Rose’s eyes jumped from the floor where she was studying her shoes to meet Melanie’s flat expression. The voice continued speaking and she couldn’t help but listen in a different light.
“…I’ve never seen such hard work or dedication in an employee and wanted to commend you on the job she did. You should be quite proud of her – however- she did not follow the requests I had made. I am not sure if that is on her part or yours, quite frankly. Your employee was caught making herself at home in my private bedroom…”
Rose felt her face flush immediately red as her mouth dropped open in shock. She shook her head mutely as Melanie’s frown deepened.
“…but seeing what excellent work she did – I can easily forgive that and believe that your company should make amends. I would like to continue to use your company’s services under the guideline that my requests be honored. As I own Ariet Advertising, I would be highly inclined to offer my services and referring your company. Perhaps we can come to some sort of agreement? Call me back.”
Hearing a click and the dial tone, Rose finally spoke. “Melanie- I swear I didn’t make myself at home in his bedroom. I would never do that! I picked up a book and sat down for a moment because my back was hurting. I promise.”
“I did tell you to leave by nine – correct?”
“Yes, but I lost track of time. His place was filthy…”
“And we are a cleaning company. No job is too big or small.”
“I know, but – it was really bad,” Rose said lamely, clenching her hands and seeing that her boss’s expression wasn’t budging an inch. Closing her eyes, she hung her head. “I’m fired, aren’t I?”
“Depends on what he says,” Melanie said bluntly. Ariet Advertising and Jarret Ariet are titans in the industry. I can’t afford to use his company because they are that good. I would like to work with them- but only if you can adhere to my rules.”
“I normally do.”
“This is not a normal client.”
“I see that now.”
“Good – I think we should call him together and you should apologize for not following directions. If he is satisfied with that, then we’ve nothing to worry about… do we?”
“Yes ma’am.”
Hitting the speaker phone, Melanie quickly dialed the number that was left on the voicemail. Rose would quickly apologize because two jobs a week kept them comfortable. She could take her mother to dinner or they could see a movie together without worrying about splurging for popcorn and sodas. Things had been that tight financially and she didn’t want to go back to the way they were. This job fit her perfectly and gave her so much freedom – more than any other job ever could.
“This is Jarrett Ariet,” his voice purred in the speaker and Rose was mortified at her own reaction. The man’s voice had a warmth to it that plucked a cord in her soul.
“Mr. Ariet, this is Melanie Abel and I have you on speaker phone with the young lady that broke the guidelines that you set. I assure you it was fully communicated that she was to leave by nine last night. I wanted to apologize formally for the error on her part.”
“Ms. Abel? I am going to stop you right there,” his voice bit out coldly and Rose shrank back in her chair again when Melanie looked at her, frowning. This was not going to go well at all. She nearly picked up her keys and left the room right there until his next words caught her by surprise.
“I think it’s in extremely poor taste for an owner to lay blame instead of taking ownership. The error by your company occurred and now it’s time to make it right. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes,” Melanie said flatly. Her boss was angry at being called out but it was almost comical that she wanted to work with Ariet Advertising so much she was willing to swallow her pride. Who was this man that he could command such immediate compliance?
“Now, I think since your employee did such a great job and left all her supplies here in her hurry to escape my foul temper – that she should come back and finish the job… at no charge by your company.”
“What?” Rose squeaked and Melanie’s glare immediately silenced her.
“What is your name, miss?” Jarrett’s voice rang out. He didn’t ask; he commanded a response and it irked her.
“Melanie, I don’t want to go back,” Rose whispered softly. What if he was there and started yelling at her again?
“Name?” he repeated.
“Her name is Rose,” Melanie interjected, ignoring Rose’s horrified expression. “Rose Bellavance. I can send someone else if you’d like, Mr. Ariet?”
“I will only have Miss Bellavance cleaning my home since she is already familiar with the layout. Miss Bellavance, Rose, I would like to formally apologize for being upset. Please forgive me.”
Staring at the phone, Rose sat completely still, unsure what to say or do. She’d never dreamed that he would actually apologize to her for losing his temper – that was what she’d been told to do by Melanie. Her boss was sitting there, urging her silently to speak, and waving her hands in the awkward silence.
“I was rude- I freely admit it,” Jarrett said quietly.
“Yes, you were,” Rose finally said, ignoring Melanie’s piercing look. Jarrett chuckled lightly in the phone and she could practically picture him laughing at her. “You were very rude and it surprised me.”
“I have everything you left here. Would you like me to bring them to the office to return them, or will you be picking them up when you return? You did an incredible job and I can’t thank you enough.”
“It was filthy,” Rose hedged and tried to smother a grin when Melanie spun her chair away, putting her hands in her face. When she heard Jarrett laugh heartily on speaker phone, Rose did smile this time, seeing the bewildered look on her boss’s face as Melanie glanced at the phone over her shoulder.
“That’s me in a nutshell. A rude, filthy man that could use your help. So, what’s it to be, Rose?”
“I’ll be there to finish the job tomorrow evening… as long as you aren’t home.” Rose felt awful putting the stipulation out there, but it was the same original request that he’d had – so he should be amendable to it.
“Deal.”
“What time should I leave?”
“I am re-doing a presentation tomorrow, so I will not be home until around eight. Will that give you enough time?”
“That will be plenty of time. I was almost done with everything anyhow.”
“Actually, you missed cleaning my office,” he quipped lightly, and Rose could almost pick up an affectionate tone in his voice, surprising her. His office? Before she could say anything, he spoke again.
“My office is wall-to-wall shelves and I haven’t worked in there in years. Can you clean up the books in there- just like you did in my bedroom?”
“You’ve got bookshelves in another room too?” she perked up happily.
“Gobs of them.”
“Then I will not see you tomorrow evening and I’ll clean up your office space.”
“Sounds good. I will not see you tomorrow, Rose… oh and Melanie? Send me an email with what you are doing now for advertising along with your current marketing goals. We’ll talk soon.”
Hearing the phone click and a dial tone, Rose finally looked at Melanie’s relieved expression. It made her a bit frustrated that she was going to have to do the job again, for free, but if it kept her from buying a bunch of supplies again – it would be almost equal to what she was planning on spending.
“If there is a repeat of last night’s nightmare – I won’t be going back a third time nor will there be an apology,” Rose said quietly, getting to her feet and extending her hand expectantly. “I will be gone before eight as agreed. Now, I’d like my check for last night’s work.”
5
Rose deposited her check and sighed heavily at the negative balance alert that showed on her receipt. It was things like this that really made her stress about how they would get by. She was the only means of support for her mother and ho
nestly, having her home was so wonderful. It was nice to come home to someone and have a person to talk to. Pulling up along the curb, she got out and walked into her house. Her mother was sitting in the recliner with a pillow under her knees, a tell-tale sign that her back was aching today.
“How are you feeling, mama?”
“It’s another day that ends in Y, sweetie,” her mother said with a wan smile. “But you look a little upset- what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Just feeling a little tense.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not really, mama,” Rose said softly, dropping her purse onto the floor and collapsing onto the worn couch nearby. “Maybe I do? I don’t know.”
“Well, if you ever want to talk – I’m here.”
“I know. I’m just a bundle of nerves right now and can’t really identify what exactly is wrong. Everything? Nothing? Can we win the lottery already?”
“We’d have to buy tickets to win,” her mother said softly, making Rose feel even more guilty. She shouldn’t have said anything.
“I’m sorry, mama.”
“No, I am. You shouldn’t be saddled with an older woman who’s in pain most of the time. You should be talking with your friends or seeing boys.”
“Mama, I’m not thirteen. I’m nearly thirty and they are men now.”
“Fine. You should be seeing a nice young man and smiling – not stressing out over something you have no control over.”
“Mama, I love you – let’s not do this tonight. Please?” Rose said, trying to keep the exasperation from her voice. She was concerned she’d say something that they would both come to regret. Once it was spoken aloud, you couldn’t take it back. She didn’t want to bother her mother with financial woes, nor did she want her to feel like a burden. Her mother took care of her for eighteen years, the least she could do would be there when she needed her.
“How about some tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner? I will get the heating pad and maybe that will help your back some.”
“That sounds fine, baby girl. Promise me though that you will relax and not worry quite so much – for me? I know you don’t want to talk about it but someday when you are least expecting it… you’ll run into that special someone. It was like that for me when I met your father. I’m sure it will be the same when you meet the right guy.”
At that, Rose knew what conversation was coming next. Grandbabies, family holidays, and how turning thirty years old meant that her biological clock was ticking. Leaping off the couch, she headed into the kitchen and quickly made her mother dinner. Bringing it to her, she sat down nearby and turned on the news, knowing that they would both sit in silence to watch it. Sure enough, the matter dropped and Rose excused herself to go soak in a hot bath. She wanted to rest her own back in preparation for tackling the potential mess she was going to find tomorrow afternoon.
Jarrett was very pleased at how the conversation went earlier in the day. He ordered in lunch and hesitated before hitting submit, ordering his receptionist lunch as well. It had been very kind and unexpected to receive the gift card. He hadn’t realized how badly he was taking care of himself until last night. When he went to bed, he slept in his own bed for the first time in forever and felt like a brand-new man. He hadn’t slept in that room, nor had he gotten a decent night’s sleep, in months.
“Mindy!” he hollered from his office, and saw the woman come flying into his office with an agility he’d never recognized before. “I need your help with something.”
“Of course! Would you like a cross-reference report and current R.O.I. for your latest projection to see if we should pursue it further?” Mindy gushed, smiling and nodding quickly. Jarrett blinked in surprise. It was a brilliant idea and he felt uncomfortable that his receptionist suggested it before anyone else on his team did.
“Yes – I think that is a capital idea and would like to see what you put together, but I need your assistance with something else… a more personal matter.”
Mindy’s eyes got huge behind her glasses as she stared at him. She clenched her hands over her heart, opening and closing her mouth several times silently.
“You okay?”
“You’ve never asked me for help like that before. What do you need?”
“I need you to pick up a few books for me- nice, hardbound books- and get them wrapped for a gift. I’d like you to pick up a… uh…” Jarrett tugged at his collar nervously and felt is face heating up in embarrassment. “Uh… get something girly.”
“Maxi-pads or tampons, sir?”
“Whaaat?” he strangled out, sounding like a cat that had its tail stepped on. He snapped the pencil he’d been fidgeting in half by accident, throwing it in the trashcan under his desk. “No! I was thinking flowers, some nice perfume, or hand lotion.”
“Ahhh! I think I understand,” Mindy said with a knowing grin, winking at him. “You’ve a girl you want to impress. I’ve got your number, sir- and I won’t let you down.”
“Here’s my card and please hurry. Lunch will be here at noon for us- my treat.” He handed her his American Express quickly and waved her off, running his fingers nervously through his hair. Maybe this was a mistake, but he wanted to apologize to the young lady from the other night. He’d been a real bear and she’d bore the brunt of it. He found himself wanting to see her smile at him – not look at him with fear.
“Sir, are you feeling alright?” Mindy asked, her voice laced with concern and he realized that he must have been pretty awful to her as of late. He didn’t want her to take too long and who knew what she’d come back with but anything had to be better than what he would have selected on his own. All girls liked girly things… didn’t they?
“Yes, just realizing that I have some work to do. Thank you, Mindy for asking.”
Rose pulled up to the security gate for the parking garage and expected to be questioned again, but instead the guard raised the barrier almost immediately. This was certainly a different experience already. As she walked inside in her crisp white uniform, she saw the same security guard was at the desk. Nodding, he jumped to his feet and immediately handed her the key. She held out her car keys in exchange just like before but he shook his head.
“Mr. Ariet said that wasn’t necessary Miss Bellavance.”
Dumbfounded, Rose turned away from the desk and held the key in her hand like it was something foreign to her. Stepping onto the elevator, she peered out to the security desk again to make sure someone wasn’t recording this or that it wasn’t some sick joke. The security guard simply smiled and waved at her. Rose waved weakly back as the door slid closed.
Pushing the button, she stood there silently humming to herself as the elevator climbed silently. As the door opened, she immediately made a left and felt like she was walking to her doom. A sense of foreboding made her skin prickle with goosebumps as she remembered what an imposing, angry figure Mr. Ariet was.
Checking her watch, she glanced down to see that she had approximately three hours to safely maneuver about the gorgeous condo. Technically, she had four hours, but there was absolutely no way she was going to press her luck! Setting an alarm on her phone, she put the key into the door and opened it.
Surprised, Rose saw that he hadn’t touched the living room at all. The pillow and blanket were laid on the recliner just like she’d left it. Walking further into the condo, she stopped as soon as she saw the kitchen table. On it was a pink foil gift bag with white tissue paper peeking out of the top.
Apparently some woman was dumb enough to put up with the arrogant, angry man’s tirades long enough to garner a little present from him. As she stepped into the kitchen, she saw that he’d thrown away a protein drink carton but hadn’t used any utensils nor paper-plates. Perhaps he’d had dinner prior to coming home and that is why his royal-angriness was so late last night. Turning back to head towards the bathroom she’d cleaned top to bottom, Rose stopped and stared at the gift bag. There was a tiny pink tag hangi
ng open… with her name written on it.
“What the…” Rose whispered, blinking rapidly and double-checking the tag. Sure enough, it said Rose on it. Maybe he knew another woman named Rose and it wasn’t intended for her? What if this was some sick test to see if she was trustworthy? She stepped back from the gift bag sitting on the table like it was a poisonous snake waiting to strike.
“No. No, no. This is not going to happen again,” she said firmly to no one in particular, walking away from the table towards the bathroom. Here she saw that he’d actually been home after all. Everything else was left untouched except the bedroom. She saw that the rolls and documents that had been scattered on the bed yesterday had been neatly rolled and fastened with a rubber band in the corner of the room.
A cursory glance in the bathroom showed that he’d gotten ready for work this morning. She yanked the towel down off the bar and put a fresh one up. Making quick work, she wiped down everything to keep it spotless.
In his bedroom, the bed had the covers haphazardly thrown back revealing deep blue sheets that made her think of the ocean at night. Ignoring her thoughts and desperately trying not to breathe in the cologne that lingered on the air around her, she quickly made the bed and ran from the room.
Mr. Ariet claimed there was an office here in the condo, but she hadn’t seen another door… until she peered around a small, almost hidden shelf at the end of the hallway. A large bookshelf that was empty made up the doorway and glided on coasters as she slid open the door.
“Okay. That is just awesomesauce,” she muttered with a satisfied smile, wiggling the shelf/door open and shut a few times. Sliding it fully open, her face exploded in delight. There were boxes stacked randomly with all sorts of books inside of them. He’d been right, it had been a long time since he’d been in this office. There was a layer of dust on everything.
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