Chapter four: Lunch With Him

Chapter four: Lunch With Him

Jessica

"How old is he?" Janice asked, I didn't look at her. I just continued working on my laptop before responding.

"I thought that was all you needed to know?"

"And now, I want to know how old he is." Shutting her laptop and sitting up facing me.

"Is he younger?" I shook my head and scoffed.

"Oh, no. Definitely not." It wasn't until after I blurted out that I realized I can't take back my words.

"He is older." She gasped.

"It is like he has his own establishment."

"Goodness, Jessica. I never thought that you would go for an older man. What is his major?"

"I don't know, Janice. I just met him, I don't have all the details."

"Ah, but I need information and it is my job to interrogate you."

"No, it is most certainly not." I laughed.

"I want to meet this guy sometime."

"He literally took me home and that was it. We didn't talk much about it and I doubt if I will see him again any time soon."

But that was a lie, I didn't know how soon Jeffrey wanted to see again. All I knew was that I couldn't wait to see him again.

The weekend is over and I am excited to go to class. It is Monday morning and I managed to wake up at seven o'clock, getting dressed and pulling my curly hair up into a ponytail. I put on my usual amount of makeup which was definitely less than what Olivia applied on my face Saturday night. Olivia was still laying on her bed snoring, so I quietly shut the door when I left for my lectures.

The first lecture was boring as usual, listening to the professor drone on and on about eleventh century artists and comparing styles of painting. I was a fan of art, I loved oil paint above all things but I never had a streak of being artsy. I would probably start a painting one day and not finish it in the next weeks because I cannot be patient. I loved history which brought me to this humanities class. I loved society back in the days whether it was the first century or twenty-first century, I just loved learning about royalty, the papacy and art. History is endless and I wanted to be able to study even deeper into how society worked before my great grandfathers as well as before their great grandfathers.

The lecturer dismissed us and I headed to my next class which was history. Janice was in the class with me which helped because having two lectures back to back in the morning was always hard for me. But I liked the lectures done early so I could return back to my hostel and have time to take a nap.

"Hi, Jess." She greeted me as I sat down in my usual seat which was next to hers.

"Did you speak with that guy again?" I rolled my eyes, this is not what I wanted to talk about.

"No, I haven't spoken to him."

"Do you even know how to live?"

"Yes, I know how to live. I just met him, why do you expect us to be besties or something?"

"Because you never talk to boys, I feel like a proud mother."

"Oh, shut up." Immediately the professor walked in.

After an hour, the lecture was over and we were packing up our things. She had to go for her next class but I was done for the day so I went back to my hostel. Olivia was still in class and will only be returning around eight in the evening. Basically, I had the entire day all to myself.

I wanted to text Jeffrey but my gut told me no. Who was that brunette he was with at the club? He couldn't have been taken, otherwise he wouldn't have wanted to get together with me again, right? These thoughts were reeling in my brain as I changed into some more comfortable clothes, pulling my laptop onto my lap and opening my favorite movie.

Jeffrey is good looking, I won't deny it but he has a girlfriend. Then why does he want to hang out with me again? And where did that girl go when he took me home on that Saturday night? I decided to ignore the thoughts, telling myself that if he truly wanted to talk to me, he would make the first move. Boys are supposed to do that, I think.

I was only on the first episode of the movie when my phone started to buzz. Jeffrey's name showing on the screen, I hesitated before picking up the call.

"Hello?" I said, praying I didn't sound so nervous as I felt.

"Hello, Princess." His raspy voice spoke on the other side of the call.

"Are you busy?" I shook my head and then stupidly remembered that he couldn't see me.

"No, actually I am not."

"Perfect, would you like to join me for lunch?" My stomach flipped.

"Lunch?"

"Yes, I can send a car to come and pick you up if you would like."

Do I say yes? I mean he made the first move. Of course I should say yes.

"Yes, I would love to."

"I will have it pick you up in the next twenty minutes."

"Okay, see you soon."

"Bye, Princess."

Words couldn't describe the butterflies I felt every time he called me that. I quickly put on new clothes, stealing one of Olivia's black shirts and a pair of boyfriend jeans as she always called them. I wore one of my long necklaces, letting my hair out of the ponytail and fluffing out the curls. I grabbed my purse and key and quickly sprayed myself with a bit of perfume. I walked out of my room heading to the location where the limousine dropped Jeffrey and I off the other night.

Thankfully, it was a sleek black sports car that was parked outside the hostel because I didn't. I would be able to explain myself if anyone sees me hopping into the limousine.

It was the same driver that drove the limousine, he opened the back door for me. I thanked him and asked for his name which turned out to be Luke. We drove off the campus, I forgot to ask Jeffrey where he was taking me so I looked at the driver and asked.

"Did Jeffrey say where we would be having lunch?" He glanced at me through his center mirror.

"You will be joining Mr. Craig for lunch in his office."

His office? Where in the world was his office? As we drove deeper into the city, the building grew taller and the streets grew less and less familiar. Came to a halt and pulled into a parallel parking space labeled Craig Fashion and Co. Goodness, he is the CEO? My heart raced at how underdressed I was.

Luke opened the door for me, I stepped out onto the pavement, looking up at the tall building with awe. Turning back to Luke, I asked an awkward question.

"Do I just walk in?" He nodded with a slight chuckle.

"Yes, tell the receptionist that you are here to see Mr. Craig and they will take it from there." I nodded.

"Okay, thank you."

Taking a deep breath, I walked through the revolving door with ease and tried not to let my jaw drop at the exquisite interior. White walls and matching white couches with black decor, modern art on the walls and chandeliers littering the ceiling. I walked towards the front desk, smiling at the older woman.

"Hello, how can I help you?" She said.

"I am here to see Mr. Craig." She raised her eyebrows at me, not even looking at her computer before asking the next question.

"Do you have an appointment?" I nodded.

She still didn't seem to believe me but also still didn't check her computer or even think to ask for my name.

"Baby girl, Mr. Craig is a very busy man and I don't think he has time for fangirls to come visit him."

"You don't believe me?"

I asked in disbelief, she shook her head going back to her computer to continue on with her work. I rolled my lips between my teeth before pulling out my phone right in front of her, dialing Jeffrey's number and I could feel her eyes on me.

"Hello, Princess." His voice sang sweetly into the phone.

"Hello, Jeffrey." I responded and the receptionist's eyes widened.

"The receptionist at the front desk down the group floor is refusing to let me in."

"Give her the phone." His tone changed to a more serious one as I handed the phone to the frazzled lady.

"Hello, sir?" She muttered, her entire demeanor had changed and I felt bad but then again I had this sudden surge of confidence that I kind of liked.

"Yes, sir. I will make sure she has a pass key." She hung up the call, visibly stressed.

She typed some information into the computer before a small beep was heard and she handed me a card.

"This is your pass key, you swipe it in the elevator and it will take you directly to the top floor. Show it to the receptionist up there and she will direct you to Mr. Craig's office." She explained in a monotone voice.

"Thank you." I smiled, taking the pass key from her and heading towards the elevator.

The door opened, revealing a sleek, dark interior and metal railing. I swiped the pass key through the slot by the bottom, the door instantly closed and took me to the fifteen floor where Jeffrey's office awaited.