by Wood, Lauren
Part of the reason that California was so pleasurable was because of who I was living with. I had no shortage of understanding that John was making everything a whole lot easier. He always made sure that his driver gave me a ride to school, and when it came time for me to start work a week after I got there, he made sure that I had a good schedule that worked around my classes, as well as a driver to pick me up and drop me off.
I don't know exactly why he was doing all of this for me, but it made everything go so much more smoothly. I had been here for almost two weeks now and it already felt like home. It was a strange arrangement to be sure, but I was so busy that I didn't pay much attention to it. At the moment, all I was worried about was my studies and work. I was learning so much.
* * *
When I started my third week at his father's company, I knew that it was going to be perfect. I knew a lot of things that could happen, but at the moment, they were all good. I don't know how I got so lucky, but I wasn't the type of person to deny a blessing when it was right in front of me. This was all a blessing.
I went out to find Ernest. He was usually in the car, ready to go because he knew that I had an early class on Mondays. It was one of my least favorite classes, but it would be over soon. He was nowhere to be found though. He wasn’t by the car, because the car I usually got a ride in, was gone.
Going back inside the house, I found John still in the kitchen with breakfast and coffee and the paper. He was usually gone by now and I was thankful that he wasn’t. I was hoping that he would know where Ernest was, or at least tell me if I just needed to get a cab or something.
“Well, I am sorry, Dina, however, I forgot all about it. Ernest had to do some work on the car. He has it down at the shop right now. I can give you a ride into work if you want.”
I thanked him for being so generous, but at the same time, I felt like I was taking up too much of his time and energy. He was nice enough to let me stay here, so the last thing I needed to do was make it harder on him. I should be making it easier.
“Don't worry about it, John. It won’t be hard to get me an Uber or something.”
“You know those people are complete strangers. It is better if you get a ride from somebody you know. Just to be safe.”
I waved him off because I didn't want to hear that. Sometimes it felt like I was living with my brother, though I was attracted to John, which made it complicated.
“I am sure that I will be fine, John.”
“I must insist, Dina. You were put in my care when you came here, and I want to make sure that you arrive safely to your destination.”
He insisted, so I didn't really have a choice. That's kind of how it was with John, and I was getting used to it. If there was a way to get used to it. I was rather used to doing things that I wanted to do, when I wanted to do them. It was strange to have someone else to tell me what to do. It really was just like I was back living with Jack. Although for some reason, John was even more sensitive to certain things.
Since I didn't have a choice, I waited a minute for him to get ready and then we left together. His father left John several businesses to run. The production side of things did not get that much of his attention from what I had heard. Ever since I had started there, there was a lot of comments made about the fact that the boss was in the house more. I had a feeling that it was because of me, but I certainly didn't say anything out loud. Most people would not find that a positive thing.
Now I was being driven by the boss and of course, he wanted to check on things and walk in with me. We rode the elevator together and I tried to ignore the looks and attention that we instantly got.
There were three other people in there with us and everyone was a little unnerved, riding around with John. I wasn't of course. I had to live with him and work with him, when I wasn't at school. I spent a lot of time with John and even though some of the allure had worn off, not all of it had.
The other three people got off two stories up, and I had a feeling that it wasn't even their place. They were just afraid of saying something or doing something wrong in front of the boss. That's how pretty much everybody was in this place. I don't know what John had done or said to someone, but he certainly had a reputation of being hard to work with.
“I think they took off because you're in the elevator. I hear that you don't come here very often.”
“It is something that has a way of taking care of itself. I like businesses that way. It's just less that I have to put in on a daily. Divide and conquer.
“So why are you here so much lately? I hear that’s not normal for you.”
“You know the answer to that, Dina. Let's not pretend like you don't.”
I wanted to disagree with him, but I didn't. I did know what the answer was. He had something for me, or he was trying to keep up with me because of Jack. I had a feeling that Jack was involved with it and I tried not to think about it.
“Well, like I told you at the house, you don't have to worry about me, John. I’m not that kind of girl. I don't get in trouble, and I'm just here for school and work. With the schedule I got here, I don't really have time to do much of anything else anyways.”
He had this smug look on his face and if I didn't know any better, I would think that he was happy about that fact, but I still didn't understand why. Why would it matter what I did with myself?
We then went our separate ways at the elevator, because it was bad enough that everyone had seen us riding up together. I didn't want to make it look like we had come in together as well. Nobody here knew that I lived with the boss, and I wanted to keep it that way. It would be seen in a bad way; I just knew it.
I went on about my business and remembered that there was a meeting for my direct boss in half an hour. I was of course, made to do the research for it, and I needed to give him my notes before it was time, so that he would have a chance to look at it. Dale was my first real boss and he was really nice. Maybe a little too nice, but I just ignored it, like I did for a lot of the men in the office that couldn't keep their eyes to themselves.
I knocked on the door and waited for him to call out. He always had it closed and it made me wonder what he was doing in there. Dale was a little bit older than me with sandy-brown hair and dark brown eyes. He always had an easy smile on his face and even though there was attraction written all over it, he was nice enough that I didn't really think about it all that much. It was easier just to smile and go along with it.
“Come in.”
I pushed the door open and walked in.
“Good morning, Dina”
“I just wanted to bring you the research that you were looking for. I had a feeling that all of the research had already been done. I just had to find it.”
I handed him a single sheet of paper and he kind of looked at me questioningly.
“I could have given you twenty pages, but I just condensed it down to one, front and back. It's pretty much everything you need to know, and I have cross-referenced everything, so it is correct.”
He started to read through it, and I could see his eyes moving across the page. I had to stand by the door, uncomfortably waiting for him to tell me if that was enough. I knew it was, but I still needed the agreement from him as well.
“This looks good, Dina. You always have a way of surpassing even my high expectations. If I didn't know any better, I would think that you had far too much time on your hands.”
“No, not really. Last night I had two papers due. It really wasn't too hard to find. These are questions that have been asked many times before and all I had to do was find a reputable place that had already done the work for me.”
“You have saved my ass again, Dina. How am I going to repay you?”
I kind of shrugged and told him that there was no need. It was my job after all.
“When you came in under the advisement of the CEO, I will admit that I thought you were just here for a free ride. I was wrong about that and I was wrong about you. Why do
n't you let me take you out tonight and I can show you how appreciative I am of all that you do for me?”
That sounded all innocent, but it was said with a lustful look on his face and darkness in his eyes. I don't think he wanted to show me how thankful he was. I think he wanted to show me what else he could do.
The reason that I didn't immediately answer was because I knew that he was probably not going to like the answer. I wasn't able to give him what he needed. I wasn't into him like that, even though he was rather nice.
“I will get back to you.”
“Why don't you just come out with me instead of thinking about it? You don't have any classes tonight, do you?”
I told him that I didn’t, and it made it almost impossible to tell him no. Finally, I said yes, even though I had a feeling that it was a bad idea. Dale was nice enough, but I kept telling myself that I didn't have time for this. I didn't have time for a relationship. I was supposed to be working on my studies and getting connections. Maybe that's what it could be with Dale. The only problem was, somebody had to tell him that and I didn't want to be the one to do it. I imagined that Dale had something very different in mind than I did.
“Sure, that sounds good.”
He had a big grin on his face, and I walked out of the office with an unsettled feeling. I don't know why, but I felt like I had just done something wrong. It wasn't like I was dating anybody or anything like that, so why was I feeling this way? It really didn’t make any sense.
12
John
“I am telling you, Steve. I have this girl on lock. Dina isn’t going to know what hit her. I am taking her to Tres Berlin, and we are going to have the time of our lives. Then you know what happens next. Panties drop after that place.”
“I don’t know, Dale. You can be cited if you’re caught diddling the assistant. Not to mention, I heard she was brought in by John. I wouldn’t want to get involved with that, no matter how nice her ass is.”
I was starting to like Steve a whole lot better. He wasn’t doing as well in sales, but at least he was sensible and loyal. Dale on the other hand, was not my favorite person at the moment.
I was standing outside of the breakroom. I didn’t come here often and if I did, I wasn’t usually roaming the halls, but things were different now. I wasn’t there to check on the figures for the stockholders. I was here because I wanted to casually run into Dina, even though she had already pointed out that I was here more than before. Was it that obvious? I didn’t want it to be.
“Screw that. She is hot to trot; I can see it in her eyes.”
I didn’t hear what Steve said and at the moment, it didn’t matter. I was focused on only one person when I went into the room. I didn’t say anything, but I didn’t have to. What they had been saying was heard and one look told me what I wanted to know.
Being as casual as possible, I made a cup of coffee and then asked the two of them how things were going.
Steve recovered first. “Pretty good, John. I think we will have that next installment of the Acorn Franchise ready by spring. It took some finagling, but we finally got all of the pieces together.”
I smiled and said that it was good. I didn’t have the foggiest idea what he was talking about. Obviously, it was a movie, but the specifics were never my strong suit. I didn’t want to know the details. I dictated the responsibilities out to the right people so I didn’t have to.
Looking at Dale, I asked him the same thing and he hesitated. He didn’t have any good news and before I could stop him, he launched into a million things that I didn’t care about. I shouldn’t even be in the breakroom; I never was before.
I was there because of what I heard and to be simple and honest, I wanted to intimidate him. I couldn’t outright tell him that he couldn’t see Dina. It wasn’t the sort of thing that I could get involved with, no matter how badly I wanted to. It killed me, it really did, but at the same time, I was sure that there was a part of me that would only be satisfied if I smashed him in the face. It was a violent reaction for a woman that wasn’t even mine.
But I made promises to keep her safe and being around Dale couldn’t be the epitome of that.
“Well, see you guys around.”
I was about to leave when I stopped at the door.
“Oh, by the way, I need you to bring me your reports by the end of the day. If you have to stay a little later to get it done, that’s fine. Just email them to me when they are complete. I have a meeting later and those numbers are imperative.”
“Yeah, of course. I will get started on it right now.”
I thanked him and left. Only when I was out in the hallway, did I allow myself to feel the pleasure of that moment. Now he wouldn’t be going out with Dina. Not tonight anyways. I would quickly tell her that everything she was thinking was wrong. Why would she even agree to go out with him? He was a weasel and it made no sense. I thought Dina was smarter than that.
* * *
“I am sorry again, that Ernest is out for the day.”
“It’s no bother, really. I have just gotten spoiled, I think. You think of everything, John.”
I smiled at her and I was glad that I was there when she found out that she didn’t have a date for the night. The figures that I asked Dale for were reports that took a long time to compile, and I knew that he would be burning the midnight oil to get it done. That was the point and I was a bit relieved that she didn’t seem too bothered by it. It was like she didn’t care one way or another, and I liked the idea of that even more.
“I try. I was trying to track you down earlier, to see if you needed a ride. You didn’t call.”
“I thought I had one. I was going to go out and have a drink with someone at the office, but something came up. I didn’t really want to go anyways, but I kind of walked into it and was trying to be nice. Have you ever had that happen…Oh, well I guess you haven’t, huh?”
She was babbling and I don’t know why, but the way she was acting all nervous, it just made me want her more. How could a woman that looked like Dina be so nervous all the time? I knew the answer. It was because she was from Coloma. She was from a small town and had been hidden away from the bulk of the world. Now, she was going to get it all coming at her, and I didn’t like that at all.
“Well, sinse you're not going out, why don't we get something for dinner?”
“I really should get to studying. That’s sort of the reason that I'm here. You and my brother have constantly reminded me of that. No fun will be had.”
I knew that I was guilty, and it was partially because being around her was so complicated. I knew that I wasn't supposed to be attracted to her, but it wasn't like I could stop myself. Jack was the one that had asked me to let her stay. I didn't mind most of the time, but there was sometimes that she came downstairs wearing shorts a bit too short and it was hard to not pay attention. It was even harder to remind myself why I wasn't supposed to do anything with her.
“All you do is study and work. Just because that is the purpose of being in California doesn't mean that you can’t enjoy yourself while you're here.”
“Is that what you want me to do with you? Enjoy myself? I was under the impression that you didn't want me to have any fun here.”
I told her that it wasn't that way at all, but I could see why she would think that. It was hard for me to do what I told Jack I would do. I told him that I would keep her safe, but I found myself more jealous than anything else. Dina wasn't in danger of Dale, not really. I am sure that he was thinking about the same things that I was thinking about. Any man that was around Dina that long would want to do the same thing. I was sure of it and it assuaged my guilt just a little bit.
“I mean, you don't have to. I am just trying to keep you out of trouble. When I first came here, I got in a lot of my own. I was new to the place and a little bit younger than you. Hard lessons learned.”
“You say it like it was so long ago.”
“It was, it was almost a decade a
go. A lot has changed since then, and I think the city is even more dangerous. For women like you, I can only imagine that it would be twin fold.”
“What about women like me?”
“Naive, small town girl in a big city...”
“I’m not as naive as you think I am.”
“I would hope not. Because sometimes I really don't know, Dina. You seem oblivious.”
She stopped for a moment and then said that it wasn't her fault.
“It's not like I wanted to stay there in Coloma. I wanted to make my way to the city a long time ago, but I knew that it was never going to happen. My parents love that place for some reason. You were lucky to get out. I had to wait until they couldn’t keep me there any longer.”
“Trust me, Dina. When I first left, I definitely didn't feel like I was lucky. I didn't want to go. And I think if I wouldn't have, I would probably still be in Coloma.”
She looked surprised by my answer.
“Do you really miss it?”
“Sometimes, but there is a lot of good here as well. You just have to get used to some things. You can't trust people here, like you can back home. Everyone here has an agenda.”
“Well as a girl, that hasn't changed.”
I wanted to ask her what she meant by that, but we had arrived at the restaurant and I was trying to keep my cover. She hadn’t exactly agreed to have dinner with me, but we were already here, and we might as well, right?
She didn't say anything when she got out of the car, but I knew that I wasn’t as slick as I wanted to believe I was. Here I was, trying to keep her out of trouble, and all I wanted to do was get her into my own version of it.
“Why don't we go get something to eat? Then you can tell me about your date you had planned.”
