by Alora Kate
“I’m interviewing people. I want you to sit in,” Nick said, and I ignored him.
I grabbed the protein powder, put two scoops in, and then grabbed the plain yogurt and milk out of the fridge to finish off the ingredients. I turned the blender on and waited longer than normal before I shut it off. I told Ashton that I wouldn't worry about her, but I lied. Of course, I’m going to worry about her. It was hard to tell with those sunglasses covering half her face, but her body language said that I had let her down. I don’t know the boundaries of our friendship and I’m walking on eggshells around her, but I was honest with her. I considered her a friend.
I turned my back to Nick and grabbed a glass from the dish strainer. Keeping my eyes focused, I poured my shake and drank it slowly. I loved having a shake after my runs. I’ve been addicted to them for years, and my body seems to crave them now.
“She was wearing black.” I turned around and sat my cup on the island. I learned something new about her today.
He raised one brow at me and slightly tilted his head to the side. “Huh?”
“Ashton’s shirt. It was black today. Mondays are always white, so the black caught me off guard.”
“How the fuck did you manage to catch her on a day other than Monday?”
“I got lucky.” I grinned ear to ear.
He rubbed his jaw, and neither of us spoke for a minute. “I’m going with the color-blind option. She probably labels her shirts so she knows which colors they are. She’s probably organized. Like crazy fucking OCD shit going on. I’d just wear white all the time. Make it easy. But shit, what do I know? I was just throwing it out there.”
That did make sense. They could be labeled and organized by the days of the week; nothing wrong with that. Her brother probably helps her buy the right colors or she has a color chart or something crazy like that. I think I would do the same thing if I had trouble seeing colors. I could only imagine how frustrated I would be in that situation, even more so depending on how bad the color blindness was. Who knows, it might affect her more than others.
“You actually make sense,” I acknowledged.
“I’m a smart mother fucker,” he said as he tapped the side of his head.
“Not that smart if you need help hiring people.”
He sighed and started to bang his head lightly on the island. “That’s why I’m asking for help.” It came out monotone, and I knew he was serious.
“I know nothing about hiring people,” I confessed. “Why would you want me to help you?”
He popped his head up, slid off the stool, and went to the fridge. I watched him pull out a beer and twist the top off. With one long swig, the beer was half gone. “Fuck Lincoln, I need reliable, honest employees. I’m just asking that you sit in on the interview. Get a feel for them and if a question comes to mind, ask it. If not, then we’ll discuss them after they leave.”
The conversation I had with my sister suddenly came to mind. This is good. “I have an idea.”
He paused just as he was going in for another swig. I knew he’d finish it off. “That was fast.”
“Nat needs a job.”
“No shit. I thought she was in Iowa?”
“She is, but when you offered me a job, I was still in Iowa.” I moved within a few days of Nick offering me the job. It was shitty of me to walk out on my current place of employment, but it was so bad that I knew if I had to step in that office one more time I would have shot myself.
Nat mentioned the market wasn’t on her side in her current field right now. She’s applied to a few places in other states, so I know she’s willing to relocate. It’s not her dream job but it’s better than nothing. Plus, I missed my sister.
She could at least work until something better came along.
“Isn’t she a decorator?” he asked. By now, his beer was finished and he was sitting back on the stool.
I laughed at him. “I’m pretty sure she’s an Interior Designer, but she also has a Marketing degree.”
My sister, Natalie May, was smart just like me. She had a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and an associate’s degree in Marketing. She’s a very creative person who likes to think outside of the box. She’s very charismatic; people take an instant liking to her and she makes friends where ever she goes.
She’s always happy and always up for an adventure.
I’ll never forget her senior prom. I thought I would have to warn one guy, but it turned out six guys had asked her to be their date. She never had a boyfriend in high school so she wasn’t sure who to go with. She suggested a group date, rounded up five of her girlfriends and they all went together. They rented a limo, took tons of pictures, and they switched dance partners throughout the night. No one felt left out. She had the time of her life, and she made six new friends that night.
“Why would she want to work in a bar, though?”
I talked while I cleaned up my mess. “She’s been looking but the market’s tough right now in her field. Plus, I’d like it if she lived closer now that Mom is a free bird. You know Nat’s reliable and dependable. Always has been. She might be able to help in other areas of the club as well.” I slipped my shoes off and walked out of the kitchen. “Think about it while I shower,” I yelled over my shoulder as I headed to the bathroom.
###
Four hours and six interviews later, I wanted to pull my hair out. Now I know why Nick can’t find any decent employees. Five of them looked like they were interviewing for a stripper’s position: short shorts, even shorter skirts, and barely covered tits. I’d never seen so much cleavage in such a short amount of time.
Lily was the only one I liked. She was probably around five six with short blonde hair and wore black rimmed glasses. Nick did not like the fact that she had no experience, but she pleaded her case. She said she was confident, a fast learner, and needed someone to take a chance on her. She was still in college and had issues with funding, so she was desperate for a job.
I hit Nick upside the head. “She not only wants to work, but she needs to work, Nick. She’ll be reliable. Dependable. She’ll do her job and do it significantly better than those other five women because she needs the money.”
“She doesn’t have any experience which means I’ll have to train her,” he countered.
“It also means she’ll be doing the job right; your way and only your way.” I shook my head. “You should always train the new employees, Nick. Teach them all the same instead of letting the other girls do it. Plus, I got a good feeling about her. You need to hire her. And Nat.” He nodded at me, but I needed to stress one more thing. “Do not, under any circumstances, hire any of those other women.”
I stretched out in the chair and rested my head on the back of it. I was so tired. I’ve never been good at sleeping but the last few weeks were worse than normal. I’ve lived on four to five hours of sleep a night since Dad died.
“I asked for it, so we’re going with Lily. You train her on the bar-back duties. She looks tough but anything that’s too heavy she could use the dolly. I want you back at the door again at least for now. I might have to fire Johnny.”
“Why don’t you fire everyone and start over,” I grumbled to myself.
“That’s not a bad idea. Let’s see how Lily does. Who knows Linc, maybe you’ll oversee hiring these fuckers from now on.”
Nick was a nice guy. He just had a bad way of communicating sometimes.
“You can’t call them fuckers,” I told him standing up. “Besides, I’m one of your employees.” I leaned on the desk and got in his face. “You callin’ me a fucker, boss?”
“Hell yes, I’m calling you a fucker. Fucker,” he snapped in my face and we both chuckled. “I know I asked you to work tonight, but you look like shit. Why don’t you go home and get some beauty sleep? If shit gets crazy, I’ll handle it.”
Those words were music to my ears.
“Okay boss, you can call me fucker anytime you�
�d like.” I pushed off the desk and grabbed my keys and hat off the shelf. “I’ll call and talk to Nat tonight.”
“You do that! I miss that little pipsqueak.”
She’s not a pipsqueak but whatever. “Whatever.”
They knew each other because I’d bring Nick home with me over the holidays but they didn’t talk very much. Even though Nat was outgoing, she still had a shy side and it came out occasionally.
I had no reason to hangout any longer, so I went home, called Nat, and she was going to take the job and crash in my second bedroom until she found a place.
Chapter 6 - Ashton
I started to think there was something in the water.
Or maybe someone stuck a sign on my back that said, Talk to me, I’m friendly. I could totally see Suzanne doing something like that to me.
The last two days have been good. As good as they can be in my world anyway. I grabbed the few post-it-notes that had fallen to the floor and used tape to stick them back up. I only kept the ones I wanted to do: read a random book and call my brother.
A part of me was sick of the post-it-notes. The other part said I couldn’t get rid of them; that I needed them. I needed this system to function, so it stayed. Why I needed it to function was hard to explain even to myself. It just felt right to me.
I was proud of myself. I couldn’t wait to share this with Suzanne.
I wanted more time with Mike even though he lived upstairs and we had several visits a week. I missed him. It helped that he was available every time I called. Yes, he had to answer a few calls during our visits because he does manage the building but otherwise, I had him to myself.
Today, after Mike left, I went to the store. Since it was Thursday, I knew I had to get it done. I had just got home when I saw her.
I tried to ignore her and walk directly to my apartment like I normally do.
I was good at ignoring people, but I soon learned she would be an exception.
When I walked into the building, I immediately smelled vanilla. It was soft and warm; it did not overload my senses, and I liked it right away.
Her eyes were glued to her phone as she stood outside of Lincoln’s door. There were three large bright pink suitcases leaning up against the wall next to her.
I thought that maybe she was Lincoln’s girlfriend or wife. I didn’t care. Now maybe he would leave me alone. I could have my Mondays back.
But you like him fucking up your Mondays.
The woman was distracted by her cell phone, so I thought I could escape into my apartment without her realizing I existed.
I could barely deal with Lincoln; how could I deal with his girlfriend on top of that?
It felt like I still had a mile left until I reached my apartment door, so as soon as I passed her, I breathed a sigh of relief.
“Hey!” Her voice was calm but spiked with excitement. I could feel her. Her presence. A strong presence, overwhelming for someone like me.
Damn it, I should wear my earphones again and listen to music. That always helped.
I reached my door and had my key ready.
“Excuse me,” she said softly.
She was closer to me now.
Very close.
Why do people keep talking to me?!
I rotated my head slightly to the left and directed my sight to her shoes.
Don’t look her in the eye.
You don’t want to know what she looks like.
Her shoes were bright blue and had thin straps wrapped around her small delicate ankles. I slowly made my way up her tanned, toned legs and landed on a tight black skirt hugging her thighs.
What the hell is going on?
The suitcases were bright pink.
The shoes were bright blue.
The colors were screaming at me to look at them, and I was. They reached out and grabbed me, pulling my attention to them. I saw them. I couldn’t stop. I glanced from her shoes to the luggage down the hallway and back to the shoes.
I don’t see color. At least not like this. I haven’t for a really long time. I don’t pay attention to details. I barely see people, let alone color.
And why are the colors so vibrant?
And refreshing?
A long time ago, when my life was mine, I still don’t think I’d ever seen color so strong.
The color of her shirt matched her shoes perfectly. More color. It looked fancy, maybe something Suzanne would wear if I ever paid attention to how she dressed. But I got the feeling she would wear a top like that.
“Can you hear me?” she gently asked. Good, maybe she thinks I’m deaf.
“Yes,” I whispered and immediately my heart started to race. I didn’t plan to answer her, let alone start a conversation.
“Oh good. I’m Natalie.” She stuck her hand out to shake mine. It dawned on me how close she actually was.
Why was I paying attention to her? I don’t let anyone get this close; especially strangers. I stared at her hand like I’d never seen one before. I wasn’t sure what to do because I don’t shake other people’s hands.
But for some reason I had a sudden urge to shake her hand. I had no idea why.
“Don’t worry. I hear the flu is going around.” She held her cell phone with both hands in front of her. “Don’t want to be passing around germs if I have them.” She leaned her back up against the wall and sighed. “Do you know my brother?” She pointed to his door. I nodded at the same time realizing I hadn’t even put my key in the lock yet. “I’m moving in with him. It’s good to know there’s a girl living across the hall. This is going to be fun! We should go to lunch. I’ll ask Lincoln of a good place to eat, unless you know one? You probably know better places than him anyway.” She laughed at herself.
My heart continued to race as I listened to her soft voice drawing me in. My palms were sweaty, but I couldn’t move. Nothing was working. It was like she put a spell on me. I couldn’t look away!
“You’re shy. I get it; used to be the same way. Well, kind of. Anyway, can you believe I had braces?” I never answered and she continued, “Had to wear those damn things for years. But look at this smile now.” She smiled bigger this time. Clearly proud of her results. I had to admit her teeth did look perfect and white. “They look perfect now. Would do it all over again. You wouldn’t believe how awful they looked, though. People made fun of me.”
Do I say something now? And if I did say something, what would I say? I never had braces so I had no clue what that experience would be like.
Do I tell her about my experience instead? Tell her what life was like for me for the three years I had lived with the Devil, separated from my family, chained to a bed, and… and every single time I took a breath of air, I begged for my life to end.
No, I can’t. Who would want to hear that?
But there was something different about this girl. For one, she wouldn’t stop talking to me.
She was worse than Lincoln.
Even leaning up against the wall, like she had all the time in the world, there was an energy that radiated off her. I could feel it in waves washing over me. I could still smell the warm vanilla that was now a little intoxicating but in a welcoming kind of way.
I almost felt comfortable. Like she was giving me peace.
I took a deep breath trying to calm myself but realized I wasn’t even having a panic attack. Was it going to creep up and scare the shit out of me? Would I pass out in the hallway in front of a stranger?
I glanced at her again and noticed her hair this time. It was thrown up like mine. It looked messy which I assumed mine always looked like.
“So, what’s your name?” she asked quietly laced with something I thought might have been concern.
“Ashton.” It came out shaky.
“I love that name! I’ve never met an Ashton before. You’re totally an Ashton.” Her phoned pinged in her hand at the same time, and she pushed off the wall. “Linc’s on his way
in. I haven’t seen in him months.” Still grinning ear to ear, she started bouncing on her heels with way to much energy. “You should come over and hang out while I unpack. Linc won’t care. He’s cool.”
“No,” I choked out, putting my trembling hands in the direction of the deadbolt lock.
This was it. It finally hit me. I wasn’t sure if it was because I knew Lincoln was on his way or because she just invited me to hang out with her. I don’t hang out with anyone but Mike and Suzanne. And I can’t call my therapy sessions ‘hanging out’ since I pay for Suzanne’s time.
My racing heart felt heavier with each beat, it hurt; I felt light headed. This was going to be a bad one, but I still welcomed it. And I welcomed it too much because I wasn’t sure I could make it into my apartment.
I was hanging onto the handle with all my strength which was very little.
“Please let me go,” I whispered to her and her eyes got sad.
“I’m not doing anything,” she whispered back and turned around when Lincoln called her name. “I didn’t do anything Linc, I promise.”
“Ashton.” I heard Lincoln say and I knew he was running towards me.
“Something’s wrong, Linc.” I heard her tell her brother as I started to see black dots.
This can’t happen right now. I can’t pass out in front of them. I can’t pass out in front of anyone but Suzanne or Mike. If my glasses fall off, it’s over. I can’t let them see me.
“Ashton, are you okay?” I heard Linc whisper in my ear.
He was way too close to me. I couldn’t handle it. A shot of fear started hammering throughout my body.
I was scared.
I felt helpless.
I wasn’t in control of my body anymore. It betrayed me and took over like it always did.
My legs gave out, and I was briefly thankful someone had caught me before I hit the ground. I let my bags fall so I could put my hands over my face.
I had to protect myself.
I made sure there was no way my glasses would fall off because I wrapped myself in my arms and curled into Lincoln’s hard chest when I felt my legs leave the ground.