HEART FOR HIRE ✓

Nine

"What do people wear when they go for wine tasting?" I whine to Jeanette on the phone. After hours of looking through my suitcase, I don't find anything worthy of being worn to an honourable place like Thompsons Inc.

"Clothes," she replies with her groggy morning voice.

"Wow, that's really helpful," I laugh sarcastically. "Look, I am in urgent need of help. Who knows, I may bring you some wine on my way back!"

"Have you forgotten that mystery man told me to text him if I want anything? I can literally ask him to send me wine right now." I can tell that she is rolling her eyes on the other side. "Why is this a big deal again?"

"Jeannnnn," I groan. "I can't just show up at such a big place in a t-shirt and suspenders, can I? I have to look at least presentable!"

"Alright," I hear Jeanette's wooden bed creak meaning that she is getting out of it. "I'll pass by a clothing store and get you something, alright? Just don't forget to pay me back."

"When have I - she frickin hang up on me!" I throw my phone on the couch and start rummaging through my ugly clothes collection I have.

Before today, I never saw the need to buy new or fancy clothes at that. My life rotates around the theater and grocery store. I don't go on dates, get invited to parties or any occasion that requires fancy clothes, so, excuse me for not planning ahead.

It's not like I expected a rich man to bump into my life and invite me to wine tasting. Casually. And pay me for it.

My life is a dream, isn't it?

I bet by the time he pays me today's allowance, I will have half a million dollars in my bank account, something I never thought would happen to me any time soon.

"You psycho," Jeanette calls me from outside, "come and open the door."

After I do, she shoves a shopping bag into my hands. "Your hair looks horrible too. What were you thinking?"

She grabs me like a thief and pulls me into the bathroom where she starts styling my hair. I never style my hair as well. Why would I do that?
I just tie it into a messy bun and cover it with an old baseball hat I have owned since high school days.

After doing a different style on my hair, she applies a little make-up and some lipgloss. I wear the shortsleeved knee-length red dress she brought from the store and black pumps. Heels terrify me a lot and I don't think I will be wearing them any time soon.
The dress has a slit on the left thigh, revealing half of it but I don't really mind.

This is the most good looking I've been in years. Even my acne doesn't worry me now.

"Damn," Jeanette whistles from the bathroom door, "red is a good color on you. Have you heard about what red can do?"

I shake my head. "What do you mean?"

"I read in a magazine that men are more likely to be attracted to women in red than any other colors."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I throw an annoyed glare at her. "I am going to taste wine, not to seduce men."

"Whatever you say."

I collect my purse which has nothing but my cracked phone and it's charger. "Please lock the door on your way out. I may not have a lot but I need the little property I have."

"Didn't you say that Zion is picking you up?"

"Do you think that he has my right address?" I retort

"You are very strange," is what I hear as I run in the direction of the fake address I gave fo Zion on the night be drove me home.

Zion does not question why by the time he arrives to pick me up, I'm still bending trying to catch my breath.
Instead, he sits in the driver's seat looking as dashing and rich as always, this time in a black fitting suit.

Ever since we met, he always shows up in t-shirts, jeans, leather jackets and pants but never in a suit. Seeing him in it puts him in a whole new light - a boss. Not only that, but he looks taller, more confident and handsome.

"Did you forget how to greet?" he laughs but that's when I realize that I've been checking him out the entire time.

What was I thinking? I can't check my boss out. I can't find him attractive.
The only attractive thing about him is his fat wallet, I don't care about the rest.

"G-good morning," I stammer, looking out of my window to avoid eye contact.

"You were looking at me for a long time. Is there something on my face?"

"Of course not," I shake my head vigorously, "I was enjoying the view from the window."

"You mean to tell me that my window is more interesting than yours?"

Before I can reply to that, someone clears their voice from the backseat.
"Uh, did you guys forget that I'm still here?"

"Alex?" I look at the younger man in shock. "What are you doing here? I didn't know you were coming!"

"Sorry if I've ruined your plans," Alex winks at me, "but have you forgotten that I am Zion's official tester? In fact, I didn't know you were coming either."

For some reason, I feel disappoint to see Alex and no matter how much I try to search my brain for a reason, I can't seem to find any
Alex is a friend and a workmate I love and adore. So, why am I disappointed to see him in the car with us?

Did I expect a private wine tasting session? Of course there is bound to be more than one person! I'm such an idiot.

Now that I think about, Zion probably wants me to be here because he doesn't want Alex to be overwhelmed by many unfamiliar faces.

Suddenly, I can't find it within me to be as excited as I was.