Perfect Strangers

by Abby Gale

  “Okay, Mom. I’ll come. That will be a good change for me, too, I think,” I sighed.

  “Melody, sweetie? Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, yeah… just looking for a job, you know. It’s an exhausting process,” I gave her the least detailed answer I could.

  “Oh, don’t be nervous over a job, baby girl. You’ll find a great place in this world. You’re a brilliant young woman, I know any company will want to make you a part of their team,” she said with the certainty of a proud parent.

  I wished I could believe that… but I still gave her the answer she expected, “You’re right, Mom. It’s only been for four months anyway. I’ll get a good job.”

  “Yes. That’s my baby girl.”

  “When should I be there, Mom?” I asked to change the topic.

  “Dinner is at seven, baby, but you should come early so we can catch up,” she answered happily. I smiled at her giddiness. She sounded young again, like when she was with my dad. After that, her voice lost its excitement, she became almost dull and now hearing her voice like this gave me happy tears.

  “Okay, Mom. I’ll be there early,” I said, before adding “And Mom?”

  “Yes, sweetie?”

  “I love you.”

  “Oh, baby… I love you, too. See you tonight.”

  Brad’s house was a total family home that had a great garden full of flowers and barbeque equipment ready to use. The house had a happy feeling with the stupid “welcome” signs that was hanged on the door and printed on the doormat. It looked really good, like out of a family magazine kind of good. But the best thing about this house, the thing that made it feel homey for me, was the delicious smell of my mom’s cooking.

  I knocked on the door, excited to see my mom after her two month long honeymoon. Instead, Brad opened the door. He looked so different than I remembered from our Skype talk. At that time his face was flushed with the effect of alcohol, but now he looked cool and handsome. He was a silver fox with tanned skin, bright blue eyes, and a well-built figure for a forty-something aged man.

  “Melody… welcome. It is so good to finally meet you in person,” he welcomed me, holding out his hand. We shook hands as I let him guide me inside the house, “Hi, Brad. Thanks for the invite.”

  “Is it Mel, Brad?” I heard my mom’s voice, but before answering her she turned the corner with an apron.

  “Hey, baby girl! I thought you would come early,” she said, pulling me for a hug.

  “Yeah, I had something to take care of,” I murmured, didn’t want to bring up the interview. But her eyes showed concern no matter how much I tried to act normal, “Is everything alright?”

  “Yes, Mom. It smells delicious. Do you need any help?” I changed the topic as she guided me toward the kitchen.

  “No, dear. Everything is ready. Hope you’re hungry.”

  “Yeah, famished.”

  “Brad?” she called out.

  I was feeling slightly awkward, standing in their kitchen like an alien as they happily chatted and worked together. Watching my mom with a man after all those years felt strange… not bad, but just… strange.

  “Melody, let’s go to the dining room. Do you have any preference in wine?” Brad asked kindly. He looked so comfortable with me being here and didn’t make me feel like I was a stranger in his house. That felt good.

  “No, I’m not picky.”

  “Is Kellan coming, love?” Mom asked, coming into the dining room behind us. I felt Brad’s face turned upset, “He said he needed to attend a meeting.”

  “We can wait if he’ll make it,” Mom insisted.

  “No. We don’t need to wait. He won’t come, Georgia, you know that,” he told her, giving me a kind smile like he was trying to reassure me that everything was alright yet there was still the awkward silence during the dinner. We all focused on our food, giving each other polite smiles.

  Brad cleared his throat, “So, Melody. Tell me about yourself. Your mom said you graduated this summer.”

  “Yeah. I had double majors in Business Administration and Architecture. I want to be a CEO in an architecture holding one day.”

  “Wow, double major. That’s great. You seem ambitious. I’m sure you’re getting lots of propositions from companies,” he said, smiling.

  “Actually, no. I mean as a new graduate, people don’t want to give me big responsibilities… and I get it. I’m trying to find a job where I can be an assistant or even an intern, to be honest. I’m trying to keep my hopes as realistic as possible,” I told him, trying not to look pathetic about all this.

  “Oh, baby. You will find the perfect job. Have you applied to any positions yet?” my mom asked, caressing my hand on the table.

  Yeah… five different companies.

  I didn’t tell her this, though… didn’t want to upset her, so I went with a white lie, “Only one, Mom… it was a job I wanted and I think it just made me a little sad. But you’re right. I will find another one.”

  “Yes, I’m sure you will find a job that will suit you, Melody,” Brad said and excused himself from the table, leaving me alone with my mom.

  “He seems like a good guy,” I muttered.

  “Yeah, he really is… and he is excited to have you in the house. Especially since his relationship with his son isn’t in a good place,” she whispered.

  “What’s wrong with him and his son? Is it because he married you?”

  “I don’t know the whole story, but I think Kellan blames his father for the divorce. I’m not so sure… but they were like this before our marriage.”

  Before I could say anything, Brad came into room, “Melody, would you like to work as an assistant to an architect?”

  “What?” I blurted, but quickly recovered from it, “I mean, of course. Yeah! I mean… yes, I would love to.”

  Brad chuckled, “You have an appointment tomorrow. I cannot guarantee the result, but you need to go and let a very stubborn guy interview you. Don’t let him intimidate you, though, he’s already been impressed with the fact that you graduated with double major degrees.”

  “Who will interview me? Which company?”

  “Hawke Architecture Holding. Kellan Hawke… my son.”

  “What do you think? Do I look presentable enough?” I asked Becca, turning around to give her the full view.

  “Boring, you mean? I’m still thinking you should unbutton one more button on that shirt, but I will admit I liked the pencil skirt. Grey is your color, Melody Crown,” she winked at me after studying me closely.

  “I’m going to an interview, Becca, not a date.”

  “I’m just saying some cleavage wouldn’t hurt you or your soon-to-be-boss,” she wiggled her eyebrows.

  Rolling my eyebrows, “Yeah, yeah, sure… if we keep up with this chat, I’m gonna be late. Can I borrow your car?”

  “Of course you can. I’m working from home this week,” she waved me off, heading to the kitchen.

  She was an excellent editor and mostly working from home, keeping me company during my unemployed status. Also, I was her charity project since she didn’t accept any money from me for rent. I hoped I would change this situation after the interview.

  I programmed the address into the GPS, trusting this device to show me the way. The address Brad gave me was a place outside of the city that I wasn’t familiar with. As I followed the directions, the scenery changed. Everything I passed started to smell of money. The buildings looked like masterpieces and I wondered who created this artistry.

  Finally, I came to a stop in front of a cylindrical building, made from only steel and glass. It looked like a prism, rising from earth to atmosphere, creating halos over the earth… forcing us human beings to worship the name that was written in bold and confident letters: Hawke Architecture Holding. It took my breath away, I hurried inside to see the interior design of this place. Inside was as stunning as outside. The décor was pronouncing the beauty of simplicity; steel, white, gray, and black were everywhere I saw. Nothin
g was unnecessary, no canvases on the walls… and I guessed there was no need for canvasses since the sunlight that came from windows reflected on the inside like a festival of color.

  I loved this place.

  I wanted to work here.

  With determination in my steps, I headed to the reception area.

  “Hello, welcome to Hawke Architecture. I’m Stacey. How can I help you… Miss?” the receptionist welcomed me with a friendly smile.

  “Hi, Stacey! Melody Crown, I’m here for an interview with Kellan Hawke,” I answered.

  “Do you have an appointment with Mr. Hawke? He hates surprise visits, Melody, I mean, Miss Crown. I wouldn’t like to see you leave the building crying,” she said, concern was written in her make-up free yet flawless face. Her attire was professional, shirt and pencil skirt, like mine, but her hair looked ridiculous yet cute with two pigtails. I liked her immediately.

  “He must be expecting me,” I said, smiling.

  “Okay, let me give him a call.”

  Nodding, I took in my surroundings, couldn’t help myself. It was like being in the Coliseum, just made of glass.

  “Mr. Hawke, Melody Crown is here to see you, sir,” she said to this Kellan guy and waited for a response, biting her lip, “Yes, sir.”

  “He is waiting for you, Melody… uggh, I mean Miss Crown. I can’t get used to this formality,” she pulled her pigtails.

  Laughing, “Don’t worry. Melody is fine by me… even Mel, if I can get the job. Where is Mister Hawke’s office?”

  “Fifteenth floor, his office is the only one there. Good luck,” she waved at me.

  On the fifteenth floor there were different rooms, I wondered why Stacey told me it was only his office. But soon, I noticed those rooms were conference rooms; I could see them thanks to glass windows. There was only one room that had tainted windows. Taking a deep breath, I knocked the steel door.

  “Come in,” I heard a muffled voice behind the door.

  Opening the door, I got into the room… to come to a halt with shock.

  “You?” I whispered.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?”

  “I said, what the fuck are you doing here? Are you some kind of stalker bitch?” he said through gritted teeth. I could feel the rage building inside him.

  “You cannot fucking talk to me like that! I don’t know who you are, but I’m here for a job interview,” I shouted at him.

  Frowning, he asked more calmly, “Wait… are you Melody Crown?”

  “Yes,” I started, but the realization finally hit me as I took in his office, his place in here, “And you are Kellan Hawke. Fuck!” I murmured.

  I watched as he rubbed his temples in distress. I didn’t know what to do or what to say in this situation. I needed a job and this one seemed like everything I wanted. Also, there was the parent factor. If I got out of this office now, what would I say to my mother and to Brad as explanation.

  Mom, I can’t work there because I fucked your husband’s son?

  Even the thought of it made me blush. I needed to find a good explanation to give them, but to be honest I wanted to work here. From the first second I stepped inside the building I felt good here. But he would be my boss if I worked here and to say he was annoyed with the idea was such an underestimated.

  Sighing, I murmured, “Should I leave?”

  He didn’t answer me, but didn’t tell me to leave either.

  “Kellan, will you say something? I didn’t know I would see you today. I’m here because I need a job, but if it will bother you that much then I can leave,” I said with more confidence than I felt. But it caused him to lift his head.

  “You’ll leave and then what?” he snapped, but before I replied him he continued. “You’ll try to find a job as good as this one and probably won’t be able to. Then, I will try to find a good assistant and more work will be piled up here.”

  “So, what?” Taking a tentative step toward his desk. He watched me without an emotion in his face, but he sighed and motioned for me to sit down. Playing with my fingers I waited him to make his decision.

  Finally, he broke the silence with a professional manner, “Have you brought your file with you? Brad said you graduated with a double major degree.”

  “Yeah… here, my file,” I put the file on top of his desk. I was still taken aback by the coincidence. He read through my file as I waited in silence.

  “Graduated with 4.0? A nerd, huh?” he asked, crooking his eyebrow.

  “Yeah, I was a nerd,” I shrugged.

  “Past tense?” he chuckled, “Right… now, you’re a wild party girl who has one night stands,” he continued.

  “Will you bring that up at every opportunity? Because if we’re going to work together that would be awkward,” I snapped with a confidence I didn’t even feel.

  Swallowing, he murmured, “Point taken.”

  A few minutes of silence filled the air as he continued to go through my file. Being in here, after a wild night of sex with him was unnerving.

  “I need an assistant, Miss Crown. I need someone who can handle my busy schedule, who is smart enough to know what I will need even before I tell her. I need you to be flexible…” he stopped in the middle of the sentence, a smirk was about to take his handsome face before he controlled his expression and continue, “I mean, for long working hours.”

  “Yes… Mr Hawke,” I answered as professionally as I could

  “You don’t have any experience, I don’t know if you’ll able to do these things, Miss Crown.”

  “Why don’t you try me?” I swallowed my nerves when he quirked an eyebrow at me. “I mean, I’m sure I can handle it. This is what I’ve wanted since the moment I started college. I want to gain experience in this area and go from there,” I added.

  “Well… I have to admit, your file impressed me. We will give it a try, but I will not tolerate any mistakes from you. You have to do your best… even better than your best, understood?” he challenged me.

  “Yes, Mr. Hawke… so, when will I start?”

  “Right now… I will show you your office. Brad suggested you, but never think that he will be able to protect you or that I’ll be more tolerant of mistakes because of it. You’re working for me and your work will be up to my standards. Got it?”

  Rolling my eyes, I said, “Yes, I got it. I’m not expecting your dad to have back.”

  “Do not ever call him ‘my dad’!” he snapped at me.

  As I was about to give him a bitchy reply, I realized another point I totally missed, I mumbled, “Wait… my mom and your dad, I mean Brad… are we…”

  He looked at me with a crooked smile on his face before saying:

  “Well… it seems like we’re not strangers, hmm?”

  Kellan

  Groaning, I hit my head on the back of my chair. I still couldn’t believe the turn of events.

  Yesterday morning I was frustrated that for the first time a woman left me without me having to get rid of her. I should have been glad that I didn’t have to deal with any drama, but I was annoyed… like… fuck! Didn’t I make any impression on her?!

  Then, I saw her note… thank you… God, I couldn’t remember the last time I laughed that hard. I had a goofy smile on my face all morning until I got out of my car in front of my building. A hot redhead who had legs to die for was checking me out and that was who I was. I didn’t even need the words, she followed me to the depths of the parking lot, sucked the hell out of me and was rewarded with two mind-blowing orgasms. As I left her behind with a ridiculously satisfied smile I forgot the stranger… till she came into my office like a wet dream, promising an office fuck.

  After all that, she was sitting behind her desk, next to my office… I knew I could fuck her again if I wanted to yet she was forbidden to me, now that she was my step-sister.

  Stepsister, I snorted.

  Brad, my failure of a father, was creating complications in my life without even knowing it.

  I had nev
er fucked the same woman again, except Ruby, my “friend” from college. She was worse than me, she didn’t even spend more than three hours with the same guy. She loathed relationships so she and I were good for each other at that time. But after college I didn’t have the appetite to fuck same woman again. For me, there was only one night stands… without any commitment, any relationship ideas, even without names mostly. And once when I got what I wanted, I was moving on. Yet, now, knowing this girl is forbidden to me, I wanted to take her right then and there, again and again, whenever I wanted to.

  Just the idea of it made my cock hard as a rock.

  I shouldn’t have hired her. This was bad news, even my aching balls are clear evidence of it. But what other choice did I have? I needed an assistant, as fast as I could and other candidates gave me headaches with their egos and not enough passion for the job. So she was the best candidate who was available for this position.

  Oh, how many positions I could think of her being the best in…

  Fuck!

  I wondered if I would be able to keep my dick in my pants near her… if my one-night-only-rule would save me against her… or if her being my step-sister would stop me…

  Melody

  I exhaled slowly, trying to understand what just happened. He showed me my new office in a professional manner, but then, he turned into an asshole –putting lots of files onto my desk ordering me to read them all today like he was hoping I would give him a reason to fire me and left the room, telling me to not bother him. And here I’d been, for hours, trying to finish reading these files like a good girl, instead of thinking how I fucked my boss, aka step-brother.

  Are there any kind of rules in these positions?

  Shaking my head, I continued reading the file about his current project, trying to absorb it all.

  Maybe working here wasn’t the best decision, maybe we both should have talked to each other about that night and all… to clear the air. But no matter what I was happy to be here. Reading his current project about a music academy made me excited. Ideas for the design of the academy building were already running through my mind.