May 3rd, 2018
Friday, 11:43am

The noise that surrounded her prevented her thoughts from overpowering her and she was grateful for it. The table she sat at was in the back of the room, closest to the wall. The standing air conditioner hid her partly from the rest of the room’s participants. The temperature was just right, not too cold and not too hot.

She was in her mom’s restaurant working on her laptop. After Amine left her at six am that morning, she headed over to spend that time that her mom kept asking for after throwing on a pair of blue jeans and a grey sweater. Only she was too busy to sit down with her so the work that she’d been trying to escape from caught up with her and she had no choice but to give in.

“Coke or Fanta?” Her mom sat down in the chair across the table from her and set the tray in front of her, one that hosted a steaming plate of her favorite meal; spaghetti stir-fry with vegetables and bell peppers.

“That looks so goodddd,” she pulled the tray towards her, nearly bumping it into the laptop that occupied the space in front of her. “Always coke, mammie, you know.”

“You do know it’s bad for you right?” She signaled to one of the waitresses to bring it. “Close that laptop for one second and eat.”

She spared her mom a glance over the forkful of spaghetti that was about to enter her mouth. “I’m multi-tasking oh. I have a lot of work to do before this evening.”

“I thought you didn’t work on Fridays.”

“I normally don’t, but it’s really important. And stressful,” she frowned down at her plate.

“You look stressed. What’s going on with you? Have you been resting?”

She wasn’t sure if her mom would count sleeping with Amine as resting so she just shook her head slowly. “I try, but I’ve been really busy for the past three weeks. I’m okay, don’t worry.” The food in the plate had reduced so much in the few minutes she spent over it, she didn’t know she was that hungry.

“I can’t help worrying. How much are they paying you so much to work you like this?” She hissed her teeth and adjusted the big, blue shirt that was on her. The action caused Jessica to see her hands, her manicured hands. She even did nails, although they were short.

“Enough for me to keep up my independence.” Jessica pushed the plate away and placed the laptop in its former position. “So, who’s the man that you’re getting all dolled up for?”

The water that she was drinking choked her and she placed her hand over her mouth and swallowed with difficulty. “What are you talking about?”

“Your hands. You don’t do any of those things; they’re a ‘waste of time.’ Remember?”

Her mom stood up and collected her tray and plate. “It’s none of your business. Stick your nose in your computer.” She walked away briskly, leaving Jessica grinning after her.

After taking a long swig of her coke, she reclined in her seat and looked around the newly extended space. The lights were warm, giving the room a cozy feel. She had added another uniform for the staff and changed the wallpaper. The food was still exceptional and that’s all that really mattered to her.

Her phone vibrated beside the laptop and she picked it up without a second thought. “Hello?”

“Guess who has the whole weekend off?” Amin’s excited voice hit her ear and the guilt sank in her stomach like a huge rock. Breathe.

“Santa Claus. It’s not Christmas time yet.”

“Funny, very funny.”

She laughed at him. “And will you be spending it with me?”

“All of it. So start planning fun things for us. You wanna go somewhere?”

She groaned and pouted, suddenly eyeing her laptop like it was a snake. Escaping with him seemed like a great idea. “I really want to, but I have to work.”

“Careful, you’re starting to sound like me.”

“Never, I’m not a workaholic; I just have a task to complete.”

“Okay, task completer. I have to go now. Please don’t tire yourself out. Staying with your mom all day?” The voices behind him got louder by the second.

“I plan to.”

“Great, if she’ll accept my hello, please give it.”

“Not likely, but okay,” she laughed. “She really doesn’t like you.”

“Damn. Okay then. I’ll see you at six? Your house?”

“Sure,” she started then remembered the protest. “Oh, um, I won’t be available at that time. I have some…field work that I have to do this evening. But I’ll come to yours after.”

“I can already imagine how tired you’ll be tonight. I’ll see you later, babe.”

“Just have apple juice and a foot rub waiting, and I’m all yours.”

“You got it.”

“Bye babe. Mwah.” She cut the call and placed the phone beside her. It vibrated almost immediately. “Did you forget to say something? You’re kinda predictable.”

“Um… hi.” The voice was different, deeper, and local. Whoever it was was not Lebanese.

“Oh, hello. I’m sorry; I thought you were somebody else.”

“It’s okay. It makes this a little less awkward.”

“I’m not sure who I’m talking to though. Wanna tell me?” She logged off her laptop and sat up straighter.

“Of course, I’m just getting to that part. But I have to make sure I have the right number. This is Jessica King, correct?”

“Yep, speaking.”

“Great, great. And you happen to have a mother who loves to give your number away, I’m guessing?”

She sighed and relaxed in the chair. She forgot about him totally. “Great. Of course I do, otherwise it would be a perfect life and such doesn’t exist. You’re the Diamond from Smart Liberia?”

“Oh she told you, awesome.”

“Yeah, she did. Now you need to tell me why you’re calling a number given to you by a random woman. Isn’t that a little desperate?”

“It is, but I’m not…really calling of my own free will. I’m currently being watched by three guys, waiting for me to complete the dare.” She opened her mouth and closed it, unsure of how to respond. “It sounds really bad, I know. But I can explain better in person.”

“In person ehn? Why do you think I’m going to meet you? And just out of curiosity, what is the dare exactly?”

“Call the number given to me by our favorite restaurant’s owner and ask her to lunch.”

She shook her head with a smile. “And what do you have at stake?”

“Oh, just my ego. It’s really vulnerable right now, so it would be a big help if you could help me out with this.”

Without meaning to, she burst into a fit of giggles. A bit embarrassed, she sobered up and cleared her throat. “We can’t have that. Why don’t you come down here, patronize my mom by buying your office lunch from her, and we’ll see about completing the dare?”

“That…actually sounds fair. I’ll be there in fifteen.  How do I know you?”

“Follow the coke bottles, it’ll lead you straight to me.”

His laughter had her wanting to see the person it was coming from. “Awesome.”

She ended the call and stared at her phone for a few seconds, then shook her head. Friday is turning out to be a really weird day. Her eyes strayed back to what she had been typing and continued the work.

-Twenty minutes later-

“Is she here?” His voice traveled across a few tables and reached her at the bathroom corridor. His back was turned as he conversed with her mom, who couldn’t keep her wide smile to herself.

He was huge and tall, and the blue shirt that he had on was almost fitting, giving her a good view of his arms. His toned arms and broad shoulders, serving the shirt some real justice. Or the other way around, she couldn’t decide. She exhaled and lifted her eyes to meet the face of the man who was now staring back at her.

“Here we go,” she muttered and put on a smile, walking towards him. “Hi there.” Up close, he was even more intimidating. He towered above her because of his build, but his smile was worth the tilting of her head. Wow.

“Heyy. The um, coke bottles didn’t lead me to you though,” he stretched out a hand and she shook it, marveling at how small she actually was. His large palms and long fingers swallowed her petite ones without even trying.

“That was the point. I got a good look at you though, so a win for me?” she cocked her head, expecting his smile. He didn’t disappoint.

Her mom stood at the side, grinning so hard that Jessica didn’t fail to see her out of the corner of her eye. “The food will take some time, so that gives you two more time to talk,” she winked at Jessica and made her way to the back as quickly as she could.

“I’m really sorry about her; she has way too much fun at my expense. Do you want to sit?”

“I’d love to, thank you. She’s sweet, I like her.” He laughed and followed her to her table. They sat down and stared at each other, smiling. “Y’know, I’ve always had a picture of Jessica King in my mind, I didn’t expect…you.”

“Please explain yourself before I get terribly offended,” she cocked a brow and crossed her arms, dissolving into laughter when he started to stammer to respond. “I’m kidding, relax. I’d love to know what you mean though.”

“Remind me to get you back for that. It’s just that uh, my female colleagues love you and your articles; they talk about you most of the time. You’re kind of a big hit in our entrepreneurship program; your quotes are on their vision boards.”

“What? Me? I’m just a journalist! That’s not impressive at all,” she covered her mouth with both hands. “I think.”

“You mean a lot to them, there’s a…” he trailed off, and let out a short laugh, looking down at his clasped hands on the table, “There’s a lot that I’m not allowed to say. But in short, they’re impressed by you and your words, especially the way you stand up for them.”

“Wow, that’s… really nice. I’m happy, that makes me so happy. Maybe I’ll pay your office a visit one of these days.” She smiled and relaxed in her chair. “I’ll love to meet them.”

“That would be sooner than you think,” he looked up as one of the waiters set a plastic on the table in front of him. “Ah, food. Came sooner than I anticipated.”

“Wait, what do you mean sooner? Ha, you weren’t supposed to say that, were you?”

“Nope, but if you don’t say anything, they’ll be none the wiser.” He stood up, and she followed suit. He looked over at the exit door then back at her. “Do you mind walking me out?”

“Lead the way,” she smiled up at him and left from behind the table. “You never said anything about the Jessica you expected though.”

“Oh, right. I expected someone taller, I don’t know why. Taller, more serious,” he raised a brow at her, slowing down so she could fall into step with him. “But I was thoroughly disappointed, in a really good way.”

“My height is cute, thank you very much. You’re just tall. And I can be serious if I wanted to,” she elbowed him in the ribs and let him exit the restaurant first. “You’re not what I expected either.”

She followed him to a grey Toyota Xterra and he unlocked the doors with the key in his hand. “Oh? What did you expect?”

“Someone old and…ugly,” she shrugged and crossed her arms, smirking.

“You just called me handsome indirectly,” he smiled and leaned against the open door.

“I don’t like doing things indirectly. You’re a very attractive man, Diamond. It’s a little disturbing how much.”

“Wow, thank you. And please, call me D. Diamond reminds me of diamond in the rough, which reminds me of Aladdin, and that is bad because if I start humming the songs under my breath it could make me appear less manly,” he finished with a closed mouth grin. It was quickly replaced with a toothy one when she started laughing.

“Okay, you need to go. You’re an unwelcome distraction and I have work to get back to,” she shook her head, still chuckling. “I feel like you say that a lot though.”

“I have to, the name feels like a curse sometimes.” He sat in his seat and closed the door. But the engine stayed off as he stared at her. His gaze felt like it pierced her skin, it made her a little uncomfortable. “I’m so sorry if this seems a bit too abrupt, but I’d love to see you again. If you would…like to.”

“It is, but it's okay. I’d like to.”

“Cool,” he leaned against the wheel, “I’ll call you. It was nice to meet you, Ms. King.”

“You too, Aladdin.”

She smiled coyly and walked back inside, not waiting for him to leave. After making sure that she couldn’t be seen, she broke into a grin and walked straight to the table, where her mom sat.

“Isn’t he just adorable?” She stood up with a mischievous smile. “You’re welcome.”

“I didn’t say thank you. I’m not looking for a man, mammie. Please, pleaseeee stop sharing my number around.”

“Of course, because I found the perfect one.”

Jessica rolled her eyes and sat down behind her laptop, struggling to hide the smile that was threatening to spill out. “He’s a normal guy, thank God. Still doesn’t change the fact that I’m not looking for one. Oh and by the way, Amin said hi.”

Her mom pursed her lips and shook her head. “You’ll understand why I don’t like those people soon. Just continue.” She walked away, leaving Jessica staring after her. She bit the inside of her bottom lip and looked down at the keys on the keyboard. She had already understood a little bit, and it tore at her insides. The fact that Diamond had affected her mood so much did not help her situation.

This is not looking good.