First day of work- 0630 hours
Ugh. Why did I agree to get up this early? This is torture. I get up anyway, and shuffle to the mini kitchen and put coffee into the coffee maker. Then I look into the mini fridge and open it. All I find is beer. I sigh, and hear a door snap close behind me. I turn around and see Selena, wearing a white, flowery dress with a towel wrapped around her head. There was steam billowing out around her, and it made her look like a ghost. I glanced between her and the fridge and my stomach. She smiled at me and said, "I'll call Mia. She'll help you out."
"Who's Mia?"
"She's the top dog around here. She takes care of the guests, like as a bodyguard, but she'll show you the way."
"...Ok..." I was suddenly unsure about this Mia girl. Why would anyone here need a bodyguard? Well, since it's a nice hotel I guess they must have super rich guests. Selena walked over to the phone that was sitting on the bedside table and dialed four digits.
"Hello, this is Selena... yes, that's me! I would like to have Mia come up, right away. One of my girls needs to be shown around... I don't care what she's doing! Send her up!... do you want me to call your boss? I will. I have him on speed dial. Send her up! ... finally... fine... whatever... sure... bye," she slammed the phone down and looked up at me. "These people are so incompetent, I swear..."
Not a minute later there was a knock on the door. I was changing at the moment into my favorite pair of jeans and a hoodie, so I let Selena get the door. She opened it partway and stood, looking at the figure in the doorway.
"Hello, Mia."
"What do you want," she snarled.
"Well, well. A patch of sunshine, just as I remembered," she growled. Obviously these two had a rocky relationship. It was hilarious! I held back a snicker.
"Well?"
"This is Kara, my newest agent. She's hungry. I need you to show her where to get it," she said. Selena waved her inside, and she gave me the once over. She stared at the contrast between my icy blue eyes and dark, wavy brown hair in disgust.
"Can I interest you in a knuckle sandwich?" she jeered. She had a scowl on her face. She had short, spiky black hair. It contrasted against her sparkling hazel eyes and pale skin. She was wearing jeans and a t-shirt. I liked this chick! She was hilarious.
"How about some French toast?" I said with a smirk on my face. "Or is that too hard for you?" oh man, was I going to enjoy this...
"Obviously you're too thick to notice my muscles. They have the ability to break your face within two seconds. And that's a fact."
"Ok, ok, break it up. Mia, go show Kara the breakfast area. Now. Thank you, dearie," Selena interrupted. Mia's face contorted with rage. She walked over to the coffee table and slammed her fist into it, giving it a nice sized hole where her fist had landed. I was staring at her. Did I mention the table is granite?
"Never, ever call me dearie. Ever," her face relaxed after she said this. It was still in a scowl. "Let's go, Princess. Do you need me to carry you everywhere, or can you manage?"
"I would actually love for you to carry me, but I think I'll walk. Thanks, anyway. I'll keep your offer in mind," I glared at her. She wasn't afraid; she looked angry, as if I shouldn't have said that. But I did. So she should get over it. She noticed me still staring at her knuckles and said, "I had steel grafted into my knuckles when I was fifteen." My eyes widened for a second then I forced my face to relax.
We started out the door and walked down the long hallways. There wasn't much special about them, except there were roses in ornate vases everywhere! In between doors, spread across the edges of the floor, and woven into the ceiling... it was disturbing. At least they were all different shades of red, pink, and white. The smell was overpowering. After we passed through this hallway, we walked through one that held lilies in the same way. We went into a staircase, and there were daisies. There were hallways with tiger lilies, petunias, sunflowers, every kind of flower you can think of, it was there! It was weird.
"What's with all the flowers?" I asked Mia as we were walking along a hall that had even more daisies.
"They're for your viewing pleasure," she said sarcastically.
"I hate flowers."
"Join the club." After a few minutes of walking, my stomach reminded me of why we were walking.
"Are we almost there?" I whined.
"Would you like me to put you out of your misery?" I glared at her. "Just a little longer."
So for the next five minutes, I walked behind her. After a while, we ended up at an elevator at the end of a hall filled with pansies. We stepped into the elevator and Mia pushed the button for the top floor.
"Why would they put food on the top floor?" I asked.
"Because the view is good enough that you'd barf," she rolled her eyes. "It's so that you can watch the sun rise and set over the city, idiot. You're just full of stupid questions, aren't you?"
We reached our destination at that point and when we stepped off the elevator, I was greeted with beauty. The entire dining area was surrounded in glass walls. Even the ceiling was glass. The sun was just coming over the horizon and it set a warm, cheery glow over the small, white, round tables that filled the room. In the center of the dining area was a long pool in the shape of a rectangle. It wasn't very deep and there were fish in it, of all colors. They were lazily floating in the current that moved the water around. On the very bottom of the pool was a mass of colorful pebbles that were lit up by the lights that were beneath them. The pebbles brought out each color of the many fish that swam in the pool. In the center of the pool was a fountain. It was a lot like the one displayed out front. This was distracting, but not as distracting as the table of food behind it. There was bacon, eggs, French toast, greens, yogurt, fresh fruit, exotic juices, pancakes, waffles, crepes, and so many things that I didn't know the name of. They were all displayed in fancy white bowls and plates. There were chefs on hand that would cook your bacon, eggs, or heat up anything you wanted with the stoves in front of them.
Mia led me to a table and sat down. She leaned back against the glass and crossed her arms. I stood, unsure if was supposed to get my own food, or if there would be a waiter who would get it all for me. I looked at her.
"What? Don't you dare ask me to feed you," she snarled.
"No, I was just wondering if I had to go get my own food or if someone was serving it to me. I'm fine if I have to go get it. Do you want anything if I have to go myself?" I asked politely.
"Do I look incompetent to you?"
"..."
"I can get my own food," she snapped. She got up, slammed the chair into the table and stormed off to get some bacon and eggs. I was still standing there when she got back. She sat down, picked up some bacon with her fingers, and tore it to bits while she ate it. I stared at her, eyes wide.
"You got a problem there, sweetie pie?"
"Don't call me that, dearie," I growled, snapping my fingers at her and hoping she wouldn't punch the table again.
"If you snap your fingers at me one more time, I will snap your head off your neck," she growled. I didn't doubt her for a second.
After we finished breakfast and made it back into the room, Mia left. Selena prepped me for work, putting me into a pair of black slacks, an icy blue t-shirt that did "wonders for your eyes", and a black suit jacket. Then she forced me to slide into a pair of blue heels that matched the shirt perfectly. Then she used her strange tools again. She put my necklace around my neck and her fingers lingered there for a second. It was half of a dove, carrying half of a mistletoe leaf. It was made entirely of gems. Emeralds, diamonds, and sapphires. She stared at it for a while, then straightened my hair and sent me down to the main floor for a taxi. I slid in and found Mia already there.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"My job."
"You're job doesn't include me. Does it?" I asked, panic setting in. while she was really funny, she still scared me.
"It does now, Princess. Selena hired me to be your Royal Guard," she smirked. Fabulous. Thanks so much, Selena.
When we got to the massive building, we stepped out, paid the driver, and walked in the building. Mia had the same expression I had yesterday.
"Wow, Princess. Nice place," she managed to choke out. She was staring at the chandeliers above her.
"Yup," I smiled, for the first time in weeks. I walked up to Ashlee, who was wearing the same thing as yesterday. "Where's my office?"
"Forty-ninth floor, suite ten," she tossed me a pair of keys without looking up. I missed, but Mia flicked her hand out and snatched them out of the air.
"Thanks, Ashlee," I said. She looked up startled. I guess not many people thanked her around here. We walked over to the elevator and stepped inside. When we reached my floor, we got out and walked over to suite ten. Mia handed me the keys and I slid them into the lock, excitement gripping me. I slowly turned the key as Mia huffed with impatience. I took out the key and turned the handle. I stepped in and closed the door behind me. I flicked on the light switch and looked around. It wasn't as grand as Aaron's office, but it was still beautiful. I had a corner office that extended a little farther out from the building, so that a strip of the floor and ceiling was glass. The floor was in a nice beige color, as were two of the walls. The other two were entirely glass. I stepped farther in and saw the little mahogany desk and black swivel chair set in the middle of the room. Behind the chair was a massive bookcase that took up the entire wall, also made of mahogany. Off to my left was an open doorway. I walked through to see my own mini kitchen. I looked out the little window and saw Mia sitting in the couch across from my new desk. I liked that. My new desk. I went out and sat in the chair, spun around, and giggled. Mia glared at me, but I could see a smile playing at the edge of her lips.
A little while later, I noticed a small box by the door. It was labeled Floor 50. I stared at it and realized that it was a box containing Aaron's things. This was his old office. Great. Just what I was hoping for! Not. Thinking about last night made me sour. I tapped the edge of the box with my foot, seriously thinking I should kick it. I decided not to because I didn't want to lose my job on the first day. I turned around and saw Mia backing away from my desk. I looked at the desk and saw a laptop. I looked at her in shock.
"Wh-what's this...?" I asked.
"It's just a little office-warming gift," she said sheepishly.
"Oh, wow. Thanks!"
"Yeah, whatever Princess.So, what now?" As if in response, there came a knock on the door. I stood up and opened my door. It was Aaron.
"Hello, Aaron. Can I help you?" I said curtly.
"Hey Kara. I have a project for you. May I come in?"
"Yeah, sure." I shooed away Mia so Aaron could sit down. She got up with a slight frown on her face, and moved to the kitchen. Aaron took her place on my black leather sofa.
"I feel bad about what I said last night about your school and your family. So, I put an add out for you last night. Usually, I have the Tracker's do their own work, but I just wanted to apologize. This morning, we got a response from your add. There is an 18 year old named Ella Mason who wants your help. So, of course, I agreed. I ran a background check for you," Jeez, what's with this guy and his background checks? "and she seemed like a really nice girl. She is a little older than you, but I think you'll manage. I have faith in you. You seem like the type of person who can handle something like this. You will be meeting Ella in about ten minutes, right here. I'm sorry for the short notice... but anyway, I suggest that you prepare for your meeting. I'll be here if you want any help."
"Ten minutes?" I exclaimed.
"Eight," Mia said from the next room over.
"Who's that?" Aaron said.
"That is my bodyguard, Mia. Selena thought it was necessary that she come along. And thanks, Mia. That'll help settle my nerves. This is my boss, by the way. His name is Aaron Hudson," I said with a hint of sarcasm.
"I'm not stupid. I know who he is," she rolled her eyes. "Six!" She enjoyed torturing me. I just know it.
"Okay, so what do I say?" I said, turning back to Aaron.
"Introduce yourself, ask her how she's doing, and describe what you're here to do. Make her feel at home. Tell her that you will help her in any way possible to find her soul mate. Tell her where you'll be starting the search and when you'll be leaving," he suggested.
"Where do I start? When do we leave?" I was panicking now.
"Four!" Mia called from my kitchen.
"I suggest you start in the area, then broaden your search to the state, then the country, then go world-wide, if it comes to that. Usually it won't, but on occasion you'll have to," he said, ignoring Mia.
"Three!" Mia was really freaking me out now. I needed to distract her, so she wouldn't scare Ella.
"Mia, do you think you could make some hot chocolate? And maybe some chocolate chip cookies?" I pleaded.
"No," she said.
"Please?" I begged.
"NO," she said more viciously.
"Alright..." I glanced at Aaron with pleading eyes.
"Hey, Mia, will you go tell Ashlee that I'm going to be staying here for a while, and to have people call me back, please?" he smoldered her with his beautiful green eyes. No one can withstand the power of his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah... Sure..." she whispered, obviously trying to come up with a retort. She couldn't think of one, and as soon as she was out the door, Aaron pulled out his cell phone and hit a single number. I heard a voice at the other end of the line.
"Hello, Ashlee. Will you do me a favor?" there was a sweet reply on the other end. "Great. There will be a girl coming down for me and telling you to have everyone to call me back later. Will you distract her and hold her off? No matter how terrifying she gets, I need you to distract her... thank you so much, Ashlee... Yes... will you tell me one other thing? Great. Is Ella Mason here? ...oh, I see. All right. Thank you. Buh bye."
He turned to me with excited eyes. I said, "Did she cancel? Move the appointment?"
"No. in fact, she is in the elevator right now," he said. As if on cue, there was a knock on the door.
*******
A/N: Yeah.... I know... two months.... it's pretty bad.... so, to try and make it up to you, I'm gonna be updating both stories! This one multiple times. I feel so far behind it's insane!
I kept thinking "I feel like I should update Burned.... It's been quite a while..."
But school... and homecoming... and life... :)
I hope you guys like it! It's a short one, but it was fun, don't you think?
So anyways, don't forget to comment lots and vote!! I love feedback!