13

I held on to the strong grip of the unknown man and tried to pull free from his touch, all to no avail.

"Let me go." I attempted to mumble but whoever he was, was stronger. The man in front of me pressed a handkerchief against my nose and whatever was inhaled got to me. The darkness instantly embraced me…

*
"Is what would have happened if I'd been kidnapped." I munched on an apple, devouring its sweet and delicate taste. Chad stared at me and I noticed his face twitch into a smile.

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand harshly. "Want to know the most painful part?" I sniffed. My nose was clogged for reasons unknown to me, unless I wanted to blame it on sitting in a cold bath tub for thirty minutes, imagining how easy life would have been if I'd been born a cat. But I wasn't going to blame it on that.

"What?" He had his head tilted to the left a bit and his face was rested against his palm while he was propped up against the table with his elbow.

"They'd possibly toss me out, and kick me to the streets, not only because nobody came to pay my way out, but because I frustrated every inch of them." I narrowed my eyes at him and took another aggressive bite off my apple. "Every single inch."

"That's just your third bite, and you're done with the apple, again." He commented, handing another rinsed apple from the bowl of fruit, to me.

"Look, the last time I ate a fruit was probably first grade, I miss it." I scoffed then widened my eyes suddenly remembering that Chad was not an ordinary man, but the man who was actually my boss.

"Sir. I meant sir." I palmed my face, "I'm such an idiot."

"It's okay, you don't have to be official with me when it's just us two here." He shrugged.

"I honestly can't believe the only reason you invited me to your house was just so you could get me to eat fruits." I shook my head in disbelief, taking almost half of the apple in one bite.

"Like I said, you look sick and starving. I had to do what was right." He said, his face not consuming any sort of emotion.

"I see." How could I tell him he sounded stupid? He had no right to boss me around or to tell me that he needed my presence just so we could dine with fruits.

"You really think I sound stupid, don't you?" He sighed. I had to shake my head in a negative manner even though I mentally agreed with him.

I praised him mentally for being such an amazing mind reader, saying my thoughts out loud.

"Of course not sir, it absolutely makes sense to extend hours to care for your employee. You're definitely doing the right thing." I nodded in approval, sounding sarcastic for the most of it. But I didn't think he noticed.

"I'll tell you the truth." He shifted closer to me from his seat, causing me to jerk away from not expecting the reaction.

"Um…" I swallowed. "What truth?" With how he was moving closer to me and closing the distance between us, I could almost guess what he meant by 'the truth'.

"I…" he started, barely inches away from my face. I closed my eyes tight in reaction and only restored my view when he added, "find you funny."

"I don't know how I never saw it, but you'd really do great as a comedian." He said, moving backwards.

"Wait, really, that's it?" I was disappointed by his final comment but a sucked in breath managed to get me to ignore it. "You wouldn't, you exchange my comic abilities for failure." I mocked in a tender manner.

"Exactly." He shrugged, "but not precisely, you're actually a failure in many cases. I've only decided to look on the bright side of things." He explained while I stared at a small mug that had what resembled steam, coming from it.

"Was there a dark side previously?" I muttered.

"Maybe."

"But it still doesn't clearly explain why you'd choose me of all people, I mean, there's funny shows you could watch to keep yourself busy and all that." I started.

"True. That's the fun part of it, you managed to keep me enthusiastic. Many shows don't do that. Look at me, I've never been the laughing man." He raised one eyebrow and I took it as he was expecting me to agree with him.

"Well, there was that time you… oh yes, when we… ugh." I gave up, staring at the ceiling, lost in my thoughts, "maybe you've never been the smiling man."

"So you're trying to say, I'm doing a great job?" I waited for answers, letting down another finished apple.

"Finally."

"Really?" I beamed, looking at the brighter side of things, so does this mean, I can get paid for this as well?" I wasn't a woman who would try to act fancy.

That got him to laugh and shake his head pitifully, "since I'm taking a bit of your time, I guess it wouldn't hurt."

"How much?" I lifted my eyebrows up, then down on repeat with a wide smile and that got Chad to crane his head backwards in laughter. All my life of working with him, I'd never seen him so happy.

"Wow, am I really that much magic?" I wondered aloud. He stopped laughing, turned to look at me one more time and shook his head.

"Since you've decided to make this into a career, your payment would depend on you and all that you have to offer." He said then the enthusiasm he wore, disappeared.

"What's wrong?" I couldn't refrain from asking.

"I know it probably seems weird but there's pretty much a lot more to the story I've just told you." He sighed.

I swallowed, squinting my eyes at him and wondering what the problem could be.

"Okay, listen up." He started, "I'm going to tell you an exclusive part of me that no one's ever heard."




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