Rose

Three

Christian

"Christian, what is your infatuation with her? There are hundreds of thousands of other singers out there that would die to get this."

I didn't know the exact answer to that. It was something about Rose Jinwell that had me determined to make her our singer. But for right now, I'd go with her singing.

Rose's singing was angelic, heavenly, something I could listen to for hours. Now I wondered what she sounded like now. It was probably just as nostalgic as before, if not better. 

"I don't quite know the answer to that. But I'm not stopping until she joins us."

Maybe it also had something to do with how attracted I was to her. When I first saw her standing in her doorway, I nearly dropped to my knees right there. I had never seen such perfection. I was astonished.

She had beautiful russet brown skin that complimented her olive green eyes. Long brown curls fell past her shoulders, showing just how bright her skin was. Every part of her body looked soft. She had worn a pair of shorts that stopped just above her knees, revealing her long silky legs.

"She told me no. She told you no. You've sent her over thirty emails in the past week, yet no reply. How much more desperate do you have to get in order to realize she doesn't want to, man?"

I grab my coat off of the rack. "Call my driver."

He rolls his eyes. "Where are you going now?"

"Grocery store." I mumble, leaving his office.

"You never go to the grocery store! You don't even buy your own food!"

I smile. "That changes today."

My driver arrives outside shortly after. He takes me to my jet, where I pay him the pilot to take me to Alton, Illinois. Rose lived in that small town and last week when I met her, I found out she worked at one of their local grocery stores.

The flight takes about three hours. When we land, I tell my driver to return later tonight. The first place I go is the grocery store. Before I step inside, I put on a hoodie, two jackets, sunglasses and my baseball cap on. Hopefully, this time, no one will spot me.

I am met with the smell of pastries instantly. Women, men, children and even a small kitten tucked away in someone's purse roams the store. I shove my hands in my sweatpants pockets, unsure of where I should go to find her.

I spot a woman wearing gloves and a plastic vest. I assume she's a worker and decide to go up to her. "Excuse me, Ma'am." I say.

She brings her attention to me and frowns. "That is the ugliest outfit I've ever seen in my life." She asks, and I am taken aback at her bluntness.

I scratch the back of my neck. "Is it really that bad?"

"My dog has better style than-" she leans closer and gasps. "Oh my god! Oh my god! You're Christian Ro-" I place my hand over her mouth and pull her aside.

"Goddamnit, don't say it out loud, please!"

Her eyes bulge as she breathes heavily. I wait until she has calmed down before removing my hand. "I'm so sorry for covering your mouth, but I really don't want anyone to know. "

She smiles and pushes a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. "Oh it's no problem at all, Mr. Roumery. You can do that whenever you like." She whispers seductively, leaning closer.

I move away and begin glancing around the store. "You work here, correct?"

"I work wherever you want me to work, Mr. Roumery."

"I'll take that as a yes. Would you mind telling me where Ms. Rose Jinwell is?"

She rolls her eyes as she tries to touch my hand. I move away quickly. "Sure I do. She's my co-worker." She manages to grab my arm. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Probably not." I mutter and spot a checkout line.

"The three of us should like totally hook-up."

I run a hand through my hair and grip her shoulder. I make sure she is looking at me. "What's your name?"

She smiles widely. "Kayla!"

"Kayla."

"Yes?"

"Which checkout line is Rose working at right now?"

"So you are thinking what I'm thinking! Oh my g-"

I shake her a little. "Tell me."

"Eight." She replies, trying to touch my hat.

I smile and pat her shoulder. "Good girl."

I begin striding to checkout number eight hurriedly. "You are so hot!" she shouts behind me.

When I finally make it to the checkout, I breathe a sigh of relief, spotting Rose. "Closing in three minutes!" She yells, making the people with carts go to another line.

This allows me to speak to her alone without being noticed. Her eyes meet mine. She squints her eyes and when she realizes who I am, she rolls her eyes.

"You just don't give up, do you?"

I place my hands on the conveyor belt. "Three minutes. That's all I want."

"I only stay open if someone is buying something. And since you're not-"

I grab a pack of gum from the small stand that sits on the side of the conveyor belt. She glares at me. "You're going to buy a pack of gum for two minutes straight just to talk to me?"

I smile. "Yes Ma'am."

She shakes her head and scans the gum. "Fifty-five seconds."

"Listen, Rose, your voice is fucking extraordinary. It's exactly what we need. Our fans are looking for someone new. Someone that'll knock their socks off."

I add another gum every time she scans one. After about ten seconds, she speaks. "And you expect me to drop my life just because you're rich and famous?"

"Not at all."

"If I say yes, then what?"

"A new bank account will be created for you and two-hundred-eighty- thousand dollars will be sent to it. We'll fly you out to Vegas and the first thing you'll do is meet the rest of the members."

"Holy shit. That much money just for agreeing?"

"And much more to come." Placing another gum on the conveyor belt, I lean closer. "Please. Take a chance."

"What makes you sure I'm the right fit for this?"

"I'll have to get back to you on that answer. All I know is, I've never been so sure about something in my entire life."

She stops scanning and I notice I have bought at least twenty of them. Rose places a closed sign on the conveyor belt as she sighs. "Fine." She mumbles.

My eyes widen and I lean forward, unsure of what I've just heard. "What did you just say?"

She looks down, trying to hide the small I can see forming. "I said fine."

I breathe a sigh of relief as I smile widely as I throw my head back slightly. "Fucking hallelujah!"

As I lift my head back up and face her, she shakes her head. "You've got a hard head." She mutters.

I shrug. "When I want something, I'll do whatever it takes to get it."

"Don't make me regret this, Mr. Roumery."

I pick up the bag full of gum packs and begin walking away as I smile. "Now, why would I do that, Ms. Jinwell?"