by Rose Cody
She sighs as she walks over to her vanity, rubbing her face as she gazes into the mirror.
Olivia picks up a hair elastic from the table before grabbing her waving golden locks and tying them on top of her head in a messy bun.
“I guess it’s a glasses kind of day.” She says, picking them up off the vanity and placing them on her face.
She hurries herself out of her bedroom and makes her way back down the stairs, when she hears a soft metallic bang come from her kitchen.
Olivia pauses, trying to listen over her beating heart as she hears more commotion coming from across her house.
She takes another step down the stairs, her eyes widening as she sniffs the air, a confused smirk turning up her lips as she smells the rich warm smell of butter and cinnamon.
“Mr. Condello?” She says, her voice almost at a whisper as she enters the kitchen, seeing the stranger at her stove.
“You were faster than I thought you would be.” He says, turning around to face her as he holds a spatula in his hand. “Do you like French toast?”
“Yes…”She starts as she slowly walks towards her kitchen table and sits down. “I do…”
“Good.” He says, placing the spatula down on the counter and picking up his mug of tea to take a sip.
“Did you make some?” She asks, her eyebrows raising in confusion.
“I figured if you just got out of bed, you must be hungry.” He says as he picks the spatula back up and flips the French toast. “Was I wrong?”
“I uh… guess I could eat.” She says watching as he slides the French toast onto a plate. “It’s just that, people don’t usually go into a strangers kitchen and then decide to start cooking for them.”
“Stranger?” He chuckles as he walks towards the kitchen table.
He places down the French toast before walking back over to her counters and opening a cupboard. He pulls out two small plates before opening a drawer and pulling out two forks.
“I’m still a stranger to you?” He asks, walking back over to her to sit down across from her. “I would have thought we were becoming fast friends…”
She smiles softly, her cheeks flushing as she picks up her fork.
“Well then, thank you for breakfast, Mr. Condello.” She says, poking a piece of French toast and dropping it onto her plate.
“We should probably not waist time.” He says, picking up his own piece and cutting it with his fork before placing it in his mouth.
“Right, right.” She says, doing the same. “But thank you.”
Chapter 4
Olivia brushes her hand over her car’s rough paint job in the parking lot of the mechanic shop.
“Well, at least they didn’t scratch you up more than you already are.” She says standing up tall as she turns towards the dinging bell of the mechanic shop door as it opens.
She watches Mr. Condello walk towards her and she gives him a little wave.
“Keep this.” He says as he hands her a folded piece of paper. “It’s a recipe and if it fucks up again just show it to them and they’ll fix it for you for free.”
“For free?” She says. “Seriously? Oh, my God, I don’t even know what to say.”
“Don’t mention it.” He says. “I have a lot of friends who… enjoy helping me.”
She lets out a soft laugh as she folds the receipt even further before stuffing it in her purse.
“I can see why.” She says, her eyes softly looking up at him. “You’re obviously a very good man.”
“Well…” He says, his eyebrows narrowing as he smirks at her. “I would like to think so anyway.”
“But not modest…” She laughs as she walks around to the driver’s side of her car and opens the door, placing her purse inside. “But really… thank you. I really could have never afforded this big of a repair on my salary.”
“Maybe you need a new salary.” He says, sinking his hands into the pocket of his coat.
“Yeah, I kind of do.” She smiles, laughing as she nods her head.
“So come work for me.” He says.
“Work for you?” She asks. “Are you offering me a job?”
“Not a very good one…” He starts. “Basic office help is really all I have for you to do… dishes, watering plants, some clean up, coffee…But I will double the salary your making now, so what’s to lose?”
“Double my salary to water some plants?” She asks, suspiciously. “But you don’t even know what I make now.”
“Doesn’t matter what you make now, I’ll double it.” He offers. “Anything to help you get back on your feet.”
She stands there, stunned as she thinks it over.
There is just something so suspicious about this guy, but really, double the salary is double the salary…
“Okay, yeah.” She says, smiling nervously. “Seems kind of too good to be true, but I’ll do it.”
“Glad to hear it.” He says, nodding his head. “Condello Investments… we’re downtown, you can’t miss us, we’re the building with the big glass windows. I’ll see you at 9 a.m., Olivia.”
“Yes, sir.” She says, unable to contain her smile any longer. “I’ll be there.”
“Business casual.” He says, slowly walking backwards toward her car. “But a little cute never hurt anybody.”
“Got it.” She says, waving softly at him as she watches him turn around to walk back to his car.
Olivia slides into the driver’s seat as she watches his black BMW drive away.
“I guess that’s my new boss.” She says to herself as she fastens her seat belt. “What an interesting guy…”
Chapter 5
Olivia struggles to close her front door as she pushes her grocery bags around with her feet.
She sighs as she finally gets it closed and locked, taking a second to rest before beginning to thread her hand through the white plastic of all the bags. She grunts as she lifts them and begins to waddle her way into the kitchen.
“Should have taken two trips!” She says to herself, squealing with effort as she lifts the bags up onto the table.
She huffs, sitting down at the table and resting her face in her hands as she looks over her groceries before leaning back in her chair and stretching her arms over her head.
“Well, I better get this shit put away.” She says, standing up from her chair and walking around the table as she opens one of the plastic bags.
Olivia unpacks the cans, stacking them on top of each other, locking them together, before carefully lifting up the tower and resting it under her chin.
She walks slowly over to the counter, carefully dropping the cans onto the counter top before opening the cupboard and stacking them in one at a time, creating a wall of veggies and beans, spinning the cans so their labels face outwards.
“I might not even have enough room.” She says, turning around to go and see how many she has left to put away.
She pauses as her eyes catch the shining porcelain of plates in the sink and she walks over to the pile of dishes, still smelling the cinnamon as she gets closer.
“I can’t believe he made me breakfast.” She says, rubbing the tip of her finger over the lip edge of the plate.
She chuckles as turns to look at the pan still sitting on the stove.
“And I can’t believe I just let a stranger in my house like that.” She says. “I would never usually do that!”
“And I can’t believe he paid for my car repairs…” She says to herself as she walks back over to the table and opens another bag. “And a job?!”
She pulls out a bunch of bruised yellow bananas from the plastic bag before walking over to the stove and placing them on the counter beside it. Olivia picks up the frying pan, smiling as she places it into the sink.
“And I actually took the job?” She asks herself, surprised. “I don’t even know what I’m doing anymore!”
She leans against the counter top, resting comfortably on her elbows as she sighs, letting out a giggle as she
tosses her head back.
“I’m still not sure if I even believe there really is a job or if he’s just an attractive con artist.”
She pokes her fingers under her glasses to wipe the tiredness out of her eyes.
“Well, good luck conning me out of anything, sexy man, I’m broke.”
She sighs, taking a few deep breaths in and out as she drags her fingers down her cheek and over her collar bone.
“He is pretty sexy, though.” She whispers to herself, standing up straight before stretching and walking back over to the table to put away the rest of her groceries.
She reaches toward another bag, before pulling her hand back as a devilish smirk crosses her lips.
Olivia giggles, her face flushing as she abandons the food on the table to walk across the front room toward the little bathroom by the stairs.
She opens the door, flicking on the light as she pulls her hair out of its messy bun, letting it fall to her shoulders.
Olivia grips the hem of her t-shirt before lifting it up over her stomach and chest and pulling it over her shoulders. She tosses it to the ground before reaching around her back and unhooking the clasp of her bra.
She pulls the garment away from her before quickly unbuttoning and unzipping her jeans, pushing down the denim along with her panties, letting them too fall to the ground before stepping out of them and walking over to the bathtub.
She sit on the porcelain, the ice col surface sending a shiver up her spine as she leans in to turn on the hot water, then the cold, before running her fingers through the flowing waterfall.
She closes her eyes, waiting for the perfect temperature as she rubs her fingers over her chest, moaning out as she sinks her hand lower and lower.
Olivia blushes, opening her eyes to turn on the showerhead before standing up and stepping under the steaming water, the warmth enveloping her.
She can’t wait to see him again tomorrow.
Chapter 6
Olivia’s heart pounds in her chest as she walks up to the intimidating glass walls of Condello Investments.
“It’s a lot more legit looking than I thought it was going to be, so I guess there’s that…” She whispers to herself as she reaches her hand out to grasp the large metal handle. “I hope I’m not expected to wash all these windows.”
She takes a deep breath as she steps inside the office, the white décor catching her eyes as her heels click along the hard, granite floors.
“Excuse me?” She says to the stocky brown haired woman sitting at the front reception desk. “My name is Olivia Brooks.”
“Okay, and?” The woman asks, looking up from her computer screen as she pops her gum.
“I was told to come into work today.” Olivia says, her voice trailing off.
“Okay, so… do that.” The receptionist says, turning back to her computer.
“I’m not sure where to go, actually.” Olivia says, her face flushing with embarrassment as she looks around the lobby.
“What’s your job?” The woman asks, turning back to look at her judgingly over the top of her glasses.
“I’m not sure.” She says, letting out a nervous chuckle. “Really, Mr. Condello just told me to come in at 9 a.m.”
“Oh, you’re one of Mr. Condello’s girls…” She says, nodding her head up and down as she gets up from her chair. “Follow me…”
Olivia follows her to the kitchen, past various offices with doors shut tight.
“Here you go, I think you should get started on cleaning that. It’s disgusting.” She says pointing towards the fridge. “I don’t know why people even order food if they’re just going to let it rot in the fridge. Just toss everything.”
“Yeah, for sure.” Olivia says, nodding her head up and down. “Do you guys have extra trash bags or do you just want me to use the kitchen garbage can, or…?”
“Bags under the sink.” The woman says motioning towards the counters. “Take your time on it, because I don’t know what else there is for you to do around here, honestly.”
Olivia nods, blushing as she watches the stocky woman walk out of the kitchen, letting the door swing behind her.
She sighs, walking over to the sink, kneeling down in front of it to grab a bag from underneath it before walking over to the fridge. She opens the door, scrunching her nose up at the used take out containers as she shakes the bag loose to open it up.
“Ugh!” She exclaims as she lifts a paper box, only to have its contents drip out the mushy bottom.
She tosses it into the bag, before backing up and shaking her head.
“Well, he did say that it wasn’t going to be glamorous work.” She sighs.
Olivia gasps as she feels a set of strong, warm hands rest on her shoulders and she quickly turns around.
“Mr. Condello, hi.” She smiles, her face flushing as her mind wonders to her private activities the night before.
“That fridge is a pretty big task to take on on your first day, don’t you think?” He asks her, scrunching his nose as he smiles softly at her.
“The girl with the brown hair told me it was all there was to do at the moment.” She says, shrugging her shoulders. “I don’t mind really, I’ve had to clean worse at other jobs.”
“That’s Lisa.” He says, chuckling. “And I wouldn’t doubt that she was just being mean to you. She’s a feisty one, that girl.”
“Oh.” Olivia whispers, chewing her bottom lip.
“She’ll warm up to you… eventually.” He says, walking over to the counter and lifting the coffee pot off the burner.
He pours himself a cup before bringing it up to his lips and taking a sip.
“Yuck.” He says, swallowing. “Mud water. Do you know how to make a decent cup of coffee? Because Lisa sure doesn’t.”
“Yes, absolutely.” She says, nodding.
“Then you should.” He says, smiling softly at her as he begins to walk out of the kitchen. “Glad to see you’re getting settled in.”
She smiles back at him, nodding her head once again as she watches his back push against the door.
“Oh, and after lunch, come to my office so we can do some paper work.” He says to her, his voice low and gruff as he gives her a quick wink before disappearing out the door.
“Sure thing…” She whispers after him, sighing before turning back to the fridge, scrunching her face again as she looks back at the mess she’s been tasked to clean up.
Chapter 7
Olivia huffs, wiping her glistening forehead with the back of her hand, as she makes her way back over to the sink to rinse her rag.
She squirts a dollop of dish soap onto the stained cloth, rubbing it between her fingers and lathering it up before running the hot water over it to rinse it clean.
She honestly didn’t think it would ever get finished. Olivia’s never seen so much rotting food in her life. Spaghetti, fish and chips, old sushi; all old and all stinking up the place.
“I wonder if they have any baking soda around here.” She whispers to herself as she rings the water from the rag before folding it over and placing on the counter beside the sink.
She looks through the cupboards, pushing the various peanut butters and stale boxes of crackers out of the way as she looks for something to freshen the fridge’s rancid stink before hearing the kitchen door swing open.
Olivia glances up, her heart fluttering as she sees Mr. Condello walk through the doorway with his coffee cup.
“More coffee?” She asks, smiling softly at him.
“Did you make some?” He asks, lifting his cup.
“Yes, I did, it should still be hot.” She says, motioning towards the coffee pot on the counter.
“Great.” He says, pouring himself a cup. “So, how is it going?”
“Really good.” She says, nodding her head as she sighs out. “I cleaned out the fridge completely. Nothing gross in there at all.”
“You threw out everything?” He asks, walking towards the fridge and grabbing the handle to
open the door and look inside. “There was stuff I was saving…”
“Oh, sir, I’m sorry…” Olivia starts. “It was… it was all bad, there was nothing in there that anyone should really have eaten.”
“I’m kidding.” He says, chuckling as he closes the fridge door again.
