Filed to story: The Girl He Craves Book by Demiah
Mila and I pass on amused looks at each other before walking to the diner.
“Your favorite customer is here.” Mila teased, stopping beside me.
I looked up from cleaning the table and my eyes dart to where he always sat. Mr. Bernard.
He was a man nearing age fifty-five and he had been a loyal customer for two years now. He was a very nice man and would talk to me about his home and family life. I consider us friends. I smiled when his brown eyes meet mine across the room.
“I swear if that man was younger and not married, I’d definitely give him a chance.” Mila joked, turning around to fully face Mr. Bernard.
I shook my head, grinning. “He can be your dad Mila.”
She looks at me over her shoulder. “Which is why I said if only he was younger.” She snorted stressing on the word if.
“Mila get back to work!” Ressa yelled, coming out from the back where I was sure she was counting the money she just made. It was just lunch time and I should be on break in about ten minutes. Mila pokes out her tongue at Ressa and turns to me. “Stick up her butthole lady is forcing me to do her bidding.” She rolls her eyes and skates away leaving me giggling at her parting words. When I was done cleaning up the mess a family of four left on the table, 1 skated over to Bernard who was waiting for me patiently. “How’s your day been Sophie?” He asked with a cheer ful pitch in his voice. Bernard thought of me as his daughter, it didn’t help that we looked so much alike. Unfortu nately, I would never get to meet her physically since she was no longer alive.
I took out the little notepad and then pull out the pencil behind my ear to write down his or der. Apart from how busy and noisy and a bit stressful working at the diner can be, the friendly and kind customers made up for it. One of them happens to be Bernard.
“Busy. A lot. I got ketchup sprayed on me by a five year old who thought I needed a touch of red.” I pointed at the red stain that was still so visible on the light pink uniform we were assigned to wear. Bernard chuckled while awaking his head. “Kids these days huh?”
I beamed and nodded.
“Speaking of, how’s Ash? Did he like the bunny I bought him?” He asked with high hope. Bernard met up with Ash countless times when Ash wasn’t in daycare yet and I had to bring him to work when I got no babysitter.
I nodded and smiled. “You have to stop spoiling him Bernard.”.
Bernard scoffs. “No way. This is nothing Sophie. Ash deserves more than that. I was actually planning to buy him those big toy cars he-“
I shook my head quickly. “Oh no no no. You don’t have to keep buying him stuff Bernard, es pecially so expensive.
He then sighs. “I’ve told you many times Sophie, I just want to do this for Ash. There’s no huge dent in my bank account. I’m buying him those cars.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I’m not accepting it.” I threatened so he’d rethink his decision.
But Bernard only chuckles and grins, “We’ll see about that.”.
Shaking my head at him, I asked. “Are you ready to place an order Bernard?” I smiled, the point of the pencil on the blank paper already.
Black coffee, four donuts, and some churros. If I knew Bernard as well as I thought, then that will be his exact order.
He nods. “Black coffee, four donuts, and some churros. Give me those churros to go, I need to eat something sweet while dealing with that arrogant Ceo today.” He huffed.
Bernard always complained about his arrogant boss who supposedly was always so furious and nitpicked at everything.
Everyone hated him, well the males hated him, but the women saw him as nothing more than someone who was walking sex on legs. Well, at least that’s how I remembered Bernard de scribed him as.
I gave him a pity-filled smile not bothering to jot down his order since I’ve already memo rized it.
“Well, I’ll be back with your order Bernard, soon,” I told him and skated away.
When I got back, Bernard was deep in thought and hadn’t realized I was beside him until i placed his order in front of him.
My brows furrow in worry. “Are you okay Bernard?”
He looks up and his dark gaze swept over my face. “Do you like working here Sophie?”
Confused and startled by his question, it takes me a while to answer him. I nod. “I do. It may not seem much, but meeting friendly people is the highlights of my day.”
“But the work?” He asked, searching my eyes.
I look away from him.
Working for eight hours a day literally on my feet the entire day wasn’t fun. But it was not like I can just get up and leave and find a new job.
Who would hire someone who didn’t go to college and only had a high-school diploma? This was New York, I needed more than a high-school diploma to get a decent job that can feed both Ash and I properly, pay the bills and provide food on the table.
It was not like the diner was a bad place to work at. It was just that, this wasn’t where I envisioned working three years ago.
The other small jobs around here that would maybe hire me, were not child friendly. By that I mean, I’d have to push in more work and not get enough time to spend with Ash.
I turn to Bernard, extremely confused. He had never asked me those questions before. And by the gleam in his eyes, I knew that he wanted to ask me more. “Why are you asking me this Bernard?”
He looks nervous but then lets out. “My secretary will be leaving in a week. She’s relocating to another state. The spot is vacant Sophie, and I want you to fill it.”
Sophie’s pov
I’m completely stunned.
Bernard had a huge position at his workplace. As I recall, he mentioned being the CFO of Harrington.co. A company worth billions.
It was already shocking that he, a high and successful man would come here every day, in this small run-down diner. But it’s even more shocking that he was asking me to fill in the shoes of his secretary I was well aware that I didn’t have the qualifications for that kind of job. Especially for such a huge well-known company.
Topened my mouth and then closed it, unsure of how to respond to him.
Seeing my stunned expression, Bernard continues. “Before you say no, I just want to men tion that if you do decide to take the job, you’ll be sitting on a hundred thousand dollars annually. That will be enough to give a better life for you and Ash Sophie. Just think about it okay?”
This was a huge opportunity, it really was. But what about the people who actually deserved this opportunity and had the qualifications for it? Was that not snubbing them of this opportunity that could change their lives to?
2
“Aren’t there others waiting in line for this opportunity Bernard?” Ignawed on my lips and slid into the chair mirroring his.
I prayed Ressa won’t notice me ‘sitting’ on the job.
Bernard shook his head. “No. I never sent out word that I was in need of a new secretary. I left this empty spot for you specifically Sophie.” He reaches over and squeezes my hand that was on the table.
“I’ve noticed your tired eyes and I’ve seen how stressed you’ve been lately. I want to help you, Sophie. I want to help both you and Ash. Alice will help you with everything on what to do before she leaves. That is, if you do agree?” His eyes shine with hope.
Above eight thousand a month sounds really good. I could give Ash a better life. But at what cost?
“I don’t know Bernard…” I trailed off. What if I wasn’t cut out for the job?
Bernard sighs. “Just think about it okay? Here.” Bernard pulls a red pen from his pocket and grabs the napkin I had given him. He jots down an address I wasn’t familiar with.
“If you agree. Just come here at eight or before eight. There’s a woman at the front desk named Becca, she’ll send you right up to me.” He slides me the napkin and rises from the chair.
My brows furrowed when I noticed he hadn’t taken a bite of anything. “Aren’t you going to eat anything?” I asked.
He looked down at the donuts and coffee. “As much as I want to finish those, I don’t think I have time to today. If you don’t mind, can you bag them all to go, please?”
I nodded, sliding off the chair. “Sure,” I said and went to do just that. When I got back, I hand ed him the two paper bags and his black coffee in a foam cup.
Bernard gives me a thankful smile while taking his order from my grasp. “Thank you Sophie. And please, think about it okay? At least before Alice leaves?” He chuckles lowly and we say our goodbyes before he leaves.
I roller skated to the front counter, saying excuse me as I swing around the corner and head ed to the back where I was sure Mila was.
When she sees me she grins. “I got a guy’s phone number. He was hot.” She pinched the card between her fingers.
I raised a brow and slow down before I reach her. “Are you even going to call?”