annoying voice echoing beyond the door five seconds later.

"Shar, come downstairs and open this door right now before I break it down and come kick your soft butt out of your bed!"

His voice was nasal. It was loud and cringy against the walls. With a sigh, Sharlene unlocked and pulled the door open. There she saw her mother and brother standing on her doorstep. Packed suitcases were in their hands, and a parked moving truck on the road behind them.

"Then ring the doorbell like a normal human being before I hit you silly with this bat that I grabbed because I thought it was an intruder!"

Shouting, she sent the bat in his hands, which he caught with ease.

"Wow. Your feather strength almost flew me away."

In a mocking tone of voice, AJ grinned like the Cheshire cat, and she ignored him.

"Is that drool?"

Pointing at her, AJ snickered.

"Obviously. I was on my second dream when you noisily woke me up."

Rolling her eyes, she rushed into her mother's welcoming embrace.

"Mom, why are you here? I thought you said you would be here next week."

Whining, Sharlene was upset, for her independence and freedom was over before she knew it.

"I changed my mind. When you put off the phone on me this morning, young lady, I knew you were not doing half of the things you said you were. So I booked the earliest plane in England, and since there is seven hours difference between those two countries, I have arrived at this time. So stop complaining because your skinny body will get plump from my wonderful cooking in no time."

Ignoring her whining, Helena Cunning-ham made herself at home as she pushed Sharlene to the side and entered the furnished house.

Glancing at her flat stomach, she pouted.

"I am not a skinny person."

"Keep telling yourself that, and you might turn to a ball. By the way, how is life, sis?"

Glaring at his still Cheshire smiling face, she huffed.

"It was better when you were not there."

Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, AJ chuckled.

"That wounds my heart."

"Who cares."

He pulled her face closer to his, which was easy, for Sharlene was short.

"I do. I missed you."

In a sing voice, he mimicked air kisses near her ears.

Giggling, Sharlene struggled to break away from his hold.

"I did not."

Pulling away from her after ruffling her hair, AJ smirked.

"Whatever you say, pipsqueak."

Gasping, Sharlene kicked AJ's knee. He playfully groaned, her light kick not doing any damage.

"I am not small."

Scoffing, Sharlene matched towards the kitchen where her mother had most likely gone.

There was something special about Helena Cunning-ham. She loved kitchens and spending an awful amount of time in them. They were her specialty for cooking, designing, and re-designing. She had an idea the matriarch was re-visioning her kitchen in her mind.

"But you are four eyes. Small and short. You do not even reach my shoulder, and I am 5 ft 10!"

AJ shouted after recovering from the kick.

Screaming, Sharlene whined.

"Mom, why did you bring this blue-eyed devil with you? I was preparing for his arrival, but not anymore!"

"Stop it, you two. You just saw each other after two weeks and a day. Please act like a responsible adult Sharlene. You are not a child."

Sternly, Helena continued to vision the redecorated kitchen in her mind.

"He started it."

"Go to sleep, Shar. You have work tomorrow. Your brother and I will sort things out."

Hugging her mother despite not wanting her with her so soon, Sharlene sent a warning and looking-at-you sign in AJ's direction.

"Do not even think of touching my car, AJ! If you do, Mom will not be able to save you when I get a hold of you."

Her glib threat and warning earned his tongue shooting out of his mouth; and a smart reply.

"I make no such promise."

Huffing, she rushed upstairs.

Taking a mid-night hot bath, she quickly mopped the wet area before her neat-freak mother could see. Sharlene went back to her bedroom feeling fresh and clean. Lying on her bed, she stretched like a cat. It was this animal her father had characterized her with when she was born. That was because she loved cuddling, warm places, and snuggling.

"Another day with my snarky boss went well. I am so not looking forward to tomorrow."

Mutter and yawning at the same time, she stretched for her phone on the night-stand. She made an important note on a specific day for a private visit to a gynecologist. It was to do her Pap smear examination that she had put off for too long in the new hospital. Shutting off her phone and returning it onto the stand, she snuggled in her warm bedsheet.