Kiara

We had everyone everywhere like a hot pile of mess, people were pushing their way to get a chance with this man and it kept me wondering how I had no idea that amount of people were right outside the shop. We had people trying to guide us to God knows where and with everyone pushing on everything, I only had the chance to move through the narrow space in between. Two men acted like the dam, holding behind the waves of thirsty paparazzi. While I was in between turning back and hiding in the crooks of the shop or just following him, I felt hand push me forward and I followed. Well, I wouldn't say I followed because I wanted to. It's more of an only choice kind of decision.

Y'all I felt like Kim K.

The only sad thing is that all of that had to happen when I had a flimsy yellow dress on. The world just has its way of bringing things up unexpectedly. With all these pictures flying around, I wonder how my messy hair and apron is going to look on the front page tomorrow or maybe tonight cause this attention is over the top.

We were guided to one of the big cars of the two outside and I was pushed in before I got the chance to object. I moved to the other side of the seat while Mr Magazine worthy slammed the door shut and locked it. Then it was just two of us behind and a driver in front.

I had mixed feelings and most of it came from the fact that the cause of this whole mess is the same guy that denied me access into his big boy company. Now the tables have turned and my once invisible self is now popular.

Not that I hate the thought of being popular but who walks into a coffee shop and makes it the Met Gala?

"You better start explaining" I said, crossing my arms over my damp dress. All the struggle to make it here made me forget the clouds had deposited some of its content on me "What's the meaning of this? Showing up in my shop after practically insulting me"

"It's not your shop, it's the place you work and I did not insult you, I told you facts. It's very simple, it was raining, I needed a place with shade and away from the public and the shop was the only place with an open door"

"The sign says closed"

"It's difficult to see a small sign in the dark Gwen, but it's easier to see a person"

"Who's Gwen? I thought I caused such a scene earlier, you should at least remember my first name"

"Well, I'm not obligated to know your name or anything about you. What we need to do is find a way out of this because the whole internet is going to be about me tomorrow and I can't have this scandal tarnishing my image"

"And my image too"

"You're a coffee shop girl"

"That you got in trouble with"

I'm going to assume the coffee shop girl thing didn't hurt me cause everyone knows if I had the chance, I wouldn't be behind the counter flashing a fake smile at people who wouldn't give two cents to save my life. What struck me, however, is that amidst this whole thing, it's almost as if I hadn't quite wrapped my head around the consequences of this. I didn't know what would happen tomorrow, I had no idea about what the reporters would write and I certainly didn't know a thing about celebrity gossip and scandals but in one way or the other, I'd gotten myself intricately tangled with a man that has zero joy.

I may not know who this guy is but his fortune and this amount of attention are enough to prove his influence and if I'd gotten into this mess with his reputation being at stake then there's only one thing to be done.

Ask for what I truly need, you can't blame me on that one, I'm struggling, okay?

"The job"

"What job? We have better things to focus on than your position in an almost shattered shop Gwen, try to concentrate"

"First, my name is Kiara and second, I meant the job you were offering earlier today, the one I applied for"

"Oh, you mean the one you're meant to know about?"

"This is not about my unpreparedness, have you found someone to fill the space?"

"I need a personal assistant, one that has sound education and one with brains but apparently, only few people have that now"

"Of course I have all of that, you don't know me"

"But you dressed like a six-year-old birthday girl so you're not any better. You're by far the worst of all candidates"

"Glad to know I made quite the difference and for your information, this isn't a six-year-old birthday dress, okay? You just have a very bad taste in fashion and you clearly don't understand my aesthetic. From the looks of it, you probably have just shirts and suits in your closet"

"But at least they're better than skimpy thrift dresses"

"Oh that is very rude Mr, this isn't cheap"

The girl at the thrift store said it looked as good as new, how did he even realize how cheap it is? This is probably one of my favorite dresses and he managed to bring it down to dust with a few words.

We bickered here and there for minutes with no point to our conversation, nothing related to the current situation. We're just two people that don't want to feel inferior to the other. Mr. Magazine would never hear a word from me and let it slide and guess what? Neither will I.

"I'll have reservations arranged for you, it's either that or you stay in your apartment and you'll have the paparazzi by your door first thing in the morning"

And see my wreck of a house? Not in a million years.

"This reservation, how long will it last cause I don't think you've noticed but I have a job and a life"

I was silently praying he wouldn't say something bad about my life 'cause I can go violent, I'm not even joking this time."You'll have meals and clothes and everything you need, it's just for all of this to go down on its own. I need to think of a way to handle this and I can't have you everywhere while I do so"

"So you'll lock me up in one place for weeks?"

"I'm not locking you up anywhere, don't be dramatic Gwen" And there goes the name again "You'll be free, just restricted to a few places based on the presence of the public. You'll have food, clothes and all your basic needs will be well catered for. What more do you want? To spend more days in a coffee shop?"

"I will have you know that the coffee shop isn't such a bad place"

"You can't even say that with a straight face"

"Whatever. The moment this is over, what happens then?""

"We'll go back to being two different people with two separate lives as always"

"Nah, I don't think so. All you care about is your life, your reputation, your image. You don't care about what this is doing to me or my personal life you selfish undeserving nobody"

He took a deep breath and let it out in frustration. "You want money? Fine you'll get money"

"No, I want the job position. I want to be your assistant"

"You?"

"Yes me, I have quite an amount of skills up my sleeve. Don't judge this book by its cover"

"Well, I can see this book just as it is. You're probably the most frustrating being I've ever met in my entire life, you have no manners, you don't know how to speak, you're everything but a proper woman and you want me to hire you as my assistant, so you can ruin everything I've worked my life for? No"

"Oh please, don't be so dramatic. I'm the best option and your only choice. Everyone's out there thinking I'm your girlfriend, it'll be logical if you tell them I'm just your assistant. Your small brain should at least be able to comprehend that"

His long fingers stroked his perfectly structured chin with dark orbs dancing around behind his glasses. He took a second or two and turned to me with his lips in a thin line "I don't have a small brain and maybe you are right this time"

"I've always been"

"Your job will begin tomorrow morning, eight am sharp"

"I sleep by eight am"

"And it's the reason you still work at a coffee shop. I'll have my driver pick you up at seven-thirty in the morning and you will not delay him by one minute. You'll stay in the hotel till this deal is over and I'll have you in my place whenever I please. You'll go on trips with me looking professional if I might add and you'll do everything to make this believable, am I clear?"

"Whatever birdbrain"