Chapter 4

I'm ten minutes from the vet clinic and pulled into the convenience store on the same road, needing to get a few things to get my tired body through the long hours of work.

I quickly killed my car, grabbed my purse, opened the door and stepped out, and locked it before heading into the store.

“Hi Mr. Charlie,” I greeted the elderly man who owned the store and headed straight towards the back of the store to the fridges that held the drinks.

I needed an energy drink.

“Hello dear. How's Mae doing today?” He asked about my grandma, worry lacing his voice.

I actually think he has a crush on my grandma. His wife died years ago due to a bad car wreck, and I am told by my grandma herself that Mr. Charlie was a very funny man.

Whatever that means.

My grandma though will never move on from my grandpa and the thought makes me both happy that he would never get replaced in her heart and sad for her because that means she will stay alone until it was her time to meet back up with my grandpa in heaven.

“She is having a hard time breathing now, Mr. Charlie, but she is doing okay,” I informed him, opened one of the glass fridges, and pulled out a blue energy drink.

“I'm sorry to hear that, Macy,” he breathed.

I did not reply for a few moments. I quickly made my way to the chip aisle and grabbed a bag of hot fires and a chocolate bar, and headed towards the counter.

“She will be fine,” I told him and placed my three items on the counter.

I don't need anyone to be doubtful of my grandma's treatment. I'm going to get her those lungs when the time comes, one way or another.

“You know she would storm up in here fussing at me for selling you these horrible drinks,” he groaned, but continued to ring up all three of my items.

“You sell them,” I reminded him with a smirk.

“Doesn't mean they are good for you,” he shot back playfully. “At least you only drink one a day,” He exhaled and placed my items in a small bag for me.

I know the amount by heart now and handed him a ten-dollar bill.

“Sometimes,” I whispered truthfully.

“How's those grand babies doing?” I asked, deciding to switch the subject from those energy drinks.

I know, just like I experience when I'm having these brief discussions with my grandma, I'll never win. Not when they throw out the facts that they are not good for people's hearts. I'm well aware of that, but someways, it's the only thing that keeps me from falling asleep while at work.

“Oh, they are wonderful. My son brought them down to see me last weekend, and I ended up closing the store a few hours early to spend time with them,” Mr. Charlie beamed and handed me back my ten cents.

“Thank you. See you tomorrow,” I told him and grabbed my ten cents. I know ten cents isn't a lot, and I realize most people would have just said to keep it to the cashier, but I need every penny I can get.

Even dimes add up.

“Take care of yourself, Macy,” he shouted as I hurriedly rushed out of the store just as a loud bang of lighten lit up the sky above me.

Five minutes later, I'm walking into the vet clinic. I swipe my employee card against the door, knowing we are not yet open, and wait to hear the soft click, letting me know the door is now unlocked.

As soon as I heard the clicked I pushed the door open and walked inside. Joey, the friendly guy sitting behind the desk, is busy clicking away at this computer that he doesn't hear or notice me walking into the room.

“Hey Joey,” I announced out and headed towards the back room to sign myself into my shift.

“Hey sweetie,” he called back. “The weather is looking horrible out there today.”

“I know. I thought I was about to get hit by lightning five minutes ago. Freaked me out,” I shouted as I swiped my card against the time machine, waited until it flashed green, and shoved it back into my bag.

“Do you both need to shout so early?” Our boss, Mr. Raymond fussed as he walked around the corner out of his office. “I have not even had my second cup of coffee yet,” he mumbled.

“Sorry, sir,” I whispered and laughed.

Oops.

Occasionally, Joey and I get carried away.

Three hours later, we have been extremely busy, and I'm beyond exhausted already. The energy drink I had drank earlier now was completely gone from my body, and I'm running on barely any sleep.

I toss and turn every night, all night worrying about what I'm going to do if the hospital called about finding a match for my grandma, knowing damn well I couldn't afford to pay for it yet.

“Macy, I need you to check this dog in,” Joey called to me through the intercom. I sucked in a deep breath, rubbed my tired eyes, and headed towards the front.

“Which one?” I asked Joey and followed where he pointed, and my heart nearly fell out of my chest and I looked at the sexiest man I have ever laid eyes on, and then I quickly took in his appearance and I immediately knew he was too far out of my league. That expensive designer suit told me everything I needed to know about the guy.

Rich.

Filthy rich.

Oh well, I walked up towards them, grabbed a sheet from off the counter of the desk, and stopped in front of him and his scary looking doberman.

“What's your dog's name?” I asked the man, barley looking at him and waiting for him to answer me.

“Beast,” he informed, and I had to roll my eyes at the name.

Everyone names their mean looking dogs Beast in order to make them appear even meaner. I don't like it because it makes uneducated humans fear certain dog breeds.

“What's the reason for your visit today?” I asked him, bending down, stretching my hand out, allowing Beast to smell me and understand that I'm not a threat to him or his owner.

“He hasn't been wanting to eat,” He states, looking annoyed that he has to take time out of his day to bring his dog here, and that just pissed me off. People shouldn't have pets if they don't like bringing them to see a vet when they need.

“I'm going to need you to explain a bit more than that. Is he not eating at all? Or just eating less?”

“His not eating at all,” the man answered back right away.

“Follow me.” I told him and headed towards an empty room. “Please pick him up and put him up here.” I instructed the man and patted the table so I could take a closer look at the dog.

“Alright.” He said and picked up his dog like he weighed nothing, and I was truly impressed, I was expecting some grunting and maybe, some huffing, but he made that look like he was picking up a small bag of dog food, effortlessly.

“When did he start not eating?” I asked and looked in Beast's ears. “Ears look fine.”

“Three days ago.”

“Okay, let me check his abdomen,” I told the man and wrapped my hands around Beast and gently pressed my fingers into his belly, watching his face closely for any signs of discomfort. “Abdomen seems fine.”

“Look, I don't have all day. I have a meeting to attend to, so if you could get the vet who actually knows what to do in here, I'd appreciate it.” The man snarled rudely.

Well, damn.

I'm only doing my job, asshole.

“Sir, the vet will not come in here until I have checked over the dog. I assure you, I know what I am doing. If you would like to wait out in the waiting room, you're welcome to,” I sighed and gently pried the dog's mouth open and noticed right away what the problem was.

“He has an infected tooth.”

“What?”

“A infected tooth,” I repeated slowly. "That could be the reason he has not been eating lately."

“So, nothing is wrong with him?” He asked, looking annoyed and narrowed his eyes on his poor dog.

“I mean, if you think an infected tooth is nothing, sir, I'd like to see how you would handle having the same problem. I assure you, it's pretty painful," I educated the rude man.

I hate people like this. Just because they have money, they think they can walk all over us small poor people.

I continued to look over the dog for the new few minutes and not seeing what else could explain to and add to the reason that would cause him not to be eating.

“I do not have time for this, I'm an extremely busy man,” he started to say, but I raised my hand and silenced him.

“And I'm a pretty busy woman,” I growled, not actually believing the man in front of me was talking to like this for no reason. It's not my fault his dog is sick, and it's not my fault he has to take the time out of his day to take care of the dog. “If you would rather not take care of your dog, I'd suggest you give him to someone that would be happy, too.” I informed him and rubbed the dog's head slowly, not wanting him to start getting worked up.

“Busy with what? Being a vet assistant? That's hardly the meaning of a busy woman,” he snorted and looked arrogant by raising his eyes brows.

“Excuse me?” I asked, shocked, trying to make sure I just heard him correctly.

Who does he think he is to knock down my job? I work every single day in order to save money for my grandma, and he is going to stand there and mock my job?

Hell no.

“I said-,”

“I heard what you said. Let me just educate you, rich man, that my fucking life is very busy. I have a very sick grandma that needs a lung transplant and, unlike you, who probably comes from family money, I can't exactly afford it. So I work every damn day in order to save what little extra that I can and pray that when the day arrives that they call and tell us they have found a match that I will have our share of the bill.”

“I'm sorry,” he sighed. “My bad. I am dealing with my own family issues. I been in a shit mood for days."

“It's fine,” I responded, and began filling out the form, so my boss will have the information he required when he came in. "Doesn't mean you should take it out on other people. I'll go get the vet, and he will be with you shortly. Once that tooth is pulled, Beast should start eating again once the pain goes away.” I told the handsome but also very rude man.

Feeling my palms begging to sweat and hoping that man won't tell my boss about what just happened. I'm not supposed to talk to customers like that, but the way he mocked my job, the job I worked very hard at, just flipped a stressed switch inside me.

"Macy?" He asked, shock ringing clear through his tone.

"I'm sorry? Do I know you?" I asked, squinted my eyes on the man trying to place his face.

"It's Nickolas. Nickolas Diavolo. I went to school with your brother years ago," he told me, and smiled.

"Um yeah I remember," I whispered.

Goodness, the man is even hotter now.

"How have you been?" He asked and quickly added, "Besides your grandma being sick. I'm sorry to hear that about Mae."

"I have been good. Listen, it was good seeing you again, but I have to go check on the animals in the back. Take care, Nickolas," I said, waved bye, patted the scary looking dogs head, and practically tripped out of the room.

Out of all the people that could come in here, Nickolas was not one that I ever thought would.

What happened to him?

He turned into a down right asshole.

I can't let this bother me, I have a job to do.

Hours later, it's the end of my shift. I clocked out and started to head out the door, but Joey called my name, stopping me just as I was walking out the door.

“The man from earlier, you know, the one that was dressed very yummy?” Joey sought and waited for me to confirm that I indeed knew exactly who he was talking about.

Nickolas Diavolo.

I'm honestly surprised he didn't mention our heated debate to my boss. I'm extremely grateful for that. “He ordered me to give this to you.” Joey said and slid a piece of paper across the counter.

Confused, I slowly reached my hand out and flipped the paper open, and quickly scanned my eyes over the note he left for me.

— If you need help paying for your grandma's transplant, I could help you with that. I have a situation that you can help me with as well, and I believe my plan would work out for both of us. I'll be at my office until ten pm tonight. Think about it. My office building is on the corner of Prestwick Street. 2272. Nicholas Diavolo, feel free to look me up. It was nice seeing you again, Macy-

What the hell?

“Have a good night, Joey,” I murmured as I roamed over the letter again while walking out the door.

What in the world is he saying?

What situation could I possibly help a man like him with?

Is he serious about offering to help with my grandma's lung transplant?

I sighed and tucked the confusing note into my purse and headed towards my car. It's now around five pm. My boss closed the clinic today because of a family emergency, and my grandma called me and asked me if I could bring her to run a quick errand. I'm curious what the errand could be because when I asked her where she needed to go, she just said she would explain when we got there.