LoveBird

Chapter ONE

The sound of my dog Duke wimpering awakes me from my slumber. His need to go outside was obviously more important than my need to sleep. Rubbing my hand over my face and trying to orientate my self, I sling the cover off of me, sending my phone into the floor and sliding across the room.

Hopefully that doesnt leave a mark, it would be just my luck. Everything I do is always devoid of any kind of grace. My friends never allow me to borrow anything because I either spill everything or snag the fabric on every corner in a mile wide radius. I get out of bed, throwing my sandles on and a thin cardigan I go downstairs with Duke. Opening the back sliding door he bolts out running as fast he can to the nearest bush. The Florida humity is heavy in the air, the early morning being the only relief we get before the blazing heat almost singes us alive.

The morning birds sing throughout the trees, humming a lovely tune filling my heart with happiness and thankfulness for the new day. Sounds from the kitchen make me turn from the back yard and head down the hallway. Smells of fresh fruit and coffee quickly fill the house making my stomach grow loudly. When I turn the corner I see my mom, dad, and my sister all sitting at the kitchen table laughing and talking about their plans for the day.

"Goodmorning Love Bird, come take a seat at the table and I will make you some coffee." My mom quickly ushers me to the table to sit down. With her meditterean background she takes pleasure in taking care of her family and serving everyone else first before serving herself. My dad met her while on tour in the military in Greece. They fell in love and he got my mother pregnant with my sister Alana, so my grandmother made them get married and he brought my mother to Naples, Florida where they got married and decided to raise their family. Some of my family still lives in Greece so we go to visit them often, my grandmother keeps trying to arrange my sister and I a man to marry but thankfully my mother keeps putting it off.

My mothers hazel eyes focus in on me, "Zosime, honey are you ready for your interview at Redmont Company today? I hope your prepared your sister put herself out there to get you this interview."

"Yes mom I'm ready." I quickly answer averting my gaze so she can't see my worried expression. I haven't even prepared myself in the slightest. My sister kicks my foot under the table. I stare up in to her bright blue eyes. "She's going to do great isn't that right Zosime, so you do your best not to embarass your older sister or your family." Her gaze telling me their would be hell to pay if I embarrassed her int he slightest way.

Lord if you were going to let me hit by a car in my life, today would be the day for it. Just my luck the night I stayed up binge watching movies I would forget about the interview the next day.

My dad decided to flap his newspaper dramatically, chuckling he sets the newspaper down folding it so he can continue where he left off. "Now Alana leave your sister alone she will do fine, but it is 6:10 maybe you should both start getting ready for work so you can make it on time."

"Your right dad of course, I have a meeting today for the Gala tonight I will have to be attending, so I need to leave by 7:30. Zosime if your riding with me you better start getting ready."

"Alright I'm going!" I quickly get up grabbing a bowl of grapes and toward the back yard. Duke has already come inside and is quickly drinking his water. I start to slide the door close taking a few minutes to inhale the fresh air and look at the sun shining across the garden.

....

At 7:55 we pull up to Redmont parking the Honda Accord in the parking deck and rushing out.

"I can not believe you forgot your resume, and we had to turn around. If I get in trouble I am going to kick your ass Zosime." She rushes towards the automatic doors, her blonde curls bouncing as she moves her head back and forth lecturing me.

"My god Alana leave me alone its going to be fine. Just show me where I am going so we can get this interview over with." I quickly start walking faster getting in front of her and here her grumble behind me. We go up the stairs to a open floor office. There are desks everywhere and everyone is hanging out, talking and enjoying coffee. The office itself is colorful and everyone here is dressed work casual, with nice shirts and slacks or skirts. I quickly look down at my outfit of a yellow tank top and black flowy slacks glad I made the decision to wear this instead of a womans suit. My sister ushers me into her office, setting her things down.

"On regular circumstances you would be interviewing with Ms. Orleen but since she is out you will be getting a interview with Mr. Redmont himself. So please Zosime please be professional and don't say anything to embarrass me."

"I got it Alana I won't, please have a little more faith in me." I grin at her not only to make myself feel better but maybe it will help her calm down. Who am I kidding I need to calm down. I have never had a job like this and the little bit of work I have done was dog sitting or babysitting for our neighbor Lucy. A knock on the her door turns our attention that way.

"Goodmorning Alana." A man in a three piece suit says, he has brown hair and brown eyes to match. His dark features make him handsome and by the way his aura dominates the room you can tell he never misses the slighest detail. His eyes turn to me, sending me a smile that doesn't fully meet his eyes. "This must be your sister, my names Eric. I'm your sisters boss I'll be sitting in our your interview with my father. Although I don't think this interview is necessary with you being Alana's sister but these are just mandated policies we have." There is something about Eric, there is definitely more that meets the eye. Those brown eyes are cold the gleam in them I mistook for kindness was actually more like cunningness. This man was like a viper coiled up and ready to strike. I shook his hand grasping it firmly, keeping my head up and standing tall. Even if I was knew to this place and coming for a interview I would not back down or roll over for anyone. When I looked at Eric's face he had a amused grin on his face almost as if he was suprised by my actions.

"Thank you Eric that is very kind. My sister is looking forward to this and she prepared for this interview so she will do great I am sure", my sister says. Her face revealing a slight blush. Eric smiles again and excuses himself as he walks away my sisters eyes follow him down the hall to his father's office.

I sit down in one of the chairs across from my sisters' desk opening up a brochure from the company to look over. Thank God I was given a photographic memory, all I need to do now is look over a few documents and I will be more than prepared.

"Your boss gives me the creeps Alana." I say, automatically getting a pen thrown at me from her at her desk.

"Shut up, someone can hear you!"She whisper yells while getting up to slam the door, almost breaking the entire glass door. Its so loud my back teeth automatically grit together to stop the ringing. She walks over to get back in her seat, taking her hand and pushing her long blonde hair back into place. Growing up my sister was always seen as the Snow Queen. Her long blonde hair, blue eyes, fair complexion, and icy attitude got her that nickname in our neighborhood growing up. Compared to my long brown hair, emerald eyes, and olive skin tone you would think we had different parents. Alana took more after the American features our dad has, while I inherited my mother's meditterean side of the families features.

"You don't even know Eric, he is a kind and reasonable boss who takes really good care of his employees. You should just be grateful that he is going to be in your interview or I would tell him to make you interview with just Mr. Redmont." She continued typing on her computer somewhat pleased with her response. My sister always stood up for people I did not like. Instead of taking my side against them she would always go the other direction. It was always fustrating growing up in our neighborhood and people wanted to always pick on me, being the weird girl who always read books and could remember everything. My sister would turn a blind eye to the bullying until my friend Melody and her brother Randy moved in next door to us. Melody was like me in the since that she enjoyed reading, and Randy liked to fight so he beat up people that made fun of us. He also has always had a crush on Alana, she used to call him Prince Charming when they were kids.

A chirp came from Alana's laptop stopping my daydream of the past. "They're ready for your interview, lets go Zosime." She stops walking before we exit her office turning around and looking at me up and down. She adjusts my tanktop and makes sure my hair is perfect; long and curly flowing down to the middle of my back. "You look good, did you look at the brochures and memorize them?" We start walking down the hallway making our way toward Mr. Redmont's office. My anxiety starts to creep up my legs making them numb.

"Yes I've looked at the documents I remember everything." My mouth is so dry, I hate having anxiety it makes me a nervous mess in stressful situations. Even though I shouldn't be stressed this is a job I am more than qualified for. It is for a intern creative director position. I will help on the creative design of advertisements picked up by the company and try to make them most appealing to the company. I went to school for graphic design but my real passion is art. I love to paint and spend alot of my time painting at home.

We come up the glass door with a huge office inside, there is a long table with several chairs, many pieces of art hanging on the wall, a huge flat screen tv is on the wall, documents are scattered all over the table and magazines are everywhere. There is a man about my height standing with pieces of a three piece suit being sown together on his body by a seamstress. As we open the door we hear them laughing at each other.

"Now Gerald I know I've been getting suits done by you for years but if you stab me again I might have to rethink it."

The seamstress laughed at the man making a move as if he was really going to stab him, "Roland I would be more than happy to find myself a replacement but who would want to put up with you, your a pain in the ass." They both start laughing again. I can't help but laugh myself my mood changing and some of the fear leaving my body.

Mr. Redmont turns from the mirror looking at both of us smiling. He quickly walks over, "Alana its so good to see you." He grasps her hand shaking it warmly with both hands. My sister returns his smile, "It's good to see you to Mr. Redmont. How was your trip Dubai, were you able to secure that overseas client?" My sister seems to be pretty comfortable with both her bosses.

"It was fine dear, and this is your sister? Welcome," he grasps my hand the same way he did my sister's sending me a bright and warm smile. "Have a seat and we will get started." He points to the long table witht the many documents spread out on it, urging us to sit down. I place my resume in front of him and place my bag on the ground next to me. My sister is sitting next to me with a smile on her face. She is every bit the calm and collected big sister and experienced employee.

Mr. Redmont sits across from me grabbing the resume and flipping through it. "So Zosime I see you have a degree in graphic design, but why should I hire you as a intern Creative Director. With a degree like that you could go and work for a IT department."

He says placing the resume down and looking at me, the relaxing atmosphere was over instead I had just walked into the tigers den of a collected business man who needed answers. I swallowed trying to relieve my dry throat, really needing a glass of water.

I will not cower down to this man, or fail and hear s**t from my sister for the rest of my life for giving a shitty interview. I place my hands on the table and straighten myself. "I would like to work in the creative director department because I have a passion for art and anything with art. With graphic design you can only create code directed by a company. Here you are asking for someone not only computer tech savvy but someone with a artistic mind of its own. I have both of those." I say Mr. Redmont seems pleased with my answer. Looking between my sister and I. "Looks like she will be hard working just like you Alana, I can not wait to see what you do at my my company dear." He stands up to shake my hand when Eric enters through the side door with a Lifestyle magazine in his hand.

"Did I miss the interview already?" He says coming over to Mr. Redmont and grasping his shoulder. Mr. Redmont looks at him and laughs, "Zosime you'll have to forgive my son although he is over the finance department he has no since of time." He claps his son on his back.

I watch their exchange between them as my sister joins their conversation. They are all very playful and kind toward one another. Making me rethink my thoughts about Eric from earlier. How could I think someone like him could be untrustworthy especially when working so close to their father.

"Zosime are you going to be coming to the Galla tonight? All of our employee are invited so you have to come." Mr. Redmont says, hes already getting fitted again for his tux. Before I can answer my sister does for me, "Of course she will be there, we will be coming together." She takes my hand and squeezes it making sure I do not say anything else like no because I do not want to go. I hate formal events and this sounds like it is going to be one of them.

"My oldest son Asher should be getting here soon, so I will see you ladies tonight. Make sure to dress in black tie affair clothing."

"Yes sir we will." My sister answers for the both of us while I grab my bag. I look at Eric reading the Lifestyle magazine in his lap.

"You should read the article of page 47 about organic plants oxidants its a really good article." He looks up from the magazine, "You read lifestyle magazines?" He asked me puzzled by this. I guess being 22 and reading a magazine is unheard of.

"My sister doesn't read she glances at a page and remembers everything on it, she has a photographic memory." My sister tells them, both men look at me with suprise.

"Now that is very interesting." Eric says. Looking at me as if he had just found a prize and was trying to figure out how to use it. I take back my thoughts of doubting that he was a creep he is.

"I was right you will do extrodinary things at this company. Alana take her to the creative department and get her all set up and comfortable. Tell Olivia that she's knew and to not scare her away her first day." Mr. Redmont says sending us both another smile as we head out the door. I am still in shock that I got hired. My parents are going to be so proud I didn't fail and I am actually making money.