Chapter 22: Disinterested in Someone New
Loreen was able to adjust to her new job smoothly and did well in her part time in the café. And most importantly, she got her first paycheck in both her jobs!
"I didn't know I missed working so much. It feels so good to have a salary again!" Loreen beamed at herself in the mirror.
She was so delighted to earn her own money again. It felt nice to buy her own food and pay for her own rent and all other expenses.
"Huh? What's this? Why are my clothes too loose?" Loreen touched her cheek and waist and checked herself in the mirror.
"Oh my! I lost several pounds."
She got very busy, so she did not even realize she lost much weight. Before she knew it, she was back to her slim figure.
She had gained some weight after she got pregnant. And even though she also lost so much weight when she had a miscarriage, she gained it back easily because of all the supplements her husband's doctors prescribed for her.
"Wait, Edric did not divorce me because of my appearance, did he?"
Loreen began to wonder if one of the reasons her ex-husband divorced her was because of the weight she gained.
She did not become overweight, but she was heavier than her usual weight. And the ideal type a lot of people have nowadays were very slim figures like models that were hard to achieve.
It was easy for her to have a figure like that more than three years ago since she was too busy that she naturally lost weight.
But when she suddenly stayed at home and was no longer as busy as she used to be, she gained a lot of weight. Especially since she was required to eat this and that a day.
'Now that I lost several pounds, my clothes do not look good to me anymore,' Loreen eyed her baggy clothes. She looked like a hanger with how lose the clothes became.
She had bought these and a few more pairs from the thrift shop nearby when she began working. She had been using the few pairs she had alternately for the past month.
"I need to go shopping again. My old clothes from three years ago had become faded."
Thankfully, the thrift shop was nearby.
"I guess, I'll go there tomorrow."
It would be Sunday the following day so she could go shopping after 12:00 noon.
The following day, Loreen went to work at the café as usual. She was in a good mood since she just received her paycheck the other day.
She was early, so she helped with all the preparations.
She was fixing their outdoor menu display in front of the café when a car stopped by at their driveway.
A man came out of the car and walked in her direction.
"Good morning, sir, welcome to Viva Café," Loreen smiled politely. One of their workmates went to open the door. But the man didn't seem to have the intention of entering.
He smiled politely and said, "Good morning. I just wanted to ask for directions."
"Oh, yes, of course," Loreen readily responded.
"Do you know where this is located. The pinned location online is wrong. I went there but it was a different establishment," the man came closer and showed something on his phone.
His cologne wafted to Loreen's nostrils. It was light and gentle unlike the usual cologne and perfume for men that were quite strong.
'Oh, this company is right beside the bank,' Loreen knew what he was looking for. It was beside the bank she was working for.
"The pinned location is indeed wrong, sir. This is located right beside Centra Bank. It is just a few minutes from here. If you drive following this road…"
Loreen gave detailed instructions on how to get to the address.
The man nodded but just to be sure he got it right, she borrowed his phone and entered the right location so he could follow it using his phone directions.
"Thank you! You're a lifesaver. I almost got late in a meeting," the man beamed at her. "Here, please take this as a token of my gratitude. Have a meal with your workmates or something. I'll drop by next time and order coffee for real."
Loreen accepted what he handed her by instinct. He left in a hurry before she could thank him or realize how much it was.
It was more than enough for her and her coworkers' meals!
"Loreen! Amazing! How can you speak so calmly with a such hottie?! He looks rich too. His car and watch looked so expensive," her coworker squealed once the man's car left their view.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Loreen tilted her head.
"Are you blind?!" Her coworker gasped dramatically.
Loreen thought about the man earlier and realized that he was indeed good-looking. He was tall too and indeed looked rich. He smelled nice as well.
But most importantly he gave her a handsome "tip" just because she gave him precise instructions about the location he was asking for.
"Oh right. He was a hottie indeed. And most importantly, we have a free meal!" Loreen showed the amount he gave her, and her coworker squealed even more.
Loreen laughed and went inside the café to discuss among her coworkers what to spend the "tip" on.
"You saw her right? She was so calm and articulate when she spoke with that rich hottie. It must be nice being pretty," her coworkers teased her.
"What are you talking about? Can't you see I look like a hanger?"
"No need to be so humble," they kept teasing her until she showed them the money for their free meal. Only then was the topic changed.
Loreen knew why she was so calm though. Of course, she would be.
She hated to admit it since they were divorced now, but Edric was damn hot and good looking. He was filthy rich too and had his own expensive cars.
She would not be shaken so easily by seeing a hottie with expensive cars since she had someone like that with her for three years.
Sadly, though, they already parted.