Chapter Eight: Zara
Sam left the ballroom and I still haven’t gotten the chance to talk to him. Ruby’s disappeared again, running off after she divulged the ‘secrets’ of the Wood family. I don’t know how I feel about her disappearing act – especially if we’ll be working together – but I really don’t know what to do about it. I don’t know what to do about any of it. I’m not a great socializer, so I’ve kept to the wall for most of the reception. A few people tried talking to me in passing, but I couldn’t hold the conversation, so they went back to whatever they were doing.
All the dancing looks really fun, though. I kind of want to join in, but I’d feel to out of place among all these elite people. Everyone looks so fancy and rich. It’s intimidating. Once Sam left, I focused most of my attention on to Sarah. She really is beautiful. She’s tall and elegant and, not going to lie, in this short amount of time, I’ve developed a bit of a girl crush on her. Some people just have that magnetic quality. Plus, she looks so happy. I guess that’s what happens when you’re in love. Her husband has been in and out all night. It’s kind of weird seeing how little time he’s spent with her, but she doesn’t seem bothered, so I’m not going to get bothered on her behalf.
Standing in the corner is making me antsy and I really want a drink. I’m not sure if I’m still on the job, though. The cake has been cut, so there’s nothing else for me to do – at least until Ruby and I have to clean up – but one drink won’t be too bad, right? I wasn’t invited to this wedding as a guest, though. There’s just too many things to consider.
As I’m thinking about whether it’s appropriate for me to have an alcoholic drink, someone taps me on my shoulder. I turn around and see Sam. He looks frazzled, his hair not as coiffed as it was before. He has that same magnetism I attributed to Sarah. In fact, the whole family has it. I found his mother intriguing as well, but Sam is – he’s the one that I’m most… interested in. He’s not standing that close to me, but I’m already affected by his body. It’s causing mine to stand on edge, electrified. I make small fist, digging my nails into palm. I felt them getting anxious, wanting to fix his hair and get it out of his face. His runs his own hand through it, effectively tousling more.
He’s looking down at me and I’m worried I’ve forgotten something. Maybe that’s why he’s frazzled. I was so sure I’d done everything I was supposed to. Ruby said we were only responsible for the cake until it was turned over and I’m pretty sure putting it on to that table was us officially giving them the cake. The longer he keeps quiet, the more my anxiety builds. It goes on for so long that I have to say something.
“Is everything okay?” My voice cracks, causing me to wince. My words seem to break Sam out of whatever weird thing he was in. He takes in a light breath, his mouth tightening into a line. My eyes go wide, drinking in his obvious anger. Worried that it’s directed towards me, I dig my nails deeper into my palms.
“What’s your name?”
“Zara. Zara Coleman.” I swallow loudly after pushing my name out of my mouth. It’s getting harder and harder to talk. There’s something almost intoxicating about his anger. I realize I’m afraid, but knowing his attention is pinpointed at me is causing my heart to flutter. The concoction of feelings I’m going through is confusing and I don’t know how to rationalize my thoughts, currently.
“Well, Zara Coleman. I’m Samuel Wood.” He says my name like a dirty word – a dirty word whispered between lovers. I take my nails out of my palms and bring my hands together behind my back. They rub together anxiously, not sure where this interaction is going.
“I know. Ruby told me who you were.” I must sound like a gossip, talking about him with my boss.
“I hope good things.” I bite my lip to hide a growing smile. She didn’t say anything nice about him and I’m pretty sure he knows that. He seems like the kind of guy who knows exactly how people feel about him and doesn’t give it too much thought.
“Sure.” He chuckles and my previous fear is dulled. I don’t think he’s mad at me, but he was mad at someone. I’m guessing he won’t tell me, even though I want to know. There’s no way he’ll divulge his emotional state. We’ve only met today and I don’t have any rights over him. But that’s where I want to be – over him in a sexual nature. I roll my shoulders back and tell my mind to keep it clean and a little less corny.
“Anyway, Zara Coleman. I wanted to ask you a question.” I nod, sure my voice will betray me if I try to use it again. “Are you looking for any extra work?” Extra work. I scrunch my forehead, caught off-guard by his question. I was thinking he might ask for my number, but it would be my luck that the hot guy I’m crazy attracted to would want to maybe offer me a job. I would laugh if I weren’t so disappointed.
“Um, why?”
“Well, I was hoping you’d teach me to bake. That cake you and Ruby made was delicious and I’d love to make something equally as delicious for my mother’s birthday. It’s in four weeks. Do you think that would be enough time?” I let my smile from earlier fully escape, warmed by the sweet gesture. How could Ruby think he was completely unfeeling? A son who would learn to bake, so he could make a cake for his mother’s birthday isn’t totally cold. There are people who he loves people. Maybe he just hasn’t found anyone outside of his family to extend that love to yet and how can we blame him for that? I’m kind of in the same boat and I wouldn’t think of myself as ‘cold’ and ‘unfeeling.’
But I don’t think it matters how sweet I find the gesture, I’m already kind of engaged in a job. It’s the job I’m at right now. Even though she’s been kind of frustrating today, Ruby is the first person to take a chance on me and I don’t want to drop her the first chance I get. Without her, I would have left the city worse off than when I came. And I’d love to spend more time with Sam, but I just –
“I don’t know. I mean, four weeks would be a good amount of time to learn some baking skills, but, right now, I work for Ruby – or I’m going to start working for her soon – and I don’t want to leave her high and dry. I can’t.” My eyes move between him and the ground, not wanting to commit to either.
“I promise it won’t take you away from anything you have to do with Ruby. Let’s say three nights a week and weekends – if you need to cancel because you got a gig, feel free to. I want to bake my Mom a cake to remember and I know you’re the woman who can make that happen.” He’s really laying it on thick. The compliment opens me up to the idea a little more, but I’m not ready to fully commit to it.
“I’m still not sure.” I twist my mouth to the side, knowing I don’t really want to reject his offer.
“I’ll pay you $50,000. I’ll buy all the ingredients and if you need you cancel any of our sessions, I won’t take it out of your paycheck.” Fifty. Thousand. Dollars? That’s so much money. He just threw that number around like it was nothing. With that amount of money, I could take care of so much at Baker’s Corner. I could use some of it to keep me going here in the city and if I put some of it into the bank, it could work as a way to get the bank to loan me whatever I may need if it doesn’t cover all of the repairs. With that much money, there are literally so many things I could. Maybe I should take the job. Not only would I get a big pay day, I’d be able to spend time around Sam. It doesn’t seem like he’s interested in anything other than my baking skills, but that doesn’t mean I can’t stare at his face while we’re mixing batter. Store it all for my unfulfilled fantasies later.
“Okay.” The smile Sam graces me with convinces me that this will definitely be worth it. I might get sexually frustrated when he doesn’t return my feelings, but being close to him will hopefully be enough. He’s just so fucking beautiful and the way he talks to me – I love it. He makes everything feel like a euphemism. I’ve never thought about sex so much in a single conversation.
“Yes! Thank you, Zara. You have no idea how much you’re helping me out.” He extends his hand and I stare at it before realizing he wants me to shake it. I slowly bring my hand up, touching palm to palm, and wrapping my fingers around his hands. He gives me a quick shake before letting go of me. My hand drops to my side, the impression of his palm imprinted on my mine. “It’s a deal.”
“It’s a deal,” I echo.