Chapter 6 UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTERS

CALLIOPE

The sound of Orion's voice still lingers in my ears, that direct, almost brazen request for my number. He couldn't have been serious, could he? I think about it as I make my way home from the office. It's hard to shake the feeling that he was joking. I mean, he's the CEO of a major company, and I'm just... me. A new hire with no real place in his world.

Still, the words replay in my mind like a broken record: "Are you single? Can I have your number?" His tone was playful, but there was something about it that made my pulse race in a way I didn't expect. I try to push the thought out of my head. There's no way that could have been real. He's probably just messing around with the new recruit.

I make a mental note to stay out of his way. If I don't interact with him too much, there's less chance of me overthinking these things. It's probably best if I just focus on the job and keep my distance from him.

When I get home, Julia's not back yet-she's probably still working at the nursery school. It's been a long day, and my stomach growls in protest, reminding me that I haven't eaten much since lunch. I toss a frozen meal in the microwave and slump onto the couch.

The familiar hum of the microwave fills the room, but my mind is elsewhere. I'm thinking about the absurdity of the whole situation. Did he really ask for my number? It's not like I'm completely inexperienced when it comes to men-there have been flirty looks and jokes in the past, but I'm not used to someone like Orion even acknowledging me like that.

The microwave dings, snapping me out of my thoughts, and I plate my food before sitting at the kitchen table. I eat quickly, barely tasting the food as I try to clear my head. The whole day has been a whirlwind-getting the job, Orion's strange behavior-and I just need a break.

I decide to lie down for a bit. A nap sounds good, a brief escape from my racing thoughts. But my phone's sudden ring shatters the calm.

"Hello?" I answer, my voice still thick with sleep.

"Calliope? It's your mother," she says, the familiarity of her voice instantly irritating me, though I try not to show it. "How are you doing, sweetheart?"

"I'm good, Mum," I reply, sitting up in bed. "Just settling in. Busy day, actually. Got some good news."

Her response is absent, as always. "That's great, darling. But we need to talk about something."

I sit up straighter, sensing the shift in her tone. "What's wrong?"

"Your father's debts are catching up to him. The creditors are getting angrier. They're threatening to come around again, and I... well, we could really use your help."

The weight of her words presses on my chest. I don't even know how many times I've heard this story. They've been drowning in debt for years, and I've done my best to help out, but every time I send money, it's never enough.

"I'll send something," I say, before she can launch into her usual guilt trip. "How much do they need?"

There's a brief pause on the other end of the line. "Two thousand. It'll keep them off our backs for a while."

I close my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. That's a lot of money-money I don't really have to spare. But what can I do? It's my family. "Okay, I'll send it," I say, a little defeated.

"Thank you, darling. You're such a good girl."

I don't respond. I just say goodbye and hang up.

The weight of the conversation lingers long after the call ends. I try to push it aside, reminding myself that I have to focus on the good news-the job, the new beginnings.

It's only a few moments later that Julia bursts through the door, her cheery voice cutting through the tension. "Calliope! I'm home!"

I give her a quick smile, still feeling a little out of sorts. "Hey, Jules. How was your day?"

"Busy! But guess what?" She grins at me, clearly in high spirits. "I got a new set of kids today. You know how much I love it when I get new little ones."

I laugh softly. Julia's passion for her job is infectious. "That's great, Jules. I'm happy for you."

She heads into her bedroom, and I grab my appointment letter from my new bag, everytime I look at it, I remember Orion. I take a deep breath before handing it over to her.

"Guess what I have?" I say, excitement bubbling up despite everything. "My appointment letter! So it's official!"

Her eyes widen, and she lets out a high-pitched squeal.

She hugs me tightly, and I feel a little lighter. It's been a long time since I've had something to celebrate, and now, it's finally happening.

"Let's go out tonight to celebrate!" Julia says, pulling away from the hug and already looking through her wardrobe. "We deserve it, don't you think?"

I nod, smiling. "Definitely."

We both spend the next hour getting ready-doing our makeup, choosing outfits.

I go with a fitted black dress that falls just above my knees but it clings tightly to my curves and shows off my cleavage, the dress is paired with subtle gold jewelry. My heels click softly against the floor as I put them on, giving myself one last glance in the mirror.

Julia chooses a vibrant red dress that is a replica of my black one, it fits her so well and hugs her voluptuous curves. She pairs it with a pair of strappy sandals, her dark curls falling in loose waves around her shoulders. "You look amazing," I tell her, smiling as she twirls in front of the mirror.

"You too! Classic, chic," she grins. "But I have to admit, I'm feeling a little jealous of your dress, I think the black is superior. I might borrow it one day."

I laugh, throwing her a playful wink. "You can definitely borrow it-just not tonight."

We leave the apartment, stepping into the warm evening air as we walk toward the restaurant, it's our favourite one, tucked between a dance studio and a barber's shop.

As we stroll down the sidewalk, a few men in passing glance our way, their eyes lingering a little too long. One of them, a tall guy with messy brown hair and a grin that seems almost too eager, stops n front of us.

"Hey, beautiful," he says, offering a lazy smile. "Can I buy you a drink?"

I give him a polite but firm smile, shaking my head. "No thanks, we're just heading to dinner." Signaling that it was time for him to move along.

Julia smirks, not missing a beat. "You heard her. We're not interested."

The man shrugs and moves on, clearly disappointed. We continue walking, dodging the occasional lecherous glance. It isn't that we mind attention, but tonight is about celebrating something special, and we aren't about to let anything or anyone spoil our mood.

Finally, we reach the restaurant, a cozy little bistro. Inside, the warm glow of lights and the hum of quiet conversation makes it feel like a hidden gem. We are promptly shown to our table, where a waitress hands us the menus with a smile.

Julia immediately points to her favourite dish on the menu. "I'm getting the jollof pasta. It's my favorite here."

I scan the options, my stomach growling as the smells of the kitchen wafted over. "I think I'll go with the steak tonight," I said, locking eyes with Julia. "It's a celebration, after all."

The food arrives quickly, and we dig in, savouring each bite. The steak is perfectly cooked, tender and juicy, and the pasta is rich and flavourful.

"To new beginnings," I said, raising my glass of wine.

"To new beginnings," Julia echoed, clinking her glass against mine.

When we are ready to leave the restaurant, rain starts to fall, heavy and unrelenting.

"Ugh, of course it's raining," Julia grumbles, rubbing her arms and hugging herself. "I hate getting wet."

"Yeah, me too," I reply, looking around for any sign of a taxi. But of course, there's nothing in sight.

We begin to run under the rain, trying to shield ourselves with our bags and avoid getting splahed, I hear a familiar sound-a car slowing down beside us.

I glance up, confused, and then my heart skips a beat. It's a black jeep, and the windows roll down, revealing none other than Orion himself behind the wheel.