10. Resume
1340 Words
Chapter 10.
This girl is better not looking at me that way too long, or I’m gonna loose it!—Ace thought inside. “This might hurt a little..” said Ace, before put some medicine for her cut.
Leanne gulped in reflex, trying to ease the sting by looking at the corner ceiling, and fluttered once in a while. Ace then gently put a non-waterproof bandage upon her cut, before release her wrist.
“Maybe you should sit down with Cheryl, I will continue doing your dishes.”
“No, it’s okay, I got this.” said Leanne still standing with her back by the ledge of the sink.
“That’s not a waterproof bandage, the water will ruin the bandage, Red.”
“Stop calling me that!” Surprised by her own emotion, she softened up. “Please?”
Ace raised his eyebrow for a second, his look is showing her, that he like—and will not stop to call her that way. Even though he slightly thought inside, why does she looked irritated when I call her Red?
“I’ll ask my friend to do that, you’re practically a guest here.. I can’t let you wash the dishes.” She kept standing in the way, refusing to move.
“Red.. be a good girl, and move.” Ace took a step closer. “If you keep washing and touch the dishwater with your brand-new wound, the pain will sting you--a lot more.”
They’re looking at each other, with Cheryl’s attention always at them.
“Listen, don’t make me ‘moves’ you.. Or do you –actually--want me to?” Ace added, he looked down at her, and he stands too close to her too.
“Uh.. Leanne? Can you help me?”
Cheryl called her. Leanne got this feeling that Cheryl called her to save her from his uncle. Anyhow, for Leanne, after hearing his final words--his threat, make her knee instantly weak too. Leanne is finally step aside and heading toward Cheryl, just to find that her feeling was right, because Cheryl asking a question that she already know the answer.
They spent the rest after that, in quiet. Ace done her cleaning work perfectly, at the same time that Cheryl has finished her homework. Both of them girls tidy Cheryl’s stuffs, before Cheryl says her good night to Ace and about to leave the room.
“I have to assist her, or she will sleep without brushing her teeth..” Leanne awkwardly said, “Thank you again, and sorry--.” She said before quickly leave the room, and chasing Cheryl.
Sorry? I’m so lame. What were you thinking, Leanne! – the voice inside her head beating her up.
Ace watched her walk out the door without saying anything, before decided to see his brother, he needs to know more about Leanne. She’s driving me crazy. It’s must be his curiosity only, nothing else, right?
Calvin is in his workroom, buried with his paperwork when Ace came inside the room.
“Hey.. what’s up?” said Calvin when he saw Ace.
“Hmm, nothing.. just wondering..”
“About? Oh, by the way, I can see that June is special, Ace. How long have you been together?”
“We’re not together—together. We had a few dates, but that just it..” Ace sat on the couch.
“So, you were wondering about..?” Calvin pour two glass of bourbon, and join his brother at the couch.
“Your assistant. Did you notice, that Leanne is easily surprised?”
“Leanne? That’s who you’ve been wondering about?” said Calvin started not liking the conversation.
“Did you even hear my question?”
“Yeah. And yeah—to answer your question, she is jumpy. She’s been that way since the day she worked here.” he looked at his brother.
“Did she ever tell you, the reason why she’s too jumpy?
“No. I never asked. Why are you suddenly interested in her, again?”
“Just to be clear-- I’m not interested THAT way with her. I just--” Ace hasn’t finished talking, when Calvin cut in.
“Just what, Ace?”
“Why are you so defensive? When I talk about her? Are you having an affair with her?”
“What?! No!” Calvin raised his voice, “Gee, Ace! What’s gotten into you?”
“Well, you do marry with your kid’s ex-nanny. And Leanne is way too—” beautiful, sexy, smart, perfect? “—qualified to just working as a nanny, or a housekeeper.”
“Yeah! That’s the point! She is perfect, in her job. But that doesn’t mean I have an affair with her. She doesn’t see me that way, okay?” His forehead wrinkled for he felt annoyed.
“And in what way do you see her? Do you like her?”
“In a professional way! And no—if what you meant is like as in, in love.” Calvin sighed, and tried to stay calm. “I really don’t know why you’re asking me all of these questions, since you’re supposed to focusing your interest at JUNE, but I’d really appreciate it if you’re not bother her with these kinds of question.”
Ace drank his bourbon, too late—he thought. Even though they don’t see each other often, Calvin still knows him well.
“Oh No. You didn’t!”
“I just have this instinct about her, something about her that’s very secretive, and mysterious.” And another instinct that makes me want to have her. Damn it, he hates it when his thoughts in reflex, kept telling the truth—Ace took another sip.
“Damn you, Ace.” Calvin ruffled his hair with his fingers, feeling upset. “Have you ever thought that she might be the introvert type? And what did she said, when you asked her?”
“She took it rather well—considering I’m her boss’s brother.”
“Oh man, you really crossed the line, man!” Calvin said, knowing the message between the line.
“Bottom line, did you do her background check, when you hired her?”
Calvin opened his mouth, but hesitated for a while because he only read her simple CV and at that time it was enough for him. “Yeah… something like that.. I have her CV-resume, Sharon did the interview and the hiring part.”
“Can I see it?”
“You’re being paranoid, Ace, do you know that?!” said Calvin while obeying his brother’s request.
“Never hurt to be careful.”
“Maybe you’re just looking for some case to work on, and don’t know how to take a break, for once!” Calvin said throwing Leanne’s folder on the table.
Ace started to open and read the information about Leanne. Maybe Calvin is right, and he’s just couldn’t get a better thing to do, rather than poking around on somebody’s business.
Name: Leanne Collins, date of birth, addresses, et cetera. Education: Bachelor degree of hospitality management. Nothing strange about her education background.—He thought. Ace decided to take a few pictures with his phone.
“Listen, Ace.” Calvin took seat again. “I’m gonna be pretty honest with you. I’m not in a very good situation, right now, with Sharon. I’m barely there in Cheryl’s life, I admit that.” He said. “I really can’t loose Leanne to work on this house, just- - don’t make her uncomfortable, or give her some reason to resign from her job.”
Ace looked at Calvin right after he heard his words. “What happened with Sharon?”
“I don’t know, man. She’s changed. She’s never home, or even when she’s here it would be only for some useless party.” Calvin pour another bourbon into his glass. “Don’t asked if I ever discuss this with her, it would end with a fight. Every-single-time.”
“Where did she goes? When she’s not around?”
“Travelling all over the world. I’m going to divorce her. She’s not good to Cheryl, she’s not open to discussion and not cooperating too.” Calvin looked down. “It’s funny how you thought you know a person, or when you realised three years of marriage means nothing at all.”
“Have you tried another way? Marriage counselling, maybe?”
“I’ve asked her, but she never wanted to.” Said Calvin, lying his head by the couch. “I don’t know, maybe I should try again.”
“Hey. You got this. You always do, and I always got your back.”
“I know. Now, can you leave Leanne alone? She’s a good woman, trust me Ace. She never flirts with me, she’s always keeping her distance, and never crossed the line.”
“Okay.. I’m gonna leave her alone, you have my word. But I’m still gonna check her full background, though.”
“Fine.” Calvin rolled his eyes, settled with his brother’s word.
- Writer
