THE MISSING PIECE

CHAPTER 4- MY UPSIDE DOWN LIFE

GRACE

I arrived at our usual Wednesday place and saw two free spots at the bar. I took the stool that was closer to the wall and Noah the one on my left. He ordered a beer and some french fries. I asked for a gin cocktail. I know, Wednesday at a bar? But it's date night and we always go before twelve, so we get at least 6 hours of sleep. The drinks arrived and also the french fries.

-I love this place. This gin cocktail is delicious, doesn't matter how much I ordered it.

I said taking a sip.

-And that's a lot of times.

I felt a needle pinching me. It was a strange feeling, it covered my entire body.

-Baby are you alright?

I felt Noah’s hand on my shoulder, and then I saw two blue eyes and felt prickles at the place Noah's hand was, so I just shoved it.

-Yeah, I think I got a brain freeze from drinking too fast.

-You need to be careful, babe.

He smiled at me and started to talk to our usual bartender. I looked at the conversation, and at the same time, I was trying to see the owner of the blue eyes better. He was big but really big as if he was a professional American football player, but just muscles, no fat. His skin was caramel and his hair was black and straight. It was combed with a split side and fell to almost cover his left eye. The hairstyle looked a little hipster, for the clothes. He had a button-up shirt that grabbed every muscle of his arms and navy blue pants. Then I saw a woman's hand holding him. I looked at the owner and she was gorgeous! Her skin had a dark night tone and looked like it had a shine of its own, her hair was rose blonde in a medium-length bob cut, and her eyes jade green. I felt another needle in my mind and saw his eyes. They were not blue but ice blue. It took me seconds to understand that now we were staring at each other. I turned my sight to the bartender and Noah, who, thank God, were having a heated conversation between them about football, and didn't notice my now obvious stare at the two strangers.

I just continued giving little sips of my drink and trying my best to follow the conversation. My best lasted probably two minutes and I was trying to hear a little of the conversation between the two strangers. “He’s going to get mad if he asks questions and nothing comes out of my mouth” Was the only thing the voice inside my head could keep telling me, and “It’s date night and you are trying to spy on two strangers instead of listening to your boyfriend” But that’s his fault who told him to speak about football and bored me to death, taking me to my new interest in those two, just so I don't die of boredom. “A girl will do anything to survive, right?” I need an excuse to get nearer and see if I can hear something of what they are saying.

-Noah, I need to make a quick call.

-Do you want me to join you?

“No, actually I’m trying to get away from you so that I can hear what those two right there are saying” As if I could say that...

-No don’t worry, it’s just my brother. It’s a really fast call. I will be back.

“As soon as I finish my spy job.” I took my phone off the table and walked the slower I could without seeming that obvious, and got near the table. The girl was looking for something on her phone and the guy was with his eyes closed. I saw some papers on the table and took a quick picture as I continued my journey to make my fake call. Once outside, I looked at the picture and it was blurry. “Great picture, Picasso.” I kept making zoom but nothing. “What's the thing in the right corner?” I decided to make it as big as I could and saw something familiar but still couldn't identify it. A message from Noah popped on the screen. “Time to go.” I walked in and Noah was waiting for me. He looked into my eyes and asked for my hand along the two steps, which I gladly gave. He spun me to him and kissed me on the forehead.

-Sorry for the long football talk, I know you don't like it.

-Don’t worry babe, I know you do.

I smiled at him, he ordered me a new gin cocktail and took his phone out.

-I found some good questions for this date night. Are you ready to play answer or drink?

-Ready.

-What is the last person that you would like to see naked?

-Don´t know, and don’t want to think about it, so a drink for me.

I had a big drink of my gin. Without realizing it, my eyes turned to the table in the back, but it was already empty and the waiter was picking up the check.

-Okay my turn… I think my mom or my grandma are the last people I would like to see naked.

The rest of the night went as always, some laughs, some disgusting questions, and lastly, we flipped a coin to see who was going to drive. I only had 2 glasses and he had 3 beers and we shared a large portion of fries and a chicken quesadilla.

-I swear you cheated, it’s impossible that you always win at that game.

-You know, luck is a lady.

But I know best it doesn't matter what side of the coin ends up, he always says I win and drives home. We arrived and went directly to bed. The morning went fast; breakfast, shower, kissing goodbye, and each one going to their respective job. I arrived and saw a type of commotion. My dad was there, which isn’t normal, he usually just appeared on Mondays and some Saturdays.

-Dad, is everything okay?

-Good morning Grace. Yes, but we have some visitors and news. Could you join us in the meeting room?

I followed my dad and saw a young guy in a grey suit. His hair was chocolate brown at the length of his shoulders and had tanned skin, his eyes were the same color as his hair. While passing him, I noticed that he was really tall. If I was 5’25’’ he was at least 6´14´´. Entering the room there was a guy with long black hair well-combed in a down ponytail, he had also brown eyes and clear skin with freckles, but he was also around 6’03’’ “What way to remind me of my smurf size.” Well, they are men so, they should be taller, right?

-Hi, nice to meet you! My name is Sabrina Adams.

-Hi, my name is Grace Brown, and he is my father, Adam Brown…

OMG, it’s the girl from the bar! And in a beautiful white palazzo. “Forget that, and the theory of men are taller, she looks just like a model.”

-Nice to finally meet you, Mister Brown. Our companies have been doing business for years, it's nice to finally put a face to the name. Shall we sit and discuss the email that we sent to you?

She was the height of my dad, but her heels make her taller. She entered the room and my dad followed. Entering the room, I wanted to die... There was the owner of the ice-blue eyes. My father came to introduce himself. He looked “Like a smurf?” if he, with his 5’70’’, looked like a smurf, what would be of me? “He is at least 65’’ taller than him.” My dad looked at me. I think he introduced me. I walked the fastest I could to them.

-Hi, my name is Grace Brown.

I extended my hand to greet him, but he didn’t move.

-Shall we start the meeting? Mister Brown, please take this seat, and Grace, you can sit right next to him.

The beautiful woman said and the guy walked away, not even shaking my hand or saying a word to me. I don't know how much time passed, seconds or minutes. Walking away from him felt strange. I took my place and saw that there, were just four chairs. I saw the guy with long hair take one chair and then saw Sabrina take the other one. I quickly got up from my chair.

-I will go to another chair.

I said standing up.

-Don’t worry, Zac is just going to watch from the back.

The girl said to me, so I sat down... What was her name again? "Sabrina Adams." Then it hit me, She said his name...“Zac” I saw Sabrina stand up and start to talk. I saw pictures of our company and then the logo. “That’s the logo of the picture!” I took my phone out and started to browse till I found it. “Yes, I was right!” So this is why they are here, they work for that company. “Do they recognize me from last night?”

-Grace, It’s your choice. I can’t speak for you. What do you think? Do you agree with the job?

-Yes Dad, I will take care of it. Don’t worry, you can trust me.

-But it's going to take a lot of your time.

My Dad said with a worried voice. Honestly, I wasn't sure what I was agreeing to. I heard a chuckle in my back and turned to see Zac “Zac.” Covering his mouth with a funny face. “Is he laughing?” Sabrina was smiling happily at me and began to gather all the papers that were on the table. “When did we see all that?” Then she stared right into my eyes and walked to me, and hug me.

-Perfect, so we will email you the arrangements. I would recommend you to go back home and pack.

-Pack for what?

-Don’t tell me, Miss Brown, that you were playing on your phone instead of paying attention to my colleague, and branch manager of one of your most important partners?

I turned to find Zac with a clear smile on his face. My eyes turned to my dad, who was clearly mad at me. I almost saw his forehead vein explode. “Think fast!”

-Of course not. I was just asking what type of climate or meetings I should pack.

The eyes of my father relaxed. Sabrina smiled even more, and I’m pretty sure Zac wasn’t actually coughing. Everyone exited the room except me. I was still trying to remember what type of job I take. “Something to do with their branch obviously, and that will take a lot of time...” As I was trying to put the pieces together, I heard a cough and saw a smiling Zac in the corner.

-What, did I nail my last comment?

He said, still with that annoying smile on his face. I started to walk to him. “He is doing this on purpose.”

-I know what you are doing, and believe me, I don’t like you.

-Really why?

-You think that I would not be able to do the job. I may look young, but I’m really capable.

-And in what type of area of this new job are you capable of?

He just stared at me with his ice-blue eyes and I wanted to… “Kill him?” Yes, kill him. I took my purse from the chair and walked outside. I need to speak to my dad. I walked to the parking lot and so his car drove away.

-Grace!

I turned back and saw Sabrina walking toward me with arms wide open.

-Hey...

She hugged me, again. “She is a hugger.”

-I’m so glad we have another girl on the team. Just give me one hour and I will send you every detail, alright?

I saw Zac and the other two guys entering the parking lot.

-Clumsy me, let me introduce you to the rest of the team. Kevin Cox, Nelson Hughes, and your new boss, Zachary Miller.

“Did she say, new boss?” Great, I just threatened my new boss.

-We will be expecting great things from you, Miss Brown, or that’s what I heard.

I saw his face turn into a sarcastic smile. He walked away, followed by the other two guys. "I hate him!"

-This is great, he already likes you!

Sabrina said to me with a huge smile.

-That’s an interesting way to look at it.

-And you’re sarcastic! This is going to be great! See you tomorrow Grace!

Sabrina ran to the SUB, which was almost leaving. I just saw the car drive away. I decided to go home. “Should I text Noah?” And say what; Hi baby. I just took a job. I'm not sure what it is. I think I will travel. I don't know where or how much time. My dogs were barking and I wasn't in the mood for a walk, so I just let them in the house.

-Hi babies, I had an awful day at work and I would appreciate your kisses.

And there were no kisses. They entered. They ran and lay on the couch near the AC.

-You only love me when there's food involved.

My phone rang and saw an email that said girl power. This had Sabrina’s name written all over it. “I like her, she seems fun.” Weird, but fun. It had large images attached, so I decided to use my laptop to read it. And thanks to all of Noah’s boxes, I didn't find it. I texted Noah to tell him I needed my laptop, and now he knew I was home and decided to come and join me for lunch. I called and ordered a pizza. And keep my search in the box jungle for my laptop. Pizza arrived, Noah arrived and my laptop was nowhere to be found.

-Are you sure you brought it from your parent’s place?

-Yes, I’m sure Noah.

-Well, I give up, use mine. It’s just to read an email, right?

-Yes, but I need to find my laptop.

-While you read the email I will keep looking, okay?

-Okay, but this was the room you were going to arrange.

-Sorry baby.

He looked at me with puppy eyes. I just rolled my eyes and went for his laptop and logged in to my account.

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Hi Grace,

We will visit a lot of places. Your job would be to take notes and everything the information needed for our next product. We are going to explore new markets and need to decide on what type of characteristics we will base the focus group on for success in the introduction. This could take weeks, so pack for every climate. We heard that you have two dogs and a cat. Don't worry, we have already made the arrangements and, because the new product is experience-based with pet-friendly activities, we require their presence on the trip. Tomorrow at 7 AM a driver will be there to pick you up. I will attach a map with the places that we hope to visit.

PS. Don't worry about the job here. Tomorrow I will arrive as one of our most capable employees and will take care of everything.

Good night, your friend Sabrina Adams.

GIRL POWER.

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I keep looking at the map. “It’s a world map.” How is this even possible? I had a great job, a great boyfriend, and my family close, and now I will be living on planes with my pets and with a boss I’m sure hates me. “All this in just 5 hours.”

-I Found your laptop! Are you crying?