The Countdown to Thirty
Page 20
“Brava, amazing customer service at last.” I said as I neatly placed the lids and packaging back into the box and cruised down Tenaya Way towards home.
v
At three forty-five I parked my Mitsubishi in the crowded parking lot at Madison’s. I glanced at my reflection in the rearview mirror to see shininess emanating from my forehead and across my nose bridge. I broke out my Mac compact and began dabbing away to restore the made up face I had before I arrived at Kyle’s house earlier and had the most sensuous sex I think I’ve ever had. I stuck around a little longer than anticipated so he could show me the ambitious deck he was building in his backyard. He was rightfully proud of his craftsmanship even though it was still in its beginning stages. After showering him with a few ego boosting compliments I announced I’d found a job.
‘Congratulations’ he’d said while we walked the perimeter of the deck. Yea, yea so I was beginning to feel more comfortable with him but so what. It didn’t mean anything. He was just someone who I felt should know about my decline in availability. Being that my schedule was forty hours Monday through Friday our sexcapades wouldn’t be as often anymore…the only drawback to finding a full-time job.
I entered Madison’s with much more confidence then I had the last time I was here. I walked past the shoe and lingerie departments towards the back of the store and entered the gray hallway that led to the management offices where I’d had my interview. It was interesting to think of how unsure of my fate I was when I first graced these halls. Initially I thought of them as the green mile, not knowing if the interview would yield the results I wanted. But now I felt more like Dorothy prancing down the yellow brick road – minus the Tin Man and Lion.
Had I been more focused on the task at hand, or if I had a case of interview anxiety, it was possible that my mind wouldn’t’ve meandered for the fiftieth time to how long it taken Kyle to grow those sexy dreads that I’d gotten use to running my fingers through.
I still can’t believe you haven’t asked!
My conscious badgered me until I temporarily removed the thought from mind…but not before remembering to put it on my list of things to do.
I walked into the office and greeted the administrative assistant who was absent the day I came to interview. She was a young girl no older than twenty-two, twenty-three and had a serious Hello Kitty fetish. Everything including her hot pink mouse and tape dispenser had a picture of that odd little cat who I’ve recently been told is actually not a cat at all but that’s ludicrous. Hello Kitty will always be a cat in my book. I explained to her I that I was meeting with Gwen to complete my new hire paperwork but there was no need, she knew just who I was.
“It’s finally nice to meet you Sonya, Gwen told me all about you. She’ll be back in just a moment she went to deal with a customer. But in the meantime,” she said reaching for a large white envelope she had neatly filed in a pink stackable on her desk, “you can begin completing the packet in the envelope. There’s a table over there you can make yourself comfortable at and did you need a pen?” She asked handing me a pink pen with pink feathers.
“Oh no thank you, I have one,” I replied smiling graciously while opting to go with my grown-up pen instead.
I took my time completing the paperwork, being very careful not to make a mistake and have to scratch something out, I hated that. In what should have been an easy task I was distracted several times by the admins phone conversation with someone I’d guessed was her boyfriend?
Instead of the typical drama I was used to hearing from Nina, Kaia and any other woman who was brave enough to be forthright about their relationship, she seemed legitimately happy. She giggled and flirted with him while she twirled the black phone cord between her fingers. They were discussing something about bowling tonight then taking “Frenchie”, who I believed was the Pomeranian whose picture she had framed on her desk, to Petco to get groomed this weekend after they had breakfast at the lodge on Mt. Charleston.
“Cute.” I chuckled to myself.
Lamont didn’t like dogs and I’m sure there was no way in hell he would ever be adventurous enough to have breakfast in the mountains just because.
“Asshole,” I thought.
Twenty-five minutes later and finally nearing completion of the detailed package, I was sure I’d purchased a house. I pictured a three-story with an elevator and a pool in the backyard.
Gwen finally walked in with a beaming smile then immediately ushered me to follow her into her office. She sat me down and sang my praises about how impressed she was with me at the interview from my sense of fashion style to the professional way in which I carried myself.
“Whew, I’m so relieved Debbie and I were mutual in our decision to hire you Sonya. We’d much rather work with you over the strawberry blond with the big tits.” She unremorsefully explained. “That lady doesn’t need a job, she needs a hobby.”
I assumed she was talking about Amy.
We both laughed and I thanked her again and again for the opportunity. I have a great feeling Gwen, Deb and I are going to get along just fine.
“Now, all I need before I can get you out of here is your ID and social so I can make a copy.” She said extending her left hand while she signed off on my paperwork with her right.
“Sure,” I complied. But when I reached into the depths of my oversized purse I couldn’t seem to feel my wallet. I took out my phone, make-up bag, hand sanitizer and even my purple day planner but still I didn’t see it.
“Is something wrong Sonya?”
“Yes,” I admitted, “I can’t seem to find my wallet. I’m wondering if it somehow slipped out of my purse at home or maybe the post office earlier. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it, it’ll come up. How about this, you go find your wallet and just bring your ID and social with you on your first day okay?”
“Okay, thank you Gwen. I’ll see you on November 3rd then.” I said putting my belongings back into my purse trying not to show signs of panic.
Before walking out I stopped to admire my vacant cubicle. It was spacious which I was more than grateful for. It was nothing compared to the tiny claustrophobic boxes they kept us in at Alliance America. I decided the color purple would be my trendsetting theme.
By the time I reached my car it was beginning to get dark and the weather was cooling. I made the fifteen minute drive from Madison’s to the post office before they closed, but with no luck they hadn’t seen my wallet. The same white haired clerk I dealt with earlier took my number and said he’d call me if it came up. He didn’t seem very hopeful but I encouraged him to call either way. Once I raced home to Chateau Oasis, I gave a smile and a wave of my hand at Charlie who was so much more professional looking than a rent-a-cop with a flashlight. He waved back.
I searched high and low in my apartment for my wallet but still couldn’t find it anywhere. I even checked odd places like the microwave, but still no sign of it.
“Shit!” I said stomping my feet with frustration. My day was almost perfect, nearly perfect now this!
“I’m going to have to cancel my credit cards and my debit card. Shit, apply for a new social security card and ID.” I mumbled reaching for my phone to get the banks on the line. The biggest thing that I was scared about now was this pushing my start-date back. I hoped Gwen didn’t think I was careless.
I searched through my phones contacts for the number to Wells Fargo then hit ‘Send’.
I put the phone to my ear but heard nothing. No automated voice prompt giving me the option to opt-in or out of a customer satisfaction survey at the end of my call and no list of options to choose from. The other end of the line was quiet.
“Hello?” I asked skeptically ready to hang up and try again.
“Hello? Sonya?”
It was Kyle.
I looked at my phone to learn that for the last ten seconds I’d been on the line with Kyle and not Wells Fargo. He must have called me at the same time I was calling the bank.
“Wallet?” He asked.
“How’d you know?”
“I found it under my bed. When we were um, remember your purse fell off the nightstand. You must have missed your wallet when you picked everything up.”
That’s right! When I walked into Kyle’s room I laid my purse on the nightstand like I always do and when, well, when Kyle was giving me some very pleasurable oral at the edge of the bed I began to shudder and kicked my purse off the nightstand spilling everything out of it.
How the hell could you forget something like that?
“Shut up,” I thought quieting the antagonizing voice in my head.
“I’m getting ready to head out. I can drop it off at your place before I go.”
“No, no,” I refused quickly not yet ready to reveal where I live. Who knew what could happen from there. He might start popping up on my doorstep out the blue then Kaia will see him and start asking me all these questions I’d be too ashamed to answer.
Who’s the Mandingo Sonya?
So you finally got some?
Is he the one cleaning your chimney?
I shook my head in disbelief; I think I’ve officially been a bad influence on that girl.
“You know it’s not good to drive without a license young lady,” He said in his seductive Mr. Know-It-All tone, “It’s really not too much for me to drop if off for you.”
“Thank you but I really don’t want you to go out of your way. I can just meet you.” I replied knowing good and well he was right.
He exhaled, “Are you always this difficult?”
“Yes.”
He chuckled then obliged, “I can tell. Okay, meet me at the Sports Book at Red Rock in an hour.”
And that’s just what I did.
When the time had come I peeked through the venetian blinds of my living room window to see if Kaia’s Avalon was sitting in the parking lot. If it wasn’t, it meant that I could escape to my car without potential questioning. If it was it meant I needed to use stealth while walking past her living room window so she wouldn’t catch me creeping. Since she was gone, probably still at work, I was able to click clack in my knee high leather boots across the parking lot and hop in the Mitsubishi without looking suspicious.
I sped until I transitioned West onto Summerlin Parkway then did a changeover at the 215 Westbound where I’d exited Charleston Boulevard and pulled gracefully into Red Rock Casino and Resort. Once out of the parking lot I hustled to the large glass doors that led to the Casinos entrance and embraced the warmth from inside. After receiving instructions from the thickly accented change lady I walked towards the Sports Book amongst happy couples, young partiers and businessmen anxious to cool their heels. The Sports Book was filled with excitement as football games and horse races premiered on the big screens and gamblers hoping to walk away with a few extra thousand then they arrived with waited in line to place their bets.
I visually searched the entire area but I didn’t see him. I caught a few stares from men old enough to be my father and ones who were smart enough to shift their focus once we made eye contact. I looked at the time on one of the big screens and I wasn’t late. Where was he?
I got tired of searching and took a seat in a lengthy adjoined row of plush leather chairs and waited for the man himself to arrive. Less than five minutes later I was beginning to feel anxious and took out my phone ready to give Mr. Kyle a call when once again his call came through before I was able to make mine.
“Hello?”
“I’ve been waiting for you.” He said mischievously. Judging by the background noise from his phone I knew he we close by.
“Where are you? I’m here in the Sport’s Book like you told me.” I said rising from my chair scanning the room looking for him.
“I’m over here. Turn to your right.”
I released a small chortle, “You can see me?”
“Yes. I’ve been watching you since you strolled through in those sexy boots. Did you wear those for me?”
This time I grunted and let out a “No!”
He laughed heartily then told me to scan the bar. I looked and looked until finally I saw him. He was sitting at the upscale bar which was illuminated with soft yellow lighting and built in poker machines. He wore an agreeable black leather jacket which just so happened to match my boots and his dreads were given free range as they dropped well below his shoulders and attracted stares of their own. A trio of women in the lounge area dressed specifically for prowling were inconspicuously checking him out.
I’m not quite sure why, maybe pride or possibly the need for respect but my competitive streak took over and I strutted over in my boots adding a little more motion in my hips than usual. I had to let them know this one was taken for the moment and that they couldn’t compete as I met him at his side.
He stood to his feet, towering over me in his six foot four athletic frame and greeted me with a hug and kiss on the cheek. After my wallet exchange he coerced me into taking a Patron shot with him to celebrate my new job before I left.
“I think if I do that I may be interrupting your fan club over there.” I said referring to the women who I could sense were watching our every move.
“I’m not worried about them,” He responded with a smile, so I had two.
He told me about the friend he’d briefly met up with to watch the end of the second half of the game and place some bets. He was nice, his voice was mellow and he was still smooth like always. And that’s exactly why I didn’t want to stick around. I could feel myself getting more comfortable than I wanted to allow especially now since the Patron was going straight to my head.
I pulled my purse straps over my shoulder and stood to go, “You leaving? Let me walk you out.”
“You know you don’t have to. It’s a long walk out to the parking lot. You can stay and enjoy yourself.”
“It’s cool, I don’t mind. I was getting ready to leave to.” He said smiling while perfectly aware of what he was doing. He wasn’t going to let me go easily.
After he paid our tab we exited the Sport’s Book area and walked through the casino until we reached the three tier fountain outside the resort’s entrance. We lingered with more small talk for a moment until Kyle gained a gleam in his eye. Something about it just didn’t look right, he was up to something.
“What? What is it?” I asked skeptically.
He nudged his head to the far end of the casino parking lot, “That. C’mon.” A haunted house called ‘Nightmare on Sin Street’ stood glowing with sinister darkness. It scared the shit out of me and I wasn’t ashamed to admit it.
After refusing, stomping in my boots and a humorous battle of the minds Kyle finally won when he tactically used my own struggles against me. He left me with no choice but to wave my little white flag and surrender in defeat.
“You still owe me for the battery, let’s go.” He said grabbing my hand then leading me off the curb into the crosswalk.
He wrapped his arm around me to protect me from the cold night air as we set forth towards Nightmare on Sin Street. His smile was mischievous and I sported a legitimate look of fright that worsened with every footstep.
I knew I should have paid him back…dammit.
Twenty
Kaia
“I haven’t skated in years, I wonder if I still have it.”
Sonya laughed as she kept her hands at a steady ten and two on the steering wheel, “And how long ago was that?”
“Tenth grade probably. We’ll see if it’s as good as the one in LA.”
“You’ll see,” Sonya said with a smile as we eased along the 95 Southbound towards the Boulder Highway exit.
We were in route to the Crystal Palace Skating Rink for her niece’s eighth birthday party. When she first invited me I didn’t hesitate to accept, but now that the moment approached, I began to questi
on if I was still as skillful on my skates as I was in my high school years.
“So what did you get for the birthday girl?” I asked as I picked up the pretty pink birthday bag stuffed with two different shades of pink tissue paper.
“Well you know I can’t afford much yet, but I managed to find a few chapter books for her since she loves to read and a jewelry making kit since she’s a girly girl like her auntie.”
I carefully peeked through the bag not wanting to mess up the pretty arrangement Sonya had made. I imagined that if I was a little girl I would have loved something like this.
“Pretty in pink, I like it.” I said complementing her gifting skills.
Sonya turned up the music as we exited the freeway and cruised down Boulder Highway until we reached Crystal Palace. It was a large white building, pretty similar in size to the rink in LA but I wondered if it had as much flavor. Not being able to tell by the plain exterior and half full parking lot I told myself not to judge this book by its cover.
Once Sonya put her car in park and switched the ignition off, we simultaneously pulled down our mirrors to double check our made up faces. We looked at each other and giggled.
“Since when did you start double checking your makeup before you get out the car?” She asked, “I thought you left all the glam stuff to me?”
While dabbing my mascara brush into the slender tube then skillfully applying it on my lashes I replied, “What, a girl can’t look good?”
“Something’s different about you.” She said giving me the look. She was trying to figure me out. “Your aura is different, your ass is glowing.” She said as she waved her hands in a circular motion indicating my “aura”.
I tried holding in my smile but I couldn’t, her inquisitive eyes were burning a hole right through me and I knew she wanted answers.