Desolation // l.p.

Chapter III

I push hanger after hanger across the metal bar of my closet trying to find something remotely appropriate to match the women who work at Payne Industries. The sad truth is I have nothing that will come close to compete with those women. My clothing is a bit too reserved, and- young maybe? I pull out a paisley dress, it was my favorite only yesterday, but as I am scanning my wardrobe for something more I find it distasteful.

Settling with it, I sigh and pull it off of the hanger. Today is already going to be nerve racking without me worrying about my clothes. First days at new places are always intimidating and the fact that I will spend every waking moment of it with Mr. Payne is leaving me with a sick and unsettling feeling. Especially since the last time I saw him I drove off in a panic, embarrassed by the fact that I'd been staring at him.

I slip into my dress and a pair of red flats, I don't walk so well in heels and I don't want to shame myself further by falling in front of him. I walk into the bathroom and put on some mascara and eye shadow. I don't want to make myself too noticeable, no more than I already will be with my out of place outfits. I pull my hair up into a loose top knot, I'm only an assistant so I don't need to look completely perfect in the hair department.

I let out an unsatisfied sigh, knowing I'm not going to make myself look any better than this. I give up and leave the bathroom, I have to leave now anyway if I want to be there a few minutes early. I grab my small purse that I managed to fit everything important into, to try and keep a minimalistic look. I close my bedroom door, not wanting my mother's uninvited guests to go wandering in. I trail down the stairs and call to my mother that I am leaving when I go to get her car keys but frown when they aren't in the bowl.

"Mom, where are your keys?" I ask before I turn around to find her in the kitchen holding a travelers mug full of coffee.

"I got called into work and I need my car." She frowns as she rushes around the kitchen grabbing her stuff. Sam leans against the wall, watching her frantically run about.

"Mom I need a car. It's my first day." I tell her starting to panic myself.

"I know, I know." She says in a frustrating tone as she picks up her purse. I'm not sure she does know. I need to be on time. I need to make a good impression.

"Do you?" I complain staring at her with wide eyes in disbelief that she is actually doing this. It's not her fault that she is a doctor who gets called in for an emergency but she could at least consider the promises she made to me a week ago when I told her I would need her car.

"Yes, Sarah. I do. That's why I asked Sam to drive you to your job." She says before kissing him on the cheek and giving me a hug. I frown as Sam looks at me smugly. He knows I don't like him and he uses it against me.

"You're kidding right?" I ask but don't get an answer as the front door slams shut. I look over at Sam who is trying not to laugh and shake my head at him. "You're lucky I'm desperate." I tell him before I lead the way out of the house. I hear his light hearted and amused laugh at my dispense follow me as I walk to his truck.

So not only do my clothes not fit in but now neither does the car I'll be getting dropped off in. Great. I climb into the tall vehicle, stepping on the little railing that runs across the bottom of it. The car smells like his cheap cologne mixed with musk, not an appealing mix in my mind.

"Your car smells weird." I tell him after he gets in and starts the truck. The engine rumbles to life and the music blares as he quickly turns it down. It's too late though, I've already gone deaf.

"Thanks." He mutters and backs out of the driveway.

"Anytime." I frown and watch as the other houses in our neighborhood go by. I keep running over different ways today will play out, but not one of them appeals to me as they all end with me being scared shitless by Mr. Payne and his intense gaze and warm touch.

"What is it that you do again?" Sam asks looking over to me. He couldn't just stay quiet so we could have a peaceful drive?

"I'm going to be an assistant. I should be a publisher." I add in still a bit angry by my offered position. I still don't understand why he couldn't offer me the job I wanted if he liked me and my interview. Or whatever the hell it was called, since it didn't actually feel like an interview.

"At least he offered you a job. He didn't even hesitate to hire you since he offered it to you there." Sam points out and for once he is right. Aren't I supposed to leave the interview before I'm told I got a job? That's how it's supposed to work and that is definitely not how it went.

"I guess so..." I ponder over the thought before continuing. "Mr. Payne was a little odd, and intimidating." I frown as I look at how terrible my nails look from picking at them.

"How so?" He asks as he begins to tap his fingers on the steering wheel, in rhythm with the music that is playing quietly in the car.

"I don't know, maybe his eyes." I mention unconsciously, not knowing how weird that probably sounded until the words were out of my mouth.

"What do you mean his eyes?" Sam asks with an amused smile on his eyes. I didn't really think through about how his eyes made him intimidating.

"They were just so dark... They almost looked like they were hiding something. Y'know what I mean?" I ask thinking it through.

"Not really." Sam states focusing on the road. I frown, knowing I can't really explain what I want to. There just aren't any words that justify how truly breathtaking he was.

My stomach flutters when we reach the city. In five minutes I will officially begin my first day at Payne Industries. I've only dreamt of working here since the business opened when I was nineteen. They haven't been around long but certainly became one of the best quickly. The most surprising part is how young Mr. Payne is. He can't be more than three or four years older than me.

Sam pulls in front of the building and my stomach turns. I feel queasy and nervous. "Thanks." I mutter to Sam before I open the door and get out.

"Good luck on your first day." He calls before I shut the door and begin to walk away from his out of place truck and towards the tall and modern building in front of me. My new income.