Between Devil and Ocean

Welcome to H.F.F.

Kaylee breathed in and smiled after shutting the door to her plush office on the first day of work. The name on the table, KAYLEE ROTHEN, THE FLORA MANAGER, smiled at her and she smiled back. She settled on the swivel chair and bowed her head for a few minutes to pray.

When she raised her head, she remembered the obvious happiness and unmistakable note of sarcasm in her mom's voice when she had said, "Do well to call regularly."

To be candid, Kaylee didn't know why her mom didn't like her - or probably hated her. And, honestly, Kaylee didn't know why she kept calling Jolene Rothen 'mom'.

The search for her real mom was why she was part of the reason why she was in Nettles in the first place.

Sighing, she picked up the receiver, placed it by her ear and dialed her secretary, grateful to Liu for getting her lines up and going the previous weekend.

Her secretary picked on the second ring.

"How may I help you, ma'am?"

"It's Kaylee, CeCe. And sorry, I wanted to call my secretary not you," Kaylee replied.

"Call me if you need any help, ma'am..."

"Kaylee..."But CeCe had already hung up.

Kaylee sighed for the thousandth time that morning. In her sea of thoughts, she had called the general receptionist instead of her secretary. Slowly, now, she dialed her secretary's telephone.

"Hello, Khloe."

"Hello, ma'am," Khloe Von Vhergon, her secretary, replied at the other end of the line.

"Just call me Kaylee, Khloe..."

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but my job ethics don't permit me to do that,"the other lady explained.

"Oh? Okay." No wonder CeCe had insisted on calling her 'ma'am'. "Please get me the old reports for reviewing. Let me begin from there."

"I would, ma'am, but don't you think that that would take you weeks? Better idea, why don't you view The Gardens?" Khloe said.

"Wanna try me?" Kaylee teased.

"Okay... I'll be with you shortly in five," Khloe said.

"Thanks." They ended the call simultaneously.

A sigh again. How was she supposed to allow someone who was two years older than her to call her 'ma'am'?

Not long, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in, Khloe."

The door opened and a thirty some looking man walked in.

"Ah, sorry, it's not Khloe. Good morning," he said, and Kaylee had to wait a few seconds to understand what he said. Obviously, she had been 'looking'.

"Good morning," she replied, standing. This face looked familiar.

"Trevis Kitridge? Remember?,"he said when he saw her expression. "The Fauna Manager?" he added.

"Oh!" she exclaimed in remembrance. "Nice to meet you again, Mr. Kitridge." She held out her hand. He took it and shook it then held for a fleeting moment longer before letting go. Kaylee noticed.

"Good to see you again, too, Miss Rothen. You're a 'Miss'?" he asked and he nodded, so he continued. "Welcome to H.F.F. I hope that you enjoy your stay," he said and the both of them sat down.

" Oh, I'm sure that I will, thank you," Kaylee said and shot him her million dollar smile

"Uh, have you viewed The Gardens yet," he asked.

No, why?"

I, uh, wanted to show you The Jungle," he replied. Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Her secretary peeped before walking in and shutting the door.

"Good morning, Sir," she greeted Trevis.

"Morning, Khloe," he replied.

"Here are the reports, ma'am," she said, turning to Kaylee. Her prolonged stare at Trevis didn't also go unnoticed by Kaylee.

"Thanks, Khloe. And, please, get me the financial reports from The Flora Accounting Department when work's over."

Nodding stiffly, the secretary walked out of the office.

"Seriously? Reports? My God, that would take you ages," Trevis said.

"Try me," Kaylee said before she realized that that was the second time she was saying those words that morning.

"Sure. But don't view The Gardens without me," he said and stood up.

She stood up too. "You do love flowers, don't you? Why didn't you work in The Flora?"

"Two reasons. One, there was no vacancy available in The Flora then. Two, you wouldn't be here," he said, looking at her in a way that made her laugh.

"You know what? Just drop your office number with Khloe, and I'll give you a call when I'm ready," she said. "And, thanks, by the way, for stopping by."

He returned her smile. "You're welcome."