How to Catch Butterflies

by Samantha Fontien

  Mr. Nichol’s was now reaching into his breast pocket taking out a silver card holder, which he opened and handed Rebecca his card.

  “I can only apologize for the cloak and dagger approach, but secrecy is paramount, you may or may not have heard about us.”

  Rebecca listened intently thinking to herself this is a bit ‘James Bondish’, did he think he was M or something? He continued

  “We are ‘Natural Logistics’ as the public know us, ‘Black Card’ is our ultimate service, and it’s shrouded in secrecy. This is because operatives are brought into companies for specific reasons, for example one of our many range of services are Human Resources Consultants, no doubt, you’ve heard of us in that captivity? But that would be under the guise of ‘Natural Logistics’”

  Rebecca nodded her head looking at the shiny matt black business card she was holding thinking she was actually holding one of these illustrious fabled shinny matt black cards, this was like the dream job of all dream jobs, the money, the travel, the world was her oyster,

  “The only problem with us, is our level of secrecy” he looked over his glasses at her.

  “Due to the type of business we do. We often send in operatives into companies for a range of reasons. From reviewing grades from 1 to grade 7 these include senior management to senior or top executives“.

  Rebecca nodded her head acknowledging what he was saying. Mr. Nichol’s continued.

  “Or, they could be there for deep driving. As in auditing staff or to reduce workforces, the list is endless”

  He raised his eyebrows as spoke in a lower, quieter tone.

  “But confidentiality is an absolute must! You never know who, knows who” as he tapped his nose with his finger.

  “Yes it can be a very small world she replied with a knowing smile.

  As they talked he complemented her on her interviewing tactics and other things,

  “You are a clever girl Rebecca. You had me telling you things I wasn’t prepared to say. Impressive I must say” as he nodded his head.

  “And, that’s exactly what we want. Every assignment is different; we have been watching your career for a number of years. We like the fact you have length of service. We wouldn’t have approached you unless we knew you would be serious about leaving your current position. You come across very unflappable”.

  Mr. Nichol’s made no mention to the indecent he had witnessed which she was very grateful for.

  “Your exceptionally charming, it really works for you, as I said you have way more information, than what I intended to give to you. And you can be impressed with that, as apparently ‘I’m a tough nut to crack”.

  She looked at him, was this Mr. Nichol’s attempt at humor? She found herself stopping herself grinning at him. It wasn’t even that funny she told herself. Or maybe it was because this conversation was that of dreams?

  “We want you to head up one of our operations you’ll have your own team, it involves lots of overseas travel. You’ll have an expense account; we PAY for the best people”.

  Now she knew she was grinning, as she tried to control the degree of grin.

  “We know you have quite a number of offers including Mr. Harvey and his Partners offer. I know they offer very attractive salaries and perks. But I think you can do more than mere head hunting”.

  Rebecca nodded her head again. Mr. Nichol’s reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a white card, the size of a photograph.

  “And this is what we are offering you, and this is your expense account”.

  He leaned forward and placed a handwritten note in front of her. Rebecca felt her eyes widen with excitement which she also tried to control as she knew he was watching her every move.

  It was an enormous amount; she could feel herself smile slightly even though she thought she would burst with the exhilaration she felt.

  She acknowledged him with a simply nod, while she composed herself and continued to listen intently to Mr. Nichol’s. An hour later they had concluded their business. They said their goodbyes with a handshake. Mr. Nichol’s asked if she would come to their offices tomorrow, which she agreed.

  Rebecca walked out of the hotel like she was walking on air; she couldn’t believe she had landed her ultimate dream job.

  They wanted her to start as soon as possible which was the only problem, she had to find a new place, and she couldn’t stay at Lucy’s forever. Plus she wanted her own space, she was moving on with her life, and it was all happening now.

  As she walked back to her office, she knew she had a lot to think about. Rebecca also had to call Jackson Harvey back.

  She looked at her phone, she seen that she had two missed calls from him. Jackson had called while; she was in her meeting with Mr. Nichols. Yes is going to be a very busy day indeed.

  Rebecca walked up the stairs to her building, and made her way up to her office, by now she was beaming. She couldn’t help it, this job offer was amazing. As soon as she was at her desk, she reached for the phone to call Lucy. It literally answered on the first ring. “It’s me I’m back,” she declared.

  Lucy was excited babbling that “she had called earlier, but she was out, so she knew something was going on. She had left a message or two” she laughed at her own joke knowing she called over ten times.

  As if on cue, there was a knock at Rebecca’s door. It was Judy arriving in with a message saying Lucy had called ten times and the tenth was to call her as soon as she is back in the office. Rebecca laughed.

  “Yep just got them”,

  “SOoo spill, did you see him for lunch, oh genie Mac Rebecca he’s gorgeous?”

  Rebecca was choking on the water she had just swallowed, in between the choking she was laughing.

  “Luce you have such a one track mind girl, I didn’t meet Jackson, I met Mr. Nichol’s” remembering the word ‘confidentiality’ “from a company called ‘Natural Logistics’’. They want me to head a team of Human Resource Consultants”, she gushed.

  “There is lots of travel, expense account, huge pay packet, it’s an unbelievable opportunity, I can’t believe this has happened.” Rebecca exclaimed brimming from ear to ear, Lucy was speechless momentarily.

  “Oh Wow kudos to you hun, I’m delighted for you, omg how are they taking it there?”

  “Haven’t told them yet, not looking forward to that, and before you ask NO I haven’t spoken to Mr. Harvey either that’s also a ‘To Do’ on my endless list”.

  She laughed, oscillating her chair from side to side. “I will be speaking to him soon”.

  No sooner had she said it Judy knocked at her door,

  “I have a Harvey on line one for you”

  Judy looked at Rebecca who lifted her hand in a ‘wait gesture’ before turning back into her call

  “Well speak of the devil and he shall appear, he’s on the line, I have to go”

  Rebecca put the phone receiver down, she could her Lucy shouting

  “Call me as soon as you finished” Lucy shouted as she replaced the receiver down

  She smiled and looked at Judy

  “Thank you Judy, can put Mr. Harvey through please”

  Judy closed the door returning to her desk, and Rebecca’s phone sprang to attention with the shrill ring of her call. She let it ring a few times before answering

  “Rebecca Keane, Well hello Jackson” she purred,

  His voice was well spoken. He had a little gruff on his tones, she thought it was quiet sexy, hence the years of talking to him and he was definitely very easy on the eye.

  *

  “Well Rebecca, I was wondering if you’ve made a decision on the job front”

  He was trying not to sound too eager. He was hoping she had chosen his company, he knew they were the best offer on the table. He had made sure of it, he wanted to secure her working there, Jackson knew what she had always said about mixing business with pleasure, but that was part of the chase, part of the hunt,

  “Actually Jackson I have, I thought lo
ng and hard about all the offers, since last seeing you, I too have had other offers”.

  She still swung in her chair as she spoke. Knowing he was hanging on her every word.

  “There is one in particular, which I’m very interested in.”

  “Go on.” Jackson was intrigued as she toyed with him.

  “Well I’ve been offered a fantastic opportunity with ‘Natural Logistics’ and it looks like I’m going to accept their position”.

  Rebecca was excited telling him. Although disappointed, he didn’t let it show

  “Hmmmm, Natural Logistics’ hay that’s great, well at least that takes care of one thing”, Jackson declared

  “What’s that?” Rebecca asked curious

  “Well” it was his turn to pause. “Did you not say that you don’t mix business with pleasure?” he teased

  “Well you’ve just made it easier for me to take you to dinner? “

  Rebecca laughed

  “Now you’re a bit cheeky to presume that I would have dinner with you” He laughed back taking no notice of what she had just said.

  “That’s not a problem Rebecca. I will tell the other companies that you’ve taken another position, and I’ll pick up at 8:30, at the address I dropped you at the last night”.

  And with that he was gone, leaving Rebecca reaching for the phone keypad to call Lucy shaking her head in disbelief. She had only bagged herself a date with the man whore. Jackson Harvey.

  ‘Well if he thinks I’m going to be a notch on his bedpost, he better think again’, she thought as she dialed Lucy with a big cheesy grin on her face.

  Chapter 17

  ‘How do you like me now?’

  The day had gone pretty quick as far as working days go. Once she had filled Lucy in on Jackson’s phone call. They had both arranged to leave work early so they could go through Lucy’s wardrobe to find something suitable for the dinner tonight.

  As usual it was Lucy who was late, having been held up on the call. Rebecca had caught a taxi home to Lucy’s. She was just too wrecked to think of the mayhem of rush hour on the tube. Rebecca needed the peace and quiet so she could be left in her thoughts.

  It was funny; her day had been so busy she had forgotten about David. How could she with the commotion he had caused. But after her day, David and his escapades would be no more. She had the money now to move well away from the area, and cut ties completely. Perfect.

  By the time she was home, she really didn’t fancy going out, regardless of who it was with. A month had passed so quickly. Rebecca’s thoughts turning again to Jason, he must have be really hurt and disgusted by what she had said.

  She had no resided herself to the fact that it was over and he must hate her she would have too. She looked at the clock in the bathroom. Rebecca ran the shower, stripped letting the water amerce her, washing away the busy day.

  She wrapped the towel round her heading up to Lucy who was sitting on the bed. Before her five beautiful cocktail type dresses ranging from a few black ones to beautiful jade green. Rebecca lay on the bed.

  “Oh Lucy I so don’t fancy going out, I’ve had an email from Mr. Nichol’s, I need to go to the head office tomorrow, so I really could do with an early night”.

  “Your bloody crazy I would love that old man to teach me a thing or too” as she poked Rebecca. In the side playfully making her jump Lucy knew how ticklish she was.

  “So are you going to let him poke you” she teased as she still poked Rebecca in the side.

  “Oh don’t Luce” she begged “I’m so damn tired. I could really do with an early night I have that meeting in the morning Ohh, I’m tired” as she flung herself on the bed like a child having a strop.

  “Ok don’t stay out all night and sleep with him then, just have dinner and come home” Lucy joked.

  She wanted Rebecca to stop fretting over Jason, she wanted her to move on, and she wouldn’t if she didn’t have a distraction. Lucy sat there thinking you couldn’t ask for better distraction than Jackson Harvey.

  He was the perfect mail order gigolo, Jackson Harvey certainty had the looks, charm and sophistication that was required to go with the job. Plus he was intellectual, he could talk about any subject with anybody, any level, he was a real people’s person.

  “Oh come on, have dinner, don’t sleep with him and come home, who know maybe you’ll enjoy it, it’s the least you could do not taking his job” she laughed.

  Rebecca threw her one of her ‘I’m not impressed looks,

  “God I just don’t fancy doing all this” she said while pulling the dresses up as in protest,

  “Can’t I wear my black skinny jeans and a top?” she asked hoping Lucy would compromise “Nope”

  Was all Lucy said, as she picked her selection, holding them up individually before finally settling on a LBD telling Rebecca to wear this?

  Rebecca slipped into her bra and matching black thong and stepped into the dress with Lucy zipping the back up for her, it was very retro 60’s with ¾ arms, and it was cut just below the knee, it clung to her curves like it was sown into her.

  “And these”, as she placed a patent leather sling backs down ready for Rebecca’s feet to step into.

  Rebecca looked in the mirror, despite the fact she was still wearing her towel as a turban on her wet hair she had to admit, Lucy had an eye and a half for picking the right clothes she had fantastic taste.

  Lucy always went for classic pieces, she’d say she ‘marched to the beat of her own drum’, she would often be stopped regularly by random people. Asking where she had bought such and such from, she always thought Lucy should have been in fashion rather than music.

  “Okay I’ll borrow this if that’s okay with you”

  All Lucy said was “Darling me casa sou casa” Rebecca looked at Lucy

  “I love you, thanks for everything, and I mean everything, now what shall I do with my hair?” She asked Lucy while holding the towel having a ‘Carmen Miranda’ moment.

  “Leave it to me” as Lucy got off the bed and pointed for Rebecca to sit on her dressing table stool and she started to brush through Rebecca’s hair.

  8:30 arrived and Rebecca’s phone rang, it illuminated with Jackson’s number. She nearly fell over trying to over-reach, in picking it up. She had steadied herself by the time she answered it. Calmly answering “Rebecca Keane” knowing full well it was him,

  “I’m down stairs I didn’t know which buzzer to push,” came the response from Jackson.

  “I’ll be down in a minute” and she ended the call, and started to shake her hands out at her sides trying to relax herself.

  “Well, how do I look?”

  She asked slowly twirling for Lucy to see the whole picture. Lucy sat here very pleased with her work,

  “Oh here use this” as she threw her grey Pelliemiena. Rebecca caught it, she could feel the wrap. It was the kind of item you wanted to put against your face or skin. It was so luxuriously smooth, it felt so soft almost buttery and complimented her outfit perfectly.

  “Oh Luce, SO love you, you sure I look alright”

  Lucy stood there poor Rebecca didn’t realize how beautiful she was or looked; she would absolutely knock the socks off the ‘Hunky Harvey’ as she had nicknamed him.