Natalie's Point of view
"Well, when you see him, you'd confirm he's a billionaire, one with the family inheritance" Carityln said, with a note of finality.
I have decided not to put all my hopes on people's tales about other people, but for Cari to be all firm in this conversation and not trying to beat around the bush, means a lot.
"So where did you find him?" I asked after a hushed silence hovered around us.
"At the park" she said, filling our glasses with wine and passing me to me. "You see, when I drove past the park, about two weeks ago. He looked like a young man trying to find his way about the city but in futile attempts".
I swallowed hard, waiting so hard for the most interesting part of the story. "....he beckoned to me as I got down from my car, he happened he stays in this part of town but the uphill vicinity, and you know what that means, Natty".
"He is rich!!" We said it in unison, looked at each other and laughed.
I gulped down a large quantity of wine from my glass, it tasted better, much better. "So, didn't you ask him his name or something, like get to know him?"
"My bad" Carityln said, rolling her eyes at herself, with a hand placed on her forehead signifying how disappointed she felt at herself "He said his name was Mr M and didn't further, tell me what that meant, and I also didn't ask him."
Mr M? Why the anonymity? Was he trying to hide himself from people who may know him? If he was good, why the hidden identity?
All these thoughts began to build up in my head, but I didn't want to stress Cari, so I just kept mute, sipping my drink slowly.
"Natty?" Carityln called, peering at my eyes.
"Yes?" I replied absentmindedly, my eyes popping out like they wanted her attention.
"So, what's with the sudden quietness?" Carityln asked. "Do you know someone like that? Someone with a similar description?"
I laughed heartily, I wasn't even expecting her to ask me that. "I don't even know this person though. I was wondering why he didn't tell you his actual name and wanted a companion, and you agreed because he was a billionaire. I think that's quite ridiculous."
"Natty, he's no longer a stranger" Carityln tried to convince me. "He lives uphill in town and wouldn't mind company. That's a suggestion, and I am not putting a gun to your neck. This is me trying to save your sorry of a single-hood, and you should be grateful."
"Oh oh oh, okay" I sighed, as Cari was already getting on my nerves.
"Hey, you should be calm. I am not fighting with you." She said, standing up to turn on the fan to the highest number on the switch. "I only thought I was doing something a friend would do for a friend".
Carityln came back to sit, I opened a sack of cigars and began to smoke like my life was dependent on it. It was crazy. Carityln looked at me like I had gone nuts and didn't say anything. There was a deafening silence that meant so much as no one was willing to say anything.
"We should do what we came here for, instead of fighting verbally with each other, and I am sorry for getting on your nerves, Natty," Carityln said after the deafening silence.
"Uhm, uhm.. It's okay Cari. I know you mean well". I said, smoking the last stick of cigar I had.
I struggled to come out of bed in the morning when my alarm rang non-stop. It kept shaking till I finally touched it and it stopped. It was another day to face Mr Jerkins and his troubles.
I love my job so much that I don't think I would ever go back to my former job, as a fuel attendant. I had no peace of mind compared to working for Mr Jerkins.
My hair was in the craziest bun ever. I looked in a mirror on the wall of the bathroom and I looked as horrible as I thought. I quickly grabbed my toothbrush and brushed my teeth. I did all the skincare routines I knew, and I took a warm bath in the bathtub and a cold shower.
I felt better than I felt previously. A notification popped up on my phone.
It read "Parkhurst High, holding their first reunion meeting after 20 years, for those of you, especially Natalie Underwood, who had sent an email earlier, noting that they wouldn't be able to come. Kindly note that it has been disregarded and the penalty for not attending is high. With Warmness and Fairness, Cheers"
"Aaargh, but I said I wasn't going to come" I said aloud, almost slipping on my way to the mirror stand. I also didn't like the fact that that's my name on the memo.
"Ouch". I fell and sprung my ankle against the mop lying peacefully on the ground. I rubbed it in pain as tears dropped freely from my eyes. I had a low threshold for pain and I hated how much pain that caused me.
On second thought, this is the perfect opportunity to reunite with people who loved me and vice versa. My phone rang, it was Kyla.
"Hello Natalie".
"Hello Kyla, how are you?" I said, sounding so tired and worked up. I knew I needed to sleep.
"I'm okay. Remind me to drop a document on your table, or you can pick it up when you come".
"Alright" I muttered as I hung up. I hurriedly put on some cream, some underwear, some clothes.
"There's an emergency, Mr Jerkins slumped at the office today".
I was bewildered as I read that from an email sent by Kyla, and I shook my head because I was expecting it to happen sooner or later.
My phone beeped, it was a message.
"Someone gave him a drink" Kyla texted. "Who?" I texted back. "I'll tell you". Kyla texted back and went to the basement.