Romance: The Betrayal: Romantic Suspense With A Bizarre Twist (5 page)

“The buyer wants us out in two weeks.”

She covered her face.  She was at a loss for words.  “So, you have already sold it?”

He nodded, “I didn’t want to spring it on you guys.”

She stood up from the chair, angry that her world was spinning out of control.  She couldn’t fight back the tears much longer.  “Spring it on us?  Frank, we all have to look for jobs.  Did you think of that?”

“I know, but…”

She brushed away a tear that had fallen down her cheek.  “I’m sorry, but you don’t know.”  She looked away, “I have to clock in.”  She turned from him.

“Marisa, wait…” he began.

She just shook her head and glanced back toward him.  “I need time to think.”

“Please don’t tell anyone.”

She turned around and sighed heavily.  “Really?  You want the rest of the staff to be shocked by the news more than they already will be?”

“I need to tell them and I will tell them.”

She nodded, “Fine.  I’ll give you twenty four hours,” she headed out of the office and slid her badge through the time clock.  She let out a slow breath, to calm down her nerves, before pushing through the break room door.  She needed to figure out what she was going to do and she had no time to waste.

***

Marisa walked in her apartment and headed for the kitchen.  She reached for the bottle of wine to pour herself a glass.  She needed something to unwind with.  When she poured the glass and lifted it to her lips, she found herself thinking about what she was going to do.  She put the glass down and left the kitchen.

She went to her room and grabbed her laptop and then took it back to the kitchen.  She took a drink and then turned the computer on. 

She punched in a website to search for a job.  As she narrowed it down to places that were based on location, she gradually looked down the list.  She sipped her wine, taking in the positions.  Many of the places she wasn’t qualified for, but then her eyes fell on a few positions that were in search of secretaries, assistants, or receptionists. 

She jotted down their information, then closed her laptop.  She figured it was too late to do anything about the eviction, but she needed to find a job.  She downed the rest of the wine and put the dish in the sink. 

She headed upstairs and turned on the water in the bath, pouring in his some bubbles.  She pulled her clothes off and got into the bath, sinking down so that the bubbles were covering her completely.  She could feel the tears falling down her face and she sniffled.

She hated feeling this way.  She was alone and losing everything that was important to her.  As she wiped a tear from her eye, she heard her cellphone ringing.  She grabbed a towel, wiping her arms off and then reached across to her pants, where she removed the phone.  She saw on the caller ID that it was her mother.  She groaned, but quickly answered the call.  “Hey, Mom.”

“How’s it going?” She asked.  Her voice was cheerful, causing Marisa to try to push away her worries.

“Oh…same ol’ same ol’,” she lied.  “How have you guys been?”

“We have been good.  We were hoping you would come home for the Independence Day Barbeque this year.”

When she was living at home, she loved the barbeque.  However, she was now twenty-five and had moved away nearly seven years ago.  She only went home for the occasional Christmas when she didn’t have to work.  “I think I’ll have to work that day and won’t be able to come back.”  Again, she stated a lie.

There was a long pause on the other end, before her mother spoke up.  “Please try.  Your sister has some news and we would love to see you.”

News?
Marisa thought.  “I’ll see what I can do.  I have two weeks to see if I can work it out.”

“So, you are going to try?”  Her mother sounded hopeful.

“I said I would, but I can’t make any promises,” she snapped, then felt bad that it came across that way.  “I’m sorry Mom.  It’s just things have been busy.”

“I understand,” her mother replied and Marisa knew that she really had no idea.  “We just really miss you.”

“Yes, I know.  I miss you guys, too.”  When she lived at home, her best friend was her sister, who just happened to be only five years younger than her.  It was tough on all of them when she decided to take off right out of high school.  “Hey, I better go.  I hear the doorbell.”  She spoke, just wanting to get off the phone. 

“Goodbye, Mom.”

“Goodbye, Honey.  I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Okay,” she quickly hung up the call and pushed her phone away from her.  She didn’t have time to worry about her parents, too.  She sighed, closing her eyes.  She prayed that she would find a job quickly and all of this could be put behind her. 

She unplugged the bath and stepped out of the tub.  She would get some much needed rest and then spend all day job searching, if necessary, until she had the perfect one.

***

She crossed off the second job on her list and glanced over the openings.  She wasn’t having the best luck, but she still had several positions open that she could apply for.  She drove a few blocks and turned a corner, where a large law office stood in front of her.  She parked the car and crossed her fingers, heading up to the door. 

When she entered, she looked around until she saw a wall that had several names on it.  She walked over and glanced down at the listing.  “Martz, Tucker, and Bradley Law Firm,” she whispered and then glanced up at the wall and noticed the name in gold letters.

She headed in the direction the arrow pointed, to where she was brought to a narrow hallway.

She saw the glass door with the name of the law firm and she went inside.  She looked around to find a lot of bustling going on and people on the phone, talking over copy machines.  She noticed a blonde woman, staring at her computer, but she didn’t seem too distracted by other things going on.  So, she approached her. 

When she didn’t look up, she cleared her throat.  Finally the woman looked up, clearly annoyed.  “May I help you?” She snapped.

“Uh…” Marisa looked down at her chicken scratch on the notepad.  “I am interested in applying for the job.”

The woman rolled her eyes, “You and every other teeny bopper.”

“I’m not teeny bopper.  I’m twenty-five and…” she began, but that made the woman appear even more annoyed.

“Yeah, did I ask?”  She replied, rolling her eyes.

Marisa felt awkward in that moment, nearly stepping back, apologizing for wasting her time, and leaving.  “Um, I—“

“Go through that door,” she interrupted, “until you will find a large desk and you can ask about the position there.  This is a mail room only and we don’t handle such things.  If you would have come through the other door, you would have clearly noticed that.”  She laughed with sarcasm and then went back to her work.

Marisa wanted to say,
did I ask?
However, she refrained from being sarcastic and headed toward the door.  She opened the door to find a much more reserved area.  She walked up to the desk and a middle-aged redhead looked up and smiled.  “Hello, may I help you?”

“Yes, I would like to apply for the position that I saw online.”

The girl nodded, “Of course.  The way interviews are being handled is by being interviewed on the spot.  It usually lasts about a half an hour.  Are you free to stay?”

Marisa’s eyes got big and she nodded, “Of course.”

“Great.  I will see if the boss is available.  Please, have a seat over there,” she pointed to the chairs and Marisa went and took a seat.  She found herself extremely nervous, as she scrunched the paper in her hands and waited for a response.  It was about five minutes later, when she was walking back to her.  “You may follow me.”

Marisa attempted several short breaths, to gain her composure.  When they reached a door, she noted that she was still as nervous as ever.  The woman opened the door, allowing her to walk into an office.  The moment she got inside, she saw a tall, dark, and gorgeous guy sitting at his computer. 

Her voice escaped her, as he looked up.  He had the most magnetizing blue eyes, with brown wavy hair.  His smile was charismatic and she was completely gone.  “Hello.  Please have a seat.”  He motioned to the chair in front of his desk. 

She sat down, unable to function while looking at him.  He smiled, cocking an eyebrow and giving her a peculiar look.  “Why don’t you start off with something about yourself.”

She searched for the words, realizing that she had to say something.  “Um…my…my name is Marisa Jamison.”

“Ms. Jamison, it is a pleasure meeting you.”  Again he smiled and she was caught off guard.  “My name is Jeffrey Bradley, one of the lawyers here.”  She smiled, still unable to speak.  “Why don’t you tell me about your experience.”

She looked down at her hands, then slowly her eyes went back to him.  “Well, I don’t really have much experience.  I currently work at a restaurant.”

“For how long?” He asked, taking down notes.

“Five years,” she replied, hoping to soon start breathing regularly again.

“It is true that this is different from a restaurant, but you have to have customer service skills.”

“I definitely have that,” she spoke, suddenly feeling a bit better.

He smiled, “Tell me why you would want to work in a place like this?”

“Well, the restaurant I work in is getting ready to close and a lot of positions that I was looking at require more experience.  I think this would be an interesting job.”  She shrugged, “I am a quick learner.”

He took down some more notes and then looked up.  “Well, there have been several applicants.  Some more qualified than others.  The pay is competitive and we offer a strong benefits package.  You would start at $55,000 a year.”

She nearly fell off her chair.  “Are…are you serious?”

He nodded, “Did I stutter?”  His face was blank, like he had flipped a switch and joined the dark side, but then quietly laughed and she shook off the strange feeling she had.

“No, but just a bit taken aback.”

He nodded, regaining his smile.  He then stood up and she figured that the interview was over.  She was bummed to realize that it was only about fifteen minutes and she figured that that was not a good sign.  She stood up and shook his outstretched hand.  “When can you start?”

Her jaw dropped, “I’m sorry?”

He shot another glare in her direction.  “When….can…you…start?  My assistant quit last minute and I need a replacement.”  He stated, slowly easing out the words.

“As soon as you need me.”  She conceded, knowing that she would have to work around her work schedule.  She just was elated by the turn of events.

“Okay, then I will see you tomorrow.”  He sat down and went back to his computer.

She processed the words in her mind, but before leaving she glanced back in his direction.  “Tomorrow is Saturday.”

He nodded, “I’m aware, Ms. Jamison.”  She paused at his door, but he looked up.  “Is working a Saturday not a possibility for you?”

She was worried that he would snatch the job away, so she quickly shook her head.  “No, Saturday is great.  Thank you!”  She left his office and silently celebrated that things were looking up.  Tomorrow was a new day and she wouldn’t focus on everything she lost, but everything she was gaining.

***

It wasn’t until she was home and in bed that she even thought about how she didn’t know what time she should be there.  She decided to just go in at eight o’clock and hope that that was fine with him.  She dressed in her dressier clothes and headed to the office. 

When she got there, there was another car in the parking lot.  She parked and went up to the door.  As she walked through the offices, she noticed that the once bustling of a mailroom, was deafly quiet.  She glanced around the room and then went to the other part of the office. 

She opened the door to find that it was also quiet.  She casually walked down the hallway, the only sound was the clicking of her black high heels.  She went to his door and saw him through the glass door, busy at his computer.  She knocked softly.  “Come in!” He called.  She entered, but he didn’t bother looking up.  “You’re late,” he mumbled, continuing to type away.

“I…I’m really sorry.  We didn’t really…“