Internet once a person was in front of me. All I could hear was a horrible screeching sound as I tried to process, one, what they were saying, and two, why they were saying it to me.
I felt pity for those who attempted to get to know me. The remedial task of finding my personality was entangled with layers and layers of security measures. If you somehow navigated passed the palisade, the restricted area behind it was filled with land mines called secrets.
As far as butterflies went, Leo was a Blue Morpho. Bright, colorful and striking all at once, you couldn't help but be attracted to him. Captivating and sociable, he made you feel like the most important person in his world, whether you met him a moment ago or last year. He would be equally alluring without his sculpted by the Romans features. I always knew he would never fully understand people like me; I was but a common moth.
"OK, stay home big baby," I chuckled, deciding arguing wouldn't solve anything.
I would have to suck it up. My opportunity to show him and myself I was a capable businesswoman had finally presented itself.
"Thanks, Jer," he sighed weakly, "you'll be fine, I promise".
"Of course, I've survived worse," I resolved, "I'll be over later to bring you soup... and behead you."
"OK baby I'll see you... wait, WHAT?" he tried to shout, making him cough uncontrollably.
"Love you, bye," I giggled and hung up the phone.
The story of Leo and I, more than anything, is unorthodox, but we had come far. When we met, he was already in his Junior year of University, I was technically still meant to be in high school. He asked me out within days of our first meeting, but I was reluctant. I had no interest in rich, party-loving frat boys.
Naturally, I rejected him, reciting those exact words. He took the news with a smile, promising to prove his worth to me. Over the ensuing months, he pulled out every romantic stop and organized every grand gesture he could think of- I never took the bait.
His resilience astounded me, regardless of the fact I rejected him in public, he had no sense of embarrassment or disappointment, nor did his persistence falter. As if his very essence was made of a love potion, I began to fall for him, like every other person who had the chance to meet him.
He waited, patiently and attentively, putting in the effort no one else was willing to do, and reluctantly, I opened myself to him. Perfect opposites became perfect partners; one picking up where the other lacked. I often wondered what my life would be like if we hadn't met.
Finishing my morning routine, I slipped on what I called my power dress. A white, V-neck pencil dress, matched with a pair of red suede booties and a black and white blazer. I always believed having the right look enhanced any feeling you wanted to portray, and I needed confidence. Center-parting my hair, I went over it with a flat iron making sure it was pin straight. I lined my eyes with eyeliner and applied a healthy coat of mascara making my hazel brown eyes pop and moisturized my lips with lip balm.
Although I was a nervous wreck, I often appeared to be cold. My voice and face never giving away the immense pressure building up- as long as I was in a professional setting. I knew how to pull myself together or at least pretend I already had. Due to my arctic emotions, conjoined with inadequate social skills, my employees feared me as if I were Miranda Priestly. Whispering cruel jokes about me among themselves and avoiding me at all costs. Though sometimes I was guilty of playing into their beliefs.
One o'clock struck and it was time for me to get back to work interviewing the ambitious hopefuls. I had done well thus far, sticking to the script I'd written for myself in the morning. Still, my batteries were running low and lunch couldn't recharge me.
All the candidates were qualified and skilled, but no one had the unique innovative spirit we needed at the time. I didn't know exactly what Leo looked for in employees, but I was looking for someone different. An idealist, an explorer of minds, able to see a fire where there was a spark, and an explosion where there was a fire. So far, I'd only seen common grammar Nazis with expert knowledge of world literature. It was boring.
I picked up my office phone and pressed one, it rang once before it was picked up.
"Yes, Miss Howard?" Kat's dull voice answered. She had been surprisingly helpful and pleasant, under Leo's persuasion undoubtedly.
"How many are left," I asked with a sigh.
"Just one," she said nonchalantly, "Should I send him up?"
"Yes, please and thank you," I said relieved.
"Give me a ring if you need anything else," Kat ended, hanging up the phone soon after.
Only one more left, I repeated in my head. I was out of my forte, but I'd made it through. I certainly had no job envy for Leo. I was the happiest alone in my office, connecting with people the best way I knew how- with imagination.
I didn't mind being the brain of the company, I did background work because it was my true talent. I was a wind beneath wings. I could not have cared less about my title so long as we were successful. However, I knew, despite how good I was at my job, the business wouldn't have been anywhere if Leo didn't bring in customers.
A knock at the door startled me out of my thoughts.
"Come in," I said a little too anxiously, my nerves kicking in for the umpteenth time.
The head of a young man poked through, "I have an interview with Leonardo Cordell," his light British accent rang.
"Mr. Cordell isn't in the office today, I'm the Editor in Chief, Jerrie Howard, nice to meet you." extending my hand, so he could introduce himself.
"Charlie Burh," he stated, stepping into the office to shake my hand.
His hand much bigger than mine, made me feel more nervous. I pulled my hand away, hoping he couldn't feel the sweat forming. He was tall, he would have been a half foot taller than me if weren't in my heels. His dark brown hair was thick but cropped short. He had, what I often romanticized as, cold weather skin, pale and slightly blushed pink, it looks as though a strong wind just brushed his face. He wore a very tailored Navy-blue suit, Burberry, if I wasn't mistaken.
"Let me pull up your application, and we'll get started."
I sat back down in my chair trying to sound confident. I heard the office door close, as I pulled up his resume my peripheral sight noticed he had a printed copy in his hand. Feeling uneasy, I began to read off his credentials.
"Charlton Liam Burh, 23 years old, from Reading, Berkshire, England, recently graduated from the University of Cambridge, with flying colors I might add, and received an undergraduate degree in English. Your former job was in a Library," I read whilst he nodded in my peripheral vision.
"Tell me about yourself, what brings you stateside?" I asked curiously. The first unscripted question I'd asked all day.
"Well, I've always sort of had a knack for writing. I haven't been able to find my personal style or genre," he stated, "With one single idea, I can write anything! I like to think my passion for it is much like the ocean, vast, unexplored and colorful. I wish for nothing more than to help people explore a new world in their imaginations, even if it means my name isn't on it. I like the euphoria of being a part of something bigger than myself, you know?"
My face brightened as he continued to speak. It was as though he shared my thoughts. The energy he expelled as he spoke of his love of writing felt familiar, rich and smooth. The same feeling as eating red velvet cake. Absolutely captivating.
"As to what brought me here," he continued, "um, I'd have to say adventure. You know, new sights, new people a fresh start to maybe give me a jolt of inspiration! When I found your company online, I thought it was brilliant, a company helping writers and idealists dreams come true! It's exactly what I need," he beamed.
I smiled back and nodded pretending to write down notes, I had no idea what to say! I was impressed, to say the least. The more he talked the more captivated I became, the way he spoke and emphasized certain words was pure poetry. He was a storyteller through and through, and it was