My Obsession

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

“I’m taking you home.” He said it as if it was a matter of fact, a hint of amusement in his otherwise stoic face.

“I’ll just take a cab. No need for that.” Creep. He was starting to rub me the wrong way, the looks he had been giving me make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

“I insist. I have a duty to make sure all my workers are well taken care of, so please do not leave me waiting.” He called for Raymond to bring me a new pair of shoes, the poor manager scrambling to get it done quickly.

As soon as Raymond was back, he handed me the shoes and helped me change them, also handing me a long coat to cover myself. As soon as we were done, Mister Ghost started walking to the employee door and left me standing there with Raymond. “Go! Do not leave that man waiting, Dotty. I’m already in deep s**t tonight as it is.” Raymond shooed me along, waiving as I followed behind then.

“I’ll see ya soon!” I waived, him and Tracie waiving back as I ducked through the door.

I dashed a little bit to catch back up to Mister Ghost, the man shooting me a glance as we made it to the back door. “So where is your abode?”

“Oh. I, um, live with Tracie over at G and twenty seven; it’s Alpine Green Apartments.” We lived in one of the worst sectioned of the city; but the price was fair and the security for the building was lackluster, which was way better than having none at all.

He opened the door to a large black SUV when we made it to the alley, the dark windows making me gulp a little as I stepped up inside. “Buckle up, Please.” A driver from the front called back to me, making me start a little in the large leather seat. I jumped to comply. Mister Ghost climbed in from the other side, the driver taking off down the street.

“So, Dorothy…” he said my name as if he wasn’t sure he liked the taste of it coming from his mouth, the emphasis on the last letter going longer than it should. “Why exactly do you want to work for me; especially as someone with.. your.. pedigree.”

Okay.. rude much?! I just smiled at him politely as we rode, ignoring the dog at my family. “I need the money. My mother just passed and we had ran up a few bills I need to pay. Tracie said you all were hiring, and the funeral was more important than my old job, so that’s why I’m here now.” I shrugged slightly, seeing his mouth pull in a line as I spoke, his eyes traveling up my exposed leg.

“I won’t have to worry about your family matters getting in the way of business now too, will I?” His quip stung, making me hang my head and try my very best not to cuss this bastard out.

Hold it in, Dot… you CANNOT cuss out your new employer. Sure, he’s hunky; but he’s also an ass. Just pretend he’s a stubborn customer at a restaurant that you’ll never see again. I almost scoffed at myself then, knowing I would be seeing way more of Mister Ghost in the future. “No..” I finally gritted out. “I’m the last one.”

He had the decency to look ashamed for a second, that was until the driver pulled up in front of my building. “We’re here, sir.” The driver pulled over to the front door of the building, idling the car as Mister Ghost got out.

“Come, let me escort you to your door.” He paused then when he actually looked around him; noting the homeless man begging near the entrance, the teens in the ally spray painting, the liquor store next door with bars along the front. His foot almost made him trip as a shot rang out somewhere down the street.

“Thank you.” I smiled at him, liking how my normal life made him flinch in what looked like disgust. When we got to the door, someone had the building main entrance propped open with a brick, the attending guard in the small alcove next to it dozing slightly while watching a small television. “Hi, Rick.” I called out to him as I entered, the pudgy guard waiving slightly as he went back to snoozing.

I went to the stairs in the back, Mister Ghost pausing on the first one. “Can’t you take the elevator?” He asked, noting my ankle still looked a little pink.

“That deathtrap?! No thank you.” I shook my head and continued up the steps, the man behind me sighing as he begrudgingly followed.