Becky’s POV
I could not help the tears streaming from my eyes down to my cheeks, as I walked into Jennifer's home.
“Are you kidding me!” Jenny exclaimed when I told her I had been fired.
“You mean you threw away a high-paying job just because you couldn’t control your temper? What’s wrong with you, Rebecca?”
“He called my dad lazy.”
“So? If your dad was so great, you would not need this job.”
I had been slumped in her chair, now I jumped up instantly, facing her, “what did you say?” I demanded.
“You heard me,” she shot back. “You need to face it, your dad should have done better.”
Her words hurt, but I knew they were true. I sat down on her bed and buried my face in my hands.
“I am sorry,” she sat beside me. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No, you're right, I am an idiot. I’ve lost a job I badly needed. Now I am in a jam. What do I do?”
“It’s going to be okay. Maybe I can convince my parents to let you move in.”
I smiled a little. “You know it’ll be a waste of time.”
“I can try.”
“Thanks,” I told her, “but I’ll figure this out, I’ve got to. This little run in with Phillip Dale isn’t going to break me.”
“Who?” She asked.
“Phillip Dale, the guy I argued with.”
“You insulted Phillip Dale?” She asked incredulously.
“Who is he? Everyone seemed to be afraid of him.”
“He is the richest, hottest man in the state. Everyone knows him, he’s every girl's dream.”
“Wonder why I never heard of him?”
She shook her head. “You really are an idiot, Rebecca.”
“Don’t remind me,” I said gloomily.
We talked a little and I headed home.
Mom and Wendy were having pizza and watching TV when I came in.
“Hey mom, Wendy, I’m back.”
“How was it? Have you met any rich guys yet?” Wendy asked.
“No,” I smiled.
“Have you started looking for a place?” Mom asked.
“Well,…actually…I don’t have a job anymore.”
Mom raised her eyebrows.
“I got fired,” I told her.
“Fired? So you couldn’t even hold down a job for a week?” she sneered.
“It's not like that. I had an argument with a customer, he insulted dad.”
“Did you punch him?” Wendy asked hopefully.
“Enough honey,” my mom told her, then turned to me. “All you had to do was work and earn like every adult, but you couldn’t even do that.”
“But mom-“
“Why am I even wasting time talking to you? By the end of the month, you'll be on your own. You had better start looking around for a good homeless shelter.”
She continued her dinner, and turned up the TV volume. Wendy looked at me sympathetically, and signaled for me to join them. I shook my head.
I was too depressed to eat. I turned and went to my room.
I’m going to end up on the streets for sure, no thanks to that handsome, emerald-eyed jerk. Phillip Dale. I thought bitterly.
I wanted to hate him, but couldn’t. Why? Is it because everyone is talking about him? Or because he is too good-looking to be hated? But that's what he deserves.
***Next Day****
As much as I would have liked to spend all day brooding, I forced myself to get out of bed. After a bath and breakfast, I picked up my phone and went online, checking for job vacancies. After hours of fruitless searching, I was ready to give up when I stumbled upon an advert.
Experienced Live in caregiver needed. Apply to no. 14 Garden estate
I have heard of Garden Estate. It was an estate on the outskirts of town. Inhabited by the very wealthy. The job was just what I needed, a live-in job. I immediately applied and instantly received an email:
Interview on Saturday 10 am, Miss Richards, please come with means of identification.
I almost danced with joy, but held myself. They wanted someone experienced. The only experience I had was nursing my dad. Would it count?
On Saturday morning, I stood looking at my clothes, thinking about what I could wear. Many of my clothes were casual. I couldn’t go for an interview at Garden Estate dressed casually. In the end, I decided on a blue blouse and black mini skirt that I rarely wore. The outfit enhanced my wide hips and firm breast. I looked good enough.
I picked up my purse and file, then headed out. Mom was at the dining table helping Wendy with her homework.
“I am going to an interview,” I told them.
My mom looked at me briefly then ignored me.
“Good luck,” Wendy told me.
“Thanks,” I smiled and left. I hailed a cab.
“Garden Estate,” I told the driver.
“Garden Estate?” He repeated, looking at me.
I nodded.
He shrugged. “That’s twenty dollars.”
“That’s a lot.”
“Pay fifteen.”
I sighed, then got in. He drove off.
“Going for a job interview?” He asked, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.
“Yes. How did you guess?”
“Well, you don’t look like a resident, and you’re holding a file. Besides, most of the residents have cars.”
“You know the place well?”
“Sure, I've worked there. I know most of them. Who are you going to be working for?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“Well, they are all the same. Naughty fellows, letting their wealth get into their heads, every single one of them. Better brace yourself.”
We rode in silence, my heart beating in anxiety.
Finally, he pulled up in front of the pole barrier.
“Can’t go further than this,” he said.
I went down and paid my fare.
“Good luck,” he told me.
I thanked him, then approached the barrier. A uniformed security guard came to meet me.
“I’m here to see the residents of No. 14,” I said.
“Are they expecting you?” He asked.
“Yes, I’m here for an interview.”
“Name?”
“Rebecca Richards.”
“Hold on.” He spoke into an intercom. “Can I see some ID?” He asked me.
I handed him my ID. He looked at it, then lifted the pole, and gave me directions to No. 14.
Entering Garden Estate, I felt like Alice in Wonderland. It was a world miles away from where I lived, with beautiful mansions and well-kept lawns. I stared at every house in awe till I got to no. 14. It was a stately mansion painted blue, the garden decorated with trees and flowers. I pushed open the white picket fence and made my way up the sidewalk. Everywhere was so quiet that I could hear my heels on the ground. I rang the bell. A uniformed lady opened the door.
“Good morning. I’m here for an interview,” I said nervously.
“Come in.” She led me into a long hall and entered a door on the right leading to a well-furnished living room.
“Please sit down, Mr. Dale will see you shortly,” she told me, and left.
I sat anxiously looking around the tastefully furnished room. A tall, broad, gray-haired, middle-aged woman came in.
“Good morning, you are here for the interview?” She asked.
I stood up. “Yes. I’m Rebecca Richards.
She motioned me to sit down and sat beside me.
“Have you done this job before?
“Yes I have.”
“Okay, hold on.”
She left and was back minutes later.
“Mr. Dale will see you now.”
We walked to a door down the hall.
“It will be best to put your phone on silent mode,” she advised.
I immediately did just that. She left me at the door. I took a couple of deep breaths then knocked.
“Come in.” A deep voice said.
I entered a big, comfortably furnished office. A man sat behind a desk, head bent, writing something on a pad. The desk was filled with papers.
“Give me a minute,” he said.
I sat down nervously staring at his blond hair. His cologne smelt very familiar.
Then he raised his head and both our jaws dropped.
It was Phillip Dale!
Phillip’s POV I felt bad about getting her fired, I had truly behaved like an ass and her response had been justified. After she had left, the supervisor bent over backwards to make sure I wasn’t mad at her behavior.“Please forgive this insult, Mr. Dale,” he said, a little panicked. He was worried I would report to the manager and he would lose his job. “I promise it won’t ever happen again. I don’t know how she was hired, but please rest assured I will make sure you never encounter such ill-mannered staff here ever again.”“You shouldn’t have fired her like that. I already told you it was nothing, just a slight misunderstanding,” I insisted.“But she insulted you sir, that’s unacceptable.”“And I have overlooked it. Please give her another chance.”He stared at me as if wondering if I were drunk.“I am happy you can overlook the incident, sir, but she can not work here again. She went against our policy. It would set a bad precedent if she was allowed back, sir.”I gave up the ar
Phillip’s POV “Another delay? Why?” I demanded angrily. “This is the third time this has happened. If you don’t want us to have the goods, then give us back our money. We will go elsewhere!” “I’m sorry, Mr. Dale I really am,” the representative of the chemical company apologized hastily. “But it is not our fault.”“Stop making excuses for your incompetence! If you’re not ready to do business, then tell me!”“But Mr. Dale, you sent an email at the last minute asking us to make some changes. I told you it would cause a delay, and you said you wouldn’t mind.”I tried not to shout.“I don’t understand you. I want the shipment here by Monday, or the deal is off.” I hung up.What does he mean? What last minute changes? I had negotiated this deal three weeks ago and the shipment was supposed to have been delivered ten days ago. I had deadlines to meet, the delayed shipment meant missed deadlines and angry customers. Dale Enterprises won’t remain the biggest conglomerate in the country if
Becky's POV I couldn’t believe my prospective employer was Phillip Dale, the Adonis who had gotten me fired. Seeing him, I thought I would be angry, but all I was imagining was his lips on mine.And his apology surprised and pleased me.Maybe he wasn’t such an ass after all. I thought. I was contemplating forgiving him till he said,“You should have controlled your temper though, when dealing with customers you have to be polite no matter the provocation.”I was wrong. You are still an ass.Then he talked about my not having a college degree as if it were a crime.But despite my dislike of him, I couldn’t help the way my heart beat by merely looking at him. He was handsome and I was already falling for him. "Behave yourself Rebecca, he doesn’t notice you," I told myself.Throughout the interview he treated me as if he were doing me a favor talking to him, like I was too socially inferior to him and it annoyed me.But I needed the job, and luckily I had been able to persuade him to g
Becky's POV I was slightly annoyed by the interruption. I had wanted to ask more about Phillip Dale and his heart break. Now my chance was gone.We helped Anna into her wheelchair and took the elevator downstairs.Then we entered a dining room, large enough to hold twenty people.Lunch was grilled chicken breast with mustard, and it was delicious. Anna kept up light conversion while we ate.I can’t remember the time I enjoyed such a happy family meal, or had anyone show interest in me. At least not since my dad died.When we were done, she asked me to sit with her in the garden. Ms. Bright excused herself to go discuss a few things with Phillip.We sat in the garden with Anna telling me humorous stories about growing up in Arkansas.Then Phillip walked over to us.“Phillip dear, Rebecca and I are just getting to know each other. She really is a wonderful young lady.” Anna praised me.Phillip frowned. It was clear he wasn’t happy to hear it.“Come join us. You work too hard. It’s Satu
Becky's POVI was up by 6 a.m and sat beside my window watching the sun rise.I had laid awake most of the night, too restless and excited to get much sleep. I went to my drawer and took out Anna’s timetable. I read through it like a test paper trying to memorize everything. I was anxious not to make a mistake and give Phillip Dale an excuse not to retain me. By 8 am, I was dressed and ready. Since Anna seemed like a woman who liked people acting naturally, I dressed in a green t-shirt and blue jeans. I drank a cup of coffee, and afterward I felt restless, so I decided to head out and explore the garden.I strolled around the mansion admiring it when Phillip came out, dressed up in a blue suit and white shirt, with a matching blue tie. The morning sun caused his gold-coloured hair to glow. He was reading something on his phone and didn’t seem to notice me.My heart beat quickened as I looked at him.Wow! I thought, could a guy be this handsome?He raised his head and our eyes met. I
PhillipThere I was, sitting in my car for like 9 minutes trying to get off the image of Rebecca’s beautiful face from my mind. I was startled when I saw her out so early, looking fresh and beautiful. I felt my heart squeeze, but I tried to keep my feelings from showing.My advice for her to start exercising was actually to make her feel bad. Treating her badly seemed to be the only way to kill what I was feeling for her. I hadn’t felt this way in years, actually, since I’d been with Jessica.Reminded of Jessica, I took out my cell and looked at the picture that had popped up on my phone days ago.I felt the same pain I always feel whenever I looked at it, but I couldn’t stop myself from looking, and had refused to delete it.I wanted to keep it as a reminder never to fall in love again."Stop being stupid,"
Becky's POVI slammed into my lodging, furious. I told myself I was annoyed because I was tired, and my heart ached because I was missing my mom and Wendy. It had nothing to do with seeing Phillip Dale making love to a beautiful woman in the hallway. I knew I was lying to myself.I had a very hot shower, hoping the hot water would burn the anger out of me. Then I changed into a sleeping gown, and began to comb my hair. My hair kept getting tangled in the stupid comb. Angrily, I threw it across the room. It hit the wall and I wished Phillip's head had been on that wall.Jealous! My mind mocked me.“No, I’m not,” I said aloud.Yes you are. You wish you were the one in his arms, but you’re not and will never be. Accept it! He doesn’t like you!I sighed sadly. I wondered how a day that had started so well was now ending so sadly.I went out, straight to Anna’s room after leaving Dom, and knocked gently on the door.“Come in, Rebecca dear.”I entered to see Anna sitting up in bed.“Good mo
Becky's POVI couldn’t sleep that night. I wondered how long the person had been there or if anyone had been there at all.Was it my imagination?By six am, I was dressed. I went outside to see if I could find any sign of who could have been watching me, but I didn’t find anything.I saw the woman Phillip had been with come out. I hid behind the tree and watched her walk through the gate. My heart squeezed remembering she had spent the night with Phillip."Remember you said you had forgotten about Phillip," I told myself.I went back in and made coffee, then sat by the window sipping it slowly while waiting for Phillip to leave. I didn’t want to risk running into him.He came out at exactly 8:00am. My heart beat quickened despite my resolve. I watched him head for the garage and minutes later he drove away.