by M. Malone
If it wasn’t so gross, I could almost be impressed. That lady clearly has skin of steel if she can handle kneeling on asphalt.
Then I got my next shock on day two when I attempted to visit the apartment listings I found online. It turns out that having the first and last month of rent isn’t good enough. They wanted recent pay stubs to prove that I had a job. Which leads me to today. This interview was super important because I needed a job to get out of the hellhole motel so I’d stayed up all night researching the Mirage agency and reviewing all my notes from my marketing classes. That explains why I overslept slightly and almost ran over that cute guy on the way here.
My face flushes again at the memory. He really had been cute which made the whole thing even more mortifying. Luckily he hadn’t seemed all that concerned about dropping his coffee or the huge brown stain it left all over his T-shirt. I would have offered to pay for the dry cleaning but considering how expensive everything is in the city, I probably couldn’t afford it.
You should have offered to pay. Then you would have had an excuse to get his number. Or give him yours.
No. I mentally shut that down. That’s the kind of thinking that always lands me in hot water. I’m here to get away from guy drama not create more.
I focus as Anya leads me down another hallway and then stops to poke her head into an office. “Mya, do you have a second?”
A gorgeous woman with glowing bronze skin and a long black braid looks up from her computer screen.
“This is Casey. Casey, this is Mya, one of the team leads. She handles quite a few of our luxury brands.”
Mya lets out a little squeal. “Please save my life right now and tell me James finally hired someone?”
Anya looks over at me. “See? I told you. Everyone is really happy you’re here. The last temp we had got everyone’s messages wrong and used to eat tuna fish sandwiches every day.”
“Well, I’m glad to be here. Nothing else has gone right since I moved so it’s nice to finally feel welcome somewhere.”
Mya closes her laptop and stands. “Oh are you new to the city?”
“Brand new. I got here three days ago and quickly learned that the pictures online can be very deceiving. My hotel looks more like a hostel from one of those horror movies. And I’m pretty sure some guy got murdered in the parking lot last night.”
Anya winces. “Oh yikes. I can ask my landlord if there are any openings in my building.”
Mya peers at me. “Do you smoke?”
I shake my head. “No. My mom’s a nurse. She would kill me if she ever caught even a whiff of cigarette smoke on me.”
“Your mom is a nurse? This must be fate. My old roommate just posted an ad looking for someone to take my room. She’s a nurse, too. Let me see if she found someone yet.” She’s already pulled her phone out of her pocket.
A few seconds later the phone rings, blaring out a rap song. Mya curses softly before answering, silencing the raunchy lyrics. “Damn it, Ariana. You can’t keep changing my ring tone. I am at work!”
“Put me on speaker.” The voice on the other end is so loud that we can hear her anyway. Mya pulls the phone away from her ear slightly. “Fine, hold on.” She glances over at me. “Sorry about this. She’s a little pushy.”
“I can hear you!” The voice shouts.
Mya pushes another button and then angles the phone toward me. “Ok, Ari. You’re on speaker now. This is Casey. Be nice to her. She’s the first normal receptionist we’ve had in ages.”
The voice chuckles. “Normal is boring. Hey chick, do you have a lot of bill collectors after you? Car that got repossessed? Credit card bills?”
I look over at Mya uncertainly who just shrugs.
“No. I don’t own a car and I’m pretty frugal. I don’t actually own much. Just a suitcase filled with old books and some clothes that don’t fit that well anymore.”
She harrumphs at that. “Weird habits? Pick your teeth? Clip your toenails at the table? Sleep walking?”
“No, no, and I’m not sure. I mean, if I’m asleep, would I really know?”
The line is quiet.
“Ok, one final question. This is really important.” She pauses. “Who would you bang, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Chris Pratt or Chris Pine?”
“Um, all of the above?”
A cackle of laughter comes over the line. “Hot damn. You’re the first person to pass the Chris test. Everyone always picks one as if they’d really turn down any of the others. Would you trust a chick who wouldn’t bang one of those guys?”
“Oh good grief,” Mya interrupts. “I’ll call you later, Ari.” She hangs up and puts her phone back in her pocket. “I am so sorry about that. I thought she was going to ask you real questions about paying the rent and stuff.”
I wave away her concerns. “No problem, I’m grateful to have a chance to escape the Homicide Hotel.”
She rolls her eyes. “You might not be so grateful after living with Ariana for awhile. The chick is insane. Come on. I’ll take you to meet the rest of the marketing team.”
I follow behind her, trying not to show just how nervous and excited I am right now.
Finally, something is going right.
The rest of the afternoon goes quickly. There’s a lot to be done since James apparently wants me to start immediately. After filling out all the employment forms, authorizing a background check and signing what feels like a metric ton of paperwork, Anya shows me where I’ll be sitting and how to log in to the company network.
“Are you guys finished for the day?” Mya leans over the front desk where Anya is showing me the list of all the company extensions. Whenever someone calls in, I’m responsible for transferring them to the right party. Some of the names are highlighted. Those are the people who get the most calls, Anya explained.
“Just about done,” Anya responds with a warm smile for me. “I’m so damn excited not to have to man this desk alone anymore I could sing.”
“Take your time. Ariana said that we could come by anytime after six.”
“Wait, it’s after six?” Anya hops up, pushing a hand through her hair. “I didn’t realize we’d been at it for so long. I think we’re good here. Casey, I’ll see you tomorrow.” With a wave, she rushes off down the hallway to the back offices.
I let out a sigh of relief.
“Don’t let her overwhelm you,” Mya whispers conspiratorially. “Anya has enough energy for ten people.”
“Good to know. And thank you again for letting me know about the apartment. It’ll be a relief not to have to live with a complete stranger.”
“I agree. I was super lucky when I found Ari by chance but I’ve had plenty of awful roommates over the years. Finding one who isn’t going to steal your stuff or murder you in your sleep is almost as hard as finding a boyfriend.”
She waits patiently while I log out of my computer and gather my handbag from the drawer I placed it in earlier.
We chat easily about all the people I met on my first day as we walk outside into the early evening sunshine and Mya hails us a cab. Envious of how easily she does it, I have to push down a little flash of nervousness. Mya is one of those women who make it all seem so easy. Beautiful, successful and self-assured, she doesn’t seem like the type who’d ever get herself into the kinds of situations I’m known for. Someone like her would never let herself be taken advantage of and she certainly wouldn’t run away at the first sign of trouble.
Stop it. You did what you thought was best. Now it’s time to move on and build a life that you can be proud of.
Oblivious to my internal struggles, Mya points out buildings of interest as we pass and jokes around with the cab driver when he almost sideswipes another car. When the car finally pulls over, she gestures around us.
“This neighborhood is called Adams Morgan. It’s a great location if you’re into nightlife. Lots of restaurants and bars within walking distance.”
The building has an elevator but Mya heads straight fo
r the stairs. When we reach the third floor I’m ashamed that I’m panting a little. No wonder the buttons on my shirt are too tight! I put a hand to my head, patting at the moisture there.
Mya notices me lagging behind and pauses to let me catch up. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, sorry. I just didn’t want to meet my potential new roommate looking like a sweaty out-of-shape mess. I want to make a good first impression.”
Mya snorts. “You don’t need to worry about that.”
I pause. “What does that mean?”
“You’ll see. Just ... don’t judge too harshly on the first meeting. Ari is a little kooky but she has a heart of gold and means well. Mostly.”
Wait. Mostly?
A door swings open and a woman darts into the hall wearing a wet suit and carrying a snorkel. Her blonde hair is bundled up in a sloppy bun that somehow still makes her look like a supermodel. When she sees us in the hall, she blinks. Then blinks again.
“Oh. It’s just you.”
I glance over at Mya uncertainly. She sighs. “Ari, this is Casey Michaels. Casey, this is Ariana Silva. And why do you seem surprised to see us? You told me to come by after six, you nutball. ”
My eyes are pingponging between them, sure the woman in the wetsuit will take offense to that. But she just smiles prettily before putting her snorkel on.
“You always say you get off at six and then you come at like nine. I just figured you had your numbers upside down or something. Or that you and Triple H were spending the extra hours putting the 6 and the 9 together for some good ‘ole fashioned simultaneous loving. I can’t be mad at that.”
I’m trying to hold my laugh in since Mya doesn’t look amused but it’s hard. “Triple H?” I ask.
Ari grins. “It stands for Happy Hour Hottie. Because Mya and her hubby started their love affair at the office happy hour when she caught him in the bathroom where some chick had her hand on his–”
“Okay, let’s just move this inside. I’m sure the neighbors don’t want to hear this.” Mya looks appalled but Ariana just rolls her eyes.
“I bet they do,” she responds. “Mrs. Abernathy down the hall is a little freak. She had two guys coming out of her apartment last night so she can’t judge.”
“They were probably repairmen, Ari.” Mya shakes her head but she’s laughing too. She glances over at me. “Mrs. Abernathy is eighty years old at least.”
“So what? Older ladies need lovin’ too. And repairmen?” Ari gives her a knowing look. “Isn’t that how every porno starts? Ding dong! Hello, ma’am. I’m here to lay the pipe.” She pumps her hips in a lewd dance.
I’m pretty sure my mouth is dragging on the ground by now but I follow them into the apartment.
“What about you? You have a boyfriend?” Ari asks. It takes me a moment to realize she’s talking to me. Despite trying to play it cool, I’m sure the expression on my face says it all.
“Uh, no. I’m on sort of a man-hiatus right now. I think I have bad luck where relationships are concerned.”
Ari nods sagely. “I hear that. Most dudes aren’t really worth the effort anyway. Besides, you know how they say men won’t buy the cow if they get the milk for free? Well, I say why buy the pig when all you want is a little sausage?”
Mya turns to me. “I apologize for my former roommate. I tried to warn you but I think I forgot how off the rails she could be. I hope we haven’t scared you off.”
Ari doesn’t look repentant in the least as she grins at us before putting her mouthpiece back in and breathing like Darth Vader. She kind of reminds me of my best friend from high school. Outrageous and fun but if you just went with the flow, she was the most loyal friend ever.
“You definitely haven’t scared me off. Honestly, I haven’t had this much fun in a long time.”
“See? She’s fine.” Ari looks triumphant. “Come on, I’ll show you around.”
The main living area is painted a soft cream color and all the furniture looks cozy and lived in. A little dog with black and white fur snoozes on a chair in the corner. Ari points out the kitchen and then shows me the second bedroom. Everything is bright and clean and the room even comes furnished. Mya left a lot of her furniture when she got married since she didn’t need it, Ari explains.
Despite how wild our introduction was, Ariana seems like she’ll be an ideal roommate. She works at the hospital and only occasionally has night shift so I doubt she’ll keep me awake by coming in late or ultra early. The place looks clean but not so clean that I worry she’ll kick me out if I forget to wash a glass after I use it. It seems normal. Completely normal.
And for the first time since I left home, I think that things are going to be okay.
“So, what do you think?” Mya asks. “Not to put you on the spot or anything. I’m sure you had other apartments you wanted to look at.”
“I’ll take it. But there’s just one thing.” I look over at Ariana. “Do you know anyplace close by that I could apply for a waitressing position? I don’t have a car so I need something that I can walk to if possible.”
Ari nods. “Yeah. I know a place that just put a sign up last week looking for help.”
“Great. Also, I’m almost afraid to ask but if we’re going to be roommates, we might as well get it all out there. Were you expecting someone? I know you said most men aren’t worth the effort but …” I gesture to her outfit. “If this is a weird sex game you play with your temporary sausage, I can handle that. Just put a snorkel on the door if you don’t want me to come in.”
Ariana takes the snorkel off. “Oh, I like her. This is going to work out just fine.”
4
* * *
The sketches on my desk blur before my eyes. Physically I’m still sitting in my office, behind the same desk I bought five years ago after our first favorable review. But I’m not seeing the designs for our next fashion show, instead just more work that will lead to more sleepless nights.
My little adventure yesterday put me behind and I’ve been playing catchup all morning. I run my hands through my hair. The clock on the wall across from me taunts me with the early hour.
It feels like I’ve been behind this desk for an entire workday already and it’s not even close to lunchtime.
The door opens bringing in a rush of sound. Philippe walks in carrying a to-go cup of coffee and his tablet. He pauses when he sees the look on my face.
“Are they that bad?” He glances down at my desk and I realize after a moment that he means the sketches.
“No. Of course not. Our design team is the best.”
“Then why do you look so…” he pauses. “I can’t even describe the look on your face.”
He takes a seat in the chair across from me and rests his ankle casually on his knee. That’s my brother, always calm, cool and without a care in the world. It’s something I envy about him, his ability to let everything go and just enjoy the moment. He doesn’t stress over the little things the way I do.
As if he can read my thoughts, he points at me. “You’re stressed. All you do is work lately and you never want to go out. Look at us, Andre. We’re young. We’re hot. We’re rich. There should be no worries.”
“That easy, huh? Someone has to work hard to keep this whole ship running.” I smile so he knows I’m teasing.
Despite his dilettante lifestyle, Philippe works hard heading up our International Division. His slick tongue has been instrumental in convincing buyers at major stores to carry our brand and he’s the entire reason our popularity has exploded in the Middle East. Our brand is especially popular among the billionaires of Dubai.
“Work hard but play hard, too. Everything won’t come crashing down if you pause for a little fun sometimes. You need to get laid. I don’t know why you never take my advice.”
Something on my face must change because his arm, in the process of raising his coffee cup to his mouth, pauses in mid-air.
“You… took my advice? Don’t take this the wrong way, dear bro
ther, but it must not have been any good if you still look this pissed off.”
That startles a laugh out of me. It feels good. I stand and stretch a little. Why am I confining myself behind this desk when I’m not getting any work done anyway?
“You remember that day you saw me dressed so strangely?”
His lip curls in distaste, clearly remembering the day he caught me sneaking back into our hotel room wearing those cheap clothes.
“I remember. Although I wish I didn’t.”
“Well, I met someone that day. Just a woman on the street. She threw her coffee on me.”
Philippe narrows his eyes at me. “I would have thrown my coffee on that hideous shirt as well but I have to say, you are very odd if that is what turns you on.”
I snatch the coffee cup from his hand. The assistant he hired makes way better coffee than mine. “Nothing happened. I just meant that I had fun. She had no idea who I was. She was actually annoyed with me. Annoyed. Can you imagine?”
He chuckles. “None of the women we know would dare express annoyance or any other real emotion. They’re all hoping they tempt the famous Andre Lavin to put a ring on her finger and make her the reigning queen of the fashion world.”
“It was refreshing to be out amongst regular people. People who don’t want anything from me.”
His expression softens and I have to turn away from the questions in his eyes. My brother is the person I’m closest to in the world but even he often doesn’t understand me. The life we live suits him much better than me. He lives for the parties and the attention. It’s always been a puzzle to him how I can crave success and be simultaneously frustrated as I achieve more of it.
Truthfully, I’m not entirely sure I understand it myself.
“Good. Maybe you should do that more often. If it helped last time, do it again. We’re in the land of opportunity. Anything is possible here so why not reinvent yourself once more.” He glances over at me with a sly look. “But perhaps slightly better clothes this time.”