Conflict of Interest

by N. D. Jackson

  “The people of Mustang Prairie took you in Anda,” Shellie began to rise from her chair as her voice echoed across the store. “It was Jesper who helped you get a loan to open your store when your husband died, and Shirl who put you in touch with her brother so you’d have year round fresh fruit for your jams and jellies. We all helped you and now you’re so willing to let everyone else fail as long as you succeed!”

  “And I am forever grateful for their assistance, but Anda,” she patted her chest again, “Is successful because of hard work, talent and what you call a niche,” she pronounced it ‘niece’.

  “They must’ve taught you that school of thought in communist Russia!” Shellie immediately clasped her hands over her mouth realizing what she said.

  “Shellie!” Alexis was equally shocked, most of all because Shellie was the only person in town who could point to Latvia on a map.

  “I am from Latvia Shellie,” Anda was as cool as ever, no shock registered on her face with Shellie’s intentionally hurtful comment. “You know this Shellie. Don’t let your emotions get in the way friend. KitchenMart sure as hell won’t.”

  “I’m sorry Anda.”

  Anda smacked her lips together. “No worries Shellie. You will be fine. You too are a survivor like me.” She began wrapping various products in her fancy multi-colored butcher’s paper and she leaned over with the grace of a ballerina to grab several jars of jam and jelly. “However you may want to encourage your clients to see if they can get jobs at KitchenMart. They’re already hiring.”

  She said it so nonchalantly that Shellie almost missed it. “Excuse me? Hiring? Already?” Unbelievable, she thought, these corporations worked faster than maggots. At least maggots wait until you’re dead to begin their feast.

  Anda nodded, a few locks of her brown waves fell across her eye. “Afraid so Michelle. I saw the sign with my own eyes.”

  “Please don’t tell any more people about this Anda. Can you do that, please?”

  Anda nodded. “Like Bangles said, my lips are sealed.” She smiled over at Alexis with a wink.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Shellie began her afternoon by doing her due diligence on KitchenMart to see if she could find a way to keep her clients, and therefore her own business, alive and thriving. She planned to drive by the new KitchenMart building after work but for now she would have to satisfy her curiosity online.

  She tried to focus on the mission statement but instead all she could think about was Noel and his deep growling laugh that she found sensual and the way his lips glistened after he ran his tongue across them. She wanted to focus on what she found about how KitchenMart operated in the past but the only thoughts in her mind were of what Noel hid underneath his stylish clothes. Goodness, she thought to herself, it’s as if I’ve gone from sane level-headed businesswoman to some sex starved teenager. “Get it together, girl,” she warned herself.

  She stopped in her tracks however, when she saw digital confirmation of what Anda had just relayed to her and Alexis. KitchenMart’s website had added a new tab labeled Mustang Prairie in handwritten cursive. When she clicked on the Mustang Prairie tab though, she found a tiny animated construction worker in a hard hat as the ‘Under Construction’ sign flashed across her screen.

  Shellie leaned back in her chair, slightly dejected to find that Anda was right. She was sure she could feel Mustang Prairie dying deep in her heart. The town she spent most of her life in, save for four years of college and two and a half years to get her MBA, was about to become yet another economic failure in a country full of decimated small towns and small town businesses. She knew it would go the same way it had gone in Sullivan just a few towns to the east or Upton just to the south. Those towns had all welcomed big franchises into their walls and then struggled to keep up with cheap labor, cheaper products and low wages that allowed big companies to flourish.

  She was determined to save Mustang Prairie from the same fate that had left it surrounded by mostly farms. Most residents of Sullivan and Upton had slowly moved to the northern part of the state where jobs were more plentiful or simply left the state for greener pastures. “Damn you KitchenMart!” She screamed loudly, hoping to release a day worth of frustration and tension so that she could move past her emotions and come up with a plan of attack.

  ##

  Amelia returned from her lunch break with a white paper bag filled with food that was nearly visible thanks to the greasy sides and bottom and a large gift bag decorated for New Year’s Eve. Why there were New Year’s Eve gift bags in the middle of spring, she had no idea but considering her gift she thought it was fitting. Sitting all the items on the edge of Noel’s red wooden desk and took her seat across from him. She smiled knowingly at her boss.

  “Good lunch?”

  She nodded, still smiling. “Yes. Very.”

  “Good because now we’ve got work to do. I’ve been on the phone for the past hour trying to staff our sales department and find a chef, a real chef for the restaurant.”

  “Don’t worry Sir. I have a long list of names for each department in the building. We can go through them after you eat.”

  Noel finally looked up from his desk to see the weird smile spread across his assistant’s face. “Okay you’re acting weird Amelia, what’s up? Are you pregnant?”

  She laughed as fear spread across his face. “Not that I know of, but I have found the perfect thing for your mystery woman.”

  His eyes lit up, “Really, so soon?”

  “Really.” She nodded, pleased that she had taken care of the one task guaranteed to sidetrack him for the entire day. “Open it up and take a look,” she encouraged as he continued to stare at her in disbelief. She often wondered how many years of excellent service would she give to him before he stopped being amazed by her efficiency.

  He reached for the gold and black gift bag that was decorated with champagne flutes, top hats and various party favors. He wasn’t sure about the theme, but he was certain Shellie would love the shimmery gold that was starting to give him a headache. He looked up at her, his gaze uncertain.

  “Go on,” she waved her hands toward the bag and took a sip from a large straw stuck inside a paper cup.

  He opened the bag further and a smile began to spread from one ear to the other. “It’s perfect Amelia, truly perfect.”

  She began to blush as she often did when he complimented her.

  “How did you know? You didn’t even have time to do any recon on her.”

  Amelia’s smile began to disappear. She couldn’t decide if she should tell him or let the gift stand as proof of her brilliance. Although she was often tasked with scheduling and cancelling dates, and sending flowers or more after a good or bad date, she knew Mr. Hampton tried to keep a modicum of professionalism between them. He never allowed women to visit him at the office and he never spoke of them other than logistics. In the end she decided it was best to be honest since this was a small town. There would be no way to hide their first meeting. “I met her.”

  He let out a laugh that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “And you thought she seems like a big lush?”

  “No she was very sweet actually. Invited me and Tam to her wine night, which she has every week so I thought this gift would be great. Especially in a small town like this.” She smiled, unsure if she should’ve kept that last part to herself since her boss seemed to have a fondness for this small town woman.

  Noel’s ears perked up when he received that little nugget of information. He couldn’t very well require Amelia to go but he was dying, literally felt like his guts were being ripped out dying, to find out what was going on in Shellie’s head and why she had rejected him so swiftly the other night. “So, are you going?” He tried his best to sound casual, hoping Amelia couldn’t hear the desperation in his question.

  “What’s in it for me?”

  He looked at Amelia, amazed that she was capable of stiff negotiations. “I got you relocation costs, and judging by how cheap everything is
here, I’m guessing you came ahead by at least a few thousand dollars.”

  “Yes,” she nodded in thought. She was more than appreciative of the extra money. “But that was work.”

  Noel nodded, happy to see that Amelia wasn’t afraid to draw a line with him. Somewhere. “Ok Amelia, what is it you would like?” He figured her request wouldn’t cost too much, at least he hoped it wouldn’t. All that mattered was finding out exactly what, if anything, he could have possibly done to turn off Shellie. All he could think about for the last few days was her beautiful plush lips that constantly begged to be nibbled and kissed and how her breasts felt pressed snugly against his chest. Noel thought he’d give anything to get close enough to inhale her sweet scent again.

  “I want more responsibility, Noel.” Her emphasis on his name, his first name, through him for a loop.

  Noel slapped both hands to his forehead and ran them through his wavy locks. He knew Amelia could handle a lot more responsibility but she was so…helpful. “But I need you Amelia.”

  “I know sir. But the question is do you need me as much as you want her?”

  Noel tossed his head back and planted both feet on the ground to steady himself as he roared with laughter. Not that he thought Amelia was funny, hardly, but he was truly impressed with how she was playing this game. Typically she was so docile and did some things even Noel considered highly inappropriate for an assistant, like breaking up with girlfriends and even penning a few cards that accompanied expensive floral bouquets.

  Amelia wasn’t sure if he was amused by her methods or just by her. “Are you done, sir?”

  Noel held his hands up in protest. “I’m not laughing at you Amelia, it’s just, wow! Who would’ve thought you had it in you?” His laughter finally stopped and he really took a good long look at his trusted assistant. “So Amelia, exactly what kind of responsibility would you like?” Noel figured that he could accommodate whatever request she had. He just hoped that Shellie was worth losing Amelia.

  “I don’t want much. Just to run a department.”

  “Oh is that all,” he laughed lightly even though he knew that she would excel at whatever task he handed her. The idea of arranging his life without Amelia terrified him, almost as much as breaking in a new assistant. Especially one from Mustang Prairie who didn’t know the brutality of working with a New York executive. “Take any department you choose,” he told her. “But,” he warned, “you’ll have to do double duty until you find an assistant that satisfies me.”

  Amelia nodded her agreement, happy to finally have made some progress in her career. Regardless of how said progress came about. “Then I’ll be your spy,” she said holding out her hand to seal their agreement.

  ##

  In her car curving the entrance onto Interstate 57 Shellie sang along to an old Pearl Jam song that had always helped clear her mind. As she belted out the tunes she pressed her rose colored ballet slippers to the gas and headed to the exit where the new KitchenMart headquarters would be located. She knew that her impromptu field trip would mean she would have little time to prepare for Merlot Monday, but this trip would allow her to at least get a glimpse at the enemy, or if nothing else, where the enemy conducts business.

  Turning off the exit where the tall beige building stood with a large red and white banner that pinpointed it as the new home of KitchenMart, Shellie slowly crept into the massive parking lot where dozens of large glass windows overlooked. She noted the windows were the kind that providing nothing but a reminder to employees exactly what their lives were missing as the gazed out at the sunshine during endless meetings in a fashionable yet lifeless conference room. She pictured men and women in boring navy blue suits tapping their Blackberries and iPhones as they rode the elevator up to their respective offices, totally unaware of the destruction their ambition caused their fellow human beings.

  “What do they need with all these parking spaces,” she wondered aloud. Judging by the size of the lot, KitchenMart would not only kill Mustang Prairie but also the four or five surrounding towns as well.

  Rolling down her window, Shellie allowed the fresh air and the smell of fresh cut grass waft into her car, hoping to calm her nerves. As much as she wanted to, she needed to step out of her car and take a good long look at the building but she could not bring herself to do it. Shellie knew that if things went as planned KitchenMart would soon put the towns around and including Mustang Prairie out of business, but more than that she knew that the rein of this kitchen wares conglomerate would be short-lived as residents slowly began to migrate to the nearest big city in any direction. That broke her heart all the more and one tear escaped down her cheek.

  Unwilling to allow herself to be weak or sad, Shellie peered through her window at the large building one last time as she slowly coasted by, noting a familiar silver luxury car parked near the front but unable to pinpoint its owner. She had hoped to find out who the lifeless bloodsucker was in charge of this new building, but there were still no names or suite numbers available yet. The only signs of life were the new sign welcoming KitchenMart and the huge banner that proclaimed they were “now hiring”.

  Seeing that blatant show of power Shellie felt that maybe she was giving that sign more importance than it actually held, but looking at it still made her feel helpless to stop the inevitable obliteration of her beloved Mustang Prairie. With tears in her eyes, Shellie hopped back onto I-57 and made her way home in time, she hoped, to polish off a bottle before her guests arrived.

  ##

  Noel left the office early with a plan to wait for Shellie on the porch so she couldn’t avoid him. He knew if he got to her once she arrived home she wouldn’t let him in, if she answered the door at all. So he grabbed the too colorful gift bag and stopped for a bouquet of stargazer lilies and a bottle of the best Sangiovese he could find in Mustang Prairie before heading home to ambush Shellie on their shared porch.

  Pacing back and forth as he waited, Noel wondered if he had enough time to slip upstairs into something less corporate before she arrived. Thinking his wardrobe change might cost him a few more days without seeing her, Noel instead chose to remove his tie, unbutton the first 2 buttons of his dark blue work shirt and roll up the sleeves. For good measure he ran his fingers through the wavy blond mop on his head to get rid of the slick overly processed look Amelia constantly teased him about. Satisfied that he looked as casual as he had the last few times they met, he sat on Shellie’s swing and waited, thinking about the kiss that had set him on fire. A woman had never held his interest for this long, not even those highly skilled in the bedroom arts, and this fact made him rethink sitting here waiting for her.

  Usually Noel kept things very casual to avoid anyone getting the wrong idea about his intentions. He didn’t do relationships in the short or long term and the sooner his dates figured that out the better. Yet here he was with an expensive gift in hand, and flowers, waiting for a small town woman who might not even be into him. The thought that Shellie might not want Noel made him feel sick in his stomach. Not because all women liked him—which they did—but because he felt that not being in her life would somehow leave him wanting. To his great surprise Noel realized that while he fantasized about her breasts and her pouty lips, the thought of not hearing her lyrical laugh or seeing her cheeks flush hurt him more.

  “Get over yourself, man,” he grumbled to the empty porch. It was better for him if he simply thought of Shellie as another sexual conquest. His life would be easier that way and he could focus on his career as he always had.

  There was just something about her though. He looked around the yard and realized that there was so much about Shellie that was different from his usual. For example in New York people took care to keep the inside of their homes looking nice, not the outside. In fact Rich lived in a building that looked like a rundown warehouse but inside were luxury lofts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. But Shellie’s place looked and felt like a home. There were all types of colorful flowers p
lanted around the trees in her front yard. Noel didn’t exactly know the names of most of them but he noticed daisies, of course, and tulips and he detected the faint scent of lavender rising up from the bushes that hugged the porch.

  Noel took in a deep breath of the lavender scent and thought, “this is what home should smell like.” With his eyes closed and his face towards the clear blue sky Noel felt everything within his body relax a few inches. At that moment he knew, if he didn’t have Shellie he would spend the rest of his life trying to get her.

  “What smells like home?”

  Noel’s eyes darted open at the sound of Shellie’s question. He hadn’t heard her car pull up or the door close. Hell, he hadn’t even heard her take the few short stairs up to the porch even though she stood just a few feet from him. Close enough that the honey mixed with the lavender for an intoxicating blend but far enough that he couldn’t do anything about it. Yet. “Oh I was, uh, just admiring the smell of lavender, I think?” He flashed a nervous smile, now wondering how long she had been standing there and how much she heard.

  A wide smile spread across her face. “I know, don’t you just love it?” She clutched her hands to her chest and her eyes took on a dreamy quality as she leaned over the rail. “My grandmother planted it ages ago and I never knew they were there,” she turned to him still smiling. “Then a few years ago the smell of lavender kept wafting into my bedroom and I couldn’t figure out where it was coming from.” She kept her eyes trained on Noel as she closed the distance between them. “One day I was trying to free this stray cat stuck under the stairs and I was down on the concrete on all fours and that’s when I saw just a few splashes of purple. I’ve been caring for them ever since.”