CHANCE

Jamie POV

In this life, people say that dreaming is for those who have everything. For those who are provided for anything, they like or want.

What exactly is for the people who live a simple life like me, I’m Jamie Lyn Langford from the small town of Beacon, NY.

Yeah! They say that our place is a haven for artists, artisans, chefs, and environmentalists but who cares, I live my life for what I need to be I’m a carefree person, a loner, and living a simple life.

I believe that living on my own is better than living with my relatives, That’s right I'm an orphan, no parents since their deceased, my father died of a stroke when I was in grade 6 and my mother died when I was in third-year high school.

Well, I can say that even if there are not here physically they still hear engraved in my heart. Living alone is hard but what should I do that’s what God gave me and I should live with it! Well, that’s what it molds me to be who I am now.

I'm 33 years old still a virgin because I don’t have time for heart matters, I spend my days on my work, I'm a call center agent at night and waiter on a pizza parlor at day.

I'm alone but I need to strive harder for my future, I want to be secured that is why my friend Diane Smith whom I trust the most always remind me to take things lightly that apart from working to hard I also need to spend time with her, she’s just my only friend for God sake! And my only family at the moment.

And as Diane got on my doorstep…

"Hey, babe! Are you coming with me for a 3 days vacation at Califonia?"

"Let me think about it, babe! I don’t have time and it's too far from our place, you know I just can't leave my work just like that.."

"Damn it! Jamie, I'm not asking your consent here I'm saying you need a vacation, You already killing yourself babe... That’s not healthy anymore…"

"Oh! C’mon babe are we arguing because of this? Give me a break please!"  She knows I'm not going to say yes just like that.

"Jamie, I love you girl and I treated you not just a friend but also like my own sister... Why don’t you give me 3 days to be with you? As she gives me a puppy face that she knows I can't resist…"

"Don’t give me that silly reason Diane! Still, my answer is NO… If I agree with you this time Mr. William will kick me out from work and you know how I badly needed work! I don't want to be unemployed... You know that... And You should be the one to understand me! Of all people! " I yell at her to express my emotions at the moment.

"Oh yeah! And what reason is that? Tell me, babe, are you running out of money lately? Since when I know you’ve worked hard for these last 15 years of your life and that’s enough! Do I need to calculate everything? Is that Mr. William can't get enough of you and he can't give you a 3 days vacation? Only 3 days... Do I need to plead first before you agree? "

" Wooah! Are you kidding me, Diane! His almost old to be my father and I'm not into a relationship, oh! Please spare me with that…"

"Could you blame me! How could you... I spend my whole life supporting you in your career and that's what I got! Such an ungrateful friend I have! Especially when you're irritated with me because you're on your period... I take all the nagging!" She said as if she was about to cry... "Jamie please come with me to California…. I want you to be there, and John wants you to be with us too… That bf of mine is truly amazing, "

"Yeah and he loves you so much to accept your craziness... Diane next time...." And because she’s stubborn as me and she can't just leave me like that without saying Yes! And unfortunately, I have to agree with her in one condition that she may not blind date me to anyone anymore…

Yeah! To get rid of my virginity, she tried to arranged me a couple of dates but it is all end up in vain, I can't find the so-called love in it, or fatal attractions either, I’m not in the rush anyway.

If the time comes that heart matters will come I’ll make sure that I’ll be ready not just physically but also emotionally. Since my parents died I was always on guard of myself maybe because I am alone now and I know that I only can rely on myself, It's sad but It's true... Everybody has a tragic part in their life but I am different, my parents died because of illness...

I can say that I have relatives but we are not close even when my parents are still here I'm an only child. Sometimes I thought that life is unfair because some people are given a big and happy family, and some are small families and unfortunately, I was in the latter.

Despite that, I'm still hoping that when the time comes that I will have my own family it will be harmonious and loving. Maybe it will be soon. Until Diane snap her finger on my face and that’s the reason for me returning to the present.

"World for Jamie! Jeez! What is happening to you..." I hear her yell at me.

"Ok! Agreed I'm coming…"

"Is that true? I just want to be sure. Because the last time I invited you to change your mind, and you kept me hanging because of that.." She said hugging me...

"Just promise me! No Damien on that trip.. "

Damien is John’s childhood friend. His suitor for a year now and it makes me uncomfortable to be with him. And bother me because I can’t give him hope. Damien is a man that every girl dream but his younger than me for 2 years. From the beginning, I told him my decision that he has no hope of us being together... But he insists he said he is willing to wait. I know from my heart that I can’t love him. There’s a strong force that telling me, I can't force myself on loving him... What if one day my Mr. Right has come of course it will be too complicated then, and I don’t want complications. I want to love that man freely. Yes! I still believe in destiny who knows maybe one day I will meet him sooner or later... Damien is an established man also. He manages their family business at the age of 16. And I can say that he's doing well in it. I already met his family and I can say they are very humble. Damien's cheerfulness and easy-going nature is the reason why we became close. I treat him as my younger brother, but Damien is not. That is why I told Diane not to invite him on a tour. I saw her disappointed look at what I said. And honestly, I feel so relieved that no one will destroy my moment of sanity.

"Alright, as you wish…"

"Then it’s a deal.. So, can you leave me alone now? I still have to go to work so that I can settle my leave of absence."

"OUCH! You hurt me right here!" She pointed her heart... But I ignore her drama...

"Ok bye, for now, give me a beep so that I can book a flight now! We're leaving tomorrow."

" Ok! "  And Diane prepared to go out of my house until she remembers something and asks me…

"Are you sure Damien is not coming?"

"Diane!" I yell at her. And with her hands up she said "Ok! Fine if that’s what you want! Bye!..."

As Diane disappeared at my sight I ask myself. Why am I so lucky to have her as my friend I don’t deserve her. She is the most caring friend I have, It's true… She takes good care of me as if she was my old sister but the fact that we are the same age, she is like an old lady when she talks even in giving advise and of course on scolding me as if I did a very wrong thing but all in all I love her. Her family treats me as their own because of my sad past... Well, I can say a very horrific past! Mr. and Mrs. Smith accepted me as I am. I may not be very vocal about what I feel but I know that they understand me that much. Their unconditional love teaches me to love others without restrictions.

I regain consciousness and remember that I need to go to the bathroom to prepare to go to work. After an hour of taking a bath, I tidied up and went out to my car. As I was rushing to work, I was cut off while driving because of the traffic jam which is normal for the rush hour. To avoid being bored I open my stereo and put the channel on the FM stations, where the music is the popular song by Lewis Capaldi entitled FOREVER.

 " Caught me off guard,

I wish that I'd been sober Still, here we are,

back in Hanover 99 Just like old times all over

Under the exit lights as beautiful as ever

I wish that I dress up a little better

No regrets are what we said

We can't go back again Darling, nobody said that it would last forever

That doesn't mean we didn't try to get there

I never said that we would die together

That doesn't mean it was a lie, remember

Nobody said that it would last forever..."

I can't help myself sing to music because It's my favorite song. Well, all of his songs. I don’t know what goes right through me to lower my passenger window until I happen to see a man driving a sports car a Porsche model in which the color is space gray a very manly indeed, I was mesmerized by his feature.

This is the first time I admired a male species. His looks are very captivating, a tall and not too fair complexion but a handsome one, that every woman’s dream as I look at his eyes I saw him frowned at me maybe he looked at me and see that I was looking at him for a long time. Well, I can say I'm not satisfied with just drooling him alone I want more than that... Silly me! But it is... A naughty idea pops up in my mind but as a not experienced love,e I was controlled by shame...

I cursed myself for doing that, Damn! Jamie, what are you doing? Imagining to have that man for you? Are you that desperate! OMG! If I could only dig a hole to bury myself in it… I’ll do it. Until the traffic turn to normal I started my car and prepare to drive. Am I that desperate to find the one for me? I’m ashamed of what I just did. I don’t know what’s got onto me and I admired that man so easily... But his face can't get out of my mind and as I looked at him in the eye. I saw a very lonely man even in his captivating business attire,  Can't cover the emotions he gave...Just by looking at him, my heart beat faster and my palm is sweating.  

It's so strange it was my first time to experience being bothered by a man... How come? I questioned myself. I just shrugged my shoulder to cover the embarrassment that I felt a while ago.  And finally, I arrived at my work safely and sound...

I'm into the building where my work is, I park my car where I usually used. I went to the elevator to go to the 18th flr. Where my work is? As I go to my cubicle, I prepared myself to work. As I say a while ago I am a call center agent,  a customer service representative. We used to receive calls either inbound or outbound.

This work is stressful sometimes but I start loving it because it pays well. And time goes so fast my 8 hours of work almost done I remember my task for that day to submit the letter of my LOA.

After logging out to my work station I went to my team Manager to submit my LOA, and thanks, God! He approved without further questioning, it is because this is my first time to take a leave on my work for how many years of working in the said company.

I used to be a person engaged in work, a workaholic one. It's good too because I don’t have a good explanation as to why I'm going on vacation. And I'm not good at explaining anyways...

As I settle to go home and pack my things up, I happen to pass by Mr. Williams's office and saw that his door is not close... So I decided to greet him before going home.

I treat Mr. William as a father so there’s nothing wrong with greeting him right. As I open the door I saw a man seating in front of Mr. William, they talking about business so I walk closer and excuse myself for intervening.

"Hi, boss! I'm about to go home. Just drop by to say hi! because I saw your office door open... I didn’t expect you have a visitor.

"Yes, Jamie! What can I do for you?"

"Nothing sir, You can continue your meeting. I'm going off.." As I went out, I saw that the boss visitor is the man who I encounter on the road a while ago... It was the man I saw driving the Porsche car! The man that was so arrogant and the man that I fantasized in the morning.

"Brute!" I said to myself...

His feature a while ago is bothered some. It was as if he hated me that much! What did I do… That man is hateful. And that person is the CEO of the Ribbs Company that base in California, a place where Jamie will take a vacation.

Francis went there for some business meetings and it happens that Mr. William invited him as he knew that he is here in NY. Mr. William is his father's colleague and friend, so he accepted his invitation but if he can decide he will not going to meet him... Well, at least he can give him respect for his appearance...

As a woman interrupted our conversations... And say hi! To him, I already concluded that they are close so I ask him what’s the relationship between him and that woman whom it already caught my attention since I saw him on the road. I find her beautiful, simple, and has a nice figure. He says. I touch my chin to cover up the attraction I felt with that girl... As I looked at her she is so innocent, Lil' demoness that tingling my insides. She has a lot of impacts on me... A tingling sensation that I felt for the last 8 years of my life...

"Oh! That’s Jamie, she is a sweet girl. He used to greet me before going off to go home."

" She does that often? STRANGE! Are you that close?" He said as if Mr. WILLIAM did something terrible... And Mr. William saw my annoying look.

"Mr. Ribbs, that girl! I treat her like my own daughter. She stayed in this company for all of her life. So I can say I know her very well. And it's none of your business after all... I didn't know you have such a dirty mind..." He said in an annoying tone...

"Drop whatever unnecessary your thinking. I'm just a father figure to her no more, no less." And assure him.

That statement gives me relief... As I look at the old man I saw compassion in his eyes full of respect for the girl so I never questioned him anymore.

I just feel like there's something about the girl that makes me remember her. Her pouting lips as if it's inviting to kiss her, her fair complexion that it's very tempting... Her body that similar to a greek goddess, her bright tantalizing eyes and eyelashes...  I chuckle as I remember where I am and I can't help myself but smile. What's wrong with me! 6I was so distracted with that girl?

What's with her that I can't take my eyes off her. I'm Francis Ribbs, the CEO, I can have a woman if I want to. Just a phone call on them and they will be begging me to give them a little attention.

There's Laura back home if I'm longing for sex, she is my FUBU or fucking buddy since my failed relationship, I settle for no label kind of flings.

From the very start of attraction, I tell the real score so that the woman knows what she is supposed to expect from me. I was never into long-time relationships since then, maybe because  I've had enough of girls' facades and dramas in their life...The separation makes me a stone to any woman, but this girl... I really can't tell what I want from her, in the look of her she is so delicate that you want to protect her and Yes! For the first time in my life I want to have her, I want to love her... Seriously Franz? I ask myself until a ring on my phone takes me back to reality.

 "Hello? Who is it?"

"It's Cherie, Can we see each other?"

"I'm sorry, kinda busy! I'm just here for business, can we see each other some other time? "

" I missed you! When will you be here again."

"I don't know, I'll call you." The girl is pissed off. And she said...

"You can't leave me just like that, Francis! You are mine! No woman can have you just like that... Not until I'm around!" She said with determination and a sinister look on the face. She is up to something and she only knows it.

This woman is freaking CRAZY! As I end the phone I prepared to leave. I said my last goodbye to Williams and got out of his office. Everyone is looking at me especially girls but I don't give attention to it. All I want now is to go back to my headquarters because I have a lot of appointments that Nita rescheduled, She is my assistant/ PA, And I trust her so much...

As I got to the elevator, I bump into her and she just looks at me as if she had seen a ghost. As fast as a blink of an eye she stumbles as her face bump my chest, instinctively I wrap my hands around her waist to avoid her from falling and our heart beats fast. I look her in the eyes and it feels like there's some magical force that binding us... I can't get enough of her scent a lavender mist that it's mild to the nose... Her angelic face is unforgettable, I close my eyes to sniff her scent.

At that moment even Jamie can't believe that this arrogant man in the morning is hugging her right now it's so embarrassing.

"I'm sorry sir, I was rushing..." Jamie said but Francis change his admiring expression into arrogant and cold, Jamie gave him a tsk.. look. This man challenges her patience. It was an accident that she bumps into him if only she could turn back time It's better not to meet this arrogant man... His ruining her day. 

"Ok, then Mr..."  She said and went to the corner of the elevator so that the others can pass but Francis didn't answer and gave her a cold shoulder.

What a despicable man he is! AAHHHH! She said in her mind... Until Jamie's phone ring and it was Diane who calling her. Asking for the result of her LOA. "Hello!" She said...

Yeah! It's been approved.." Nodding her head... Murmuring her answer for the others on the elevator couldn't hear what they were talking about... "I'm about to go home, can we talk about this at home?" I said to her...

"I'm at the elevator now." And Diane got the hint so she finishes the call, and said...

"Ok, I'm at your house now. I'll just wait for you inside I have my spare keys with me." She said...

"Alright! I'll be right there in a minute... Ok bye. Bye!"

As she was talking to whoever she was on the phone, I can't stop gazing at her reflection on the elevator, and there she was behind me... As I want to turn around to admire her but I don't want her to freak out... So I just controlled my eagerness on her...I want to know her details but I was doubting myself not now it's not the right time...

Soon! I said to myself...After the elevator open she got out first but she glances at me... One last time, And there she is... She hops onto her car and goes home fast so fast...

Jamie didn't know that before she got out of the parking area, Francis memorizes her plate no. And called his friend Nate to investigate her. We will see each other again... 

He said smiling...

That smile honestly and drove to the airport to go home. In the car Francis still smiling because her scent is still on his nose, that woman catches his attention and he will let Nate investigate her for him.