Reece
Once I was able to calm down, I went about my work day without any other problems. Troy was coming back and forth to the lobby to check on me, but I thought he was coming back for other reasons. I just let it ride, because I didn’t need him to watch over me. I was fine; just as long as I don’t ever see that customer again.
After we closed, I was ready to leave. I leaned against my car, too tired to drive, when I looked at the sunset. I was so distracted by that, that I didn’t even notice someone touching my arm.
“What the …?”
I looked over to see Troy standing beside me.
“Hey,”
“Hey. Why haven’t you left yet?”
“Just too tired to. That, and just looking at how gorgeous the sunset is.”
“I guess it does make up for how things were today.”
I smiled. “That’s true,”
“Well, I’ll let you continue watching the sunset. Time to go. I’m tired.”
“You don’t want to watch it with me? I’m sure this is something you have never experienced.”
Troy smirked and I smiled. “Why do you say that?”
“Because I can’t picture you as the sentimental type.”
“I can be.”
“Sure,”
“Fine, if you want, we can watch it from a different view. Come on.”
I watched him as he slowly held out his hand. “I won’t bite, baby,”
“So, you’re calling me baby now?”
“It slipped out.”
“You’ve been doing that lately.”
“Come on, before the sun actually sets.”
I rolled my eyes as I walked past him. He didn’t speak as he led me to the back of the store. There was a rock centerpiece nearby as he sat down. He put his hand on his thigh, as I just stood there looking at him.
“You can sit on my lap so you can have a better view,”
“I think I can see it from right beside you,” I said as I took a seat beside him. We stared at the picturesque view, as I took a deep breath. I’ve always loved to watch the sunset. In Dallas, when I had a bad day, I would go onto my apartment balcony and just relax my mind while watching the sun go into the clouds. I always thought that was the best part of my day.
“Tell me why you decided to work here?” I asked Troy.
He stared at me as I gave him a curious glance. “Why do you want to know?”
“Maybe because I do. Everyone has a reason to why they choose what they want to do.”
“That’s not true. Sometimes your choices are forced. You might not want to be where you are in life, but you do it because you have to in order to survive. I’m sure that’s what you’re doing right now.”
I sighed. “Sort of, but we’re talking about you, so don’t flip the script on me.”
Troy laughed. “Fine. My parents used to work here. While they were busting their asses here in the sun in the summer and the cold during the winter, I was out in the streets, doing whatever I wanted to do, whether it was drugs, staying out all night, whatever. I didn’t realize then what I was doing was hurting them. Sure, they had their issues, but they were still my parents. They were still looking out for me, whether I liked it or not.”
“Well, look at you now; you’re a manager.”
“Which honestly, I didn’t want to do. After I went to prison for robbery, my dad got me a job here. I felt I couldn’t get anything else because of my record, so I just moved up the job ladder. I started off working in detail as a regular employee, became a detail manager within a year, became an assistant manager a year after, and later moved up to store manager.”
“That’s impressive.”
“It is, but I had to do a lot to get here. Some things I’m not proud of.”
“Where are your parents now?”
Troy looked down. “They both passed away three years apart. My mom passed first, then my dad.”
“I’m really sorry to hear that.”
He shrugged. “That’s life, right? What about you, are your parents still living?”
I nodded. “Yep. They probably see me as a disappointment, though. Good thing I’m an only child. If I had a sibling that’s doing better than me, I’m sure my parents would had been rubbing that in my face.”
“You don’t think they’re proud of you?”
“I’m thirty-one and still don’t know where the hell I’m going in life. I don’t think that qualifies as an achievement.”
“At least you’re doing something with yourself and not out in the streets living a life of crime. You’re making money for yourself; that’s an achievement.”
“I guess it’s a good thing my cousin is the owner. I probably wouldn’t have gotten this job if it wasn’t for her.”
“Maybe not, but I have seen what you can do. Not only have you caught on quickly with the register, but you know the paperwork well too. You’re going to do fine, Reece.”
I smiled. “Thanks, Troy.”
We looked at the sunset as I took a deep breath. Troy slowly touched the back of my arm as I looked at him.
“I’m going to go. I think you need this time alone,”
Our eyes connected before his eyes lowered to my lips. I didn’t know what to think as he got up.
“Enjoy the rest of your day, Reece. Try to have a better one tomorrow.”
“Of course. Bye, Troy.”
He nodded as he went to his car. So many thoughts were going through my mind while watching the sun setting. I really do need to find a way to better myself; I just don’t know where to start.
***
After getting myself together, I decided to go home. Well, actually I drove to Vanessa and Mark’s home. As I pulled up into the driveway, I saw another car parked, wondering who that could be. I slowly got out and went to the door. I was about to put my key in when the door opened and I immediately smiled.
“Hey, Reecee!”
“Simone! Hey, girl!” I exclaimed and pulled her into a hug. Simone is like a sister to me, just like Vanessa always had been. For awhile, I had to let go of some of my guilt because I’d missed both hers and Vanessa’s wedding, but I couldn’t get off from work that day. Of course the two understood, but these two were my girls; they might get on my nerves sometimes, but I still loved them.
“I’m so glad to see you. I didn’t think you would ever leave Dallas,” Simone said.
“I had to eventually, right?”
“You had no choice if you wanted a job. Besides, if all goes well, you could be heading up your own store there.” Vanessa said as she walked into the living room.
I stared at her as she gave a small smile. “But after what I saw today, that probably won’t be happening.”
I sighed as Simone gave a baffled look. “What’s going on?”
Vanessa pulled out her phone and went through the home screen to go on an app. She gave the phone to me as I stared at me and the customer going at it at the store.
“What the hell happened?” Vanessa asked.
“I would like to know that too,” Mark said as he walked into the living room with his and Vanessa’s daughter, Samantha. I was amazed to see her since I hadn’t seen her in months. Now she was walking, which made me smile.
“Before you both fuss at me, can I at least give my little cousin a hug?” I asked as I gently placed Samantha in my arms. She said something that I didn’t quite understand, but she’s only two, so her words were not going to make sense.
“I did talk to Troy, and he told me what happened, but we want to know your side of the story.” Mark said.
“What did Troy tell you?” I curiously asked.
“He just said the customer was giving you a hard time and that Pamela didn’t write the services down on the customer’s ticket.”
“We can clearly see the customer was being an ass, but you can’t be doing what you did, Reecee. You know that customer could have easily blasted us on social media.” Vanessa said.
“I know, and I apologize. I also apologized to Troy.”
“Please, please, please, Reece, just don’t do it again. Hell, we didn’t think we had to watch both you and Troy.” Mark said.
“Speak for yourself,” Vanessa mumbled.
I stared at Vanessa, who shrugged.
“Anyway, I have to go down to the restaurant. There’s an issue with the supplier that I have to deal with,” Marc said.
“Why can’t Victor handle it?” Vanessa asked.
“I am part owner; Victor can’t do everything. I’ll be back, okay.” he said as he gave Vanessa another kiss before grabbing his keys, telling us bye, and going to the garage.
“I don’t see how he does it. He’s running both Suds and Lucinda’s and he doesn’t seem a bit tired.” Simone said.
“I know. Just running Suds is irking my nerves; but in a good way.” Vanessa said.
I was playing with Samantha’s hair as I watched both Vanessa and Simone. They were staring at me as if I’d taken some cookies from the cookie jar after our parents told us not to.
“What?”
“I just want to know how you feel about working with that fine ass Troy? I mean, I have Enrique, but Troy was always second in my Hispanic man fantasy.” Simone admitted.
“Seriously? I mean, I’ll admit, Troy is good looking, but he’s an ass. I don’t see what women see in him. Once he opens his mouth, all the attraction is gone.” Vanessa said.
“I don’t think the women he messed around with were thinking about that. They just wanted to see what he was working with.” Simone said.
I covered Samantha’s ears, hoping she hadn’t heard anything Simone just said. “Simone, there is a child in the room,”
“Sorry, but I’m telling the truth. I’m sure when you first saw Troy, your panties became wet, Am I lying?”
“Oh wow, Simone,” Vanessa mumbled. She walked over and took Samantha from me.
“I’ll be back.” She said as the two headed to Samantha’s room.
I snickered as Simone laughed. “Like she wasn’t like that with Mark. Anyway, tell me the truth; what was your first impression of Troy?”
I leaned back on the couch. “I’m not going to lie. He’s sexy as hell. I don’t look at Hispanic men like that, but I really thought he was hot.”
“But…”
“Vanessa is right; he’s an ass. Not only that, but he has been with countless women; the majority of them worked at the store. I can’t talk to someone like that.”
“But what if he wasn’t a hoe? Would you have?”
“What’s with all of the questions? I’ve only been working there for two days. There won’t be any type of love connection going on because I don’t date people that I work with. I never have, and I never will.”
“It was like that with Enrique; I thought our relationship was going to be over since I decided to work at Suds, but I couldn’t stay away from him. I had already fallen in love with him. Despite everything that I believed in, I had to do what I could to make things work.”
“I’m not thinking about dating Troy. Even though we had a decent conversation before I left work. We even had one after the customer fiasco. I think he can be nice when he wants to be; he just chooses not to.”
“Maybe there’s more beneath the surface with Troy Jimenez. Maybe you should find out one day.”
I shook my head. “Not going to happen, Simone. Anyway, the entire issue with the customer wouldn’t had happened if Vanessa would had told me that I was going to run the register too. She just told me I’ll just be handing the legwork for the company.”
“I didn’t tell you because you wouldn’t have taken the position, but you have to know every aspect of the business if I do decide to give you the new store in Dallas,” Vanessa said as she walked into the room.
“Samantha’s already asleep?” I asked.
Vanessa smiled. “She’s out like a light. She might wake up in the middle of the night.”
“Do you really think I’ll be capable of handling a store on my own? I don’t know anything about the car wash business.”
“That’s why you’re there so you can learn. I may talk smack about Troy, but he’s one of the best in the company. He’s hands-on in all areas of the business. When he’s focused, he knows his shit.”
“I’m hiring another cashier,”
“Which is fine; but you still need to learn that side of the store as well. You never know when you have to jump in one day to help. Even Troy and Jamarcus help out with it.”
“That’s true,” Simone agreed.
“I have been learning the various parts of the business, but cash handling is not for me. I’m not going to do it; only if needed.”
“Give it a few more days and then you can hire someone else, but you need to know everything around the store. Inside and out.”
“Huh?” I asked while staring at Vanessa.
“I mean it. To be a successful owner, you also have to understand what the employees do outside. So once you do find a new cashier, you have to learn the ropes with ushering, production, and detail.”
I continued to glare at Vanessa, wondering what the hell she’d been smoking. Ain’t no way in hell am I working outside.
“What, you think you’re too good to work outside for a day or two?” Vanessa asked.
“I’m sure you haven’t done any of that.” I said.
“That’s where you’re wrong. When I took ownership, I did shadow a few people at the Harrison store, so I do know what needs to be done if anything does happen.”
“Wonderful,” I mumbled.
“Trust me, you’ll thank me one day for doing this,”
“I doubt it,”
“I have to agree with Vanessa. In order to be a successful owner, you have to know ever aspect of a company. You can’t know one area and not know the rest,” Simone interjected.
I nodded. “Fine, you’re both right. I’ll do what I need to do.”
“That’s all I wanted to hear, cuz.” Vanessa said.
“Now, going back to Troy; how are you able to work with him without wanting to pounce on him?” Simone asked with a wicked grin.
I mean mugged her. “Simple, because I only want a working relationship with him. I’m not trying to date him.”
“I didn’t say anything about dating. You might want to bang him in the office.”
“Simone, I don’t want to do anything with Troy. I don’t want or need a man in my life right now. I just want to focus on my life and which path I want to take.”
“I’m glad you feel that way, Reece. And stop trying to put thoughts in her head, Simone. Not everyone wants to take a turn on the Ride of Troy. So get that thought out of your head.” Vanessa said.
“Sorry if I’m hitting a nerve with you two, but I see the look in your eyes, Reece. There’s something there and I think you should explore it.”
“Well, you’re being delusional, because there’s nothing between us. I’m just there to work, nothing more.”
“I was just asking, because I know attraction when I see it, and it’s all in your eyes, girl. You want him.”
I rolled my eyes again and shake my head at her. Simone has always been like this, so I shouldn’t be too surprise about her behavior.
“Don’t pay any attention to Simone. Besides, if you even think about dating Troy, I probably would never speak to you again,” Vanessa said.
“Why is that? Did something go down between you two that I don’t know about?” I asked.
Vanessa gave me a look that said, “please”. “I just know Troy’s type. He’s kind of like Hamilton; he’ll be with you for a little while, get what he wants from you, and move on to the next woman. That’s what he does.”
“Maybe he just hasn’t found the right woman to settle down with. I know he was married before, but that’s probably why he’s doing the things he’s doing.” Simone advised.
I looked at the two, completely surprised to hear that bit of news. “He was married?”
“Yep, about four years ago. Yes, he was cheating on her, but she was cheating on him too. With his best friend. Now, they’re married and have two kids.”
“Wow,” I mumbled. Maybe that’s why he’s the way he is now.
“I think it’s goes a bit deeper. Something happened to him to make him the way he is. I bet you my career that something did.”
I sighed. “Well, I’m not sure what happened, but I’m going to bed. I’m extremely tired.”
Vanessa smiled. “That’s fine. Try to have a better day tomorrow, okay.”
“Of course. Night, cuz. Night, Simone.”
The two nodded as I went up the stairs and to my room. I didn’t care about eating or taking off my work clothes as I flopped down on the bed. I turned to lay on my back and look at the ceiling. What Simone said sort of hit home for me as I thought about my own experience with relationships. More than likely, someone did break Troy’s heart; he wouldn’t be a douchebag if someone he really cared about hadn’t stomped on his heart and didn’t think anything of it. I don’t know if that’s something that I would want to find out; but at least I have a reason to understand why the way he is.