Fourteen

Desmond Anderson sat on his office chair as he looked over some files when a knock came over his door.  "Yes, come in please," he answered politely and the door opened to reveal a young woman in her late twenties.

She went to sit before him with a gentle smile.

"You're Miss Robinson Winner, right?"

"Yes, I am. Nice to meet you," Winner said.

"It's my pleasure," he said and returned her smile. "I have gone over the letter you wrote to me and I must say, you are a very strong woman having experienced situations like that. Kudos to you, Miss," he complimented and gave her a broad smile which she gladly returned.

"That's just flattery, Mr. Anderson," Winner said with a shy smile.

"No, Miss Robinson, I meant it," Desmond said with a smile as broad as an expressway.  "I understand if you close your heart after such heartbreak, but believe me, that is not the solution," he started counseling.

"I know but I am still not convinced about opening my heart. Have you ever experienced a heartbreak before?" Winner asked as her expression turned glum.

Desmond matched her expression before answering, "Sadly, yes. A very painful one at that and I know how you are feeling right now. Miss, you are still young and fresh. You are beautiful, Winner. There is someone out there just for you. Perhaps, he is the one you mentioned in your missive. You will never know unless you try. You don't want to remain single all your life, do you?"

We men are different so do our tastes in women. You should not give up on loving just because few men did not want you. Let me make something clear, the type of woman that you are will determine the type of man that finds you adorable and needs you in their lives. I recommend that you read this book," he said and brought out a book titled 'Understanding men' by Taire Stephen.

As she collected the book from him, he went on, "This book will give you more insights and explanations to many things you want to know about men. Don't give up on love, Winner. It's so beautiful. It's good to have a partner you love and trust and who loves you in return. So my dear, give it one more chance and you won't regret it," Desmond urged with an assuring smile.

"Thanks a lot. I should say I feel more at ease and convinced now after listening to you. Thanks for the book as well. How much is it?" Winner asked.

Desmond smiled as he shook his head. "Consider it as a gift you receive on our first meeting," he said with that same broad smile he always gives his clients.

The young woman smiled and rose to her feet. She thanked him again and promised to get back to him, then went out of his office after another handshake.

———

"Etoy? What sort of name is that?" Faith asked the gate man of her boss' firm. He was the man who had told her that she would not get the job on the day of the interview since the boss did not seem to like girls.

"What is your business with that?" Etoy asked with a bit of anger in his tone. The truth was he was ashamed of himself after telling Faith that she would not be employed and then, she later got the job.

Faith laughed hysterically and clapped her hands thrice. " It is not your fault. I am the one that did not know my place and was asking about something that is none of my business," she said as she rested her body against Desmond's car and crossed her leg.

"See how you stand as if the car is yours. You can never buy a car like this. Where will you even get the money?"

Faith did not let that get to her. She remained unmoved. That was how they bully each other every time. Etoy was a troublemaker and she was one, too. She was about to give him his reply when her phone started ringing. 

She picked it up and walked away from the nosy man with her to sit on a bench in the premises. 

"You are going to talk to your husband, right?" Etoy called after her, but all the reply he got was a middle finger. 

"Hey, Eunice," Faith said, grinning from ear to ear. 

"My baby, I missed you," Eunice squealed in excitement. 

Faith smiled and started playing with her toes. That was one thing about her friend. She was fun to be with and she loved that about her. She was a perfect pick-up for her whenever she was down. "I missed you more. I am so sorry I have not called you in a while," she replied. 

"It's okay, baby. How is your work going? I hope it's not as noisy as it was when you were teaching those students," Eunice said. 

"Yes, but I think I prefer being with those noisy students than being with a boring boss. He is even weird sometimes. And babe, the house we live in, as big as it is, only the two of us live there. It's so fucking boring," Faith complained. 

"Oh, dear! And you are miss Sanguine. What to do? Well, he is treating you well, right?" her friend asked. 

"No and yes. He's kind sometimes and deadly serious most times. And he has a lot of dos and don'ts. He doesn't even want me to get close to him in fear of falling in love with him," Faith furthered. 

"What? Wait, tell me, is he handsome? Like, your kind of handsome?" 

Faith made a face. "How is that important?" 

Eunice grumbled at the other end. "Come on, sugar. I know you want every handsome man to be your prince charming," she said. 

Faith laughed. "Yes, but not this strict asshole. You won't believe he has fired so many of his female workers just because he found out they were in love with him. He said he wants the relationship to be strictly business," she expounded. 

"Oh my fucking motherfucker. What the fuck was that —" Eunice was saying. 

Faith could picture her roaming around wherever she was in anger. That was what she always do when cursing. "Hey, babe. Slow down with the curse, huh?" 

"Sorry. I was just...shocked to hear that. It's new. Gosh, that's bad," Eunice said in sympathy. 

"Do you want to know what surprises me most?" Faith asked. 

"What's that?" her friend answered. 

"He is an erotologist and he even preaches and sings 'love to live' to every one of his clients that visits him for counseling on their love issues. But, he hates the word and anything relating to it. This confuses me a Lot, Eunice," Faith said, hoping for some counsel.

Couldn't she just go to the counselor inside? 

"Wow! He is really something, isn't he?" 

"Of course, he is." 

"But wait, how does this concern you? It's none of your business, anyway. Your job is to drive him to wherever and then collect your salary at the end of the month. Have you possibly started developing feelings as well?" Eunice teased. 

"Eunice, of course not. Unless I want to get fired. Don't you trust me?" 

"I don't when it comes to your heart and feelings. Didn't you say you both live alone in the same house? How can I then —" 

"Yes, but —Oh, Eunice, we'll talk later. He is here now. I have to go, bye." Faith said. 

"Okay, then. Bye," Eunice said and she disconnected the call. 

"Are you leaving now, sir? Where to?" Faith asked as she walked toward him and halted some steps away from him. 

"I'm having a dinner meeting now. We'll go straight home after that," he explained. 

"Okay, sir." 

"Desmond. Okay, Desmond," he corrected. 

Faith gave a little smile. "Okay — Desmond," she said and quickly moved closer to open the door of the car. 

"You don't need to. Just go and drive,"Desmond said and opened the door himself and sat while she took a turn to the right to sit in the driver's seat, then drove out of the firm.