Love In The City

New Job In The City

      I mostly spent The last few days unpacking. I hated unpacking things. There at the bottom of the box is my blue photo album. Sighing, I opened it as the memory of my hometown and all I left behind came flooding back.

   A picture of my parents holding me when I was a baby caught my attention, and I angrily turned the page. I couldn’t believe they would treat me this way. I was barely twenty-two and already disowned for something, not my fault. They even had my money froze, even though technically they had no control over it. My Grandfather did until I was twenty-five or married. I still hadn’t heard from him and was worried. I picked up the phone and tried his number one more time.

“Hello,” My Grandfather’s rusty voice came through the line surprising me.

“Grandpa, it’s me Gabby,” I exhaled a sigh of relief.

   “Dear I know your voice; I was just getting ready to call you. I am having your money released and you should be able to access it later today. I am moving it to a Bank near you as we speak. Once it is complete, you will need to go in and show your ID and get a card,” He said.

   “Thanks, I hope it wasn’t too much trouble,” I hated bothering him for things, but my parents left me no choice.

   “No, bother, I didn’t even have to go inside the Bank, I did it all from the comfort of my lazy-boy,” He chuckled, and I felt better knowing he was on my side.

   “Thanks, I got a job interview, but I am broke no thanks to Mom and Dad,” I said.

   “They got a good piece of my mind. I think moving was a good thing for you. That little town will only hold you back, anyway. That Carlos is lucky I wasn’t there, or he wouldn’t have any teeth left,” I could hear his disgust as he said Carlos’s name, and it reminded me how many calls from him I had avoided.

 It was barely noon, and he had already called three times so far.

   “Love you, Gramps,” I said.

   “Love you too Gabriela, I’ll get back with you shortly with the information,” He said before hanging up.

   It relieved me to have my financial situation taken care of and if luck had it, I would have a job soon too. I put my album back in the box and shove it under my bed. It was better that it stays out of sight for now.

   A loud noise came from the Kitchen, and I guessed it meant Melinda was up from her slumber. I laid the last few items I removed from the box of doom and placed them on the bed, before going out to talk to her.

   “Looks like someone slept in again,” I snickered.

   “Hmm, College is ever demanding and Jeff kept me up half the night,” She poured some coffee I made into her mug and added a ton of sugar. Yep, same old Melinda, she had been drinking coffee since we were teenagers. I always told her she was drinking sugar with coffee, not the other way around.

   “Is Jeff here?” I hadn’t seen him come in with her last night.

   “No, he’s at home, and why I got in so late. He just can’t get enough of me,” She shrugged her shoulders as if it was obvious and continued drinking her sugar and coffee. “Speaking of men, when are you going to tell me about your night with Raul. I keep hearing your phone ringing like crazy. Are you avoiding him?”

   “The ringing phone is Carlos and now that my Grandpa is fixing my money issue, I am getting a new phone as soon as possible,” I said.

   “You are still avoiding the subject on you and Raul or whatever his name is,” She said.

   “It was just a one-night stand,” I shrugged my shoulders.

   “Bullshit and you know it. Since when have you ever had a one-night stand?” She fixed her dark eyes on me.

   “Since I met him I guess, but it will be the last. If I’m lucky, I will never see him again,” I busied myself looking at the papers on the counter.

   “You seem upset, what an ass to take advantage of a drunk girl like that,” Melly said.

   “I’m not upset, in fact, I’m excited things are finally looking up. I also wasn’t drunk, I remember very well what happened,” I wish I didn’t.

   When we stumbled into his hotel room, he already had me lifted in his muscular arms, as he kissed me frantically. I had never been kissed like that before, and when he moved his mouth down my neck, I ached to feel him inside of me. But he just loved to tease me, as he laid me on the bed and slowly removed my clothes one by one; he kissed from my lips on down to my Netherlands. I wasn’t sure at first as I had never been kissed there before, but after he started there was no way I was stopping him. He seemed to care about what I liked, and when he brought me to the brink, he gave me what I wanted all along. I must have come, at least five times that night.

   “Hello earth to Gabby, did you even hear me?” The sound of Melinda’s voice brought me back to the present, and I suddenly felt a little hot. I jumped up and grabbed a bottle of water, savoring the icy feeling in my throat.

   “Yes, sorry, I was just a little hot. I needed something to drink,” I avoided looking her in the eyes and prayed she didn’t call my bluff.

   “Wonder what made you hot, maybe you remembered your night with the sexy stranger,” She teased.

   “He wasn’t a stranger; I knew him, somewhat,” I know it was weak, but it made me feel better.

   “You’re not in Kansas anymore. Don’t worry, the chances of you ever running into him again are slim; although he looks familiar, I bet it’s from the club. We will just find a new stomping ground,”  She was right, this wasn’t Kansas, and of that I was glad.

   “Look doll, I need to get ready for school, but good luck with your interview later. My brother is easy-going so should be a piece of cake. Besides, I already talked you up,” she winked.

****

   “Yes, I’m here to see Mr. Donovan,” I told the little lady behind the desk. She was about in her mid-forties and seemed to take her job seriously.

 Her eyes peered at me over her glasses, as she looked me up and down, "Do you have an appointment?"

  “Yes, my name is Gabby Pearson,” I waited why she typed something into her computer; she then turned her gaze back onto me.

   “Please have a seat, he will be with you shortly,” she continued typing rapidly on her keyboard.

   I made my way over to one of the two couches that sat in the corner and sat down. Picking up a random magazine, I skimmed through the pages, trying to calm my nerves. A minute later the sound of a door slamming shut startled me. I looked up and seen a man walk through the door. He seemed upset, and I hoped it wasn’t Melinda’s brother.

   “Mrs. Thomas, please hold all my appointments for a while,” The man said.

   “This is your next one, a Gabby Pearson,” She replied as she motioned to me.

   “I’m sorry, Mrs. Pearson, please follow me,”

   “It’s Miss, and nice to meet you, Mr. Donovan, I presume,” I put my hand out, and he shook it.

   We walked down a small corridor to what I presumed was his office. He closed the door behind him and motioned for me to have a seat. The office looked very homely. The White border contrasted with the blue walls. A bay window in the middle gave it a more welcoming feel. The walls were bare except for a few certificates and a picture of a dog. It looked to be a Labrador, though I wasn’t sure.

   “I’m sorry for my mood when I walked in. My partner is being rather difficult,” He leaned back in his chair and for the first time, he made eye contact with me.

   He didn’t look much like Melinda, though they had the same dark brown eyes. He was in his mid-twenties and wore his blonde hair slicked back. He was good looking enough, though not exactly my type.

   “It’s okay, I’m glad I finally can meet you. Melinda has told me so much about you,” I reached out my hand across the desk to him.

   “I hope only good thing,” He laughed, and I relaxed a bit.

   “Nothing bad,” I said.

   “Good, well first let me tell you a bit about the company. We mainly buy businesses and sell them. Occasionally we will help businesses with loans if we feel it will turn over a great profit and benefit us in the long run. The position would require some travel and is very demanding. You would work with my partner mainly, as he needs an assistant,” He explained.

   “I didn’t know you had a partner. How often will I need to travel? I was thinking of eventually taking some courses at the University,” Melinda never told me I would need to travel.

   “My partner doesn’t travel too much, but expect it to happen at least a few times a month,” He eyed me warily, and I realized I may not end up getting this job. I thought over his words for a moment.

   “I would consider online classes, but I would need to know the pay,” He smiled at my words, and I knew my being flexible and considering online classes made him more at ease.

   “Well, he decides that, but I can assure you the salary is very comfortable, and we will pay all expenses for any traveling,” He said.

   “That sounds great, what will my duties be, mostly?” I tried to not let the excitement show in my voice. At the very least, this job will give me the experience I need.

   “I am going to warn you he has been through a few assistants, but I have talked to Melinda about this and she assures me you would be a perfect fit. You would book appointments, typing, attending meetings, and taking notes. You know general office duties,” he picked up a pen from his desk and twirled it in his fingers.

   “May I ask why he has been through a few assistants?” I wondered if this guy was hard to work with or something. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to put myself in the position of having a boss like that.

   “He hires the wrong candidates, and that is why I am doing the interviews this time,” I knew he was leaving something out, but I needed this job. If he hired me, I would have to just see how it goes. “I would like to offer you the position if you will take it. He is on his way back from vacation now and should be in tomorrow. Can you start then?” He asked.

   “I admit you scared me a bit, but I will give it a try. I need this job, and I’m a very hard worker,” I said.

   “He’s not a bad guy; in fact, he is rather charming. I didn’t mean to give you such a terrible impression of him,” he set the pen back down on the desk as his face took on a more serious look.

   I sighed, glad he had cleared that up, but still at the back of my mind I was leery.

   “I look forward to meeting him. Thank you for the interview,” I stood up and shook his hand. It was cold; it reminded me of what my Grandma always said cold hands, warm heart.

   “Be here at seven sharp and Gabby, it was nice meeting you. Melinda is so excited to have you here,” he said.

   I was so happy on the way home; I invited Melinda out to celebrate. My first week in the big city and I had a job.  I only hoped this new boss of mine was not an asshole or something.