His Greatest Treasure

The Phone Call

Reid’s POV

From the moment I saw her sitting in Consuela’s office, I have felt a deep longing for Makenna Walters. It’s more than just physical attraction, though that’s definitely part of it. I just feel like I need to be with her and to know everything about her. I want to hear the details of her past, even though I know it will break my heart. I want to know her favorite color, her fears, and what little things bring her joy. I don’t know why I feel this way, no other girl has made me feel anything close to this.

I stay in Consuela’s office until she returns from escorting Makenna outside. She gives me a knowing smile as she walks in and sits behind her desk. I’m afraid she’ll ask me about Makenna, but instead she asks if I want to go over her notes from the interviews. This was our last day for interviewing, so it’s time to review the applicants and make our decision.

Consuela starts with the applicants in the order that she interviewed them. She had a few other interviews over the last couple days, so there have been several people interested, but Consuela has already eliminated the ones whose interviews didn’t impress her. She likes the woman whose interview had been before Makenna’s. Her name is Rachel, and she’s in her early forties and has twenty years of professional experience cleaning office buildings. Consuela says something about how being older probably means she’s more serious, which makes me roll my eyes.

“The biggest reason I like her is that she has professional cleaning experience. I am interested in Makenna as well, but she only has experience cleaning houses, and they seem to all be houses she’s lived in.”

“Well this is a house, isn’t it?” I respond as I lean back in my chair.

Consuela laughs and nods her head. “Well what do you think now that you’ve heard my thoughts, Mr. Parker.”

I’m thinking about Makenna’s long dark hair and her emerald green eyes. I imagine her full lips pressed against mine, and my arms around her small body. I want to see her again. No, I need to see her again. The problem is that I don’t want to see her as my housekeeper. I keep Consuela waiting for a few minutes as I run through a plan in my mind.

“I agree, Consuela. I think Rachel will be a great choice. She seems to have the experience, and I think she will do well here.”

I don’t miss the surprise in Consuela’s voice, which makes me laugh. “Who did you think I would pick?”

“Well you seemed quite drawn to Miss Walters, and I think she felt the same way.” She gives me a soft smile which speaks her approval.

“Yes, that’s why I don’t want her to be my housekeeper. I plan to get to know her on a much more personal level.

It’s been a couple days since we finished the interviews and Consuela and I are confident in our decision. Now we both have phone calls to make, Consuela calls Rachel to offer her the position while I call Makenna. There’s probably something illegal about using a phone number on a resume for a personal call, but I justify it by reminding myself that there is a professional aspect to it since I will also be letting her know that she didn’t get the job.

After a few rings, I hear a nervous voice say, “Hello?”

“Hi, this is Makenna Walters, right?”

“Yy-yes, it is,” She stutters anxiously. Her soft voice is so adorable, I could just keep listening to her forever.

“This is Reid Parker, from the interview.” I hear her breathing increase.

“Oh hi,” She squeaks.

“Hi,” I chuckle. “How are you today?”

“I’m good, how are you?”

“I’m wonderful,” I respond, grateful she can’t see the enormous smile threatening to explode from my face. “Do you have time to talk?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, there are a few parts to this phone call, so please listen carefully until I’m done.”

“Okay.”

“We have decided to go with another applicant, but we appreciate you for applying.” I can tell that she’s surprised and disappointed by her soft sigh into the receiver.

“Oh okay.”

“That being said, I have another employment opportunity available if you’re interested. One of my business partners has two small children. He and his wife are looking for a nanny. I’ve put in a good word for you, and they’re definitely interested, so the job is yours if you want it. They only ask if they can get a chance to meet you first.

“Oh!” I smile at the surprise and gratitude that has replaced her disappointment. “Yeah, I think I would be interested in that. I would at least like to meet the family, and then I can make my decision.”

“That’s great. I will get you in contact with them. Now for the last part of this conversation, I was wondering if you would join me for dinner tomorrow night?”

There’s silence on the other end of the line. My heartbeat echoes loudly in my ears as I wait nervously for her to respond.

Finally her feathery voice answers with a shaky reply. “I-I’m sorry. I don’t know if I understand. Why would you like me to meet you for dinner?”

“I would like to take you on a date. Just you and me, if you’re comfortable with that.”

“Oh,” she squeaks. “Um, sure. I would like that.”

She gives me her address, and I tell her that I will pick her up tomorrow night at six. After the call ends, I feel like I can breathe easy for the first time since I saw her in Consuela’s office. I have never met a girl that has affected me the way she does. Normally, I was very composed around women and kept my emotions in check. Even though I didn’t really know much about her yet, I have a feeling that I have never met a woman like Makenna before.