CHAPTER 5

Jeanne got up to get her phone and dialed the numbers. She waited nervously.

Ringing…

“Hello?”

“Good morning, Aaron.”

“Morning, Jeanne! I was waiting for your call. So, how about the offer? Hope to hear some good answers from you.” Aaron excitedly responds to Jeanne.

“I  am ready to accept your offer for your PA position.”

“Brilliant, so glad to hear that! You can start working tomorrow?” Said Aaron happily.

“Hmm, what about any interview session or contract signing? You don't have that?” asked Jeanne cautiously. Suddenly, she felt suspicious of Aaron's offer.

Aaron felt dumbfounded at Jeanne's questions. He felt so stupid for not being able to control his excitement about meeting Jeanne very soon.

He tried to remain in composure before answering Jeanne's questions. He then cleared his throat.

“Ah, right. How about you come to my office tomorrow for an interview session? Around 10.00 a.m? Sounds good to you?” asked Aaron with a serious tone.

“Yeah. I will come tomorrow,” replied Jeanne.

“Good, see you tomorrow.” 

“See you. Thank you, Aaron for the offer,” said Jeanne with gratitude.

“You're welcome,” replied Aaron short and then closed the phone.

Jeanne felt relieved that everything was going smoothly with Aaron.

“Oh my god!” shouted Jeanne. She just remembered that she had nothing to wear for tomorrow's interview. 

In a split second, she rushed to her mother in the living room. She sat nervously in front of her mother who was busy knitting a muffler.

“Ma, I have made up my mind and I have accepted Aaron's offer.  But, I have nothing to wear for the interview tomorrow.”

Ma seemed puzzled by the statement.

“I came back home empty-handed, remember? I only have things from the office. I have not packed anything from my house,” explained Jeanne.

Only then, Ma seemed able to get a grasp of the situation. 

“It's okay, we can go to town and do some shopping to buy you some clothes.” Ma seemed excited as she also missed shopping like in the old days.

“Yeah, you're right. Let's go,” said Jeanne while speeding up her move to her room to change as they did not have so much time left since it was already evening.

Then, both of them got ready to go to the town. 

“This shop looks like it has beautiful blouses and dresses.” Ma pointing at Fashion House shop, one of the good quality clothes in town.

“Let's go in,” Jeanne suggested and they excitedly went inside. They had spent quite a long time there. 

“Try this one.”

“Ma, this is my fifth time already. How many clothes do I have to try?” Said Jeanne, while smiling jokingly to her mother. It seemed that Ma had a better time there than Jeanne herself.

“Just try it,” Ma said happily.

Jeanne continued following her mother's wishes. She felt happy seeing her mother, looking all cheerful,  smiling and happy. At least, this happiness would make her pain shush away for a moment.

They really had a fun time because they did not do any shopping together for quite some time. Also, the fact that they share the same taste for clothes made it so much fun. Jeanne was looking at Ma's face. It had been such a long time since she could spend the whole day like this with Ma and she wanted to capture every second of the moment in her heart.

From outside of the shop, a tall man's figure was watching them. He put on a smile and his eyes became shining...

“Jeanne…” The man whispered softly.

“Let's go in,” invited the man to the other man beside him.

Jeanne was laughing cheerfully with her mother before she saw a very familiar figure.

“Ah, Aaron!” Jeanne greeted him respectfully. She was trying to be friendly because that man will soon become her boss.

“Oh, Jeanne! Didn't see you there,” said Aaron, playing shocked even though he fully knew that he dragged himself in when he saw Jeanne.

Aaron also greeted Ma politely and continued,

“Do some shopping, I see?” 

“Yeah, she did not have any decent ones for the new jobs. Even if she has it, it won't fit in anymore. Oh, blame the clothes, not her,” said Ma jokingly while laughing.

Jeanne pinched Ma's arms while giving her Ma a cold stare jokingly. She felt so embarrassed at Ma's statement that her face turned all red. Yet, she needed to admit that she gained quite a few pounds lately. 

Aaron and Ma then laughed hysterically at Jeanne's reaction. Harry from behind just threw a simple smile.

Jeanne smiled innocently and gave a loving look to her Ma. Seeing Ma back to her old, cheer, self-made Jeanne felt warm at heart.

“Well, turns out I was about to buy some clothes as well. Come, let me buy you,” said Aaron suddenly while randomly picking a few clothes nearby.

Harry was puzzled at Aaron's reaction because they never planned to shop but the wink that Aaron passed him gave him the order to play along.

“Oh, no. Please, I'm okay,” rejected Jeanne respectfully. She felt that she owed Aaron too much that she cannot accept any more from him. Ma just followed her.

“I insist,” said Aaron sternly.

 And, they had no other way around but to follow Aaron.

Finally, she has something to wear for her new job. Enough for her to survive for a few days before she can go back to Paris and take her belongings.

“Thank you so much, Aaron,” said Ma upon exiting the shop together.

“My pleasure,” said Aaron nicely.

“Let's have some coffee together, shall we?” invited Ma, trying to pay back Aaron’s kindness.

Jeanne was shocked at Ma's kind gesture. Well, yeah. Since Aaron will be her boss, she found it quite awkward to have a drink together. She was hoping to have a more professional relationship with Aaron since there were so many accidental meetups ever since the first time they met.

Harry, upon hearing the suggestion, whispered to Aaron softly.

“You need to attend the meeting for the new product proposal in thirty minutes,” 

Aaron then turned around and gave a hand sign to Harry. Harry then nodded, well understood of the order.

“Shall we?” Said Aaron while looking at Ma to lead the way. They walked together while Jeanne and Harry followed from the back.

At the same time, Jeanne tried to get her shopping bags from Harry as she did not want to burden the man but as his boss, the man insisted.

Like boss like butler, said Jeanne to herself.

At the cafe, the three enjoyed having coffee while Harry was not around for quite some time, executing his boss' order. 

Ma always orders Caffe Latte which is a mixture of espresso and steamed milk sweet while she ordered Jeanne a very opposite taste from hers, Cappuccino which boasts a much stronger espresso flavor. Although they have different tastes in food, they both knew what to order for each other very well.

“Oh my God, that's so funny!” Aaron said while wiping tears that came out of his eyes because he was laughing his throat out. Ma was conveying her old, lame jokes and that made her and Aaron laugh hysterically. Jeanne was just so used to those jokes. 

“Ah, I have another one. Even Jeanne never heard of this,” said Ma.

“Hit me up,” replied Jeanne. She looked forward to the joke. Aaron sipped the coffee.

“Okay... Do you know why mushrooms like to party?” Asked Ma.

 This time the two of them stayed silent.

“This one's hard,” said Aaron while thinking for the answer.

“Cause they had those polka dots? I mean they got quite nice costumes there,” Jeanne tried to answer.

“Good guess, honey but no,” replied Ma while continuing to sip the coffee.

“Oh, is it because they have 'much rooms' for space hence the party begins?” This time, Aaron tried his luck.

“Oh, that’s a brilliant one but still no. You guys wanna know why? Because they are fungi!” exclaimed Ma while laughing.

 Jeanne and Aaron were still puzzled. Harry who just arrived and heard the conversation butted in,

“Mushrooms are fungi. Fun guy! Hahaha,” Harry laugh while continued,

“That's a good one, Ma'am,” 

Ma smiled proudly. Finally, there is someone acknowledging her for throwing nice jokes. 

Jeanne and Aaron laughed hard after they understood the answer. Oh Ma, so genius!

“Well, excuse me for a moment. I'll go clear the bill,” said Jeanne while standing up.

“All done,” replied Harry.

Jeanne sat again. She looked at Aaron. Her mouth was locked but her eyes straight fully spelled that she owed him too much already. Aaron just winked, trying to ignore the sad, puppy eyes.

After they finish with the coffee, they bid goodbyes to each other.

Seeing Aaron's figure slowly fading from her view, Jeanne really hoped that tomorrow's interview would go smoothly. She really needed a job that can cover her living expenses with Ma. 

They went back tiredly but happily. Jeanne got ready to sleep early as she wanted to wake up early tomorrow.