Bat Out of Hell

by Bernadette Franklin

  “I thought that was salt.”

  Clifford shrugged. “I wouldn’t have a clue, but the boutique’s owner was desperate and willing to try anything to exorcise that bad memory. So, on the scale of things I’ve heard setting up these events? That was barely a blip on the radar.”

  “If I get to that stage preparing for this event, all that stuff I said about not being kidnapped? Ignore it and proceed with a kidnapping. Preferably to somewhere with nice water, a beach, and an art museum within easy walking distance. I’ll even put up with Juliette to escape at that point.”

  “It’s always good to acknowledge you have limits and come up with a plan on what to do should you reach those limits.”

  I nodded my agreement, heaved a sigh, and asked, “What do we need to get done to make this event happen? For some reason, I have the feeling this is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.”

  “I have a binder. We’re going to need some space, and I recommend you take pictures for later reference. If you have a tablet, that will streamline the process.”

  I didn’t, but I’d make do with my new phone. “I’ll tell the boss I need to skip out to handle planning for this. We don’t have much space for spreading out paperwork, and there’s a coffee shop down the street. I don’t know about you, but I could use a drink right about now.”

  I’d just ignore spending some of my hard-earned money on a luxury while facing the fires of hell in the form of planning an event at the boutique.

  Chapter Eight

  It took the rest of the day to go through Clifford’s binder and get a better idea of the mayhem that would be unleashed on the boutique when Juliette Carter came with her clothes. To sell the prospect to the boutique owners, Clifford had statistic sheets for sales for both successful runs and flops. The flops were few and far between, and at worst, the boutiques broke even on their investment on the day of the event.

  The numbers staggered me. In some cases, the event sold out of the new line, which meant no one else could place any orders or take home one of the new dresses, suits, shoes, or other accessories up for sale. While one or two items were the star, the boutique had the option to carry excess from other events that hadn’t entirely sold out for a set markup.

  I appreciated that Juliette Carter set rules on pricing and wouldn’t allow her clothing to be deeply discounted. The contract forbade such discounting without her permission, and she would not accept a lower cut to give any boutique an edge in the market.

  Once Clifford left, insisting I keep the binder so I could make sense of the madness, I questioned my life. If my boss had seen the binder and the strict list of requirements boutiques needed to meet or exceed to remain eligible for the event, I hated her for dumping it on my shoulders. I didn’t even care if she thought I could take over her job.

  Organizing the event was so over my pay grade that I wanted to take the binder and shove it right up her ass before quitting.

  I’d put some serious thought into quitting—after the event.

  Two could play at being evil bitches, and while I wouldn’t completely screw my employer over, I wouldn’t be taking over my boss’s job, not without the sort of pay raise to make it worth my while. I understood the system: I’d be expected to work extra hours to make the event happen without a hitch, and I’d be expected to do it on my time. Unpaid. My manager might authorize overtime for the event.

  If she didn’t, I expected my frayed patience would snap.

  Armed with the binder, I returned to work to find everything quiet. My manager pounced the instant I returned. “How did it go?”

  “It went fine. We have a lot of planning work to do to make sure we stay eligible for the event, and the owner will need to review the stocking options. You, or the owner, will need to get on the phone with them to figure out how much extra merchandise you’ll want to bring in. The binder has the rates for everything, the risk assessments, and everything else needed to make a decision on it. We’ll need to give the designer an answer on stock in a week.”

  She snatched the binder out of my hand, turned on a heel, and marched for her office. “You’re done for today. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

  I checked the time, which revealed I still had three hours left of my shift, and since I wasn’t a salaried employee, it meant unless I got called in for overtime, I ran the risk of being dropped to part-time status. If I dropped to part-time status, I would no longer be eligible for benefits when the enrollment window came up closer to the end of the year. It’d been written in the fine print that the employer held the rights to transition full-time employees to part-time at their discretion. If they meant to cut my hours by fifty percent, they’d have to give me written notice, but I rarely worked more than thirty to thirty-five hours a week except during the holidays, which meant they could bump me below thirty hours into part-time without any notice.

  It wouldn’t take much to lower my average to below thirty hours.

  As a part-timer, I would still get limited benefits, but I’d kiss my health insurance goodbye along with a few of the other perks full-time employees enjoyed, including the discounts I rarely used.

  Shit, shit, shit.

  I didn’t want to think about my insurance, which already cost me too much. I already couldn’t afford a cold, let alone a more serious condition. I focused on my more immediate problem. What the hell was I supposed to do for three hours?

  Beyond catch a bus and walk the hefty distance to my new residence, I had no idea. I checked to make sure I had everything, clocked out, and left.

  Juliette Carter hadn’t waited long before making her first move, and she held two beverages in her hands. “I have brought chai to lure you into a vehicle with me, and I can ask a minion to cover your work if needed.”

  Damn. I’d have to thank Clifford for the warning, but I’d have to have a talk with him about wasting no time telling the evil woman my secrets. “I was cut loose early today.” I eyed the drink in her hand, decided the risk of being kidnapped was worth it, and accepted her offer before claiming my drink. “Insurance renewal is coming soon, so they’re adjusting hours.”

  “I’ve heard that story before. Dropping you to part-time, probably aiming for an average of twenty-nine hours, so they don’t have to give any benefits? Twenty-nine hours per employee, with a few extra employees added to help carry the load. Then, they’ll juggle the schedule to make sure the hours look inconsistent to prevent labor groups from nailing them on planning such a thing in the first place, despite employers having the right to do just that if they please. They don’t even have to juggle the schedule since it’s completely legal. And most boutiques don’t have labor unions helping to secure better work conditions or rights.”

  “Sounds about right. It’s the first time I’ve had hours cut this openly, though. I’d been maintaining full-time since I started working for them.” Granted, I grabbed every extra hour I could, sliding in overtime during unexpected outings. Most at the boutique just lived with either part-time or trying to push for full-time hours.

  At last count, the boutique had four full-time employees, myself and my manager included.

  “They’ll probably bring in a handful of new employees for the event, pick the best, and move them up in pay scale or position, but they’ll test the waters on everyone part-time to help mitigate the cost of the event. I wish I could block boutiques from doing that, but I can’t legally mandate how they handle their employees during preparation or during the event. I can just mandate how many of their employees are on the floor to make sure the event works properly; if they can’t provide the number of employees needed to handle the load, I can’t run the event. I’ve been doing this long enough to know just how many trained staff members we need.”

  “Is this a kidnapping or just a coffee date? I feel I should establish general expectations moving forward.” I sipped the chai to find it made exactly as I’d described to Clifford. “This drink has elevated you to my list of people who can p
articipate in a short-term kidnapping today. The list has two people on it right now.”

  “I assume the other person is the gentleman you had an engagement with at the party?”

  “Not Jonas.”

  “Not Jonas,” Juliette replied, her tone amused. “I hadn’t been planning a kidnapping for today, but I’m always game for an unscheduled kidnapping. The SUV is mine, get in it, and I shall begin your kidnapping.”

  I never understood why the wealthy often drove sporty cars or SUVs, but I got into the vehicle as directed. “I’m only doing this because Clifford told me you’re a friendly crazy person rather than just a crazy person.”

  “Clifford is an excellent minion. Clifford is also a single minion, and it is only a matter of time until I locate a lady worthy of him. She’ll have to be extra special, however, as Clifford has some special needs.”

  “He does?”

  “He keeps snakes, which he loves more than life itself. So, his future bride must love snakes. It’s very hard finding a single woman who loves—or even tolerates—snakes. It will be a challenge, but I look forward to it. Now that he works at the main headquarters, I can begin my work with him in earnest.”

  I wondered if I should warn Clifford, then I questioned why I was getting into a car with Juliette, and I decided I would sip my chai and hope for the best. “You’re a chronic matchmaker, I see.”

  “That didn’t take you long to figure out.”

  “I’m just going to warn you directly that I do not participate in evening activities with any man unless I’m engaged to him, as I have already had my fair share of assholes just wanting sex, which significantly cuts down on the pool of men willing to put up with me the instant they learn they won’t be putting a pawnshop ring on my finger, getting sex, and then wandering off. If they want the goods, they have to be in for the long haul.”

  “Well, I appreciate your directness. My other targets usually just run away screaming, try to hide, or do what I want while utterly clueless I’m helping them secure long-term happiness.”

  “Well, you are a little crazy, Juliette.”

  “Only a little?”

  “I was trying to be polite.”

  Juliette waited until I got into her SUV and closed the door before circling the vehicle and getting behind the wheel. She stabbed the lock button on her door. “Your kidnapping has now begun. You cannot escape me.”

  Sometimes, when someone told me I couldn’t do something, I did it to establish that I most certainly could. When I did this, I looked my target in the eyes while I did it.

  I pressed the unlock button on my door, and the vehicle obeyed my command. “I, too, have the power to lock and unlock doors.” I pressed the button. “Now it’s a hijacking, and I have kidnapped you. I’m just permitting you to drive so I don’t get a second charge of car theft.”

  “I have been kidnapping people for years, and you are the first to challenge me. But fair is fair. I accept your terms. Where are you taking me?”

  “I want evidence you are actually half as nice as people keep telling me. Clifford mentioned you wanted to hire me.”

  “I only employ full-time people. I do not maintain at-will rights, and should an employee be terminated for any terminable offenses, short of immediate firing offenses, we are required to attempt to fix the problem. I do not like firing employees, but I have some rules that must be followed.”

  “Criminal activity being one of them?”

  “Correct. We don’t condone illegal activities. In the case of drug abuse, should the employee seek help, we cover their rehab and other medical expenses and have our own program. Drug use happens. I don’t fire an employee over it. I don’t even require a drug test for hire, but I do require all employees to attend informational sessions on mental illness and drug abuse. You don’t have any of the common signs of a drug abuser.”

  “I considered becoming a raging alcoholic when I found that rats had pulled down my Prada and shredded it for a nest,” I confessed.

  “When I received word and photographs of the dress’s state, I tried to drink straight from the bottle. My husband took the alcohol away until he saw the picture of the dress. I was allowed to have half a shot. I am planning revenge. On the rats, not you. You’ve been punished enough. Mostly.”

  “So, my first task is for you to drive me to your offices, explain what you could possibly want someone like me to do at your company, and, if possible, show me others who work in the same position.”

  “I see you have embraced the idea of taking control of your life with great enthusiasm.”

  “And yours, as I’ve carjacked you. I can point my finger at you in a threatening fashion if you would like.”

  “I love it best when my targets have lost their desire to withstand corporate abuse. It’s so much fun watching them try to take over the world. Or at least take over their situation. I’ve been told your living situation is less than ideal.”

  “I have zero prospects, I lost three hours today when I can’t afford to lose any hours during a pay period, and the only reason those lost hours aren’t going to result in me eating dry noodles for a while is because my second parents would not allow me to even think about skimping on food. My second parents can be scary.”

  “I have arrangements with some landlords in the area of my office buildings. My employees adhere to certain rules, but we control the rent to keep it reasonable. They get continuous business and assurance their tenants are employed and can pay their rent, and my employees can have comfortable lifestyles. I can’t house all of my employees, but those who aren’t in the upper parts of the company are taken care of. The ones who are paid more can afford their fancy pads.”

  “I’d be at the lower end of the tier. I’m used to that.”

  “Darling, you redesigned the perfect Prada into a perfect witch’s costume. You’re going into design, and my designers are paid exceptionally well. What I will do is draw the base design for new clothes, and you will take what I do and turn them into something marketable. I’ll then do more work to refine the design, and that’s what is manufactured.”

  “I know nothing about design, Juliette.”

  “Perfect. If I wanted to hire some fool who knows the current fashion world, I’d go steal employees from design school. If you can’t draw, I will teach you how to draw. If you can’t draw even after lessons, you will sew the design and someone else will draw it. I already know you can sew. Your work on the Prada showed that. The belt was excellent, and I may have you work accessories. I don’t work as much on the accessories as I should, so I always need clever people who take my boring belts and turn them into interesting belts. But I am involved in every design that has my name on it.”

  “I’m not sure this is how it should work.”

  “I’m positive it’s not how it should work, but at my company, that is exactly how it does work. You’ll get used to it.”

  I recognized her tone. Juliette held full confidence I would get used to it, had zero doubt I would be in her employ, and she’d make sure I got used to it—and liked it in the process. While I’d technically carjacked her, I worried she’d already won the battle and the war at the price of being bossed around for a short period of time.

  “Will anyone miss you while you’re kidnapping me and taking me to my own office building?”

  “One of my second parents is expecting to pick me up from work, as he is not convinced I can drive a vehicle safely. He wants me to get in more practice.”

  “Can’t practice driving when you don’t own a vehicle.”

  Well, I appreciated that she understood my situation. “Exactly.”

  “Do you even want a vehicle?”

  “Not particularly.”

  “You like public transit?”

  “Like is a strong word, but it is affordable and gets me to where I need to go. I like walking, but that isn’t really feasible.”

  “There’s an apartment building a block from the office. I can ask the
landlord to reserve the next opening for you. Or I can call in a favor from a friend and ask if you can occupy his residence until my earliest convenience. His place is within walking distance.”

  “That’s not how moving works, Juliette.”

  “It can be. I am very convincing. I am satisfied you can handle any potential issues associated with living under the same roof with a man.”

  “If the man in question is Jonas, he is gay, he has already attempted to move me into his place, and I already said no because I would not want to ruin his lifestyle, which involves many men at one time. Honestly, I’m just jealous, as I can’t even land one man. I can get why they’d want to be with him. When he’s not acting like an asshole, he’s a really nice guy.”

  “Do you have a house key for your second parents’ place yet, or will I have to commit an act of breaking and entering?”

  “I have a key and a code.”

  “I recommend you order me to drive you to their place, and we will sneak inside, get a bag packed, and go on an adventure into Manhattan. I make no promises that you will be returned to your place of employment. I’ll have Clifford drag in one of the new recruits for some testing.”

  “Testing?”

  “So, I have this infuriating habit of claiming employees for a while. I send in minions to cover their work. It’s part of the contract for hosting events with boutiques. I also have arrangements with some shops in case I want to lift one of their employees for a few days.”

  “And then you poach their employees?”

  “If offering a living wage in a different state is sufficient to poach them, then they didn’t deserve their employee in the first place. New Jersey is an at-will state, and they do allow employers to set terms for employment within reason. I try to follow the key rules in states nearby, as it helps when I want to poach an employee. I’m totally going to poach you. I’m just figuring out how to bait my trap.”

  “Honestly, having more than twenty dollars a payday for emergencies and extras is a good start.” I shrugged, well aware I’d found rock bottom. “Don’t take that as complaining. It’s just my situation right now.”