Chapter Fourteen

It's another day and Nora has been feeling good about herself lately. She and Sara was supposed to go on a job hunt today but Sara has things to do at the company which means she has to go on the job hunt alone. She got prepared for the job hunt, she prepared breakfast and went to Andrew's room to help him up that's if he is already awake. She entered his room while shutting the door behind her. She opened the curtains as rays of sunshine shone into the room. She helped him arrange his room and get his water prepared for bathing.

After she had prepared everything she went ahead to wake her brother patting him softly on his shoulders. "Andy, It's time to get up." She told him.

Andrew opened his eyes to see his younger sister standing next to his bed all dressed up. She helped him sit up while she placed a pillow at his back which he rested on. He turned to face her when she sat next to him. "Why are you fully dressed? Is there an occasion going on I should know about?"

Nora smiled. "I am going for a job hunt." She answered her brother.

"Yeah that's true." How about where you and Sara went to last time?" He asked.

Nora shook her head trying to get that moment out of her head. Andrew understood. "I met Michael by the way."

She was shocked. "How?" She asked.

"I was at the park and It happened that he was there."

"Well...What did...he say?"

"That's not for you to know." Andrew said to her. "You should start going so you can come back home early."

"I know that but first, I have to help you get dressed and help you with your breakfast."

"What's for breakfast then?" He asked.

"Pancakes." She answered.

Nora helped her brother to the bathroom.

~~~

Kelvin fully dressed in his green shirt and black trouser got ready for work. "Are you ready?" His father asked.

He nodded.

"Kim will be here soon."

"okay." Mr. Alfred answer. "Diego is going to join you at the company later today."

Kelvin turned to look at his father. His father noticed the sudden change in his facial expression ignored him. "He is your cousin. I don't want to leave him all alone here at home."

"Dad, he is twenty-two years old...He is no long a kid." Kelvin said.

"He will come over to the company and that's final. We ain't debating on this issue." His father walked away.

"Dad!" Kelvin called but his dad was gone.

Coming down the stairs was Diego with sleepy eyes. "Hey." He greeted but Kelvin ignored him as Kelvin was about leaving his presence, Diego ran and grabbed his hand. "We need to talk."

Kelvin jerked his hand away from his and said to him, "I have nothing to talk to you about." As he was about leaving, Diego grabbed his hand again.

"You don't have anything to say but I do." he pulled Kelvin to his room.

Diego shut the door behind them. "Listen Kev, I know you are mad at me but that was a long time ago man. I thought guys don't keep grudges."

"Now you know my type of guy do keep grudges."

"I am sorry and I promise it ain't gonna happen again."

"you said that like how many times? and didn't it repeat itself?" Kelvin asked.

"I promise and this time I am for real."

Kelvin looked at Diego and sighed. "I will take your actions for it." He left without taking another gaze at him.

Diego sighed as he placed his hands on his head.

~~~

Nora saw a vacancy at an eatery and she decided to give it a try. She entered the eatery as she glanced to see if she can see the one in charge. Someone noticed her and came to attend to her. "Hey! can I help you?" the girl asked.

"Um...Hi. Can I see the one in charge here?" Nora asked.

"He is kind of busy but you can relate your message to me and I will tell him." The girl answered.

"Can't I just see him for few seconds?"

"like I said, he's busy and can't see you right now. What part don't you understand?"

Nora was stunned at the girl's audacity. She know she is doing her job but does she have to be rude?? Nora thought.

"I think you have over-stayed your welcome, you can take your leave now." she pointed her hands to the exit gesturing Nora to leave. Nora couldn't even say a word as the girl walked her out of the eatery waving her goodbye.

Nora tried to hide her embarrassment but the people coming out of the eatery kept looking at her. She couldn't stand the attention she left. She sat for a while trying to think of what next to do when her phone rang. She brought out her phone, checked the caller and it was Sara. She probably called to check how i was doing, She thought. She sighed, cleared her throat before receiving call because Sara can sense when something is wrong and she doesn't want her leaving work just to see her. After she was certain her voice wasn't sounding sad or anything, she slide the answer button. "Hey Sara." Nora said faking a smile.

"Hey. How is it going?" She asked.

Nora paused before answering, "Well you know how it is, I am just um...trying to look for a good place." She said.

"You haven't found any?" Sara asked.

"Not yet but I will soon." Nora admonishes her.

"I know you will." Sara answered. "I have to hang up now just had to check up on you before I get super busy."

Nora understood. "I will let you know when I get one."

"Ok. Love you!" Sara said as she hung up.

Nora kept her phone in her bag and folded her arms and started her journey to look for another place.

~~~

It was 2pm in the afternoon and Diego decided to visit Kelvin at the company like his uncle commanded. He was walking on the road when his eyes caught a particular scene. A man was harassing a young lady, the young lady happens to be Nora.

Diego stood to watch the scene with folded arms.

"I am trying to help you. Do you think you will be able to get a job especially with your new label?" the man asked.

"I am not interested." Nora said as the man grabbed her hand. "I don't know you...just let me be." She begged but the man kept pulling her.

Some passer-byes instead of helping, they were taking photos and laughing while some stood still watching the scene.

"Oh! It's that girl." A female passerby said holding her friend's hand as they walked closer to Nora.

"Which girl?" Her friend asked.

"The girl her video and pictures where taken when she was in a hotel." She reminded her friend.

The other friend remembered and gasped. "It's her?" She asked glancing at Nora. "But she doesn't look like it. She has such an innocent face."

"Why do you think people say looks can be deceiving?"

The other friend nodded. "Let's go! I am sure she is paying for she did." Two of them went their own way.

Nora seem to have heard everything those girls said because after the girls left, she stopped struggling with the man and the man used that chance to pull her.

"Diego, you don't need to do anything. Just pretend like you didn't see this." Diego said to himself. He was about to leave when he saw her being dragged like a sheep going to the slaughter. Diego couldn't hold it in anymore. "Ok, that's it." He said as he approached the man punching him straight in the face. The punch came as a shock and the man wasn't prepared so he fell to the ground. Diego grabbed the Nora's hand and dragged her away while the man was still trying to regain himself.

They had ran for miles before Diego bent down to catch his breath. He glanced at the beautiful lady with skinny jeans and blue top standing next to him. Nora was so lost in thoughts that her eyes didn't blink. "Are you okay?" He asked her but she didn't reply or even glance at him. Noticing he wouldn't be getting an answer soon, he asked her another question. "Do you have a name?" He pointed to himself and said. "I am Diego." he introduced himself stretching out his hand for a handshake. Nora looked out his stretched hand and she walked away.

Nora was grateful to him for saving her but according to Sara she must prove difficult for her to save herself from being taken advantage of.

Stunned by her reaction, Diego followed her and held her hand. Nora turned to face him as her eyes went to her hands as if understanding the eye movement, Diego left her hand as he cleared his throat. "I didn't get your name."

Nora looked at him and said, "Thanks for saving me." As she was about to leave, Diego stopped her.

"Can I get a name at least?" He asked.

Nora looked into his green eyes wondering why the color of the eyes can't show a person's intention. Anytime she tries to give into his kindness, she remembers Sara's words. She won't be stupid twice. she assured herself. If it's a name he wants, then she will give him one. "I am Michelle." Nora lied with a straight face.

Diego believed since he was seeing her for the first time. "I am …"

"Diego." Nora cuts in. "I heard. can I go now?" she asked.

"If I say no, will you stay?" he asked.

Nora felt he was flirting with that wasn't what she needed. She bowed her head as a sign of appreciation and left.

Diego watched her leave when his phone distracted him. He brought out his phone and a text message notifications pops up. He clicked on it and a message from Kelvin appeared asking him where he is. Diego didn't reply his text instead he took a cab to the place.

~~~

Kelvin has been occupying his father's position for two days now and he must say, the old man is trying. He has to look at orders of clothes being imported and the one being exported, he also has to look for models who would wear some of the clothing for advertisement and photoshoot. Kim was really a good personal assistance like his father said. He explained things to him and was really patient with him as well. Kelvin was looking at his phone expecting a reply from Diego but it never came. He angrily tossed his phone aside as he focused on what Kim was explaining to him. "We are in need of a female model who has the kind of features we are looking for and who this type of clothing will fit. Your father said we should use Diego as the male mode." Kim explained.

Kelvin looked at the clothing. There are five different clothing for each model; three were couple wears while the two were single wears. "Can you get me the photos of the models my father is working with?" kelvin asked.

Kim presented the album to him placing it on the table. Kelvin flipped the pages as Kim explained each model. Kelvin was confused because his father chose the best models to work with but he couldn't find anyone worthy of the clothing. He wanted someone new for this project but where was he going to get one?

"Is there an agency that um...makes models?" Kelvin asked. Kim nodded. "We will search each and every one of them until we find the right female model."

Kim nodded. He took the album and was about leaving when the door opened revealing Diego. "Did you guys say you are looking for a female model?" Diego asked.

Kelvin got up to meet him. "Do you have anyone in mind?" he asked.

"Sure I do." Diego said.

Kelvin nodded. "Good! Who is she?" He asked folding his arms.

Diego thought for a while and he realizes the only thing he knew about her was her name. Kelvin and Kim were waiting for his response. "Um...I don't really know that much about her but I do know her name is Michelle and I know she will agree to this because she is desperately in need for a job."

"I will give you two days to find her and get her here." He turned his attention to Kim. "When is occasion?" he asked.

"In five days time." Kim answered.

Kelvin turned to face his cousin, "Two days to find your partner." he said as Diego nodded.

How was he going to find her in two days?? should he ask for more days?? Diego thought.