Unwanted Heat

Kenzie

“Kenzie?” Nancy calls for me as I’m putting the last items on a hanger in the private room I was assigned for the day.

“Sorry, Nancy, I was just gathering the remaining items for Ms. Wilder’s new client,” I explain.

“Oh good, because he’s here now-”

“Now? I thought he wasn’t due until four?” I glance at my watch, feeling the need to confirm that I haven’t lost track of time.

“He wasn’t, but apparently his plans have changed and he was hoping to pick up everything now, if it’s ready.”

“Of course, just let me organize everything and I can show it all to him.”

Apparently nothing in my day is going as planned especially taking that nap I desperately needed earlier. I fight back a yawn and push through, realizing I still have several hours left to work today. Tomorrow I’m only scheduled to work at the bakery in the morning, so as long as nothing else changes, I’m planning on spending a few hours in bed catching up on sleep. Today is the third day in a row I’m working both jobs and although I’ll be thankful for the increase in hours when I receive my paychecks, right now I’m wishing I had time to take a nap before coming in.

“Ms. Rose, this is Mr. Thompson… Mr. Thompson this is Ms. Rose, she handles all of Ms. Wilder’s accounts,” Nancy introduces me to the middle aged man next to her dressed in an obviously very expensive business suit.

“Mr. Thompson, it’s nice to meet you.”

“And you.”

“If you need anything, I’ll be out front,” Nancy leaves.

“I understand from Ms. Wilder that you need several items for a business trip. I’ve organized several options for you however, if something is not to your liking, I can add more.”

“Thank you, I appreciate you picking out all of this… I admit I have pretty lousy taste is women’s clothing.”

“You just let me know colors and styles you like or dislike as we go through the options and then, as I get to know you a little better, the choices will become less each time you need something. You will find with fewer choices we will easily have the perfect outfit for you quickly. Since this is our first meeting, it’s going to take a little longer as I gathered items that most of Ms. Wilder’s clients seem to favor.”

We spend the next thirty minutes going through each of the items that I had chosen for Mr. Thompson. I learn very quickly he wasn’t joking when he said he has lousy taste in women’s clothing. In fact he barely says anything as I explain each item and seems unfazed by the designers I mention. By the end though, he agrees to a few of the items but I can’t tell if he picks them because he likes them or because he just wants to get out of here. Typically I can read people and by the end of the first meeting I will have a fairly good idea of what they will like going forward, but Mr.

Thompson still stumps me.

“Will there be anything else you need?” I ask as I zipper everything into the garment bags.

“I don’t think so,” he says nervously. “I’m taking my… girlfriend on a business trip with me so I wasn’t sure what she would need. I think this will cover everything though.”

“Is this the first trip she is accompanying you?”

“Yes,” he admits. “I travel a lot for business but rarely bring someone with me.”

“I’m sure everything will go smoothly. You have a good selection of clothing options for herthere is something here for casual dinners and others if you need her to attend something more formal.”

“You’re right… I think you have everything covered.”

“If you think of something you need, just call the store before your trip and I’ll have something ready for you.”

“Thank you, Ms. Rose,” he shakes my hand as he leaves.

I arrange for the items to be delivered to the address Bridget had put on file for Mr. Thompson before Nancy tells me to take a dinner break. Since I wasn’t originally scheduled to work so many hours today, she gives me an hour instead of the standard half an hour to grab some food. Seeing as I’m struggling to stay awake, my first stop is going to be to the overpriced coffee shop, which is just within walking distance of the store. Having packed my meal as usual, I grab my lunch bag and umbrella before heading out. I wish it were sunny and dry out but at least it’s somewhat warm out today. When the wind blows the rain onto me, I’m left wishing I had a grabbed a jacket when I left my apartment this morning.

I’m only a block away from the coffee shop when the sidewalk becomes increasingly crowded as people rush home from work. I’m forced to the edge, left walking too close to the curb but the crowd gives me no option as people just seem to push their way through to get where they want to go. Despite everyone else being in a hurry, for once I’m not… having an hour for a dinner break is far more time than I need. I’m going to grab my coffee, hopefully find an empty table where I can eat my sandwich and read the book I brought along. I love getting lost in a good book but most days like today I don’t have much time to read except for my break. Tomorrow…

Splash

A shiny black car swerves dangerously close to the curb, blaring its horn, splashing me with water and drenching me from the waist down.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“Shit!”

“Excuse me… Ms… ” a gentleman in a dark, dry, suit exits the driver’s side of the car and rushes over to me. “I am so sorry-”

“It’s fine,” I shake my head sighing. Is it possible to catch a break at all today?

“No it’s not,” another gentleman gets out of the car, this time from the back seat, and walks over to where the I’m trying to brush the dirt and water from my clothes, not that it’s doing much good. This man is dressed in a very expensive dark grey suit with an equally expensive blue tie. He runs his hands through his unruly hair as his blue eyes meet mine. He looks right at me, almost as if he is looking through me. My eyes land on his feet, not being able to handle the way he is looking at me. I continue to try to brush my clothes, even though it’s obvious there is no chance for quick evaporation.

“I cannot apologize enough,” the first man says. “The guy in front of us slammed on his brakes without warning and I had to swerve to avoid hitting him. I didn’t expect the puddle to be so large and certainly didn’t expect it to hit you like it did.”

“Really, it’s not a big deal.” It’s a partial lie because really I’m now stuck spending my dinner break buying a new outfit with money I really don’t have. “Accidents happen.”

“Please, let me take you somewhere to buy you something to wear,” the second man says. “I don’t want you getting sick-”

“That’s very nice of you to offer, but unfortunately I’m on my dinner break from work, so I don’t have much time. I’ll run and grab a change of clothes before I head back to work… it’s fine really.”

“Here,” the second man takes a few bills from his pocket and hands them to me.

“No-” I push against his hand.

“Look, it’s our fault that outfit is ruined, so at least let me pay for you to get a new one-”

“It’s really not necessary-”

“It is,” he takes my hand in his, opening my fist up so he can put the bills in it before wrapping my fingers around it. “Please, take the money, it’s the least I can do, considering we’ve probably ruined your evening.”

“It’s not ruined,” I giggle at the big deal he is making over this. “Really, it’s fine. These things happen. Thank you for offering to replace the clothes but it’s really-”

“Good bye, Ms… “