by Gabriela Paz
She had a long and exciting week ahead and wanted to be fully present for every minute of it. It was her last week working at the gallery, and Ms. Dubois had already been interviewing other candidates. She usually had two girls working for her, one was her personal assistant, and the other was in charge of reception, scheduling appointments, and receiving guests. But since Eva had been in charge of basically both jobs, Ms. Dubois was interviewing an obscene amount of people.
Eva felt lucky. If she had needed to compete with this many other candidates, she would never have gotten the job. Being so young and having no experience was part of the reason why she never complained about her indecent amount of hours. She knew that this was her only chance to get that experience, and she wasn’t going to waste it. Plus, it was a great opportunity to be learning from such a recognized artist.
Even though she couldn’t get Leo out of her head, she was still looking forward to her college journey. She only wished the timing would have been better. Leo drove her crazy, and she wanted to get to know him better. The way he made her feel was undeniable, and she had kissed him, which had been completely unexpected for her. She still couldn’t figure out what had gotten into her. The moment she got on that cab, she knew leaving like that would mean goodbye, and she wasn’t ready for their story to end just yet. So as she told the driver to wait for her, she tore a small piece of the magazine in front of her and quickly wrote down her phone number before she ran to get him.
Her plan was to give him the note and turn around, but running towards him and calling his name felt too romantic. The urge she had in that moment to grab his face and kiss him was too strong, and she had to follow through with it. His lips felt so sweet and honest, and the way he held her cheek as they kissed made her feel secure but sexy at the same time. Eva didn’t have one ounce of regret about kissing him. In fact, it was the first time she had actually been brave enough to follow her impulse, and it felt amazing.
She regretted leaving so abruptly, but she didn’t know what to say. She had never done anything like that, and it was easier to run back to the cab than to explain.
One thing she was sure of, following her gut, was the most alive and free she ever felt.
College was right around the corner, nevertheless, and it definitely wasn’t a good idea to get involved, no matter how much she wanted to. Even if she didn’t want to admit it, his life was already set. He had a job and goals. Eva needed time to figure herself out, and they, unfortunately, weren’t at the same stages in life.
As frustrating as it was, she knew it wasn’t the right time for her to fall in love, but why had she kissed him then? Why had she given him her number? Maybe she was unconsciously looking for trouble.
It was obvious that if she kept seeing him, she wouldn’t be able to contain herself, and that wasn’t the plan. After everything she went through, she needed to have some control over her life. She couldn’t let love dictate her faith again; she needed to be rational and stick to her plan.
Eva spent most of the week at the gallery, printing papers and organizing them on Ms. Dubois’ desk. She wanted to leave everything perfect before her last day, so Ms. Dubois would feel that she had made a good choice in hiring her. She wasn’t sure if she was going to get any reaction from her at all. In fact, she wasn’t even sure if Ms. Dubois was even going to be there on Friday so she could say goodbye. But Eva hoped for the best.
She had already found out that two new women had been hired to start the following Monday, and she had a bittersweet feeling about it. She was going to miss the gallery. It had been her first job, her first paycheck, and whether she liked it or not, Ms. Dubois had been her first boss. Working hard and being disciplined were all values she had learned from her mother, and she appreciated those same qualities in her boss. She was grateful, no matter how difficult she was. Eva only wished to have received some positive feedback from her at some point, but that might have been too much to ask.
Friday arrived quickly, and Eva’s final day at the gallery was here. She showed up early with great enthusiasm to start the day. There weren’t many tasks to finish, so she was feeling more relaxed and confident than usual. She answered a few calls and scheduled some appointments for Ms. Dubois. It felt weird to schedule appointments for dates when she wasn’t going to be there, but it didn’t matter. She was going to be somewhere better, hopefully having a blast.
Leo did cross her mind a few times during the day. He hadn’t shown up at the gallery during the week, though Eva had almost been sure that he would. He also hadn’t called her, which she actually found strange. Even if she tried to convince herself it was for the best, she couldn’t help wishing her phone rang or that he suddenly showed up at the gallery to cloud her judgment.
As soon as she was done with all of her tasks, she wondered if Ms. Dubois was going to call her or show up at all. Even when she didn’t come to the office, she often left written messages on her desk or called her. There had been no signs of her, nonetheless. It was a little bit strange, so Eva decided to call her. It was 3pm, and she was supposed to close in one hour. She needed to know where to leave the front door keys and, most importantly, she needed to get paid.
Eva dialed Ms. Dubois from her desk phone and waited patiently as the phone rang on speaker. “Hello?” Ms. Dubois answered.
Eva hadn’t actually expected her to answer for some reason, so she was surprised. “Oh, hello, Ms. Dubois. I noticed that you didn’t come to the office today. It’s my last day, and I wanted to know where to leave the front door keys?”
“Oh, that’s right, it is your last day,” Ms. Dubois answered distractedly. “ I left something for you in my office drawer. Please take it with you. Just lock the front door on your way out and hide the keys under the plants. Oh, and thank you.” she finished as she abruptly hung up.
Did she hear it was my last day? Can’t she have the decency to say a proper goodbye? “Goodbye,” Eva murmured, although the line had cut already. Oh well, that’s that, Eva sighed.
Eva then headed to Ms. Dubois's office to try to find whatever was in that drawer. As soon as she opened it, she saw a red envelope with her name written on it. She didn’t hesitate twice about opening it. She was completely taken by surprise when she saw a little note from Ms. Dubois that read, “You have excelled in every way possible. Thank you for your help. Good luck in college.”
Eva’s grin was displayed all over her face when she read the note; it was what she had been longing for. What a nice and unexpected gesture from her boss. She couldn’t stop smiling. She was flattered and also proud of herself. On top of that, there was a little bit of extra money in the envelope, making her feel even more ecstatic. Now she was definitely ready to leave the gallery, knowing that she had done a good job in the past few weeks and knowing that Ms. Dubois did appreciate her.
The rest of the weekend flew by, and Eva spent most of her time with her mother, packing the last few things.
“My sweet girl, you are all grown up. I can’t believe I won’t see you every day anymore. I will never get used to it… The house will feel so empty,” she sobbed.
“I know, mom, I feel so bad about leaving you here, but It’s not like I’m not coming back, it’s only a few months, and I will be right back for the holidays,” Eva said. Sometimes she wished her mother would fall in love again and start her life over with somebody new. It wasn’t impossible. That way, she wouldn’t have to be alone anymore.
She was a good person, and most men found her attractive; even some boys from her school thought she was appealing. She was glamorous like that -- something she hadn’t quite passed on to her daughter. Eva was simpler in the way she dressed and wore her makeup (when she wore makeup). She was definitely more on the scruffy side. But she also had a natural kind of beauty, with her flawless skin and her effortless glow. She often looked better when she wasn’t wearing any makeup, which was curious.
“I hope you find someone one day, you know?” Eva blurted.
“You do? I always thought you wouldn’t want me to find someone.”
“I’m older now mom, I get it. It’s been tough for you, and you are lonely. I want you to stop doing things for everyone else and just be happy, okay? Promise me you will try?”
“Okay, honey, I will try. I promise,” her mother said, disheartened.
The time had finally come. It was Monday, and Eva had all her bags ready to leave the house. She wasn’t a heavy packer, but since she was going to be away for quite a while, she decided to take two big suitcases. They were fully packed; everything she needed was in them.
Her old camera was tucked in her carry-on bag just in case she ever got inspired to take a photography course. She also took with her the best sheet cover she owned, a few blankets, and her favorite pillow. Sleeping well was important to her, and she wasn’t taking it lightly.
Everything was set to go. Cece was picking her up shortly, and they were going to drive together to check-in at their dorm that afternoon. Eva was thrilled. What an experience she was about to embark on. She couldn’t believe this was actually happening; it was unreal to her. She never believed that good things could happen after her father left, but this summer had surely been full of great surprises -- her job at the gallery, her college acceptance, and meeting Leo.
Their last date was not easy to forget. His gentle touch as he consoled her at the coffee table had spiked electricity all over her body, and the kiss, well, it couldn’t get any more romantic and perfect than that. His enchanting smile, his radiant brown eyes, and his accent… She had given him her number, but he hadn’t called. She had left the door wide open though she shouldn’t have, but he didn’t come through. So now, as she stared outside her window with watery eyes, she had to reluctantly accept that it was time to let it go.
Suddenly, a loud horn sound interrupted her reverie. Crap. Cece was here. Eva gathered all of her stuff quickly with her mother’s help and headed out toward the car. Cece had a red Volkswagen Jetta that her parents had given her earlier that year for her birthday. It was brand new and had a sunroof.
Her mother had offered to give them a ride a few days earlier, but Cece wanted to take her car to school, so it was easier for Eva to go with her.
“Don’t worry, Melissa, I’m going to take good care of her,” Cece alleged.
“I’m sure you will. Please don’t get into too much trouble, girls. Be good.”
Eva looks slightly disconcerted. “When do I ever get into trouble, Mom?”
“You are right. So keep being the sweet girl you’ve always been then.”
She grinned. “Of course, I will.”
They were almost done putting Eva’s things in the car, and the inevitable was approaching. Her mother was already in tears as she watched her get ready to leave. Eva hugged her as tight as you can hug a human being without cracking their bones. “I love you. I will call you when we get settled.”
Her mother grabbed her face with both hands. She looked at her as if it was the last time she was going to see her. “I love you so much, sweetie. I’m so proud of you.”
Eva didn’t want to cry, but she shed a tear while she gave her mother another hug and went on her way.
CHAPTER 17
Butterflies Fly Free
Leo was astonished as he entered the conference room. There were about forty people sitting tightly packed, and there was barely any space left to sit. Usually, the meetings were a maximum of fifteen people, but this was definitely a different kind of meeting. Anton had told him about the meeting literally five minutes ago, and apparently, it was important. As Leo followed Anton towards the end of the room, he sat in one of the remaining chairs available and waited impatiently for the meeting to start.
“Hello, everyone, I’m glad you all could make it as this is a very important day for our company. As you all know we have been having much success in our current branches and this is all thanks to every single member of this company who has worked so hard to bring our brand to the top.” Mr. Archibald declared. “I have some good news to share with all of you. It’s finally happening, gentlemen; the International Advisors Group is expanding,” he exclaimed.
Everyone clapped quite enthusiastically, including Leo, who still wasn’t sure what the news meant exactly.
“I was informed that we are opening a few more branches across the U.S. and a couple other abroad as we speak.” Mr. Archibald continued. “I’m talking about Europe and Asia. For so long, we have formed such strong connections, and the time has finally come to build on these networks and grow.”
The fact that the company kept finding new ways to grow gave him even more hope for his future. But he didn’t anticipate what was about to come next. As everyone in the conference room seemed to be celebrating and the meeting appeared to be reaching an end, Mr. Archibald said, “Gather around, gentlemen, gather around. This is not all. As we open our new branches, we will need some of our best people to relocate in order to guarantee the growth and success of this company.”
Every single jaw in the room dropped as Mr. Archibald finished his last sentence. People’s lives were about to change dramatically, and nobody had received a warning or a chance to discuss. At this point, Leo was sitting anxiously in his chair, hoping he wasn’t one of the people who had to relocate.
“No need to worry, gentleman, please! You will all be taken care of, and it will be worth it for all of you,” Mr. Archibald added as he pulled out a piece of paper from his suitcase. “I will now proceed to announce the new positions. Please feel free to talk to me afterward if you think this isn’t a good fit for you. We would have loved to inform each of you individually, but we figured this would be a much more effective method.” He cleared his throat and continued, “Marshall Davenport, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania office. John Harrison, Washington DC office…” As he mentioned a name, he also assigned a location.
Leo kept wondering how many of his colleagues were actually going to relocate and how many were going to stay at the Pensacola office. He was only an intern and probably not very important for the company yet. Will I get to stay? He wanted to. When Mr. Archibald finally pronounced, “Leonardo Rossi,” he went cold. Mr. Archibald made a small pause after his name and then said, “Pensacola office and traveling assistant.”
What? What the hell does that mean? Leo wondered. Right after his name followed, “Anton Paire, Pensacola Office, and Travel advisor.” Oh no, I’m going to have to travel with Anton? This was not looking good. He did not want to travel, and certainly not with Anton. He hadn’t signed up for this.
On the bright side, he was not getting relocated, which was good, but now he was going to need to find out what his new position meant. He was certainly going to talk to Mr. Archibald about this. What the hell? What kind of offensive meeting was this? He was literally throwing the news out there without giving anyone a chance to decide. People had the right to decide without feeling obligated to comply.
His week hadn’t exactly started on the right foot. After the unexpected ‘relocation meeting’ and his unsatisfactory trip to see Eva, he couldn’t bear any more of it. He would have called her if he hadn’t lost her precious note. How could I lose the fucking note with her phone number on it?
Leo checked his pockets a million times over, the kitchen counter, his bed, and his night table in the last few days. The only places he remembered maybe putting it. But it wasn’t there. How can this be happening to me? She is probably waiting for me to contact her, and now it’s gonna look like I’m the one blowing her off. Great… Just great.
He tried to find a way to see her in her last week at the gallery, but when he got off work, it was always too late, and the place had closed. The weekend was his only chance, and he was confident he would find her. He only had to wait a few more days.
As he entered the gallery on Satur
day morning, he couldn’t hide his disappointment when he saw a new girl at the reception. “Excuse me, I’m looking for Eva. Is she inside?”
“Hello, sir, I’m not sure who you are looking for. Do you want me to get Ms. Dubois?” the woman answered.
“No. I’m looking for the green-eyed girl with dark straight hair who was working here last week. Her name is Eva,” Leo exclaimed, frustrated. He was embarrassed not to know her last name.
“Oh, yes. Eva Coleman? I believe Friday was her last day. I’m the new receptionist.”
At that moment, Leo’s heart dropped. A black hole formed inside of him, sucking all the hope he had built the past few days. What were the chances? He had missed her by a heartbeat, and once more, he found himself discouraged about his chances to see her again. What were his options? He wasn’t about to drive all the way up to Pensacola State University just to see her.
What am I supposed to do now? Give up? Maybe he should have. Clearly, this whole romance story wasn’t meant to be if he had to try this hard. He had never invested so much emotion and time into any girl before, and he had broken every single rule in his book to find her. Why did she kiss me and leave like that? Whatever it was, it couldn’t end there, no way.
As he headed home, thinking about the many ways life was being unfair to him, he got an idea. What if he was the one to drop his brother at school? It made sense. He would get to bond with him a little bit longer and also get another chance to see Eva. He was starting to feel a bit ridiculous at this point, but he couldn’t help it.
Stefano was loading the rest of the stuff in the car when Leo screamed, “Hurry up, dude! I’ve been waiting twenty minutes now.” He had convinced Stefano to give him a ride but only on the condition that he let him drive. Stefano had recently gotten his license and wanted to practice.
His parents seemed to be very excited for him, but since it was their second time around, they weren’t as emotional when they said goodbye. When Leo left for college a couple of years back, his mother had cried for days. Leo never said it, but he knew he was the family favorite.
