by Dauphin, M.
The phone rings and I run to the kitchen to where it’s plugged in to answer it before it goes to voicemail. It’s not Adam’s number, and it’s not any other number I know, so I answer as professionally as I can, hoping that this is a call for an interview.
“Hello, this is Annaliese Ryder,” I say trying not to laugh at myself for being so nervous. The person on the other end of this line is human, just like me. I shouldn’t be so nervous.
“Ms. Ryder. This is Deborah Cullings from the Academy of Science and Math. I want to personally thank you for applying for our current open position,” she starts, and I can feel my heartbeat quicken as she goes on. “Unfortunately we have filled the spot this morning. We thank you very much, and wish you well in all of your endeavors.”
“Oh, thanks. You too,” I manage to squeak before the phone call is disconnected.
Well that sucks.
I stare at the phone screen for what feels like hours. My stomach is upset and my head is starting to hurt from trying to hold back the tears. The only good thing about this week so far is that I had amazing sex. I try not to think about whom it was with, or our encounter in the bathroom, because then I’d just get even more depressed that I just happened to screw the most un-eligible person in the state of Illinois. Then my mind would go into a spiral about everything else sucky that has happened this week. From probably blowing my test, to my credit card and ID getting stolen, to me having absolutely no leads on a job; it would all go downhill. So I choose not to think about him.
Mr. Chicago.
Adam.
“Hey, bitch, who was that?” Gab yawns and reaches for the coffee pot.
“A school where I applied. They already found someone to fill the spot.”
“Oh, baby, I’m sorry.” She hugs me and holds on tight. “You’ll find something. I have faith.”
Easy for her to say as she starts her new job soon.
“Yeah. Thanks,” I manage, not wanting to talk about my situation.
I’m currently pissed at myself for making such a big stink about not needing my dad’s money and doing things on my own. In about a month I’m not going to have enough money to cover rent and my portion of the bills, which scares me. And I don’t like to be scared.
I’ve been that enough in my life.
“So I’m gonna head out and get some new clothes today. You wanna come with me?”
“Yeah, I’d love it. But I need to watch my money if you want me to keep living with you. This jobless wonder needs to save everything she can.”
“Oh, come on! You know you could have a job if you really needed one.” She raises her eyebrows at me and I know exactly what she’s talking about.
Could I really work for my dad? I mean, it’d be money coming in, it couldn’t be that difficult, and it wouldn’t be me going back on my word since technically I’d be making my own money still and not just accepting his handouts. Still, I’d feel like it was a pity job if I took it. Would I be able to live with myself? I spent so much time in school to become an administrator. I love working with kids. Would working in an office make me as happy?
No, the answer is no. However, it will let me stay living here with Gabby.
“I know, Gab. If nothing comes up soon I’ll call him.”
She smiles and hugs me before heading out the door, leaving me all alone and pretty depressed about the route that my life is taking. I could have went for an easier degree to find a job in, but I’m passionate about helping kids, especially in the city of Chicago. There are so many schools that need good educators and great leaders that I felt it was my only option: do something I’m passionate about and help people at the same time.
I walk out to our small balcony and sit at our table, watching the cars move below and start to really think about my life. What if I can’t do what I’m passionate about? What if I have to settle just to have money to survive? Money. It always comes down to money.
Just the thought of money brings me back to my night with Adam. Maybe because he has all the money he’ll ever need. That’s what I tell myself since it's obvious that I haven’t really stopped thinking about him, especially after our little scene in the bathroom. I did text him back yesterday, but only to tell him to stop harassing me. So far it seems like the text worked since he hasn’t tried contacting me anymore and I’m not really sure how I feel about that. As much as I don’t want to admit to myself, there was a small part of me that enjoyed being sought out by him. By the man that most women claw and catfight over just to have drinks together. He was actually seeking me, fighting for me. And I was a total bitch.
Suddenly my phone rings, breaking the dangerous path my thoughts were taking.
“Hey Daddy,” I say smiling into my phone.
“Hey, Baby Girl. How are things going?”
“Fine, I guess.” I sigh, really wishing he hadn’t called.
“What’s wrong, Annie?”
“I got a call from a place I put an application in to today. They already found someone to fill the job. I’m just worried, that’s all.”
“No reason for my little girl to be worried about anything. Tell you what, I’ve got a management position open that you’d be perfect for—“
“Stop, Dad. I don’t want your handout,” I say cutting him off.
“Listen to my offer, Annie,” he grinds out pissed I cut him off. “You have all the requirements for this position. Hell, you’re probably more ready for it than some of the other managers. All you’ll be doing is keeping track of the books on a few drivers, riding along every now and then as checkups on them. Pretty simple stuff. It’s a salaried job, starting at sixty a year and going up from that.”
“Daddy, that’s insane! I can’t do that!”
“You can too, Annaliese. Ryders don’t say they ‘can’t’ do something.”
I sigh and think about his offer. The money would be great. It’s not teaching or working with kids, but it’s a job that’s stable and pays well.
“What if I get an offer for a position at a school while I’m working for you?”
“Then you take it. Hands down. I’m not wanting to lock you into the company if you don’t want it, Annie. I just don’t like my baby girl to worry about money issues.”
What’ve I got to lose?
“Alright. I’ll do it.” I feel so defeated right now.
“Great. I’ll have Lisa e-mail some details to you tonight. And tomorrow night keep open. I know you technically don’t start until Monday, but I want you to ride a route of a Saturday night to get the feel of things.”
“Sounds good, Dad. Thanks.”
“Anything for my baby girl.”
He hangs up and I stare at my phone. Technically, I’m not his baby girl. I’m the older girl. The one that lived.
Feeling completely overwhelmed, I spend the rest of the day cleaning our already spotless apartment. It’s clean, bright, and stupidly quiet. Why the quiet’s making me so mad today I’m not sure, but it really is. There’s too much of nothing happening here. The thought that maybe we need a dog crosses my mind more than once, but I laugh it off. I’m not sure Gab would love a furry creature biting her on the toes all night long.
By the end of the day I’m exhausted from doing absolutely nothing all day. It’s really depressing sitting in a house all alone, all day, with nothing to do but watch TV. I really should find a hobby. Now that school’s over and I’m waiting on my ‘grown up’ life to start, I’m starting to see how much time school work really took up.
The next morning I’m up before the sun again. Throwing on my gym clothes, I opt for an early morning run through the streets of our neighborhood. I love this city. The crisp morning air, the historic buildings mixed with newer construction on one city block. It’s truly a great city to live in, full of all different walks of life.
I grab a coffee and head to the park to sit on a bench and watch the sunrise. I’m glad I stayed with the early rise routine these last few weeks since my practicum end
ed. It’ll make it so much easier having to get up and be at work by eight when my body’s already used to rising early and leaving the apartment right away. There are people jogging and milling about on the lawn,. The constant traffic of Chicago is starting to pick up. Horns, sirens, train noises. I take it all in, smiling at how lucky I really am.
I spend the rest of my day wandering around the city. I window shop, find a new outfit for tonight, something professional but fun, and grab lunch from a hotdog stand near my apartment. By the time I get back to the apartment, Gabby is already in the middle of... something... with the door hanger on her door knob and music blaring from inside. Just walking by, I hear moans coming from her room. Manly moans. She’s got a man in there. Good for her. Maybe he’ll pay more attention to what she needs than the last girl she was with.
Once I’m back in my bedroom, I can still hear them going at it. Part of me is actually jealous that in the middle of the afternoon she can be as sexually active as she is. The other part is annoyed that I have to hear it.
I grab a change of clothes and head for the shower, turning on the vent and the shower radio to drown out the moans and other noises coming from the room down the hall. Only a few hours now until my orientation at my new job. I’m not as depressed about it as I was when first took the job. I know it’s summer vacation, and schools aren’t necessarily hiring right now. I know my dad told me I can get out whenever I need to, if something else were to come around. I’m just going to think of this as a filler job to keep me busy until the time comes for me to start my career.
At six I tell Gab my plans for the night and she hugs me, telling me she’s happy that I won’t become a hobo living in a van down by the river. I laugh and we joke for a few minutes before it’s time for me to head out. My stomach is full of nerves and I’m not really sure why. I’ve met all of my dad’s drivers. We all get along. Maybe it’s the fact that I’ll now be considered a boss to some of them. What if they hate me because of this? What if they don’t like that I’m just waltzing into the company at such a high level? Why am I so nervous?!
The black car is out front waiting for me and I smile when I see Joe step out of the driver’s side door and grin at me. My stomach flops and a genuine grin comes across my face. Tonight’s going to be fun.
“Hey, you,” he drawls as he hugs me lightly then holds me at arm’s length and looks me up and down, whistling. “You’re not technically my boss ‘til Monday, right?”
“Right.” I grin at him, waiting for the inappropriate comment to fly from his beautiful lips.
“Great. Then I don’t feel bad for telling you that you look so fucking delicious tonight.”
“Why thank you, Joe,” I say and give a joking curtsy towards him as he shakes his head at me. His eyes lock with mine and for a second I feel like he’s going to kiss me, but he looks down just before I go in for the kill.
“Right. So we need to get movin’. A lot of important people are waiting on us to be on time tonight.”
I nod and he helps me into the passenger seat, then leans over to help me buckle in, getting so close I can feel his breath on my shoulder as he slowly stretches the belt and clicks it in place.
“There. Safe,” he murmurs and his lips part when his eyes quickly flash to my light pink, glossy lips.
“Thanks,” I whisper enjoying this game we’re playing. I already feel the heat pooling between my legs. This man knows how sexy he is, and he knows what he does to me.
Not quite as good as my night with Adam, but I’m starting to believe nothing will ever come close to that again.
Joe backs away slowly and shuts the door, only breaking eye contact when the door closes tight. He moves swiftly into the driver’s seat and turns to full on business mode. For the next four hours we drive around the city, picking up the rich, some famous, and some incredibly drunk patrons. I’ve always wondered how my dad makes so much money on just a chauffeur business, but seeing the clientele tonight I’m a little more at ease that it’s just because they have the money to throw away.
Growing up, my friends always made cruel jokes that my dad was involved in more than just driving people around. There were always whispers about him being someone that the law didn’t even want to mess with, but I never saw that side of him. I always saw the family man who loved his daughters... daughter. The man who loved his wife and worked his ass off to provide for them. Seeing the people he pretty much works for, my mind is put at ease that he isn’t some mobster thug that steals money from people.
We drop off the last client for the night and Joe sighs as he shuts his car door.
“This shit isn’t easy.” I smile at him as his head falls back on the headrest and his eyes close. As soon as he opens his mouth to reply, his phone rings.
“Shit,” he curses pulling it out of his pocket. “This is Joe.” His curt tone tells me it’s not a welcome call. “Yeah. Got it.” He hangs up and puts his phone in the cup holder.
“Listen, I gotta make a run. I get it if you don’t want to hang around, but I was really hoping to hang out with you tonight. If you hang around....”
“I’ll stay. I’m in this. I have to see how the job works before they throw me in the office.”
I want to tell him I’m looking forward to hanging out with him, but that would suggest that I’m expecting more than just friendship. As much as I would like to, I don’t want to be the reason he’s fired.
“Great, buckle up.” He smiles and looks a little nervous as he pulls out of our spot and towards the Northern part of the city.
“So, what’s up here? I can’t imagine the clientele coming from this part of the city.”
He doesn’t answer right away and when I look over at him, his hands are tight around the steering wheel and his jaw is set tight.
“Joe?”
“What?” he snaps, his mood suddenly changed.
“Where are we going?”
“Annaliese, sometimes you just need to go with the flow. Don’t ask so many questions. God, maybe I should have brought you home first....” he trails off, mumbling to himself that this was a mistake.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Just... listen, we’re almost there. Don’t get out of the car this time, okay? This isn’t a run your dad approved.”
“He’s not the boss of me, Joe. Not yet,” I grind out, pissed that someone is hiding something from me.
Joe sighs and goes silent for the remainder of the drive. The neighborhood we’re driving through is anything but upper class. Not that I’m judging, but most people in this part of the city don’t have the money to spend on the services that my dad’s business offers. We slow in front of an empty warehouse. No lights are on inside and there’s no other living being in sight.
“What’s going on, Joe?” I ask, my heartbeat speeding up.
“Wait here,” he grinds out and gets out of the car. I watch him speed to the door and knock a few times before it opens up and a figure slips outside quickly.
“What the hell?” I say to myself. I watch the familiar figure walk towards the car and when his eyes flick to mine, my heart drops.
He freezes then looks at Joe before storming to my door and throwing it open.
“Nice to see you again, Annaliese,” he purrs, his smile melting any sort of wall I had built up against him.
“Mr. Callahan,” I say in a sexy voice and smile seductively while Joe cocks his head at us then nervously looks around. “It’d be even nicer if you could get in the car.”
He turns to look at Joe and nods, then his eyes flick between the two of us before he speaks again.
“Not until you get back there with me.”
“What?” I gasp. The balls on this man!
“Sir, that’s not auth—“
“And I could have your job title taken away in two seconds flat, Joe. I don’t think you really want the boss man to know you’ve been ogling his little girl, do you?” He smiles a winning smile and Joe’s fra
me goes tense, as if he’s preparing for a fight.
“What the fuck is going on! Get outta here!” A voice booms from the building we’re parked in front of. My nerves are on high alert since this isn’t the best part of the city to be sitting in a nice ass car in the middle of the night. My whole body is screaming at me for not throwing it at Adam, and my mind is telling me to shut it off and stop thinking about him and his body. God, his body.
“Get in the car, Adam,” I growl back at him.
“Okay.” I sigh when he gives in. “After you.” He reaches in, takes my arm and pulls me out of the car, throwing me over his shoulder like a caveman and I take a breath to scream when I end up inhaling the best scent I’ve ever smelled. God, he smells so good.
“Adam, put her down!” I hear Joe yell but as soon as I take a whiff of Adam, I’m a goner.
“Joe, it’s fine. He’s just being an asshole.” As much as that’s true, I’m also incredibly turned on by this caveman act. The heat that Joe brought earlier is nothing compared to how I feel around Adam.
“I’m just getting her to the backseat. We have business that’s left undone, and I’m ready to finish it.” I hear the low growl in his voice when he opens the back door of the car and slowly lets me slide down his body. Jesus, his body is rock hard and smells so freaking delicious. I want to lick him and taste every part of him. His eyes meet mine and lock into that emotion I’ve been toying with all week: infatuation. Good Lord. Every worry from the week melts away when he looks at me like that. I’m his lifeline. I’m in a trance and don’t notice Joe talking to me until he snaps his fingers in my ear.
“I’ll call your father, Annie,” Joe whispers as his gaze flicks to Adam then back to me.
“I’m fine, Joe. Adam and I go back. He just needs to put me down before I kick him in the balls,” I smile sweetly as Adam’s hands drop from my hips and my feet hit the ground.
“Then get in. Both of our asses are gonna be on a platter for this stint,” he growls then walks to the driver’s seat.
I slowly and seductively slide into the car, grinning to myself when I hear Adam sigh and curse under his breath. When my ass hits the seat, I smile as I remember I’m not wearing any panties tonight. I hate them. So restricting, and really not needed when wearing pants. The only time I wear them is when it’s that time of the month, or when I have on a short skirt and don’t feel like giving others a show. Tonight it’s neither of those. These pants are so tightly fitted around my ass that panty lines of any sort would have ruined the effect.