Amnesia

italicbold❀Catalina Tramell's P.O.V: February 1st, 2017❀

Congrats Catalina you got the job, I will see you tonight.

An overwhelming feeling takes over my body as I reread the message I had received last night. I have been jobless for months and I can't stop smiling at the fact that my life might just change today.

My smile is soon wiped away by the winter cold breeze as it seeps through my flimsy old worn out coat as I walk the streets of New York on a busy Friday afternoon.

Pushing and squeezing my way through the dense crowd, I stand on my tip toes, scanning the area in an attempt not to pass the street I am looking for.

I let out a loud huff annoyed at the thought of being late. I desperately need this job. Without warning, the piece of paper I thought I held securely in my hands falls to the ground from a gust of wind. I'm on the edge of frustration and close to screaming out. If I lose it, I might as well give up on the chance of eating this week. I bend down and I immediately scan the ground for it. I giggle when I find it, thanking my guardian angel for stopping the wind for a second for me. I look at the address again and read it out loud, "541 Wall Street."

Checking my watch I pick up my pace, I turn the corner, and walk a few blocks before I come to a stop when I find the street name. I let out a deep breath, and garnered the little confidence I have left and walk towards the medium size building. It looks cozy and warm; with brown reddish bricks, black windows and big silver words that say, 'Black Entertainment'. It isn't big like the other businesses around it, but something about it calls to me. I stare for a while until I can't any more, or I will be late.

Hesitantly, I pulled the black glass door open and walk inside the building. I scan my surroundings. Everything screams money. It is cozy but elegant with dark brown wood floors and cream color paint perfectly coating the walls. A few interesting pictures with metal frames are dotted scarcely on the walls. Black couches are positioned like a real living room to my left and straight ahead is a long, curved black counter where a young woman with purple hair is answering the phone.

Straightening my outfit, I walk slowly towards the young woman. She doesn't notice me right away. But when she does her eyes catch me by surprised, they are a dark brown color almost turning to a black. She is very pretty and has her makeup done a way I could never achieve on my own.

"Miss, can I help you?" she asks looking confused as to why I am here.

"Hi, I'm here to work," I say, hoping she is not going to make this harder than need to be. "I am one of the servers." I add smiling.

"Oh... for the the party," She smiles at me finally understanding, and looks at her clipboard, "I need an ID to check on my approved list."

I nod my head and retrieve my drivers license. The one piece of ID I have left, not that I believe I can still drive. It has been a few years since I last did.

"Very well, you can go ahead to the back, the other servers are starting to set things up."

"Thank you." With that, I follow her directions and head to my destination.

Fully awake now, I straightened my attire as I walked towards the back where I was told to go. I take a moment and continue to take in the interesting place. Yet, before I can look any further a deep masculine voice gets my attention, and I look away from the window to see a man standing a few feet from me. "What are you doing? Come on, there is far too much work to be standing around." He coaxed, taking my hand and dragging me like a child; which makes me a little annoyed.

"Sorry, I just-" I attempt to excuse my lack of professionalism, however he isn't having any of it.

"No time for explanations, come on there is a lot to be done before the guest begin to arrive. You will be serving drinks, so go make sure the bar is fully stocked." He tells me, looking towards the small pop up bar. There is two black booths with pretty lights adorning the front. They are placed at the corner of the room with a shelve behind them with different bottles of alcohol. There is also a BAR signed placed on the booth as to make it obvious that it is a bar. That makes me roll my eyes,

"Did you hear me?" He sounds angrier than before. I wonder what his problem is.

"Yes, check the bar to make sure it's fully stocked."

"Good, now get to it." Pushing past me he doesn't give me one last look and makes his way to the kitchen. I take a deep breath and begin my journey of earning money.

☆☆☆

I clean my sticky palms down my worn out black dress pants and briefly close my eyes as I swayed to the beat of the music. Picking up the empty cups I make my way to the front of the bar. I slowly place the empty cups down, and I lean on the counter needing to take a minute to catch my breath. I am so goddamn tired and weak. I have been on my feet running around for these snobby people without resting at all.

I truly hate rich people; always doing everything in excess as if to make a statement to all of their friends, "look at me, I can spend more money than you." There is no way the amount of people invited to this party justifies the ridiculous amount of food and booze being fronted. I shrug. The expensive salmon and tasteless little appetizers are too fancy for my palate, but at least I will eat today. A wave of bitterness and sadness overwhelms me at the thought of sleeping outside tonight, and the fact that this people will never know my struggles is extremely irritating.

I fight the angry tears and the need to yell at all of them. I jump a little when I feel someone touch my shoulder startling me.

"Miss, are you alright?" Someone asks me.

I spin around and my eyes land on the person who just dare to touch me. I go to tell them off, but I stop when I see him. My heart races as I look at the tall man who now is standing beside me. He is absolutely stunning. He thrust his hands into his fancy pants and continues to look at me. His three-piece suit screams overpriced, and the button-up white shirt underneath his vest makes his green eyes seem brighter. He is looking deep into my eyes, like the way someone who you have known for years would look at you. My body is reacting a strange way like he can see through my pain.

My cheeks begin to heat slowly and I feel embarrassed at my reaction. Why is this man looking at me like this? Like if he knows me? I shake off the strange feeling and blame it on being homeless; living on the street makes you over think everyone's motives.

I attempt to move my eyes off him, but I can't. His hair is a dark black, sexy mess. Then my eyes move to his tattoos they are interesting and somewhat mysterious. One specific grabs my attention. It is placed skillful on his neck. A single small black and grey rose with the initials 'C.T' at the end. I can honestly say he is the most attractive man I have ever seen. Perhaps even in the entire world.

"Catalina?" He asks mildly.

“Excuse me?” I answer him not knowing who the hell he thinks I am.

He moves closer to me and that frightens me a bit. I move back keeping my distance from this strange man.

“I have been looking for you for far too long.” he goes to hug me but I immidietly move again.

Who does this drunk man think he is. He is totally confusing me with someone else.“What are you doing?” I ask horrified at what he was just about to do. I don't like being touched, specially by strangers.

“I think you got the wrong person. I have never met you in my life.”

“is your name Catalina?” His hopeful eyes stare at me.

I shake my head not knowing what else to say.

He looks angry, “Why are you lying?”

"Enough, if you don't leave me alone I will scream." I tell him reaching into my pocket for my phone in case this gets ugly and I have to call the cops.

He begins to open his mouth, but immediately closes it as a hand touches his shoulder. A gorgeous petite blonde woman who is burning me down with her intense stare stands beside him. The moment she takes her eyes off me and looks at him, her green eyes sparkle and it tells me that they are definitely familiar. Her smile vanishes once more when she looks at me again.

"What are you doing?" She sneers looking at me, "You should be handing out drinks not standing around."

"Come on Brianna, don't be so rude." The mysterious man commands making her angrier.

I instantly reach for the empty tray on the counter. This is my chance to get away from the man. "Sorry, It won't happen again."

The blonde rolls her eyes at me. "Just get back to work before I fired you." Without offering me a second glace she turns around to face the dark-haired man.

As I walk away I feel eyes following me, but I keep walking. When I'm done serving a thousand more drinks with a fake smile plastered on my face, the event comes to an end. Mr. Moore, my boss walks towards me and a smile comes across my face knowing what is to occur next.

I have had the worst night and all I want to do is get out of here. I attempt to get that out of my head for now and finish the job.

"Miss Tramell, great job today." He hands me my envelope which holds my money.

"Thank you." I smile and take the envelope from him. I need to be nice in the hopes he will want to hired me again. He is creepy, and rude. Yet, I need the money.

He looks straight at me for a while making me feel very uncomfortable, then suddenly he clears his throat. He finally looks away from me, "Alright everyone let's finish up."

☆☆☆

I stop a few feet away from the door and take a peek through the glass and see it has started to snow. I quickly move aside closer to the wall when I see a couple of the girls going outside for a smoke and a breeze of cold air blows by me and makes me shiver. Goose bumps race across my arms and the realization kicks in knowing this is my life. Cold. Scary. Another night of uncertainty. Finally, when I have build enough courage, I move way from the wall, and walk out of the door. I stop just outside of the building and take a deep breath and continue to walk.

It is late and dark and a sudden noise coming from the alley next to the building scares me. It is extremely cold and my black coat does not help to keep me warm. I can't afford a winter jacket, but I am grateful for at least having this old worn coat. I pick up my pace until I hear someone talking to me.

"Do you need a ride?" Even before I can respond, he is walking towards me from the shadows of the alley and just as quickly, he is close to me. What is he doing here anyways? A man like him surely has better places to be at. "I can take you where ever you want." He is staring at me again and it makes me very uncomfortable. Why can't he see that I'm not who he thinks I am?

I glance up at him meeting his green eyes, "Are you kidding me? You need to leave me alone." I begin to walk away. I can't let him give me a ride as I don't even have a place to go to and I'm afraid of what he will do to me.

“Wait!” he calls after me.

I stop and turn around ready to tell him off for the last time. “YOU NEED-”

He cuts me off, “I'm sorry, I must of had made a mistake. I thought you were someone else.”

He sounds truthful, perhaps he isn't a bad person and made an honest mistake. I finally feel myself calming down.

"You are freezing, where is your jacket?" He quickly changes the conversation.

I want to answer him in a sassy manner, but I keep it in. Not everyone can afford an expensive jacket like his. "I live close by. I will be okay." I try to swallow down the blatant lie.

"Here," he says as he takes off his expensive black jacket.

"No, I couldn't possibly." I shake my head not wanting his pity.

"Yes, you can take it." He demands. He holds it up for me to slide my arms into the very long sleeves.

"Thank you." His jacket smells delicious, just like him. I smile at him one last time and start to walk.

"Wait!" He calls after me, "What's your name?"

Crossing the street, I yell, "Bailey."

I attempt not to let it bother me when he looks at me with disappointing eyes and wonder who this Catalina chick was.