Little Hope

HOPE.

Seline.

I stood outside the office building, clutching my belongings tightly in my hands as a feeling of despair ran through me. 

My heart clenched tightly in pain, my shoulders dropping as I wondered where I would go next from here. My rent was expiring today, I already promised the landlord payment today but could I pay when I have just been fired?

I had no last hope. Everything just happened fast and suddenly. 

"You are fired." The words echoed continuously in my head and I shut my eyes immediately, trying to zone it out. This wasn't the time.

I should never have trusted Mrs. Wilson. I should have just reported and done the right thing then, but I didn't.

'Where was I to go now?' I wondered, pressing my lips together, unaware of Felix approaching me from behind.

He placed his soft hand on my shoulder, and I almost jumped, startled, turning around to face him wide-eyed.

"Sorry." He apologized, immediately withdrawing his hand with a thin smile. 

"Didn't mean to startle you." He added and I just shook my head sideways.

"It's okay." I assured him with a weak smile, before looking downwards at my feet.

"Is everything alright though? You look sad." He told me and I chuckled bitterly, slumping my shoulders out of defeat, fighting back the urge to cry.

"How can I be okay when I just got fired? I have nowhere to go. This place pays my bills and now, I don't have it anymore." I replied and he mouthed an "oh".

"I guess my journey on the street begins now." I muttered under my breath, letting out a weary sigh and making a move to leave when;

He suddenly grabbed me by my arm stopping me. I froze, turning around to look at him and the hold on my hand. He noticed my gaze and immediately released me, muttering another apology.

I caressed where it gripped me, suddenly feeling empty despite knowing his grip was rather tight.

"Sorry for stopping you. You were saying you had no place to go?" He questioned and I nodded absent-mindedly, still taken aback with his sudden touch, my heart skipping a beat.

"Not to intrude but don't you have any friends you can crash with for awhile, till you like find your balance?" He asked and I immediately went mute, feeling like the ground should open up and swallow me.

I had no one. The one friend I had, was the same friend whose mother pinned a lie on me. My cheeks burned out of embarrassment, as I looked elsewhere but Felix, not saying what to say as a reply.

"Do youu..?" Felix drawled, after waiting long enough for an answer I didn't know how to give yet but still getting no response from me, he smiled.

"You have no one right?" I nodded, wanting to cry but just sniffled.

"How about you crash at mine for the main time?" He suggested and my jaw dropped.

"What?" I shirked and he nodded, still smiling.

"I don't mind and my place is enough for a visitor to occupy, atleast till you get back on your feet." He explained while I just stood there, awe-struck.

'He was offering to help me?' I thought in disbelief, blinking repeatedly at him.

"But why?" The question came out of my mouth before I could stop myself and he just grinned.

"I wouldn't want an innocent to suffer because of an unfair misunderstanding." He replied and I gasped.

"You believe I am innocent? Thank you so much. I really appreciate." I told, agreeing to accept his help. Just then, my phone pang with a message, distracting me.

But before I turned away, I could swear I saw him let out a low "yes" with a victorious smile appearing on his face, as he punched the air but when I blinked, he was;

"Shall we go now to get your things or..?" He questioned, leading me to his car. Perhaps I was halleuncinting.

Besides I shouldn't be thinking anything weird about the man who offered to save me at this moment, he was my last hope.

On our way to his place after picking up my stuff, he initiated a conversation.

"So you really like jewelries huh?" 

"Yes. I hope to someday build a company of mine." I told him and he laughed in a cool way.

"That's nice. How close are you to realizing your dream?" He inquired and I gulped, suddenly feeling saliva gathering in my mouth.

"As at the moment, I am really a step away because I just got fired and to get a new job wouldn't be easy, considering I might need a reference from my old company or something." I explained to him.

"I don't think so. I mean you seem brilliant so you obviously deserve better. Don't fret about it." He assured me and I found myself fighting back a smile.

'Was he really this nice?' I wondered, suddenly seeing him in a new light. Not only did he believe I was truly innocent, but he was also offering to help me now.

........

........

"Welcome to my humble abode." Felix cheered as he opened the door to his house, let me in before helping me with my luggage inside.

My mouth dropped in wonder as I glanced around the whole place. My steps slowed as he led me through the grand entrance of his home.

The insides were polished to perfection, totally different from where I was staying before. I clutched the strap of my bag tighter, my fingers digging into the fabrics as I looked around with hesitation.

"Come on. Please follow me." He said gently, leading me up all the way through the stairs that seemed to be made of glass. I avoided touching even the handle, because I was afraid of breaking it.

'Did I make a mistake accepting his request? Wouldn't the streets even be better at this moment?' I pondered, suddenly feeling my stomach drop, uncertainty dashing through me.

"This is your home and room now, for as long as you need." Felix told me as he pushed open the door to a room gently, nudging for me to go in first.

My heart started pounding so fast that I could hear them even in my ears. I walked into the room which seemed dark, till Felix flipped on the switch on the wall.

Warm light came on, illuminating everywhere, making it elegant. The air smelled expensive like a mixture of fresh roses. I swallowed as I glanced around.

A bed with a huge canopy was in the room, with ladies stuff around like the room was already prepared to wait for me. 

As soon as the thought ran through my mind, a strange uneasiness curled in my stomach.

"Weird!" I muttered under my breath, moving towards the bed to sit, feeling the softness under my butt.

"Are you sure about this? I wouldn't want to intrude?" I questioned, telling him what I should have said before he even brought me here but I was too desperate then.

Now I just realized it. The place wasn't for me,I didn't belong here and he might have someone so I wouldn't want to cause a misunderstanding or ruin things.

"Ofcourse I am. Don't be silly. I wouldn't have made the offer in the first place if you were intruding." He reminded me and I faked a smile, trying to calm myself.

Seems everything was okay.

"Besides you have nowhere to go." He pointed out, before leaving me all alone in the room to unpack, and have some time alone to adjust to where I would be staying for awhile.

A few hours later, I heard a loud knock on the door and went to open it.

"Dinner is served. Why don't you come down when you are done with whatever you are doing?" He suggested.

"Sure. Thank you so much." I appreciated again for the hundredth time today, for which he just brushed aside with his usual smile.

Thankfully, I had already unpacked the little I brought and was now changed into a rather long, but free gown.

I walked down the stairs, making my way to the dinning while avoiding to crash into anything on the way. I met the table already set.

All I had to do was to sit down, spread my napkin on my laps, pray and then dig in into the meal of white spaghetti, sauce and meatballs.

"This is delicious." I complimented.

"Did you make it?" He chuckled.

"Nope. I have a maid who comes around to cook then leaves. I just reheat it." He answered and I furrowed my brows at him.

"I cook though but not often due to work." He explained and it was my turn to grin.

"Well, this is really nice. My day has successfully turned around." I made him know, wondering if I was too early to judge him in the first place.

'He seemed very chill and carries no evil intent but why do I feel a lump in my throat whenever he looks at me with those dark gazes of his?'

"So what is your next plan?" He asked, pouring himself a glass of water and downing it in a go. I watched as his throat moved, when he took the water with so much thirst.

"Plan?" I repeated his last words, going absent-minded.

"Yes. I mean what you would be doing in the main time." He emphasized and I winced, suddenly dropping my spoon, my appetite vanishing.

He was right. What would I be doing now that I have lost my job? I had to get back on my feet somehow and soon. I couldn't be a burden on him for too long, taking advantage of his kindness.

"Well, I have no idea for now. I would probably sleep it through." I answered him and he shook his head sideways as if saying no.

"Don't. You need your rest after everything you went through today. You can relax for now. No rush." He told me.

"No please. I don't want to impose on you any further than I have." I disagreed and he sighed, a brief annoyance appearing in his eyes but when I blinked, he was beaming at me.

What was wrong with me?

"Alright. How about I help you with what to do?" He offered another help but I wasn't taking it.

"It's alright. You have done enough. Thank you so much. I really owe you alot." I told him and the side of his lips curled up mischievously.

"Good thing you know." His deep voice sent shivers down my spine.

Felix.

I watched her eat, my heart soaring with joy, my hand gripping my fork so tightly that I almost broke it as I watched her eat her pasta hungrily.

The way she let out moans of delight, her lips curling around her fork with gesto left me wanting more. I suddenly felt more thirsty but for something else.

For those wet lips that she licked often. I groaned, looking away before I did something stupid. I was growing impatient though.

I still couldn't believe my plan worked out so easily. Not only was she kicked out like I wanted, but she was also here with me now. I was two steps closer to victory.

Now for the third part, I had to make her so completely dependant on me but how do I do that without letting her catching up on my plans?

She was stubborn at the moment, not wanting to accept any further help from me or seemed in a hurry to find a new job so she could get out of my hair.

'Like I was complaining.' I thought, fighting back the urge to snort in her presence as I bit my lower lips hard.

Looks like I had to make sure she doesn't get any job for a while. I had to completely crush that hope and make her realize I was all she dad.