Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
“All right.” I laugh.
“Let's grab the table.” I follow Julie over to one of the empty tables in the bullpen and sit down. She shows me an app that she’s been working on. You plug all your clothing into the app, which not only helps you remember what you have, but also allows you to sort items by color and even makes suggestions.
“I really like how it shows you how one top can work with four different outfits.”
“The more money you save on clothes, the more you can spend on shoes.” I couldn’t agree more, but my vice is makeup, which can be pricey.
“Can there be a quick grab button? Let's say you're shopping online and you find something you like. You can pull it to your closet and see how many things it pairs with. This could assist you in determining whether the purchase is worthwhile.”
“Yes!” Julie slaps her hand down on the table, making me jump. “Sorry, I do that when I get excited.” I laugh and notice that no one bothered to glance this way when she did it, so it must be common. I immediately relax, realizing I may actually be good at this job.
A few times I see Eros come out of his office, but he doesn’t glance my way. I try to ignore it and not let it bother me, but it’s useless. I’m only lying to myself.
"Would you like to join me for happy hour?" Julie asks at the end of the day. Everyone is packing up. “There is a place right around the corner. They have small plates.”
“I don’t know.” I glance at my phone that is going off again. I ignore it. My mom has called five times. I’m not falling for it this time. I’m tired of being on this hamster wheel with her.
“If you come, we can comp it because we’ll be talking about work.” My ears perk up with that bit of information.
“Really?” I laugh. I had a pretty big lunch and am still full. Trays of sandwiches, fruits, and soups had been brought in and laid out in the bullpen. Most things take place right here. It's actually really cool how people can come and go to help each other. I’ve never worked in an environment like this. It’s not at all what I was expecting. It’s no wonder Eros has a successful business.
“Yes.”
“All right,” I agree. I glance towards Eros's office, wanting to say goodbye. Okay, I want him to come say goodbye, but he’s giving me what I asked for.
Julie and I ended up hanging out for a few hours before we call it a night. I think I had one too many glasses of wine, but she’d gotten a bottle. When I step outside, Royce is there leaning up against the SUV. The same as he had been this morning.
“You don’t work for Caleb, do you?”
“Nope.” He opens the back passenger door for me.
“I’ll catch the bus.” Eros isn’t getting any of his other employees private rides, let alone their own driver. Julie got an Uber.
“Lev,” he calls after me when I start walking down the sidewalk. It’s dark out now. I stop. “It’s my job. Will you let me do it?” I turn back around, not wanting him to get in trouble.
“Fine, but I’m sitting in the front.”
Royce smiles. “Got yourself a deal.” He opens the passenger door for me.
“Thanks.” I slip in. I check my phone again, clearing two more calls from my mom. What I'm really looking for is a text from Eros, but there's nothing there. I can’t help but be disappointed when I know I shouldn’t be.
“How was the first day?” Royce asks, pulling away from the curb.
We go back and forth as we make our way toward my place. I find out he’s worked for Eros for five years. He’s been married for almost thirty years, and his first grandchild is due anytime now.
“Thanks for the ride,” I tell him when we pull up to the front of my building.
“I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Seriously?”
“Those are my orders.”
“All right,” I agree. There is no point fighting with Royce, as he said he’s only doing his job. “Tomorrow.” I give him a wave before entering my building.
I could call Eros and bitch about it, but I know I’d only be calling because I want to talk to him. I take the stairs up to my place and grit my teeth when I put my key in the door and realize it’s already unlocked.
“The fuck?” I whisper when I push the door open and see the place is a mess. My mom comes flying out of her bedroom.
“Where have you been? Your father was arrested.”
“What?”
“He’s been arrested!” she screeches.
“For what?” Public drunkenness? That’s my first guess.
“I’m not sure, but I have to go bail him out.”