Kennedy didn't understand Samuel sometimes. One time he would be harsh, the next, he would be gentle. One time, he would just lash out and the next, he would just become a caring person. She had certainly never seen a person with mood swings like Samuel. Was he on his periods?

As she cut the bacons her mind went to the moment when they were kissing near the bathroom. He was very gentle as if she was his girlf-

No! She wasn't.

"Ouch!"

She didn't see when the knife had done its job cutting her finger. She put it in her mouth as her phone rang.

"Hello," she picked up as she sucked on her finger, hot liquid touched her tongue.

"Is this Kennedy Smith?" A female voice called out over the phone.

"Uh... Yes? Who's speaking?"

"Hello, Kennedy Smith, we are speaking from Techno Mart from St. Street."

Kennedy, for a moment, could not say anything. She had applied for a junior engineer but it had been weeks. She was glad they finally called her when she needed the money most.

"Oh! Ye-yes! I-" She didn't know what to say or rather, how to converse in a formal way and she felt stupid.

"Well, we found out your CV but right now, we don't need a junior engineer."

Kennedy's face fell as for maybe a few seconds, she was hopeful to find a job. But now, they didn't even need one but why would they call her if they didn't need an employee.

"Oh!" She said.

"Well, we certainly, are in need of a clark, but we can offer the junior engineering post after a few months." The women over there said.

"That would be great. When can I meet the management?" Kennedy asked.

"Can you come today at 10 a.m. sharp?"

"Yes, of course. Thank you."

"I will send you the details in your mail." The line disconnected and Kennedy smiled. She was desperate to have a job even if it was a low paying job and just a work where she would have to run errands and coffees. They said she can always applied for the junior engineer when the post would be empty.

As she was in her thoughts, a burning smell lingered on her nose and she found, she had forgotten about the vegetables she left on the pan to fry.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" And poured a jug full of water only to worsen the dish as a thick cloud of smoke came out of it.

"What's burning?" Samuel came running in his towel as Kennedy turned to him.

"Well, sorry. I was on the phone. I-"

Samuel's eyes followed the kitchen and a distasteful look appeared on his face which made Kennedy's heart to sink dipper in her stomach.

"I-I am sorry. I... I'll make something." She stuttered.

"You don't have to. I'll make spaghetti." Samuel said as he neared avoiding her which made her feel low.

He made them breakfast as fast as he could and Kennedy went back to her room as she would be preparing herself as well. She wore a shirt, a formal skirt that she had been using at her previous working place.

She combed her hair and tied into a pony tail. She came out of her room as Samuel's eyes fell on her.

Samuel was in a formal tux and damn he was gorgeous. He was making his tie but as he was in a hurry, the knot looked unprofessional. Both of their eyes fell on each other as he asked, "Are you going somewhere?"

She nodded and said with a smile, "Yes, I got a call from Techno Mark."

He nodded and his eyes moved toward his tie. He cursed under his breath and irrigation was visible on his face as he untangle it again.

Kennedy came closer and she asked, "May I?"

He looked at her for a moment and hesitantly gave her a nod. She came closer as his musky scent engulfed into her nostrils. She sucked her breath and started to move her hands while the tie hung from his neck.

She felt his eyes on her but she tried to stay calm although it was impossible when it came to Samuel. Her heart was racing and her cheeks felt warm.

Soon she was done and it was a beautiful knot as she looked up and said, "Done."

As her eyes moved to his face, she noticed he was already looking at her. His face portrayed a lot of emotions which she couldn't decipher and she stood like a frozen statue. They both stood still, eyes on each other as if their eyes were talking.

Samuel was the one who broke the gaze as he looked away and said, "Good luck for the job."

She gave an awkward nod and said, "Y-you too."

And they both went away soon after locking the apartment.

****

Kennedy reached the five storey building of Techno Mart and it looked like a sophisticated looking old building. It was relatively famous but not much.

She was there ten minutes before her scheduled time as she went inside and looked for their help desk. She went there and asked for the instruction as they guided her toward the second floor. She noticed, she was the only one who was there.

The inside of the building was painted white and the tiles of the floor was clean. The series of chairs sat before the room's door and she went there taking her seat.

The HR hadn't arrived yet as she waited.

It was more like half an hour later when the old man arrived in a suit. He was a short, burly man and as soon as he arrived, he nodded at her.

She stood up and greeted him with 'Good morning'.

The man entered and called her immediately after that. Her heart thumped because she needed this job desperately.

She entered as he stretched his hands and she took it. After shaking their hands, Kennedy's interview had begun.

He asked her about herself and all those useless questions which weren't related to the job and finally he said, "Miss Smith, I see you were working under High Tech."

She nodded, "Yes, sir."

"Aren't they bankrupted?"

"Yes, it seems so."

"You were working as an junior software engineer... Your marks are relatively good, if I say." He said as Kennedy felt her ego was being boosted a little.

"Why go for a normal office clark then?" He asked.

"I had applied for junior engineering here but they said the post is not available at the moment. They want a clarke." She said as the HR nodded.

"Alright. Since you are well qualified but it is true that the post is not available. Are you willing to work as a clarke?"

In Kennedy's mind, she didn't want to but what choice did she have?

She smiled and nodded. "Yes, sir."

The man nodded and said, "Alright. How about you start working from tomorrow? I am sending your files to Mr Brooks. You will be working under him."

Kennedy's belly fluttered as she got the job. Now she had to work until she got a good job in her own trades. "Yes, sir."

She stood up and shook his hands as she felt relieved. "Thank you, sir."

After that she was led to go talk with Mr Brooks who was a senior software manager. He was working under a project, directing a team under him. She found out it was the same project she was working under in her previous company.

They must have taken over the project and she felt frustrated that they hadn't hired her as a software engineer instead, she was going to run errands and manage tasks for Mr Brooks.

The whole day, they introduced her to the other colleagues and Mr Brooks told her what her tasks would be from tomorrow. She noted everything and as she was done memorizing everything in that five storey building, they said her to join from tomorrow.

She left the office around lunch hour and felt hungry.

She looked outside as her gaze followed all the food parlours but she felt like going home. She went to a mart and brought breads and reached home after an hour.

As she returned, she brought out her keys and unlocked it. She entered and saw Samuel was sitting on a chair, leaning his head back as a book stayed on his face.

He put the book down on his hands as he looked at the door after hearing the sound of opening it.

Kennedy stood there awkwardly and said, "Hi! I thought you had college..."

"I didn't go." He said and again leaned his head on the chair's backrest. He closed his eyes and she didn't feel the courage to ask him any more questions.

His mood seemed sour and maybe he would lash out on her if she asked anymore questions as she entered and said, "Did you have lunch?"

"No."

"I bought breads..."

"Hmm..." He felt exhausted for some reason and Kennedy didn't know what else to say. He was very quiet and seemed a bit disturbed. Was he in some sort of trouble?

She washed her hands and served both of them a simple lunch. For a while, Samuel didn't touch the food and stayed like that. He hadn't even changed the suit and trousers he was wearing. The suit was unbuttoned while hung from his shoulders and the shirt wasn't tucked inside his trousers as he was in deep thinking.

As she was chewing the bread, she felt the need of asking if something was troubling him.

She asked, "Samuel, has something happened?"

"Nothing much. They rejected my software." His voice sounded bitter as he said while his eyes were still closed.

"What kind of software you are making?" She asked to make the conversation going on while trying to release his stress.

"The worthless kind." He said, ending the conversation and she got the hint that he didn't want to talk about it.

Kennedy had finished her lunch and he hadn't touched his plate as she said while cleaning her plate, "Just eat. Cool off your mind and start again. Maybe you need something that you are lacking but can't see it since you are disturbed."

And it seemed one shouldn't give any kind of speeches when someone was disturbed. Because the next thing she saw Samuel growling at her as he hissed at her, "Did I ask you advice?"

Kennedy halted and looked at him with wide eyes as his eyes were red with anger but he felt tired. His under eyes seemed dry and dark as if he had been working really hard but the results were always the rejection.

He let out a dry scoff and threw the laptop he had on his lap to a side as it startled Kennedy. He said with a bitter voice, venting his anger at no one, "No matter how much I try, I would always, always need that fucking Johnson name to keep going! They wouldn't want my software because I am worthless without my surname."

There was so much pain in his voice yet he let it out as his anger and Kennedy knew it wasn't her he was directing his anger on. He was doing it on himself because he was tired.

She didn't know what was going on with him. She had never asked him before but now she thought maybe she should have asked him. A little maybe.

Samuel grumbled a little and went to his room, smashing the door shut behind him while his food laid cold on the slab.

Kennedy sighed and her eyes moved to the laptop which laid at corner of the floor. She went there and took it, inspecting if it was broken.

But she found it wasn't. It got a scratch but it was alright. And she took it with her to her room.

----
Unedited
Date: 24th July