June's POV
It has been four days since I was fired from my job. Four days since the woman at the top compelled Donald to let me go. Four days since I have been fruitlessly seeking new job opportunities. Was I furious? Absolutely! Could I do anything about it? Regrettably not.
It has also been four days since I last encountered a certain man with grey eyes, trailing behind me. His eyes resembled the clouds, haunting me. His handsome face and chiseled jaw now lived rent free in my head. Why did he try to help me even after I had accidentally spilled coffee on his date? His voice of reason wouldn't stop floating in my head. Why did he follow me out of the restaurant?
I let out a heavy sigh and dismissed the thought. We were not on the same league. He was rich, extremely rich and men like him only went for girls who were in the same class as them; the elite class, and entertaining any thoughts involving him would only lead to chaos.
I grabbed my car keys, locked the door, and exited the house. It was time to pick up Lily from school.
Just as I was about to come to a stop, a vehicle collided with mine from behind!
"Oh no no no!" I exclaimed and hurried out of the car to assess the gravity of the damage. I was financially strained and couldn't afford any repairs at that moment.
"Oh My Goodness, ma'am! I am so sorry. Are you hurt?" A tall elderly man inquired with a hint of concern evident on his brow.
"Were you not paying attention?" I inquired with a composure that belied my true feelings. Repairing the damage would certainly put a strain on my finances.
"Urghhh" ! I inwardly groaned.
This man was probably old enough to be my father and demanding he paid for the damages was morally wrong.
"I will cover the costs for the damage, miss," a man in his early thirties offered. I hadn't noticed him before and it was then I realized he was the passenger and the frail, old man was the driver. He exuded an aura of elegance and wealth. I took a step back and shook my head in refusal. I wasn’t going to take any offers from a stranger, more or less a man.
"No, it's fine."
"I insist, please," he pleaded, and I reluctantly acquiesced.
"Very well," I muttered weakly. I was puzzled by my own behavior, as I typically did not accept offers from strangers, especially from a handsome stranger like him.
"Bryan."
"June."
"Pleasure to meet you, June," Bryan said, shaking my hand firmly. I offered a slight smile and a curt nod.
"I must be on my way now. Perhaps we will meet again, Bryan."
"I'll walk with you. I assume you are here to pick up..."
"My daughter," I quickly interjected, even though it was a lie. I couldn't have anyone assuming Lily was motherless and I had hoped telling him that would push him away.
"So, you are a single mother," Bryan stated more than asked.
"Is that an issue?" I inquired defensively as we approached the school gate.
"Not at all. Is her father involved in her life?" Bryan asked cautiously.
"Well, that depends... why do you ask?"
"Mum!" Lily joyfully exclaimed upon seeing me, interrupting our conversation. She ran towards me with great speed, and I embraced her.
"My darling!" I whispered in her ear, planting a gentle kiss on her cheek.
"I missed you so much," I expressed as we pulled away from the embrace. She giggled softly and embraced me once more.
"Me too," she replied in her soft voice, and we both chuckled.
"I was merely curious, to ensure I am not overstepping any boundaries. She is as beautiful as you, by the way," Bryan remarked. I had almost forgotten he was with us and that I had posed a question to him.
"What?... Oh yes! Thank you," I said with a shy smile, releasing Lily's hand.
"Who is this, Mum?" Lily asked genuinely, holding onto my hand.
"He bumped into my car and now he's trying to be nice," I joked, but Lily frowned. Bryan let out a light chuckle and knelt down to her eye level.
"I am Bryan, your mother's new friend. And you are?"
"Lily!"
"Nice to meet you, Lily," he said, offering a high five, which she eagerly accepted with a beaming smile. My heart melted at that moment, and tears welled up in my eyes.
"If it wouldn't be too much trouble, I would like to drop you off since you cannot commute," Bryan offered as he stood up to my height. I hesitated, wary of accepting further favors from him that might lead to a sense of indebtedness.
"No, I couldn't possibly," I stated simply, feeling as though he was offering his assistance with ulterior motives in mind. I didn't want to give him the impression that I was interested in any form of repayment.
"I mean, it's the least I can do for causing damage to your car," he reassured, his eyes twinkling with a smile. I glanced down at Lily, who was observing our interaction with curiosity.
"Wouldn't that be too much of an inconvenience for you?" I questioned, attempting to avoid any sense of obligation. I didn't want to feel indebted to him in any way. I assumed that single mothers were a deterrent to wealthy men like him, so I was surprised that he wasn't put off when I mentioned Lily was my daughter.
In fact, that was precisely why I had quickly asserted that Lily was my daughter - to dissuade men like him. Yet, it seemed that this particular individual was not deterred by that information.
"It would not be an inconvenience at all," he beamed, and I could not help but reciprocate the smile.
Silently, we walked to his car, with Lily holding my hand.
"Where is my car?" I inquired when I didn't see it in sight.
"My driver is taking care of that, no need to worry, Mia Cara," he said affectionately, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. My cheeks flushed with shyness, and I smiled sheepishly.
"Shall we?" he gestured towards the car, and I nodded. He opened the back seat for Lily, helping her into the car and securing her with a seat belt. Then, he opened the passenger door for me, displaying gentlemanly manners.
"So, what do you do?" I asked him once we were comfortably seated in his car. He started the engine, and it sputtered to life.
"Well, I am involved in various endeavors. You might need to be more specific, Mia Cara," he replied with a smirk, causing me to roll my eyes.
"What is your source of income?" I inquired, enunciating each word to avoid any evasive responses. This prompted him to laugh heartily.
"I work for a technology company. It's nothing particularly significant. In fact, I was on my way to a meeting when my driver collided with your car. I apologize again for that," he explained casually, downplaying the severity of the situation.
"So, you missed your meeting because of me? Oh dear!" I exclaimed, burying my face in my hands.
"It's really not a problem. Besides, I was already running late and would likely have faced consequences regardless," he reassured calmly. I glanced at the rear view mirror to ensure Lily was content, and seeing her gazing out the window put me at ease. I smiled faintly and returned my gaze to Bryan.
"Well, better late than never," I reflected, staring out the window. I sighed heavily, trying not to blame myself for the mishap. I hadn't requested any of his assistance.
"Listen..." he began, interrupting my thoughts. I shifted my gaze from the window to him, waiting for his words.
"I know it may seem premature, but I believe that when you encounter someone as lovely as you, you shouldn't hesitate," he expressed softly. I refrained from rolling my eyes at the cliche sentiment.
"Alright," I responded noncommittally, sensing the direction the conversation was heading.
His jaw clenched and un-clenched as he spoke.
"I suppose what I am trying to say is, I truly enjoyed our time together today and was wondering if you would consider accompanying me for dinner tonight," he proposed in one breath, catching me off guard. I hadn't anticipated his promptness in asking me out.
"It's too soon, Bryan, and besides, who will I leave Lily with?" I questioned, hesitating to make any commitments.
"We can always arrange for a babysitter. Please, just one date, and if you don't enjoy my company, I won't trouble you again," he cajoled, causing me to bite my lip in contemplation.
"Just stop here. This is where I reside," I stated, turning to check on Lily, who had already fallen asleep.
"Thank you for your assistance thus far, but I need to put Lily to bed," I explained truthfully as I escorted him back to his car.
"I'll assist you," he offered.
"No!" I exclaimed loudly, resisting the notion of further indebtedness to him. I was growing irritated at the realization that his acts of kindness were merely a prelude to asking me out.
"Look, Bryan. I appreciate everything you have done for me today, truly, but I am reluctant to feel any further obligation towards you," I confessed.
"Obligation? What do you mean?" he inquired, puzzled.
"You only extended your help under the assumption that I was a vulnerable single mother you could take advantage of, correct?" I whispered, so as not to wake Lily.
"What! No!" he countered, mirroring my hushed tone.
"Well, I am a busy individual, and..." I began, but he interjected.
"June, I sincerely apologize if I conveyed the wrong impression. All I wanted was to spend time with you and share a meal. I am sorry if I came across as overbearing," Bryan clarified genuinely. I opened my mouth to respond, but no words emerged. He had managed to breach my defenses, as I found myself agreeing, "Just one dinner."
His face lit up with joy, unable to contain his excitement.
"Just one, June." He begged.
"But not tonight, perhaps tomorrow evening?" I suggested.
"Fantastic!" he exclaimed enthusiastically, eliciting a smile from me. His infectious grin revealed a pair of grey eyes that resembled a certain familiar clouds. I dismissed the thought as quickly as it had surfaced.
Bryan assisted me in carrying Lily up to her room and tucking her into bed.
"I can't let her sleep for too long," I remarked honestly as I walked him back to his car.
"Why not?" he inquired.
"Because she will be awake all night and won't let me rest," I explained. We both chuckled, and he took my hand in his.
"You have a lovely home," he remarked, to which I offered a wry smile. If only he knew the extent of my financial struggles.
"I am glad our paths crossed, June," he stated, rubbing my knuckles between his thumb and gazing into my eyes.
"I must depart now, but I will definitely see you tomorrow."
"Alright, I will call you."
"Call me? You don't even have my number," I pointed out but only got a wink as a response before driving off, leaving a trail of dust behind him.
I stood there, watching his car disappear down the street, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. What was I getting myself into? Was I making a mistake by agreeing to dinner with Bryan? The thought lingered in my mind as I walked back into the house, tucking Lily in and kissing her forehead before heading to my own room.
As I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, I couldn't shake off the feeling of uncertainty that had settled in my chest. Bryan seemed genuine, but there was something about him that made me wary. Was it his charm, his wealth, or the way he looked at me with those piercing familiar grey eyes?
I closed my eyes, trying to push away the doubts and questions that plagued my mind. Tomorrow would bring answers, and perhaps a new chapter in my life. But for now, all I could do was wait and see what the future held. With a deep breath, I drifted off to sleep, hoping for clarity when I woke up.