by Nikki Bloom
“Give me a sum of money and I can make magic happen,” I said.
“Care to take over my portfolio?” I knew she meant it as a joke but there was a hint of hopefulness in her voice. “Because right now it’s dead in the water. I tried to tackle all the buying and selling myself, but the market is hard to predict.”
“There’s a reason why people hire investors.” One of the flight attendants came over with a platter of assorted cheese and crackers. “If you want something else, let me know.”
She held up her oversized chocolate bar. “I think I’ll be good for a while. Do you want a piece?”
I took the square from her palm and popped it into my mouth. It was sweet but not quite so sweet as the woman sitting across from me. I yearned to have her again, but the ball was in her court. If she wanted to take the proposal beyond just a matter of pretend, then that was her decision to make.
“The seat has a massage feature,” I said as I turned on the flat-screen TV and searched for a movie I thought she might like.
“You’re kidding me!”
“I’m not. There’s a button on the remote.”
She grabbed the remote, an excited smile spreading across her face. “Ahh,” she moaned. “This flight just keeps getting better and better.”
If she had been impressed by the private jet, she was blown away by the mansion. She stood in the driveway, mouth agape, and eyes wide. “So, if I marry you and you get majority share of your grandfather’s company, I get to keep this place?”
“Free of charge.”
“Pool boy included?”
“Pool boy included,” I confirmed.
“Wow…” She stepped forward. Her face was clouded over in amazement. “I just can’t believe it…” She reached out and touched the gold knocker. It was a piece imported from France. The lion’s head was intricately carved with minute details only seen under a magnifying glass. She tried out the knocker. “It actually works.”
“Of course. If you bang metal on metal, it usually makes a sound.”
A member of the house staff answered the door, ushering us inside.
Poppy floated from room to room. Occasionally, she would touch something or ask me a question, but for the most part, she was silently taking in all the sights of her new home.
“Shall I show you to your room?” I asked as we approached the door.
She nodded.
“I hope you don’t mind staying in the guest room,” I said as she stepped inside.
“Mind?” She shook her head. “This room alone is almost as big as my place back in Atlanta.” She draped herself in the curtains, dawning them like a cape. “And you’re sure that you want to just give me this place if you get your grandfather’s company?”
“I won’t need it. I intend to move back to Maine. It’s quieter there and I think I’m ready to settle down.”
Poppy nodded. “Yeah, I can imagine how hectic it must be to deal with San Francisco living all year long. Although, I have to imagine it’s better than New York.”
“They both have their flaws, but I’d take San Francisco over New York, you’re right.”
She allowed herself to fall into the bed and become buried in the mountain of pillows. “I think it’s time for a nap.”
“I’ll leave you to it then.” I had the urge to kiss her before leaving the room, but I decided it was still too soon for such gestures. Maybe, if I was lucky, the relationship would grow, but until then, I was okay with taking things one step at a time. I had gotten her to agree to the proposal, that was the first and most critical step. Everything else would follow.
11
Poppy
My nap turned into a full night’s sleep. Despite the luxurious ride in Connor’s private jet, I was still exhausted. I could feel it in my bones as I stretched.
Mmm, maybe a few more hours of sleep, then, I thought as I reached for my phone. But what time is it?
The brightness in the room was enough to tell me that at the very least, it was morning. Outside the window, I heard the twittering of birds and a faraway bark of a neighboring dog.
11:38 A.M.
“Damn, good thing my interview isn’t until two,” I mumbled to myself, trying to rub the sleep from my eyes. It was incredibly difficult to roll out of bed when the mattress felt like a cloud. I had half a mind to remain curled under the silk sheets for the rest of my days.
Still in the process of waking up, I checked my social media and saw that Jenna was having fun on her honeymoon. I was happy for her even though I was still a little upset that she had failed to tell me she had a pair of twin brothers. Then again, she hadn’t been the type of girl to share much about her past and I wasn’t the one to ask.
I caught sight of the ring on my finger. It felt strange to see it there. I slipped it off and studied it more closely. It was truly a beautiful piece and like everything else, it had probably cost Connor a fortune. At the wedding, I had thought him smug for showing off his money, but now I understood that he worked hard for every cent he made, and he was reaping the benefits of his labor. Could I really fault him for that?
Growing bored of my feed, I threw aside my phone and headed for the shower. It was even bigger than the one in Connor’s hotel room and it had a built-in bench. I grinned, thinking of everything that could be done on that bench. Maybe there’d be time to test it out in the future because this proposal with benefits idea was starting to sound pretty grand. I didn’t know whether Connor was the guy I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, but why should that stop me from having some fun along the way?
I turned the knob expecting water, but instead, I was met with steam. It filled the entire shower stall, thick enough to leave droplets of moisture on my skin. “Oh, this is nice,” I moaned. “Really nice.”
The shampoo was salon quality and the bar of soap was handmade from some goat farm. Connor really spared no expense when it came to quality of life items. I was starting to like his style.
Stepping out of the shower, I felt like I had dawned a new skin. I was glowing and my hair, even as wet as it was, looked healthier than ever. There was a robe hanging on the back of the door; I grabbed it and melted against its fluffiness. The steam from the shower had left the fabric warm.
I padded across the plush carpet and found the red dress Connor had given me. I couldn’t resist wearing it. Besides, the key to every interview is dressing your best and I definitely looked my best dressed in red.
Taming my hair was a different matter. Drying it makes it frizzy and trying to get it sleek and shiny took a whole lot of elbow grease. In the end, I gave up and decided to contain it within a bun. Thankfully, I had brought along plenty of bobby pins for the wedding. Satisfied that I looked like a professional, I finally ventured out of the bedroom.
In the hall, I noticed Connor’s door had been left ajar. Curious to see his room, I peeked my head through the crack. It was even bigger than the guest room. A four-poster bed made of solid wood dominated the space. The carvings made the whole thing look regal in nature like it had been crafted for a king.
“Ahem.”
I nearly jumped right out of my skin. Turning around, I saw a member of the house staff standing in the hall, hands clasped behind his back. “Uh, sorry. I was just wondering whether Connor was still in his room. I wanted to have a word with him…” It wasn’t really a lie. After my time in the shower, I was eager to see him. Although, talking wasn’t exactly what I’d had in mind.
“Connor has left to tend to his affairs. He will not return until later this evening.”
“Right.”
“There is breakfast in the kitchen.” He consulted his watch. “If you’d rather have lunch, that can be arranged.”
“Brunch?”
“Brunch can also be arranged,” he answered with a nod. “Please, follow me.”
The kitchen was massive. A middle-aged man wearing a chef’s hat was handling a flaming frying pan. He left it on the stove and proceeded to chop
something with a knife about the size of my head.
“Wait, is all this food meant for me?” I asked seeing the buffet-like set up on the island. “This is enough food to feed a small nation.”
“Mr. Dresden was not aware of what you preferred, so he told our chef to make a variety of dishes for you to choose from.”
“I would have been perfectly content with a bowl of cereal…” I answered while rubbing the back of my neck. I felt awkward knowing the chef had gone through so much work just for my sake. It would be rude of me not to try a little bit of everything.
By the time I was done, I was stuffed. From the three-cheese quiche to the crème brûlée French toast, I would need to run a marathon to burn off all the calories. Even so, I was pleased. The food was exquisite, and far better than a plain ol’ bowl of cereal. “Thank you.”
The chef bowed and took his leave. Someone else materialized and cleaned up.
“Do you want some help?” I asked.
The girl shook her head. “No, please, don’t worry yourself. It is my job.” She smiled politely before loading up the dishwasher.
I sought the member of staff I had met in the hallway outside my bedroom. “I’m sorry,” I said, “but I never got your name.”
“Vernon,” he answered.
“Vernon. I’ll remember that.” I nodded my head as if that might help me commit his name to memory. “Well, I was wondering if you know a good taxi company to call. I have a job interview in an hour, and I wanted to get there a little early so I could get a feel for the campus.”
“There will be no need for a taxi,” said Vernon.
I thought about the high heels I was wearing. There was no way I would be walking there.
“The chauffeur will take you wherever you need to go.”
“The chauffeur?”
“Indeed.” Vernon turned on his heel and proceeded to the front door. Dumbfounded, I followed. Even after spending a few days with Connor and riding in his private jet, it was still difficult to believe that I was being given access to something like a chauffeur. I mean, I was just a regular girl and regular girls do not get the luxury of being driven around by a man in uniform.
And yet, there he was, standing in front of a six-figure vehicle. Its white coat was inlaid with pearl, causing it to sparkle in the sunlight. Honestly, I didn’t know what was brighter, the car, or the summer sun.
“Where to?” he asked, opening the back door with his white-gloved hand. This was the kind of treatment given to movie stars. Subtly, I pinched myself just to make sure it was real. The sharp pain told me I was awake. “D & D Aeronautics,” I said. “Do you know it?”
The chauffeur chuckled. “Of course.”
“Oh?” I was hoping he would let me in on the joke, but he did not say another word as he settled behind the steering wheel and took to the road.
I looked over my resume and prepared for the interview, but I only succeeded in getting inside my own head. Doubt crept to the surface and took hold of my nerves. D & D would never hire me. I had no experience in Aeronautics other than an avid interest in space documentaries. As for being a website manager, I had good references, but would they really make me stand out from the crowd? My stomach twisted into a knot as I considered the possibility of rejecting – of packing up my things and going back home to Atlanta – of leaving Connor and his mansion behind.
“If you want some water, help yourself.” The driver broke through my thoughts.
“Oh, yes, thank you.”
Thinking small talk might help get my mind off the interview, I leaned toward the partition that separated us. “Have you worked for Connor for long?”
“A few years now,” he answered.
“And how is he? As an employer, I mean?”
He caught my eye in the rearview mirror. There was a look of amusement on his face. “He’s mighty generous, especially during the holiday season. And when my wife had a baby he gave me three months of paid leave. Oh, yes, he’s mighty fine. I’m sure you’ll figure that out for yourself soon enough.”
I didn’t have the time to figure out what he meant by his final comment for we had arrived at our destination. My nervousness returned in full force. I swallowed back the rock in my throat.
You can do this. Just show them that you’re the woman for the job, I told myself as I stepped out of the car.
“Best of luck,” said the chauffeur as he handed me a card. “Just give me a call if you need a ride anywhere else.”
“Thank you.” I slipped the card into my purse and watched as he drove away. For a few minutes, I remained fixed on the sidewalk. It was like my legs had stopped working.
Finally, I took the first step and allowed myself to relax. What was the point in worrying? I was only making myself sick. Whatever happened, happened. I would just have to live with it and move on. Still, I kept my fingers crossed that all would go well.
The campus was bigger than I’d expected. There were multiple buildings and I wasn’t quite sure which one I was supposed to go into for my interview and for the life of me, I could not find the email they had sent me with the instructions. Thanks, junk mail.
Taking a chance, I entered the building closest to me and was lucky enough to be met with a friendly receptionist. “Hello, I’m here for an interview with Ryan Baker. I know I’m a little early, but I’m not familiar with the area and I wanted to make sure I arrived on time.”
“Not a problem,” said the receptionist. Mr. Baker likes an early bird. You’ll find him in his office. Let me give me him a quick buzz and see if he’s ready for you now.”
“Thank you.”
I busied myself by looking around. The lobby of the building was of modern style. Glass displays showcased what the company was working on. Center stage was a model replica of a jet that looked a lot like the one I had ridden on. Had Connor bought his jet from D & D? Now wouldn’t that be a coincidence?
“Miss?”
I turned around and saw that the receptionist had gotten to her feet.
“If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to the elevator. You’ll want to take it to the seventh floor. Mr. Baker’s secretary will give you further instruction.”
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” The elevator matched the modern style with its simple stainless steel doors. After a short wait, I stepped inside the cabin and rode to the top floor.
Breathe, Poppy, breathe, I recited in my head over and over again. It was all I could do to keep myself from getting off on an earlier floor and abandoning the interview altogether. I couldn’t understand why I was so nervous. Usually, I was confident and surefooted, but there was just so much riding on this particular interview. Getting the job would mean a major overhaul in my life. I would be leaving my shitty Atlantic life for something better. My path to success started here and that’s what made it so nerve-wracking.
Don’t mess up, came that little voice at the back of my head. Yeah, well, easier said than done.
The seventh floor was clean and polished. A young woman sat behind a desk watering a succulent. She smiled at me. If nothing else, at least everyone at D & D seemed super friendly.
“Hello.” I returned her smile and held out my hand. “My name is Pomona Merritt. I’m here for an interview with Mr. Baker. I believe the receptionist downstairs gave him a buzz to say I was here since I’m a bit early.”
“Yes, of course. Right this way.”
It was a short walk to his office. Unlike the rest of the building, it was cozy with an almost hippie vibe to it. There was some sort of rug hanging from the ceiling. It was odd but I sort of liked it.
“He will be with you in just a moment.”
And just so. A well-dressed man with a head of cherubic curls walked into the room. He wasn’t wearing any shoes. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person,” he said. “I must say that you impressed me during our phone interview. This is really only a formality. I really have no doubt that you’ll be hired today.�
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I felt a weight being lifted from my shoulders.
“Mr. Dresden will, of course, make the final decision, but we tend to be in agreement, and I cannot see how he should find fault with such an impressive resume.” He had a copy of it on his desk. He glanced over it for only a moment. “You graduated with high honors, did you not?”
“I did.”
“Well, I think you will find plenty of opportunity to grow here at D & D. It’s a newer company but it’s already making leaps and bounds in the industry. Some of the other tech giants are quaking, as they should.” He came around his desk and sat down on the edge of it, looking me up and down with an expression that spoke of hunger. “Honestly, I think you’d be an excellent addition to the team.”
“I hope so.”
“So, have you been in the city very long?”
“Flew in yesterday after attending my friend’s wedding in Hawaii.”
“No kidding? Mr. Dresden just attended a wedding in Hawaii as well.”
Strange, I thought.
“Maybe I could show you around the town sometime. There’s a lot to see that won’t ever get mentioned in those tourist handbooks.”
Was this guy asking me out on a date?
“Uh…”
“There’s this nice little Italian restaurant not far from here. Or, if you like Korean food–” He stopped in the middle of his sentence.
I looked up, wondering why, and saw that he was looking right at the ring on my finger.
“My apologies, I did not know you were with someone.” His flirtatious tone had evaporated.
“It’s sort of a long story…” I said, hoping that would be enough to get him off the topic. The office fell into an awkward silence. I fidgeted in my seat, growing uncomfortably hot in the thick material of my dress. “I don’t believe you’ve given me a reason as to why I’m having my interview with someone else. Has there been a change of plans?”
“Actually, there has,” he said, returning to his desk. “Mr. Dresden no longer wants a website manager.”