The Orphaned Alaph

Chapter 3

{Bella's P.O.V.}    

    I was awaken by someone falling in the hall. I quickly got up and opened my door. It was Jake, I looked down and giggled at him, as he was rubbing his head. I quickly reached out my hand and he took it. I helped him to his feet. 

    "What is all this?" I asked him with a questioning look in my eyes.

    "Mom asked me to get all the things out of her room for tomorrow. I think I tripped over one of the table runners because I did not want to have to make more then one trip."  he said while still rubbing his head. "Guess that was a huge mistake on my end. I hope I didn't break anything. Mom will be pissed if I did" 

    I told him that I am sure everything is fine and helped him pick everything up and take it downstairs. The pack house was in a frenzy. I knew this was all Auntie May's doing. I could not help but get a little excited for tomorrows event. We heard orders being told to people in the kitchen, so we deiced to go and check it out. Sure enough we seen Auntie May barking orders at everyone. 

 "You finish making the center pieces and take them out to the cooler in the cellar. That way they will stay fresh. The rest of the flowers should be here later and we can finish all those arrangements then. Bella! Good morning. Breakfast will be done shortly, go get ready. You as well Jake."  She said. Jake and I both nodded our heads, and went on our way.

    We both came back down and in that five minutes we were gone the whole downstairs had changed. From the high ceilings now was hanging white and gold fabric. The stairs now had the same with some lights to go along with it. At the bottom of the stairs was a huge vase with white roses in it.I stopped and smelled them and they smelt like spring. I always wanted to be a spring baby, but I had to be born in December just a few days after Christmas.  I looked at Jake and said "Gezz if your mom is starting a day ahead of  the party I can only imagine what this place is going to look like tomorrow."  We both laughed and had a quick breakfast. We deiced that after breakfast we would go for a run and hang out for a bit. Jake told me that after lunch he would have to help his mom . I nodded at him with a sour look on my face. 

    "Hey its not my fault! I tried to get out of it by all means." he said. 

    "We all know how she gets with parties." We both said at the same time. We both laughed. 

    After lunch we went our separate ways. I went up stairs to my office, well what was my dad's office. I have not touched a single thing in here. I have not had the heart to do so. I sat behind my desk and looked around the room. I know that my dad would want me to make this place my own so I decided that after the party I would do just that. I opened my laptop and pulled up my emails. 

    "Gezz. How many  emails could I get in one day. I'll have to start with the most important ones first!" I said to myself.

    As I reading and replying to not only pack business but also our family business I came across one that had my full attention. It read:

    "Miss. Waterson,

It was brought to my attention today that our warehouse manger deiced that he would like to retire at the end of the year. We have put out an application to see if we can find a potential replacement before Mr.Grimes leaves us. We have a few people that are able to come in today and be given an interview. We would love for you to be present for these. The first Interview is at 2 P.M. today. Hope to see you soon."

    I looked down at the clock and it was already half pass twelve. "s**t! I have to go change and get going if i want to make it on time!"

    I ran to my room throwing on my black slacks, a black shirt, a pink side zip leather jacket. I threw on a pair of simple black wedges, and a white gold necklace. I threw my hair up in a messy bun and brushed my teeth. I grabbed my phone and wallet. Running down the stairs. I would send a text message to Jake and Auntie May to let them know I had to go to the warehouse. I went to the garage and got my car, a 1969 Black on black Dodge Charger. It was always my dream car. As soon as I was able to drive ,I bought one!  I was on my way it takes about 45 min to get their so i just enjoyed the ride. I pulled up and parked my car in my spot and got out. I walked into my office and sat down. 

    I heard a knock at my door. "Come in."  I said, and in walked Mr. Grimes, he nodded his head at me. 

    "Good  afternoon Miss Waterson. I am sure by now you already know the news of me leaving and may have some questions for me." he said with tears in his eyes. I motioned him to sit down across from me. He gladly took the seat and waited. 

    "Good afternoon. I only have one question for you. Is everything alright?" I asked Mr. Grimes. He had been part of this company when my Papa founded it. That was 65 years ago. At the time Mr. Grimes was fresh out of high school and my Papa had hired him on the spot. He worked hard and worked his way up in the company. 

   "No, sadly everything is not alright. My wife and I are getting old in age and we want to spend as much time as possible with each other while we still have time. Her health is in shambles and my body hurts when I work for long hours. We both need to rest. This is not how I wanted things to happen but if I do not do it now I never will." he said with tears falling down his checks.

    " I see. With that being said I would like to offer you something, and I will not take no for an answer." I said, he just nodded at me. "I would like to pay for any medical bills that you and your wife may have now, and any further ones you may have in the future. I would also like to continue your medical benefits that you have now, at no cost to you. This way you will not have to worry about how you will get the help you need. Also I will match whatever is in your retirement fund." He went to cut me off but i continued. " I also want to pay your Home off, and have you guys go on a vacation whenever you want, at no cost to you.With that being said I would also like to give you this check for Ten Thousand."

    He was in tears. "You do not have to do any of that. That is so much." he said. I shook my head with a smile. "It is the least I can do for you. You and your family gave up so much for us and it is the least I can do. Besides at this point you are family. "  I said to him. He got up and hugged me. Whispering in my ear he said " Your Papa, Mr. Waterson and your father would be incredibly proud of the way that you are running this business at such a young age. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can not wait to tell the wife, she will be over the moon when she hears this!"

    "Why not go tell her now? You may have the next four days off at no pay decrease. Enjoy your retirement, and give Mrs. Grimes a hug from me. My cell number is at the bottom, give me a call when you guys have all the details for your vacation in play, and if you may need anything else." I said to him. He looked at me wide eyed and smiled . "Thank you truly from the bottom of my heart. Thank you." I nodded my head and he walked out the door. I could hear him saying his final goodbyes to everyone. 

    I looked down at my clock "s**t! I am late." I said and walked out of my office and down the hall to our conference room. I walked in and everyone stopped what they were doing. They looked at me with surprise. 

    "Good afternoon Miss. Waterson." Jennifer said. I looked around and everyone was seated already. Jennifer is my assistant, she sits in on important events and makes sure all the proper paperwork is filled out and filed properly.  Next to her was Ray, he is my Vice President and is also a werewolf. On rays left was Mr. Giggles, yes his last name was really Giggles. He is my warehouse director, he makes sure everything gets done safely and quickly. 

     "Good afternoon everyone, continue with your interview." I said and sat down at the head of the table and just listened. The interviews seemed to go on for ever and ever. We were able to get in ten potential candidates. I was not in the mood to pick one at right this moment. So I told Jennifer to send me all the application and any notes she had on them and I would look at them come Monday and would make my decision then, and they could start after the New Year. She nodded her head and we all went on our way. 

    It was a long drive home, and it was already ten at night. I had stayed after in my office just trying to catch up on things that I have missed and ordering product that we would need in the coming weeks. I finished going thru all my emails and replying back to the ones that needed to be. I was exhausted. By the time I reached home it was already eleven, and I was staving. I knew everyone would be in bed already due to tomorrows big event. I also knew that some other packs had already started to show up and would most likely already be settled in bed. I walked in the door and the pack house looked amazing. Like I knew it would. Auntie May dose not play around when it comes to thing this important to her heart. 

    I walked into the kitchen still dressed in my work outfit, and opened the fridge pulling out some stuff to make myself a quick dinner. I deiced that I would make some chicken and veggies. I got everything i needed and started cooking. I had put in a headphone so that i could listen to some music and not disturb anyone. I walked around a bit in my shoes, but decided that it would be in my best interest to take them off. I tend to trip over my own feet sometimes and due to being in the kitchen that could be bad. 

    My mom had taught me how to cook when I was little and I continued my love for it after she had passed with our kitchen staff. I love to learn new recipes from Mr. and Mrs. Winters. They make all of our food and it always taste delicious. I mean they were wonders in the kitchen they could take a pear and make it into a divine three coarse meal.  My mouth started to water, due to the fact that I know she would be making me her special brownies tomorrow. She has done this every birthday for as long as I can remember. She makes them first thing in the morning and brings them to my room when they are still warm, with a cold glass of milk. I loved her for this.

    I snapped myself out of my day dreaming just in time to flip over the chicken and add some rosemary to it. This was a trick i learned from Mr. Winter's he says that it gives it a little "yummy yummy", as he would say. I giggled at that. I started to dance around the kitchen lip singing into the spatula when I heard something outside the door. I went to check it out and there was no one in site. So I went back to cooking. I Quickly ate my dinner, cleaned up the kitchen and went to bed. "Tomorrow is going to be a big day" I said with a yawn and let darkness over take me.