Chapter 4 Fate again or luck

Carissa was almost done with her shift when she saw Zion walk into the diner.

"Hola" With a big grin she approached him.

"Hey there, just the person I'm looking for".

"You done for the day"?

"Nope, almost", she checked her watch "Got like 15 more mins to go"

"Alright, I'll just wait for you"

"Everything ok"?

"Sure, everything is perfect I got good news actually"

"Ooooh, alright.....need anything while you wait"?

"Ehm, I think I'll go with just fruit juice"

"Fruit juice coming right up", with a chuckle she moved to get his order.

It's been two weeks since the bar incident, Carissa had woken up to find herself in a strange bed and a strange room. Feeling disoriented she tried recalling the previous day's incident but all she could remember was a little bit hazy. Getting up carefully, she took in her state and her surroundings, she was wrapped in a towel, feeling embarrassed, she looked around for her clothes but didn't find them in the room so she proceeded to the bathroom and saw her clothes lying neatly on the sink, she caught a reflection of herself in the mirror and wasn't surprised at what she saw, it was expected, her hair was disheveled and her eyes looked a bit swollen. She got dressed, then using her hands tried smoothing her hair into place. She went back to the room to get her bag but couldn't find it, proceeding to the hallway, she saw another door which she figured was another room, probably his room, she thought about going in to bid him farewell and thank him but thoughts of him seeing her naked and in a drunken state changed her mind about it. Going into the sitting room, she saw her bag lying on the table, making sure the bag was intact, she made her way to the door and let herself out without a second glance.

Carissa hung her apron and went into the waiting area to where Zion was seated, drawing a seat back she sat across from him.

"So......"?

"Chill....you that eager"?

"Of course!...... I could sure use some good news in my life right now".

Zion chuckled, "Everything alright "?

She shrugged, "Sure..... everything is how it always is,"

"Okay....."

She cut him before he could continue,

"Where have you been"?....." it's been like two weeks or more since we last saw"

"Ehm, been a little busy"

"Oh, alright......so spill"

Clearing his throat, he sat forward in his seat, "my cousin needs a new secretary"

"Okay...."?, She asked a little lost.

"Well, I figured you'd be perfect for the job"

"You say what!"......she asked shocked.

"C'mon, you've been complaining about money and how your two jobs combined don't pay you enough, you're qualified for the job".

"Carissa, the pay is more than what your current two jobs combined pay you"......." Besides, it's about time you put that cert of yours to use"

"Zion, I'm speechless and grateful ", she told him emotionally.

"It's nothing.....what are friends for", he said with a chuckle.

"Moreover, it could be based on an entirely selfish reason" he flashed her a mischievous grin.

"Which is"?

"I get to see you more often"

"Oh boy!, I'll probably get fired before I start then", she said laughing.

Sobering up, "Seriously, Zion I do appreciate you looking out for me.....it means so much to me"

"Come off it! "

Grinning cheekily, she scanned the dining,

"Sadly, I'll miss this place", she sighed

Teasingly he told her, "You don't have to quit, you know"

She gasped, "Hell no!...... I'm taking up the offer......not a chance you'll escape me"

"Thought as much"

Sliding out of the booth, "I've got to run.....here", he gave her a card, "That's the address, The interview's on Monday"

"Alright.....thanks again", taking the card she slid it into her bag, getting up too. Kissing both cheeks, Zion took his leave.

Carissa got home, exhausted but happy, at least now she'd be able to take care of her father's bill, though she hadn't asked how much the salary was, but Zion told her it was more than both pay combined. She saw the light blinking on the receiver which meant she had messages waiting for her, though she already knew what some if not all the messages were about, the hospital kept calling and dropping messages on her voicemail every day reminding her of her accumulating bills. Before, she'd dreaded listening to it but today she wasn't so scared, things were beginning to look hopeful after all. like she guessed the first two texts were from the hospital, dialing the hospital line, she chewed on her bottom lips, looking at her fingernails, while waiting for whoever was on the other end to pick up, she made a mental list to have a manicure before the interview.

"Hello.....this is St.Muna hospital, how may I help you", a woman's voice came on.

"Ehm, it's Carissa Drew", clearing her throat she continued,

"My dad, Dave Drew is a patient in your hospital"

"Oh, yeah......we called earlier, guess you got our message"

"Yeah, I did...... I know I'm behind on the bills, but I'll send in something by tomorrow hopefully"

"Alright, but I do hope you know that we're almost at the end of our grace here"

Carissa held her breath and waited for the voice on the other end to continue.

"I do hope you send something bigger than the usual......cause your bills keep accumulating and we have a limit"

Clearing her throat again, trying to fight the tears threatening to spill

"Ehm....sure..... I just need a little more time.... I'll settle the bills"

"Alright, Miss Carissa.....any other thing"?

"How is he doing", she asked feeling guilty for not having gone to see him for a while.

"Oh, he's hanging on...

"Alright.....I do appreciate the hospital's patience with me"

"You're welcome....."

She was almost at the bedroom door when she heard the phone ring again.

"Yo girl", came Laura's bright voice when she picked up the receiver.

"Hey yourself"

"How are you doing"?

"I'm good.....just got off the phone with the hospital now"

"Oh, what they say"?

"Nothing but the expected......how I'm behind on the bills and stuff"

"Oh, Rissa", Laura said softly

"What did you tell them"? Laura asked.

"That I'll send something tomorrow......the lady who I spoke with told me that I'd have to send more to beat the hospital's limit".

"Rissa, I've got a little saved up, you could add it to what you've got"

"Laura isn't that the money you've been saving up to get a new oven"?

"Ehmm....."

"Don't lie", Carissa interrupted knowing her friend was going to deny.

"Fine, it is......but your dad is more important than an oven"

"Oh, don't worry......Zion offered me a new job"

"You mean you'll now work three jobs"?.

"What are you!.......a robot!?"

Chuckling, she was touched by her friend's concern for her.

"No Laura...... I'll quit the others"

"Oh...."

Carissa continued, "Yeah, he said his cousin needed a new secretary, put him up to the task of finding one, and he thought I was perfect for the position"

"O....kay....the salary is how much? Laura inquired

"Uhm.....he didn't say...but he did say it was more than the two pays combined"

"This is good news!"

"Yeah......it is!"

"And........any news"? Laura asked

"About"?

"C'mon"!

Thinking hard, Carissa remembered what her friend was asking her about, with a groan, she replied, "Laura.....you still on this"?

"Of course!..... I am"

"Well, there's no 'news'", Carissa said stressing about the 'news'.

"Besides, I'm not hoping to hear from him"

"Yeah, I know..... but it won't hurt to hope, you know"

Laura continued, "he did take you home, and whatever didn't he"

"Duh, I told you nothing happened, at least I think so" she added the last part under her breath

"He was still supposed to reach out"!.

Scoffing, "And he's supposed to do so, how?...... I didn't leave my details, didn't even say goodbye"

Laura groaned, "Is it too much to hope you'll get a man?.....aaargh!"

"Babe, that was a one-night thing......not in that sense" she added quickly

"All I'm saying is.....possibility of ever running into him again is very slim.....and dude was probably not even into me"

Laura sighed, "Fine, but I still won't stop hoping.....even though I didn't get to see him, from your description he was hot.....hot!!," Laura said drawing out the last word playfully.

"Whatever", Carissa said laughing.

"His name again"?

"You won't stop, will you"?

"His na....me!!!....girl", Laura insisted.

Giving up, "I think he said, Adonis"Carissa told her friend.

"Oouu!!.....sounds hot.....well, Adonis, Elijah whatever.....I don't care, I just hope you get a man......a good man"

"That's the least of my problem ", Carissa replied offhandedly.

"It's my problem.....on your behalf", Laura said laughing.