With Closed Eyes, I See You (Sample)

Chapter Five

PLEASE READ NOTE AT THE END

Chapter Five

When Charlie had first met Jeanine Smith, she had hated her on sight. The woman was blonde, posh and stiff—she needed a good shag to loosen her up a bit.

But it had been the way that she had glared at Charlie with disdain that really cemented the hatred, and that had been it. A hate-hate relationship from the get-go.

Upon reaching the cafe, Charlie waved at the regulars and walked towards the till, seeing her ex-co-workers' eyes widen at the sight of her.

"Charlie! Where the hell have you been? Jeanine was furious yesterday, threatening to fire your arse!"

The outburst had come from one of the waiters who had been setting out the sugar sachets. Abandoning his work, he came over to give her a hug, tugging at her braid as he usually did.

"Hello, Jerome. How are you doing?"

"Don't 'how are you doing?' me, you dog. Where did you disappear to yesterday?"

"Please tell me that you've finally found yourself a gorgeous man who dragged you off and refused to let you out of bed." This was from Jerome's girlfriend, Melanie, who had sidled up to them on seeing Charlie.

Charlie rolled her eyes at the ginger-haired pair and laughed. "If only it was so romantic. I was in hospital, if you must know."

Jerome's eyes grew wide and Mel let out a gasp, grabbing onto her shoulder and doing a quick once-over. "Are you okay? What happened?"

"Long story short, I was knocked by a car and spent the whole of my working day unconscious. Also, Jeanine did fire me. She wasn't just threatening."

Jerome closed his eyes, anger flitting across his face. "That woman is a right-arse bitch!"

Mel looked at him in mild disapproval but ignored him. "What are you going to do, Charlie? You needed this job."

Charlie nodded. "I know, Mel. But you know that she hates me. She'd rather die than give me my job back."

"Just explain to her what happened!"

"Honestly, I'm slightly relieved. Maybe it's the push I needed to get out of this relaxed zone that I've fallen into!"

"Relaxed zo—Charlie, please! You need money to live. It's self-preservation, not complacency," Jerome growled out, his ire at Jeanine still present.

Jerome and Mel were varsity students, studying psychology and hotel management respectively. Like most students, they needed extra money and Coffee etc was known for giving students a break. It was more due to the owner than Jeanine herself, though. The couple had met in one of their joint classes and after Jerome puppy-dogging Mel for a year, she'd given in. Now they were as happy as could be.

"What, may I ask, is the problem?" a voice interrupted, sending a bolt of annoyance through Charlie.

Jerome rolled his eyes and she was sure that she'd heard him whisper a snide, "No, you may not ask."

Charlie pasted a smile onto her face before stepping around Jerome's tall frame to face Jeanine's glaring face.

"Hello Jeanine."

"Hello, Ms Adkins. I see that you have kindly graced us with your presence. Did you perhaps receive my message?"

She could actually feel Mel and Jerome rolling their eyes at Jeanine's formal use of words as if they were some five-star restaurant and she a high-ranking person of office. Ignoring her attempts of intimidation, she nodded.