CHAPTER THREE
She Looks Like a Movie Star, Like a Chocolate Candy Bar
The building looked rather unassuming.
Addison wasn’t certain what she’d expected. Perhaps a large, magnificent office structure, ten floors minimum with fancy windows and a lobby that boasted of high ceilings, plush seating, and a huge flat-screen television showing weather and traffic updates. Instead, she was faced with something rather ordinary. There could not have been more than five floors, the outside painted in drab gray, or perhaps pewter was a better descriptor. The parking lot was filled with various makes and models of vehicles, some of a higher caliber, others that looked as if they might have rolled in on a prayer. Parking her navy-blue Bentley next to a 1995 Toyota Corolla, she walked swiftly through the cool air, face down, trying to beat the wind to its next brutal punch.
The glass double doors swung open and she stepped inside, pleased to see a glossy white floor she was certain she’d slip on if not cautious. But, at least it was pretty. Taking careful steps, she made her way to the elevator, almost falling over when a small crowd of people brushed past her as if she were a ghost, invisible to the naked eye.
Her heels were barely broken in. She hated heels, but wanted to look the part—an active member of the corporate world. Or any world, quite honestly. She’d dolled herself up, applied a muted mauve matte lipstick, contour and highlights, and her hair was gelled back into a conservative style.
She felt good in her outfit—a knee-length cobalt blue skirt with matching blazer and a cream blouse. A delicate diamond necklace and earrings set completed the look. Upon entering the elevator, she covered her nose. The distinct odor of shit, or perhaps just a nasty fart, filled the air. The other two people in there didn’t seem to notice the nauseous aroma. They wore pleasant smiles and even engaged in small talk, but she found it stomach-churning.
One of them did it, no doubt.
She rolled her eyes at the two suspects. Once the doors opened, she gasped, taking a deep inhale and exhale after holding her breath for so damn long, she was certain she’d turned a horrid shade of red. Quickly pulling herself together, she placed one foot in front of the other and made her way to the front desk. A woman sat behind a computer, her dark brown wavy hair pulled into a loose up do and clipped with a gold clasp. The young lady cocked her head to the side and looked up at her, a smile spread across her pale face, warming her cheeks with a bright pinkish hue.
“Hi, I’m here to—”
The phone rang. The woman’s smile faded a tad as she held up one finger as if to say, ‘hold on’, and answered. While the receptionist spoke with the caller, Addison took a look around the place. Almost every plastic seat had an ass planted in it. A variety of people, mostly White, either filled out paperwork, played on their phone, watched The Price is Right on the TV screen, or stared off into space. None of them looked particularly enthused, and she sure couldn’t blame them. In her mind, this was an admittance of failure. You couldn’t cut it on your own, couldn’t get someone to hire you for the career you desired; it was the final ditch effort to turn a mess into a miracle. If you were here then you’d reached rock bottom in an act of pure desperation.
“Ma’am? How can I help you?”
Shaken out of her thoughts, Addison placed her hands on the edge of the front desk. “Uh, yes, hi. I have an appointment this morning with a Mr….” She quickly removed the papers from her pocketbook, unfolded them, and glanced at the name. “Mr. or Mrs. Summers.”
“Aiden? It’s a he.” The receptionist’s eyes hooded and a strange smirk clipped the edge of her upper lip, giving her a sweetly devilish look. “He has Quade listed because we have two Aidens here, and it just makes things easier. Anyway, what time was your interview scheduled for?”
“Nine.”
The woman glanced down at her computer and began to type. “Ms. Blue?”
“Yes.” She sniffed, trying to avoid an all-out sneeze. “Addison Blue.”
“Okay Ms. Blue, please fill out this paperwork and Aiden will see you shortly.” The chipper receptionist handed her a clipboard with a mountain of papers. Addison took the bundle and made her way to one of the few unoccupied seats. She sat down, wedged between a woman holding a babbling baby with a staring problem and a man who was breathing hard and heavy through his open mouth. She tried to stay focused as she glanced at the papers, scanning the crap in advance. Page after page was filled with questionnaires, contact information requests, background check permission slips, personal collection data, and even a medical history information sheet. Out of the corner of her eye, to her left, the woman began to bounce the baby up and down on her knee and speak gibberish to the child, cooing and carrying on.
Addison made eye contact with the chubby cheeked little stinker, the tiny tike’s head covered in bright red curls. She offered a watered-down smile to the child, but the baby simply stared at her, unblinking, just looking mad at the whole damn world. She took notice of the child being under-dressed on such a chilly day. Perhaps he was cold and instead of wailing, he found something to focus on. Addison simply wished it had not been her.
A few minutes into filling out the papers, she took note of the heavy breather looking down at what she was writing from the corner of his beady, dark eyes. He crossed his beefy arms over his protruding stomach, which was crammed into an orange T-shirt with some sort of beer-slogan scribbled across it, the damn thing at least two sizes too small. She cleared her throat, hoping that would steer him away, but he remained vigilant, seeming quite interested in her birthday, last place of residence, and place of employment. Having had enough of his shit, she turned to face him. It seemed to take him a second to realize she’d done so, and then they glared at one another.
“May I help you?” she balled her fist, mad at the whole goddamn world, just like the cold baby with the flame colored hair and unblinking, vacant blue eyes. The man simply rolled his eyes, grunted, and turned back towards the television. Looking back down at her paperwork, she continued on. It seemed to be taking forever, each minute passing like a small eternity, another year sliced off her pathetic life.
“Addison Blue?” She heard her name called and raised her head in the direction of the voice. A tall gentleman in a gray business suit called her name from outside an oak wood door which led to an office. His hair was combed in a deliberately messy sort of way, and he sported a neatly trimmed goatee.
“Yes, that’s me.” She stood to her feet and clutched the paperwork to her chest. “I haven’t finished filling this out yet but—”
“Don’t worry about it. You can complete it back in my office.” He waved her over and she followed his lead, thrilled to get away from the heavy breather who smelled like motor oil and corn chips. Once she stepped inside the area, she was surprised to see it was so sunny and bright. The walls were golden with white trim and crown molding, and on them hung neatly placed artwork and motivational posters. Her gaze settled on a large cluster of spacious cubicles, some of which were adorned with floor plants and small decorations. Some employees worked at their desks, and some had clients before them. A number of cubicles sat empty. “Right this way.” She followed the imposing, well-built man, loving the scent of his cologne as it drifted behind his every leisurely step.
He has great taste in clothing… He wears his attire well.
She enjoyed the way he walked, his steps were long and slow—but not too slow.
He had one hand in his pocket, his shirt sleeve raised up ever so slightly, exposing a nice watch. Nothing fancy, but it looked well taken care of; perhaps an object that had been passed down to him. The sounds of copy machines became the soundtrack to their jaunt, along with light chatter here and there. Soon, he veered off towards a spacious cubicle and pulled out a chair for her before going around the desk and sitting on a black chair.
“Go ahead and have a seat,” he said, beginning to type on his computer.
She sat down, feeling a tad like a fish out of water, unsure what to do with her hands and legs. She felt a chill in the room and a host of emotions ranging from anger to confusion birthed inside her, bubbling up like hot chicken broth on a stove. As the man’s fingers flew across the keyboard, she fidgeted in her seat, waiting, her nerves raw. Finally, he turned to her, hands clasped and an amiable smile on his face. His light green eyes twinkled.
“You seem a little nervous.”
“I am.” She broke out into an anxious laugh.
“I don’t bite. Relax.” His lips curled into a smirk. “Everything is going to be fine. Would you like some coffee? Water maybe?”
Taken aback by his pleasantness, she simply cleared her throat and clutched her purse close to her body. “Uh, no, but thank you. I’m fine.”
“Okay.” Moving a few papers around his desk, he peered down at one then looked back into her eyes.
“You’ve been out of the workforce for six years. Why?”
“Well, not completely. I didn’t have a full-time job but I did do some work as a personal trainer, something that gave me a sense of control over my schedule, but no, I wasn’t using my degree or seeking the job that I am after right now.” He nodded in understanding. “I met my husband then got married and continued to do some personal training here and there.”
“Yes, I see you went to college, obtained a degree in…” He paused and looked down at the paper before him. “Speech Pathology. According to these scores, you did well. And I did see you are a certified personal trainer, as you’ve already mentioned, which is great. You worked at a gym?”
“Yes, and I had a few clients who had me go to their homes. I enjoyed it. My husband, I mean, my ex-husband didn’t want me to work full-time. So, I didn’t. That kind of impeded me though, because naturally some clients want to work out several times a week and I missed out on some lucrative gigs. Anyway, I’ve been out of work for so long now that I don’t even know where to begin.” She exhaled deeply.
“Tell me what your vocational journey has been like thus far.”
“Before I got married I worked as a speech pathologist at the hospital, in various departments. Once I got married, I quit my job. Now here we are and I can’t seem to get back in the field. I tried to find some work on my own for months, had some interviews, but things didn’t pan out. Not only that, I feel rusty, like I don’t know what’s going on or what to do. That’s why I’m here; not because I don’t want to work, but I can’t seem to catch a break. I refuse to ask my family for help. Maybe it’s pride, I don’t know, but I have always done things on my own and will continue to do so. All I need is a chance.” She looked down at her purse, then back into his eyes. The man stared back at her, as if sizing her up. As if awaking from a daydream, his eyes suddenly grew larger and he shook his head before turning back abruptly towards the computer screen. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes.” He grinned as he began to type. “Sorry, just a bit tired. I heard everything you said and thank you for being so open and honest about it.”
“Of course. You can’t help me if I lie to you.”
He stopped typing and gave her a kind smile. “Okay, let’s see what we can do.”
He went back to work and she tried to relax, but it proved damn near impossible. After about a minute or so, he turned back towards her full of sudden cheer, as if he’d just gotten the best news ever. She could not help but notice the full details of his face. He was absolutely gorgeous… His eyes were heavily hooded and the eyebrows thick and rather low, as if he had a natural pensive expression. His nose reminded her of one of the Ancient Greek statues, the bridge long, straight, and the nostrils slightly flared. His lower lip was fuller then the top one, but both appeared soft with a healthy pinkish hue. What a striking man, above average in the looks department, to say the least, and his voice was so relaxing, even soothing. Despite it all, she believed the man when he’d declared he was tired. The dark circles under his eyes indicated he hadn’t gotten a second of sleep for at least a couple of days.
She wondered what troubled him so…
“What I want to do, since you have an advanced degree and some impressive work experience, is to take a look at the hospital listings and therapy institutions around the city. I know you already filled out the paperwork, but to save me time having to rifle through for the answer to the question, do you have reliable transportation?”
“Yes, I do. I also just moved to the area by the way, but I am learning my way around.”
“Oh, you’re not originally from Seattle?” He looked at her in confusion, then glanced back over at the computer.
“No, I mean, yes. I am from Seattle, just not the Eastside of Mercer Island. I actually grew up in Clyde Hill.” His expression said it all. The man looked at her blankly, but behind the vacant stare she caught the shock, but he hid it well. Clyde Hill was one of the most affluent areas of the city. Million-dollar homes, enclosed swimming pools, country clubs, and some of the best schools in the entire state. Mercer Island was also known to be prosperous, especially with its waterfront homes and condos with amazing city views, but there was a bit more affordability with a prevalent working class. The have and have nots could not be so easily distinguished.
“I know that, uh, you’re not the one being interviewed, but did you grow up in Mercer Island?” she questioned.
He clasped his hands and looked at her, his expression rather serious as if he were mulling over the appropriate thing to say. With a sigh, he spun around in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Up until age twelve I lived in Mercer Island. Then, some things changed. My mother, brother, and I ended up having to move to Roxhill.” Now, it was her turn to offer the stone-faced expression. Roxhill was one of the worst neighborhoods in Seattle. Filled with rampant crime and high unemployment, she’d heard all about the area on the evening news. “So, I moved back here to Mercer Island after I finished college.” He sighed and tossed up his hands. “Please understand that I know all about having, then losing, then trying to crawl back out of that hole.”
She looked into his eyes and grabbed the edge of her purse, turning and twisting the beaten camel colored leather. She recognized struggle in his eyes. Perhaps he wasn’t tired; maybe this was just his regular state and being exhausted was his ‘normal’.
“All right.” He resumed typing. “So, you’ve got some options here and that’s great. I am going to contact some companies on your behalf, provide your resume and try to get you scheduled for an interview soon. Is all of your contact information up to date?”
“Yes, my numbers, address, everything.”
“Great. Look, I know it’s scary, all right? This is all brand new. You’ve been through some things that have forced you to start fresh. But a career that not only pays your bills but one you find enjoyable is going to open more doors for you and relieve some burdens from your shoulders. Together we’ll come up with something. Just follow my lead. I’m good at this, trust me.” Throwing her a wink, he went back to typing.
Opening her purse, she pulled out a tissue and dabbed at the corner of her eye. She hated herself for becoming emotional, but being forced to go there… to delve into why she’d landed in his office in the first place overwhelmed her.
“Some said that this is what I get.” She couldn’t stop her voice from trembling.
He immediately stopped typing and looked at her, seemingly taken aback by her reaction. Getting to his feet, he rounded the desk and offered her a fresh tissue from the box on his desk. She nodded in gratitude, accepted it and blew her nose. Instead of returning to his chair, he sat on the edge of his desk, looking down at her—but managing to look inside her, too. His eyes were so beautiful… so clear and full of hope. Like a green ocean in Ireland.
“You don’t deserve this. I don’t even know you, but I know that much is true. The heck with what other people think, okay? If I lived my life based on other people’s thoughts of me, I’d never even get up in the morning.” He chuckled, causing her to smile. “You’re not a victim, you’re a survivor. You kept getting up and taking on the day. That has to account for something.” His words were kind and warm, soothing like a soul elixir.
The man crossed his arms and gave her room to just breathe. How kind he was. “You would think that it would in fact count for something but I think some people believe I’ve never suffered, that everything is easy for me. See, I was raised in a very well-off family. It was me and my two sisters. I married for love, Mr. Summers, not money. My parents are good people, but they disapproved of who I was marrying. I was blinded by love and I wouldn’t listen.”
“It happens to the best of us.”
“He was no good… He alienated me from everyone, tried to strip me of my identity. I was strong, I let him make me weak… I was such a fool!” More tears streamed down her face and she flushed with embarrassment. “I’m sorry. You’re not a counselor. Well, you are a job counselor, but not a psychologist. I need to lie on a couch, not bore you with my troubles. I shouldn’t even be talking about this right now. I’m sure I look like some basket case. I’ve made a terrible first impression.”
“No.” He gently reached down and touched her shoulder. “It’s all right. This happens a lot, actually. People come here and are sometimes upset. They need to vent. I can handle it. Now go on, tell me whatever it is you want to get off your chest.” She hesitated for a moment, then nodded, accepting his offer, needing to take him on his proposition in the worst way.
“I used to have a lot of friends, Mr. Summers.” She wiped a falling tear away with her tissue. “I used to be close to my sisters and the rest of my family. But… I let this man come between us! And now… now I am too ashamed and prideful, I guess, to even let them know how low I’ve fallen from grace! The shameful things I did and said to them… the disgraceful things I did and said during the marriage to keep a man who didn’t want to be kept. It’s like I totally lost myself. I don’t know who that woman was that was taking this man’s abuse. I’ve always done my own thing and refused to have others run my life. Why this time was different I don’t know. I supported his dreams while my life turned into a nightmare. I was so stupid!”
The angry tears fell, her lower lip trembled, and she felt like a damn fool. He handed her another tissue.
“You want to hear the truth, Ms. Blue? We’ve all been stupid when it comes to love at least once in our lives. But you live and learn, you get mad, you cry and scream, you get angry—and then you put one foot in front of the other and walk on.” She looked up at him, and he was smiling. It was a sad smile, but a smile nevertheless. “As hard as it is, I want you to forgive yourself, okay? Forgive yourself for that stupidity as you call it and look forward from this day on. You are here in this office to aid in your fresh start, right?”
“Yes.”
“You just moved into a new place. Your money is tight. But let’s look at what you’ve got going for you.” He began to count off his fingers. “According to your resume, you have a great education and went to one of the top schools in the state. Secondly, you have a certification to give personal training and please don’t misconstrue this or take it wrong, but you yourself appear to be in great physical shape and you’re breathtaking. That can only help you.”
She couldn’t help but smile at his words. “You have drive—I saw where you applied to all sorts of places but just couldn’t get your foot in the door. Not once, though, have you given up. You could have gone crawling back to the comfort of your family. You say it’s pride, but whatever the reason, you didn’t. You want to stand up on your own two feet. That’s admirable. So, with all of that going for you, you have no reason to keep beating yourself up. It’s self-destructive and counterproductive, anyway. My motto is, if it isn’t helping you, toss it away.”
He leaned forward and delicately touched her arm. She nodded and smiled at the man, feeling better already. Getting back to his chair, he resumed typing for a spell and she could barely breathe. She sat there quietly, her emotions swirling and whirling within her, choking her up.
I like him…
She’d become suddenly curious about the man…
I wonder why he had to move when he was twelve?
He was working at one of the best job placement agencies in the city, and people from all walks of life entered that door, but this was no free service. The old adage proved true: in order to make money, you had to have some money.
Why did he choose this career?
How was it that he seemed to know just what to say and be compassionate when he simply could have handed her a slip of paper with a number to call a certain office for a job lead and then sent her on her un-merry way? Instead, he took a more personable approach, and it warmed her all over.
She glanced at his left hand.
No wedding band or wedding band tan… I wonder if he is seeing anyone? Probably. He comes off as one who knows a lot. He gives advice and seems to like giving it, too. Maybe he is a counselor of sorts after all. I guess it comes with the job, just like he said. He’s professional but kind…and sexy…
“All right, Ms. Blue, I’ve got all your details updated and ready to go. I am going to give you a packet with our information. My card is in there, too.” He handed her a fancy, sleek, white folder filled with neatly placed papers. She opened it and began to flip through as he continued his spiel. “There’s information in there about updating your resume, but yours looks pretty good as is. My email address is also in there in case you want to send something that way instead. Do you have any questions?” He cocked his head to the side, his eyes hooded.
So damn sexy…
“Um, well, what are the next steps? An interview with a company?”
“Well, yes, but first I am going to personally shop your credentials around. Meanwhile, I will be reaching out to various establishments and agencies based on the positions they have posted internally, which the public has no access to. Once companies show interest, I will get you an interview but right before you go there, I would first brief you on the company and the position. Then I’d have you rehearse with me as if you are being quizzed by the business in question. Any place I set you up with, I already know how they conduct things and what they are looking for. I’m very good with placements in your field, so I think you’re in luck.”
She filled with optimism at his encouraging words. “That sounds promising.”
“It is. So, I’d like to get you set up in the system and once we get some bites, I’ll call you into my office and we’d go over it. I will lend you some advice then send you on your way. I will do the same with each job lead that comes to my attention. Once you land a position, of course you know I’d then receive the remaining portion of my payment from you and a fee from the company. The first three months you are there, there will be reports sent back to me that I will keep in your record. After the ninety-day mark, the case is closed and I am no longer privy to your progress thereafter. Any other questions?”
“Yes, actually, I have one.”
“Okay, go right ahead.”
“You said that you’re good at this, at getting placements for those with my skillset, basically. How was I paired with you, or was it random? If, for instance, you were suddenly sick for a couple of weeks, would someone else handle my case?”
“Great question, well, questions because you asked more than one. I was paired with you based on your resume, yes. Many of us, however, are capable of handling your case, not just me. We offer full transparency so, if you go to our website and click on my profile name, you will see how long I’ve been doing this, my success rate, and things like that. If, for some reason, I am sick for an extended period of time or, God forbid, something happens to me, someone else would take over your case within a 48-hour timeframe. That would be enough time to get them up to speed.”
“Okay, thanks so much. I’m sorry for crying like I did a while ago. You don’t need that this morning. I know you said it was fine, but I feel just silly about it. That’s not typically my nature. I’ve just been under a lot of stress lately.”
She stood, and he followed suit, waving his hand to dismiss her words.
“No, please, don’t worry about that. No need to apologize. It happens. Everyone gets upset from time to time. You’ve been through a lot lately, I get it.” He extended his hand and she shook it. His touch was firm, but not too tight. Just right.
“Thanks again.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll walk you out.”
Him walking beside her, they made their way through the maze back to the lobby area. As they journeyed, he waved at a couple of people and smiled. They waved back, some even enthusiastically calling out his name. Everyone seemed to know him… in fact, if she were a betting woman, she’d say he was well-liked. When they reached the door, he extended his hand to her once more. She looked down at it, then slowly wrapped her palm against his.
“I look forward to working with you, Ms. Addison Blue. It was nice meeting you. I like your name by the way. It’s pretty.”
“Thank you.” Heat warmed her cheeks.
“You’re welcome. I’ll be in touch soon and enjoy your time off. I have a feeling you’ll be back in the working world sooner than you think…”
And with that, he turned away and left her standing there. Swallowing hard, she walked out of the building. She suddenly felt taller and couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. Perhaps life wasn’t so bad after all. Maybe she would get a fresh start and finally leave the past behind her…