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It takes me a full twenty minutes to cross the bridge. The hat is of no help as the glowing rays of the sun hit my head as if it was penetrable, but the swish of cool winds at regular intervals helps keep my body cool. I reach the main city to witness the full hustle bustle. Tourists, sellers, tour guides, and residents, all seem to know exactly where they want to go, and what they want to do. Suddenly, I feel incredibly lost amidst them. I wish I had a map with me to help me guide to at least someplace. I sit on the nearby bench inside a park near the beach. I call Jordan not knowing what else to do. However, he doesn't pick up the call and it goes into voicemail.

Beep
"Hey, you've reached Jordan. Leave a message."
Beep

"Hey Jordan. Its Cassy. I just wanted to talk again. I feel so lonely out here. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy here, but it gets lonely. I miss you already. You are probably working and I'm disturbing you so sorry. Yeah OK. Call me when you are free. Okay bye."

I sigh as I look at my phone hopelessly. Where do I go? What do I do? Should I go back to the house?

No.

In the back of my mind I knew that it was because Scarlett Martinez is there right now and I am in no mood to face her and the rude boy. If Adonis weren't rude and cranky, it wouldn't have been to difficult to like him. But knowing me, I would have chickened out anyway. Yes. I am here these few months and I am stuck. Hot tears start to flow from my eyes and I shake uncontrollably. A few passerby's turn to look at me, some with pity and some just surprised. They have all the right to be surprised. Surely, nobody except a helpless girl would cry in a place as beautiful as Mauritius. Thinking about it makes me cry even harder.

I am helpless.

I am broke.

I am alone.

No. I have to strive. I won't destroy my own holiday myself with these irrational thoughts. I have to find a job here. Determined, I get up and start walking towards my left, carefully eying the small shops by the shore.

Lucy's Gift Shop. Well, no as I'm a tourist myself and haven't discovered anything yet.

Little Finger Pawn Shop. Gross.

Bumble bee Kitchen. Bumble bee?! Probably shouldn't.

Fiesta Cooka. The place is too small for work.

Snorkelling Store. Let's keep this option open.

Souvenir Station. Same reason as the gift shop.

Hilda's Night Life. I don't want to be associated with any sort of pubs. Nope. Besides, I don't drink. Barista is not a good option.

I searched and searched like a hungry but tired raccoon for a suitable job. Nothing seemed to suit me when all of a sudden my eyes land on the perfect building.

Miss Lovelady's Home for Children.

Perfect.

I smile at the perfect homey looking building as if welcoming me with open arms. It is a cream and pink building with laces decorating the Victorian style windows and a huge oval wooden door. I cross the street and make my way over to the entrance and rap the door. After a few seconds, a teenage girl about my age opens the door and looks at me questioningly but not before awarding me a huge smile. I smile back in return.

"Umm, hi. My name is Cassandra Jackson and I am here on vacation."

"Okay....."

"I am here to talk about something." I look at her pleadingly.

"Oh. Well, come in. Welcome to Mauritius by the way." She makes way for me to enter.

"Thanks a ton." I enter the Home timidly and the girl gestures me to follow her. She leads me to a living room. The Home is empty apparently. The decor indoors is wholly made of wood and carpeted flooring. The ambiance is much more welcoming than it was outside.

Once seated, she speaks up.

"So, you said you wanted to talk to me about something. Shoot. Oh and I am Paige Lovelady. My mom runs this place."

"Oh. Well, hello. Incidentally, is there any room for one more helper here?" I plead hoping she would say yes.

"Oh um" she looks a bit taken aback by my plea. I can tell from her facial expression that she was not expecting this. She continues, "Well, there is no harm for you to join us and help me and mom to help take care of the kids, but it is not my place to say or appoint you. Mom is out in the beach with the kids for a picnic and it's about time they come back. You should stay here for a while and speak to her once about this matter."

"Yes thanks. I would definitely like that." I breathe out. I might just be hired here.

"She nods at me and asks, "In the meantime, would you like something to drink? Tea? Coffee?"

"No thanks. I'll just wait here." I smile.

"Okay then." She settles herself opposite me. "So tell me Cassandra, where is your humble abode here?"

Right then I realise that Adonis's house has no name. What the heck do I say to her? Adonis's Beach House? Just a beach house? Rude boy house?

Eh well.

"I actually live on rent on the outskirts of the main island. There's a beach house currently available, so yeah, I got the address through a common friend and he recommended that house." The last part is crap.

"Wait a minute.... You live with Adonis Fuller?"

How the heck does Paige know him? Is he famous round here or what?

"Yes" I say slowly. "I live on rent with him." I clarify. "Besides, how do you know him anyways?"

'Oh everyone here knows him." She says in an obvious 'duh' tone.

"How?" I ask curiously.

"Well, he is pretty much the gawking guy here. There is no girl who hasn't tried to get close to him and by 'get close' you should know what I mean."

I just nod along, shocked and motion for her to continue.

"Although he has never shown any kind of interest in any girl. He just pushes everyone away and even though all the girls round here know this, they won't just stop trying." She huffs. I wonder if in the past, she was one of the girls.

"Well, I think thats because he already has a girlfriend. Scarlett Martinez."
I cringe when I say her name.

"He has a girlfriend? Oh my god, I had no idea! How long has he been dating her? Did you speak to her? Are they in love?" Paige just bombards me with questions eagerly wanting to know the gossip. I stop right there as i dont know half of it myself and it's not right to rant about someone's personal life .... especially if it is Adonis's.

"Umm, cool off Paige. I have no idea. I just arrived yesterday." I softly murmur even though my voice sounded bold in my head.

She seems embarrassed by her sudden outburst and mumbles a "Sorry".

Right then, the front door opens and a train of noisy kids fill in the room along with an elderly woman probably around in her 60's. I stand up to greet Ms Lovelady. The kids, probably like 40 of them look up to me with narrowed eyes as if judging me if I'm an intruder or not. I break my eye contact from their steely gaze and laugh at Ms Lovelady nervously.

"Hi, I am Cassandra Jackson and i was wondering if I could work here. I mean, I would love to work here. That is if i get a job." I ramble on fidgeting with my t shirt.

"Please call me Doris and sweet lady, look up at me." She forces my chin up with her fingers and smiles at me with motherly affection. "Always look at the person you want to speak. Never break eye contact. It makes you weaker." She lectures sternly.

"Okay." I say in a meek voice.

"Let's get straight to the point shall we? I need to ask you a few questions before I can decide if you should work here or not."

"Okay." I answer again.

"Good. Now, have you ever had a job before?"

"Yes. I work in Madison Square Garden in New York. I took a hiatus and came here for a holiday."

She raises one eyebrow, "You earn so much, that you could travel here? I have never heard of such a thing before."

"I saved up." I answer, giving the same excuse I gave to Jordan.

She is one smart lady.

"I see. Okay, well, have you had any experience in training and helping kids?"

"No, but I hope to learn it here. One has to start sometime." I answer, my eyes fixed on hers.

"Well said. So, what do you say? Are you ready to work from tomorrow?"

"WHAT!? I'm hired? Oh dear god! Thank you so much Ms Lovelady! I mean Ms Doris! I cannot be more happy! Of course I'll work from tomorrow. When do I reach here?"

"8 AM sharp. I will tell you about your duties with the children tomorrow and then you can get acquainted with them. You get a break from 11 Am to 1 PM and your work ends at 8 Pm. $60 per week. I hope it answers all your doubts." She explains and smiles at me lovingly. "Don't worry dear, once you start working here, you will find that it is easy to go with the flow with me but beware! I can be very cranky when it comes to work." She laughs apparently finding her words humorous.

"One more question?" I ask.

"Go ahead dear."

"Why is there a Children's Home in Mauritius? Isn't it a specifically tourist location?"

Ms Lovelady exchanges glances with her daughter before answering, "I'll tell you all about it in good time. Have some patience dear lady."

"Oh well fine then. I'm sorry, if that was too personal. I won't push it." I reply, almost sorry for asking that question.

"No no don't worry about that dear. I have a feeling, you will stick around long enough to figure out the story." She winks. She actually winks!

A huge grin spreads on my face. "Well, bye I guess! Thank you once again for hiring me! I'm very grateful. Goodbye Paige! It was nice meeting you." Both of them wave back as I head outside their home waving to the children as well, all of them looking at me blankly. That will change real soon.

My mood is so happy and bubbly that I dont realise that I have arrived to my rent house. A heavy feeling settles in my chest as I shudder at the thought of encountering him again and being the victim of his rude words once again.

Besides,....... Scarlett may be inside.... And i dont want to face her either.

I stand outside his door for a few minutes and then decide to go in and face the music, when I stop short in my tracks.

I hear voices from inside the house and upon listening closely, I make out that they were of Adonis and Scarlett, probably fighting about a matter.

Then I hear Adonis say a line which makes my heart almost stop and I slump down to the ground on my knees.

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So sorry for the late update. I am having trouble finding time to write. :(

Anyways, hope you enjoyed this chapter! Any comments on miss Lovelady? Paige?

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All the love
Hazza ❤