Jessica

THE NEW JOB

CHAPTER SEVEN

Jessica

"Aunt! You didn't tell me this is where you stay!" Jessica yells as she drops her bag.

"Oh Jessica, this is my farmhouse, I ran out of money to pay my staff due to my lavish vacations and spendings" Camila sighs as she explains to her niece.

"I- I spent all the money on you, I didn't hesitate, but we have a problem." Camila adds in a low tone.

"You think?" Jessica says in a blunt tone as she scans the place all over again.

"You will need a job, I know you wouldn't want to stay in a place like this, so I pulled some strings, you can work at the local supermarket downtown, it's a little bit far from here but then, you can eh- you can stay in the room at the back, you know what? Let's go there, that way you can see how it is" Camila says in an embarrassed tone as she knows the kind of niece she has.

"A job? Okay I will be the manager right? That's not so bad, living there would save money for gas and all, okay let's go, I am sure it's better than this dump" Jessica says, rolling her eyes all over the place. Little did she know.

Jessica in haste takes her bags back into her car, Camilla rides with her.

A long ride with Camila, it has been two hours already.

"Aunt Cami? Is this place far away? I mean this looks like the suburbs, it's not like the estate, this seems like a place for the middle class and those who wear clothes from Last seasons, Aunt!" Jessica groans as she talks to her, holding the steering wheel, the noises she hears from the street are nothing like she knows, it should be quiet like the estate.

"Jessica, it's just around the corner" Camila says as she pats her niece.

"You have been saying that for a while now, aunt Cami" Jessica whines to her aunt.

"There are humans, Jessica, they are human too, even if they were clothes from Last season or the seasons before and what's wrong with being among those who are middle classed?" Camila says and asks her niece who seems close minded.

Patting her shoulder as they drive through the new state.

"Here, yes" Camila says pointing to the drive thru of Milan Supermart.

"Here?- you have got to be kidding me" Jessica sighs as ,.she drives into the parking lot.

Turning the steering wheels, Jessica parks and sighs.

"Aunt Cami? This- this better be something. Why?" Jessica pauses and sighs, turning off the car engine, she turns to face and talks to her aunt.

"Aunt Cami, Listen. You are a part of the Amor family! You are my aunt, your brother is Antonio Amor, we have so much wealth, why? Why do you have such a small farm land and that house? Come on, You- and now here? You really should use that card on my dad, I know that I am not on friendly terms with them but you are." Jessica says as she pleads with her aunt.

"Oh, Jessica it's not as easy as you think, i- I lost favour in your father's eyes but not yours, so please work hard, and don't make this flop, it's either this supermart or my farm land, you can't go home and you know that, Jessica please." Camila tries to urge her niece.

"Aunt" Jessica sighs.

"I can't do this but as it seems, I do not have any other choice, if I had my way, I would buy this building, Aunt! I can't" Jessica blurts out as it seems she can't bear it again.

"You- I can't suck up Jessica, this is the best I can do for you as your Aunt, you can drive back to Starland and stay in your bed or go on shopping sprees but if you are here? With me? You work and you need money, I know being at my place may disgust you but I just gave you another option and if you don't want those, Jessica you can always leave." Camila yells back at her for the first time ever.

"Aunt? I- I- I didn't mean it that way, I just have my standards and I just can't be seen like this but-" sighing as she gathers her words.

"But for you, I should- I would just work there."

"You are a beautiful lady Jessica, you can use your beauty privilege and also, you can use your name and your influence, to work up magic, if you do well, you may eventually have the mart to yourself at least for the time being." Camila says as she tries to persuade her niece

"Figures, I am very beautiful and with my leadership skills, I will be the manager but that doesn't mean I wouldn't want my company back at home." Jessica says in pride.

"You can always do that, just- this is the best your Aunt can for you, would you allow that?" Camila asks her niece as she is getting tired of the back and forth.

"You know what? I will do just that, I will have my little company here, and when I have proof, maybe a few pictures then I am sure mum and dad will have no choice than to welcome me back, and then- I will deal with that two faced bitch." Jessica says in a fast pace tone and this time, it gives Camila the scare.

"Sure you can do whatever you want, now can I get you settled in?" Camila asks.

"Yes aunt, let's check this place out" Jessica replies.

They step out of her low Sedan car. The supermart is quite big, not one she would expect. Jessica, unhappy about this, pretends to smile.

Pushing on the door that rings a bell sound, Camila takes the lead. Rolling her eyes, she feels she is in some western young adult movie.

The supermart looks big from outside but from the inside, it is bigger. The front desk has a man in his forties.

"Camilla!" The man said in a hyper tone as he raises his hands, a man in his forties says as he smiles brightly.

"Hey Richard" A wink is shared between the two of them.

Jessica scans the place without greeting. Going inside, she walks to the snacks aisle, checking a list of the aisles the supermart has.

The home appliances aisle, the soap aisle, pastry aisle, wine aisle, the fruit aisle, the farm produce the body lotion aisle and yes, her favorite part is the cookie aisle.

"Camila!" Richard yells out intentionally just so Jessica who is at the other part of the mart.

"How did you know I needed more staff? Although I need someone who will be both the cleaner and the cashier before I can allot the room at the back to the person, will your niece be the one working here?" Richard asks as he plays along with Camila.

"Ah, yes, yes! My niece she is the one looking for a job in the meantime, and you know it takes hours to get to my place, so she would need to stay here and work." Camila says, Jessica walks up to her.

"You mean I won't be here as a manager, I will be a cleaner and a cashier? Hell No!' Jessica says as she grunts, giving Richard a bad eye, she plainly disagreed.

"I am sorry, but I am the manager and I stay in the next street, you will be the cleaner and cashier, there are other staffs as you can see, I have only five staffs and I am two staffs short, you will get to stay in the other room at the back." Richard adds as he points where the room is.

"Aunt Cami!" Jessica groans again, this time she leaves without looking back, pacing in the open parking lot.

"Aunt Cami, first off you didn't tell me, it would be a very and I mean a very big place and the job options, what? A cashier and a cleaner? Aunt Cami! Did you hear him well? I? The descendant of Amor? A mere cashier? In this dump that barely has any customers?" Sighing and trying to catch him breath, Jessica says out loud, while stumping her foot.

"The other jobs I found, or that I am aware off, are farm workers or school teachers, do you want that? You will have to stay in my house, you know it is the raining season, my- my house gets flooded, and would you like that?" Camila urges as she thinks of ways to make sure Jessica takes the job.

"Aunt Cami, I can search for jobs, this isn't the slums, it's the suburbs, if I search for a few days, I am sure I will indeed find a job" Jessica explains as she folds her arms, standing on her believe that jobs are easily available as though that fall from the sky, a wealthy pampered princess who has no idea how the world works.

"And then what? You won't work? Jessica this is not a place where your father can control or manipulate just for you to slack off, you should know how it works Jessica." Camila adds and explain to her naive niece.

"Oh" Jessica palms her face and sighs.

"Okay fine, since there are not many job openings and I need shelter right now, I will take the job but then I will only work as the cashier." Jessica finalises and she sighs, looking at her aunt, who managed to persuade her.

"Okay, let us see Richard and let's take it up with him, you know how it works." Camila adds as she takes her nieces hand and leads back into the mart.

"So, would you work here?' Richard asks Jessica with a big smile.

"Yes but only as a cashier, the front desk receptionist and not some cleaner" Jessica says as she bangs the table.

Looking at Camila, who signals he should do something.

"But- but then- that would only mean one thing, I would hire a cleaner and- you would have to share the room." Richard adds as he has to make sure this is nothing like a vacation trip for Jessica.

"Just how big is this room? Let me see how this room is, you- you have been hammering on the room and all, let us see how big it is" Jessica urges as she senses some foul play.

"Uh- yes, of course, you would see the room" Richard says as he stands up.

"Oh what? You don't have a room here?" Jessica says sarcastically l.

"Jessica!" Camila shuns her.

"What aunt? This place is big as it is, you know if it was previously a*****e room." Jessica whines

"Yes it is big but then, it would be odd if it doesn't have room here, if he says he has a room here, he has a room here, he is an old colleague and also, he- he is a good man." Camila explains to her niece.

"History doesn't make a person aunt, take Eunice for instance, she- she didn't hesitate to take my position and I wonder how long she had that in her heart, so I don't know him, I can't vouch for him and also, you shoud not trust so easily, Aunt." Jessica adds as she adjusts her bag, walking beside her aunt, she is putting on shorts and a sweater on, it's a collection from their piece, it just got released.

"Jessica." Camila says as she shakes her head.

"What?'

"Okay, here is the room." Richard says as he stretches his hand to a small room, well, it is not small if we are being honest, it is an average room, but being pamper princess that she is, she would call it a small room.

"What is this? You call this a room? What? The bathroom and kitchen are in here too? Aunt!" Jessica yells at the shock of the room, it is a self con actually but I guess she has not been to a place like this.

"Yes, this is a self contain and it is enough for two people

"It has a bunk bed and a wardrobe that you can share, a study table too" listening to Richard describe how the room is, is such a bore to Jessica.

Looking at the room that has one window, the wardrobe and the bunk bed.

"Aunt Cami, does this place suit someone like me? See it doesn't have a washing machine? And my nanny isn't here with me, now that I think about it? A lot of people betrayed me." Jessica leans on the door and points to the room

"Jessica, you should use the anger from the betrayal to fuel yourself and work hard-" Camila says but she pauses and moves closer to Jessica, whispering in her ear.

"You know you have to get back, what's yours? The nanny and your friend, you own Amor, you should show them, but for now, you need to be in hiding" Camila urges her niece.

"Sigh, but you should know I would not be the best employee at this dump and I- I would just work so I can have some money, okay?" Jessica says as she knows she is hand tied in this position.

"Okay, I will leave you to settle in and also, you should know that I will hire someone else who would be cleaner here, and you might have to share the room with some other person, do I will prepare the contract and also, I will have to introduce you to the other staffs." Richard says with a smile, he knows he is about to have a handful.

"Aunt Cami, you know what?" Jessica says but she pauses.

"Yes, what is it?" Camila asks

"I will just do as I please, you do not have to worry, a cashier right? But I know you, mum and dad all know this is not some therapy session right, so close your eyes and your ears" Jessica says in a cold tone, more like a threat.

"What- what do you mean?" Camila asks as she is confused.

"Yes, I would stay in this big mart, at least I won't run around like a helper or even as a cleaner, so yeah I will do that well."Jessica adds as she walks around the room.

"Yes, so gather around everyone, meet Jessica, she will be the new cashier.

Jessica meets Ashley, she works as the store helper, also with Jane and Judith and this is Paul, he is my assistant. And yes, soon we will have a new cleaner and the new worker will stay in the back room with Jessica, so welcome her." Richard says as he puffs his cigar.

"Yes, my name is Jessica, I will be the cashier or something, but I will lay some rules, and you have to follow them all, I will be in the dump of a room" Jessica says in a cold tone, like a boss she turns to leave

Scoffing, Ashley, a twenty three year old college student, who is working during the break just so she can earn money.

"She is a rich brat, so give or take, we are stuck with her, well she will be fine if she doesn't cross me, Jane, Judith, you guys are twins so, I don't know how you will bear with her but you just added being her assistants to your helping job, it's not so hard." Patting the twins, Ashley leaves while folding her arms behind her back.