Description: Bella is oblivious to the powerful billionaire working alongside her, but instead is taken in by an enigmatic volunteer worker. In the game of love, does money really make a difference?
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BPOV
"Bell, are you alright?"
Mike manages to break my fall in time, before I break what would inevitably be my second bone this year. Damn clumsiness. Damn stepladders.
Mike, like myself, is a local student at USF collage, and a little too touchy at times.
I weave out of his arms, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you", I say just little too shortly.
"You sure. That could have been a pretty nasty fall. Good job I was there huh?" He grins at me, all blonde haired and blue eyed. He looked more like a twelve year-old boy than a senior at college.
"Ha, yeah. Would you mind finishing the job, and I'll make the coffee? I was just placing the books in alphabetical order via author."
"No probs Bell." Probs? Bell? Arrgh. I have never found anyone so damn irritating.
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I put the put the coffee machine on, thankful for the barrier between us, dissolving the awkwardness. Well, on my part anyway.
"Errr, Bell I've been meaning to ask you…. Are you by any chance free next weekend?"
I take a deep breath, but before I even attempt to answer his repetitive question, the shop door opens and closes with a thud.
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Phew, saved by the bell- well, that is until my ears are assaulted with the shrill voice of Mrs Stanley.
"Good afternoon Michael and how are you? Good to see you working well. Where's Bella?" Oh god no. What now. Well best get this over with I guess.
"In here Mrs Stanley!" I say composing my face.
"Oh, there you are. I've come to request you work Thursday afternoons. There's going to be a new voluntary recruit joining us. His name is Anthony. You are to give him the necessary induction training, yes?
"Oh, yes…. Erm that's fine. About one o'clock?"
"No, lets make it half twelve. I will come in to supervise around two, but only for ten minutes before I have to attend a meeting"
"Of course Mrs Stanley." I almost literally have to bite my tongue.
"Ok, Bella you may resume your work… or… making coffee?" She asks rhetorically, lifting one manicured eyebrow.
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With that she leaves the shop, and I can un-ball my fists. You're welcome!It's people like her that can give a bad name to charity organisations. How she ever gained the job of supervisor is totally beyond me- and paid non-the-less.
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Going back into the main shop area, I hand Mike his coffee. Black, two sugars. Somehow, though I'm not quite sure how, even the way he takes his coffee is irritating.
"Thanks," he lifts the mug before taking a sip.
"What'd she want from you this time?" Though he only joined last month, Mike is used to her coming in the shop and dictating us.
"The usual; to annoy me. Well, that and to help train up a new volunteer. Because lord knows she can't do it herself. She's far too important." I roll my eyes and he smiles.
"Yeah, I agree, she is a bit high and mighty. How the hell have you put up with her for so long"? The answer is obvious to me.
"Because, even though she seems to go out of her way to boss me around, helping the organization raise money in order to help those children, makes it all worth it. " I smile remembering the happiness reflecting on the kid's faces at the last Christmas party. Me taking stick from an overtly bossy, middle-aged woman was nothing in comparison.
"Hmm. Well, I don't envy you." He clearly didn't get it. Did he even really care?
Trying to keep the frustration from showing on my face, I went back to the till to drink my coffee.
Five minutes later the customers soon started flowing in and time soon faded away.
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Taking the subway back to my apartment, I plunked myself down on one of the tattered I sat there, my thoughts drifted off to what I would have for dinner and Mrs. Stanley's demand. Another male recruit, huh. I can only hope for an elderly man or just anyone but another Mike- one of those students only volunteering to pad their C.V.
Dear god, I hoped not.
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Thursday
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After returning from my English lit class, I hoped in the shower and washed my hair.I let it dry naturally whilst I threw on a pair of skinny jeans, a simple, navy blue top and my black flats.
It was nearing twelve now, so I knew I should get going in order to get there in time.
My flat mate still hadn't come back from staying at her boyfriend's place yet, so I left a note in case she I was late back and she got worried.
Angela,
Schedule shifted. Gone to the Bookshop to help out. Maybe see you tonight.
Bella. Xxx
I shoved my ipod in my purse, grabbed my jacket and headed for the subway station.
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Arriving at the shop, I greet Florence, one of the more aged ladies helping out.
"Hello Florence. How are you today, been busy?" I have to speak a little more loudly as she's a little death.
"Ah, great to see you Bella. I'm good. A little rushed off my feet this morning- but good. Though I suppose it helps that I've barely seen that bossy Madame this morning."
I laugh, as this is the little nickname she has taken to giving Mrs. Stanley.
"Well, you can relax now, I've come to relieve you of your post. Well until next week that is." She smiles and mockingly wipes her forehead with her hand in relief.
"Phew. Well if you're sure dear?..."
"Yes, yes go on, get going. I'll be fine; I won't be alone for long. Someone else is helping out. Enjoy the rest of your day."
"Ok chuck. If you certain", she says hesitantly.
"I am, now go." Mock sternness consuming my voice.
All right, I'm going, I'm going. Take care now." I wave and she is out the door, no doubt to enjoy a nice lunch.
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The clock says nearly half twelve, or what I like to call the deserted period between now and after one, so I retrieve Jane Eyre from my bag and start to read.
After a few pages I hear the door open, and prepare to greet the new member of staff. Gosh, what was his name again?.…..
A god of a man approaches the till area.
Lord he's handsome. I fight the urge to fan myself with my book.
"Excuse me. Mrs. Stanley is it?" And so politely spoken. He extends his musician-like hands to me. "I'm Anthony. Anthony Masen. I'm here to complete some volunteer work."
Wow, so definitely not another Mike. This man seemed little under striking. Lean, dressed in Levis and a white button-down shirt with uncontrollable bronze hair and piercing jade eyes that seem to scrutinise me.
I place my hand in his and desperately try to compose myself somewhat, and find my voice.
"Errr…. no, I'm sorry Mrs. Stanley is unfortunately indisposed at present, but I'm Bella Swan and I'll be giving you the training." I smile apologetically, pleased that I sound vaguely coherent.
He nods in acknowledgement, but frowns slightly, calculating, and I'm guessing it's because he doesn't want some college girl crushing on him. Though I suspect even the ever so professional Mrs. Stanley would be affected.
"Well, errr.. I suppose I should start with showing you around." I try to direct the conversation.
"Yes that would be nice." His voice is smooth like honey.
Like honey, Bella. Really?
I start giving him the very limited tour of the shop, where each genre of book was stored and going through the mundane health and safety regulations such as the emergency exit. All the while I'm doing this I can feel his gaze on my back, and I daren't look at him too frequently. Though in reality I could look at this man all day.
What has gotten into you, Bella?
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After the ten-minute run-through I introduce him to the till.
"Have you ever used a till before?"
He shakes his head, no. "But I'm wiling to learn. I'm sure you're more than capable of teaching me…"
He stares at me intently, and I feel myself blush slightly, though I have no particular reason.
"Ahem, yes, I suppose I should take that as a challenge then." I'm all fingers and thumbs as I try to demonstrate how it works. Of course, it's very simple, as the till itself looks like it was from the 50's- he masters it straight away. Finishing with a slight smug grin, he proceeds to give me a 'what now?' expression.
"The customers don't usually start coming in till about ten minutes." I shrug at him, still feeling a little self-conscious.
"Ah, ok. So that gives me time then." To back out? Request another schedule? I'm confused.
"Time to what? Get lunch? There's coffee and biscuits in the back." He gives a sharp laugh and shakes his head.
"No, I meant it gives me time to get to know you. Why, and how do you benefit from working here?" He looks genuinely interested.
"Oh, well, I heard about the organization through a collage talk. They told a few stories of the children and I just wanted to contribute somehow. Make some kind of difference. However insignificant, you know." I shrug my shoulders feeling just a little silly.
"I don't think what you do is insignificant at all. Quite the opposite in fact." His gaze is intense.
"Hmmm, so how about you then. Any major reasons?" Why would such an attractive man his age bother himself. He just doesn't fit the criteria.
"Same as you really." I scoff cutting him off
"You certainly don't look like a collage student though, I mean look at you."
As soon as I say this though, I turn red. Where the hell is the damn filter when I need it.
"Sorry…I didn't mean…..carry on."
"It's ok, where was I." He says jestingly. "Ah, yes. Well, I suppose…I do it for personal reasons." And with that he brakes off.
Hmmm.
"Them being?..." He gives me a look that tells me he isn't for answering that question, so I don't dig any further.
A customer enters the shop, and from then on the shop is relatively busy.
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I work the till whilst Anthony rearranges the books; leaving me wondering just what happened in this man's past.
Mysterious man.