Chapter 4

"No thanks I'm good", she said suddenly conscious of herself.

"Trust me the wine is good, here let me order one for you", he said signalling the bartender.

"No, don’t order for me. I don't drink alcohol actually"

"Don't worry you won't be dancing on the tables after one drink. You'll feel good trust me", he smiled.

"I told you I don't drink so please don't insist. Besides I like my drink", she raised her lemonade and took a sip to justify that.

"Really? Don't you think it's too sweet? This drink is generally for those who take very hard alcohol so that the sweetness could balance the bitterness of the alcohol", his eyes had slight amusement to it.

Berry turned red. Oh good, now she managed to make a fool of herself in front of the strange handsome man.

"No, I don't find it sugary at all. In fact, I like sugar in my drinks", she tried to retain some of her pride.

"So, your cheek tells me", he said. His eyes filled with amusement.

What? Did he just call her cheeks fat?

She got so angry, she turned towards the front. She wanted to retort but then she was never good at retorts. So, she just stayed quiet while she actually wanted to take off her sandal and slap his aristocratic face. She was sure her face was various shades of red with anger.

She decided it's better to just go home. But as she was about to get down from the chair, she heard a loud laughter. She turned to see him laughing loudly, his head on the bar and one of his fist was punching the bar as he laughed.

Not just her but the bartender, nearby guests everyone started looking at the scene. And he was just not stopping. His laughter filled the surrounding. After sometime even she forgot why she was angry and she started laughing too.

When he finally calmed down, his eyes were filled with tears.

"I don't think it was anything to laugh about", she crossed her arms.

"Your so cute", he pinched her cheeks.

"Hey what are you doing", she resisted.

"God, I have never seen a girl like you. What's your name?" He put his elbows on the bar and directed all his attention to her.

"I think you're very rude mister. And very presumptuous too. I'm leaving".

"Hey hey, I apologize", he put his hands on her arms to stop her. "I was just teasing you. I saw you from a distance staring at me and I was very intrigued. I decided that I have to talk to you".

"I..I.. was not staring at you", she said cursing herself for staring at him.

"See you're doing that again", he raised his hands and pinched her cheeks again, "you blush like a baby".

She smacked his hands away from her cheek. "Will you stop doing that? I'm not a child".

"No, you're not. You're just something else", he said watching her intently.

"I'm Victor Steamer", he raised his hand for her to shake it.

She ignored him.

"Oh, come on it was a joke", he pleaded.

She looked at him, his curly hairs were not no nicely kept but they still somehow looked perfect. His eyes were a light shade of blue which were filled with humor. His beard filled half of his face except his lips. Oh, his lips, if she could just kiss him.

She suddenly noticed a smirk in his lips and she realized that she was staring at him again. This time his lips. Oh, what is with her today?

She thought oh what the hell. There's no harm in making friends, right?

"I'm Berry, Berry Bloom", she said and shook his hands.

"Berry? Really?", He seemed surprised. "That's strange. Who gave you that name?"

"Why? Is Berry a strange name?", She asked offended that he might think her name strange.

"No. In fact, this name strangely suits you perfectly. Berry Bloom, just like new Berries would bloom on its bush. Vibrant red would overshadow the whole bush and the whole garden will turn from green to red. Just like your cheek does when you blush".

"Thanks that's really sweet", she said smiling. Nobody has ever told her that before. She knew that her cheeks blush a lot sometimes even without her notice but she has never been complimented on that before.

"My mom gave me that name. She said I was a big fat pink baby so she named me Berry".

She said thinking about her mom and smiling. All the while he was staring at her intently.

"So, who do you work for? Do you work Mr. Wild?", she asked.

"No, I don't work for Mr. Wild", he said taking a sip of his wine.

"Then?"

"Honestly, you can call me unemployed currently", he chuckled.

He thought it was funny but his reply was ringing alarm bells in Berry's mind.

"Unemployed?", she asked. Her voice gave away her detest.

"Oh, but I'm actually hoping to get a job soon", he said in a casual tone. But he heard Berry's tone. Suddenly Berry's charming face was turned into a frown.

"Oh", she said. Hoping to get a job soon? She knew men like him too well. Careless about career, always getting fired from jobs. Men like him are too much of a charmer, but they lack a spine.

Oh how stupid she is. Falling for his charm. First time someone has talked to her like that and she had let him. She should just stay away from him.

"It's getting late. I have to go", she said trying to muster a smile.

"It's not that late", he said confused on why she suddenly changed her behaviour.

But she wasn't listening anymore. Getting down from the chair she started leaving when she heard a voice, "Berry? So, you've met my cousin already", it was her boss.

She turned, "cousin?"

"Yes, my cousin and your future boss, Victor Steamer Wild"

"And Victor she is Berry. She is going to be your personal assistant".

Oh, so Victor is her boss. So, what was that nonsense about being unemployed. He is employed alright. He is the boss. She signed a breath of relief. That means he is not one of those men. Hell, he might even be rich. There's no harm in dating someone like him.

She mentally smacked herself. 'Get yourself together Berry, let's not forget that he is your boss. He might not want to date you now that he has found out that you work for him', she thought.

"When you said cousin, I thought someone older", she said.

"Well let's just say his father and my uncle was an afterthought".

They started laughing. But they both couldn't notice that Victor was not laughing this time.

"I'm sorry for my behaviour earlier Victor. Or should I say sir as you're my boss now" she said back in her jovial mood.

"Victor's fine for tonight. You're still not my employee until tomorrow. So, can I walk you to the gate now that you're leaving", he questioned.

"You know I think I might stay a bit longer. I'm not that tired", she said.

"Very well then", Victor smiled. But his smile did not reach his eyes.

They went to the bar again. Berry grunted seeing her lemonade.

"You know the offer of wine is still open", Victor said.

Troubled between hiding past anxiety and giving Victor company. At last, Berry decided that she will try wine. She found Victor very interesting. And she will do to be a good companion to him.

"Sure, I'll try the wine", she replied.

The bartender gave her the wine. She took hold of the wine and watched it's color.

"Cheers Berry", she heard his deep voice beside her.

"Cheers Victor", she said back her heart fluttered. For the first time in her life, a man actually wanted to talk to her and hopefully enjoyed her company.

She smiled as their glasses clinked and for half a second, she closed her eyes and thanked her Nona. Who without even being here knows just what she needs.

Victor noticed the closing of her eyes even though it was for a fraction of second. He was getting confused about her. She looked so innocent yet not so innocent at the same time.

She took a sip from the glass, "Do you like it?", he asked.

She shook her head,

"No", she said honestly.

"Just take a few sips. Then you start feeling the effect", he said watching her every action.

She later realised that he was right. The wine glass lay empty on the bar but she felt more relaxed and less nervous now.

She already wanted a second glass, but she restrained herself. This is only to give him company and she would not get used to it, she told herself.

He asked if she wanted more to which she replied a no. He didn't press anymore.

She heard the music and looked at the people dancing on the dance floor. "Let's go dance", she asked him. Surprised at herself that she is talking about dancing. She never danced. At least not in public but she wanted to have fun today.

They went to the dance floor. Suddenly she started feeling shy. How can she dance? She doesn’t know how to dance. But the loud music started making her dance on her own and she started shaking her head and moving her hips. Not caring that she might make fun of herself.

He did not dance. He just stood at the dance floor watching her. How her body was moving, how she was laughing and giggling. From the first time he saw her, this was exactly what he wanted to achieve.

But for some strange reason his eyes have lost all the warmness. And he was now watching her with cold distrust.