Chapter 1
First Person POV
My name is Y/N and I am a photo editor. People submit their photos through the website of the company that I work for and I edit them anyway they want. In my opinion the system is quite genius.
You see, I don’t have to leave my apartment to go to work since my work comes to me. I don’t have to leave my apartment to get food because I order it online and it comes to my doorstep. And if I do have to leave the comfort of my apartment, I have a car. No public transportation for me. If I have no contact with humans then there is no way to meet my soulmate.
How did I become this hermit? Well, to make a long story short, no one can hurt you if no one is there to hurt you. It’s really quite simple actually. You see, I’m an orphan. My own parents didn’t even want me. I was left in front of a building in a basket with one blanket. Oh and let’s not forget that it was in the bad part of town. When I was found and taken to the police station I didn’t even have a name. No one knows who my parents are or what my real name is. I guess you could say that was strike one. While I’m thankful my biological parents didn’t kill me, (because obviously they didn’t want me) I was still left to defend and depend on myself at such a young age.
I was raised in the foster care system in my country and I constantly moved from house to house. The families I lived with never really cared for me. They only did the bare minimum. I had hand-me-down everything. I couldn’t even get a new tooth brush. I had to wait for someone to need a new one before I was handed their old one. Those families only wanted the money the government gave them for me. I guess you could say that was strike two.
I didn’t get along well with the kids at school. They teased me endlessly because I was an orphan and I was different. And by different I mean I was born with this unique mark on my hand. It’s in the shape of something but I don’t know what it is. I have the same mark on my rib as well. Multiple times I was told that no one would love me, not even my mate. After hearing that for so long from everyone including my foster families to the kids at school. I just figured it was true. I was better off alone. That had to be strike three.
I used to live a somewhat normal life. I still worked from home but I left to get groceries and small stuff. That is until I turned 21. You see, on my planet when you turn 21 you are now able to find your mate. And I can’t find my mate. I don’t want to go through anymore rejection. I just want to live a quiet life away from people who mean to do me harm or treat me like a slave. Is that too much to ask for?
Apparently it is because I received a message from the Mica. (The love goddess) She told me I had a week to find my soulmate on my own or she would force me to meet him. Yep that’s right. Mica has been talking to me for a while now but I just kept ignoring her. Now she’s playing games.
Why would she do that? Maybe it’s because I’m currently 25 and I still haven’t found my mate. It’s practically unheard of. Most people are fully mated by the time they are 23. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Any who, I’d like to see her try. I ordered enough food to last a month and I paid all of my bills in advance. There is no reason for me to leave this apartment. Oh, and I think I forgot to mention that Mica gave me a week to find my mate like 2 weeks ago but, whatever. Nothing is going to change.
Or so I thought. I was checking my email and guess what. The company I work for has put a stop on my payments because they say they need to verify that I am who I say I am. Like WTF. I’ve been working for them for years now and I do quality work.
This has seriously got to be a joke. So I call customer service to see what’s going on exactly. To which I speak to a girl named Ashley and she tells me that the company does this randomly to verify all contracted employees. She said I just need to show up at the headquarters with my personal identification information and I’ll be able to leave once I’m verified.
Bullshit! I call bullshit! Oh and Fuck you Mica! Like seriously. With a 10 foot poll. That’s fine. It’s totally fine. That’s why I have a car. Cars are good for times like this. Cars help me avoid human contact. I can do this.
I can’t do this. I haven’t left my house in over a year. What if the sun burns my skin or it’s too cold or if there’s a bug. I need my check to keep living the way I do but I can’t leave my safe place. Why doesn’t Mica understand that some people are better off alone? What does she gain by playing people like they are some sort of game?
So I get dressed. I figure there is not time in wasting what has to be done. The quicker I get this done, the quicker I can go back to the safety of my apartment. I Put all my stuff in my backpack and head to my car. My car is extremely dirty. Well I guess that’s what happens when it’s been sitting for a year. I attempt to start my car and guess what. The damn thing won’t start. Great just great.
I head to the train station. I put on gloves and put my earphones on and block out the world around me. I arrive at the station and everything is going smoothly. No bugs, no eye contact, and most importantly no mate.
I spoke too soon. Just as I get on the stairs headed to the subway I bump into someone and their coffee spill all over my jacket. Great. Sarcastically speaking of course. I look up at my assaulter ready to give him or her a piece or my mind and I freeze. It’s him. My mate. I’m momentarily frozen. This can’t be happening.
I blink a few times and then continue to head down the stairs. I don’t need this. The man grabs my gloved hand and turns me around to look at me again. His eyes they are so beautiful and they hold so much... so much something. I don’t know what it is but it’s captivating.
Before it goes too far I shove his hand off of mine and jet to the train. I don’t even know which train I’m getting on but I have to get out of here. He follows me. He doesn’t look like the type of guy who can run fast or far but here he is. Doing both. I get to the bottom and the train is already gone. Fan-freaking-tastic. I stop and he stops next to me.
Second Person POV, also Y/N POV
You: what do you want
??: is that anyway to speak to your mate?
You: my who? Please don’t flatter yourself.
??: I know you know you’re my mate. I’ve been looking all over for you!
You: let me make this easy for you. I hereby and wholeheartedly reject you.
??: what?!
You: that’s right. Now hurry up and accept it so I can go back to living my life.
??: but you don’t even know me and your going to reject me?! (He says as if he’s offended)
You: yep and I have no intention on getting to know you so make this easier for both of us. Accept the rejection and leave.
??: no! I’ve spent so many years looking for you! I’m not going to let you go that easily.
You: look. I don’t have time for this.
You say as you get on the next train at the last minute and it zooms away leaving him on the platform. You let out a small sigh and look out the window.
I want to be the first to tell you that you that you most certainly got on the wrong train headed in the opposite direction. But it was worth it because it got you out of that situation. About an hour and a half later you finally arrive at headquarters for your job. Coffee soaked jacket and all. At least your gloves are still somewhat clean. Even after he touched them.
You head to the receptionist desk and ask where you need to go to verify yourself. She advises you to go to the fifth floor and use the third door to the right. You take the elevator going to that floor. Once you get there you walk into the door. The lady in the office greets you and you fill out all the paperwork she gives you. She looks up at you a smiles and then her phone rings. After her call she continues to look at you smiling. It was a bit creepy.
Once you finish you hand her the paperwork along with your I.D. Card. She walks to the back room to scan your information and input it into the system. Once she is finished she tells you that’s the C.E.O wants to see you and that his office is located on the top floor. She gives you a temporary access badge and sends you on your way before you can respectfully decline her offer.
You get to the top floor and it is stunning. The view of the city is gorgeous and you can’t help but gasp. If only your apartment was here. You’d for real never leave then. You wouldn’t have to. You’d have people to do your bidding for you.
Suddenly the elevator opens up behind you but you’re too busy admiring the view to notice. A man walks up behind you and you turn around once your notice another presence. Can you guess who it is? Yep that’s right. Your soulmate. And by the look on his face, he is either less than thrilled to see you or he has to poop. It could also be a combination of the two.
