Proposition

Finally the shopping spree is over. It’s 2 in the afternoon and I’m starving. I can’t wait to get back to where I’m staying and make me a nice cup of ramen and crack open a cola. *stomach growls*

Mr. Jones turned to me then, obviously hearing my traitorous stomach, and gives me a knowing look. Instead of going back to the office he tells to driver to stop at a restaurant. With everything that he’s done for me today, I don’t know what to expect.

We apparently stopped at a small cafe it looked like. We walk inside and all I see are cats everywhere. I’m in heaven. We slide into a booth and a tiny little grey and white kitten jumped on my lap. I began petting the little male. Soon after a waitress brings us menus. We say our orders and wait for our drinks. A large tabby decided to climb on his shoulders then. He ended up smacking him in the face with her tail and I laughed. He looked at me with enjoyment and I couldn’t help but look away.

“So, Aliie, I see you’re enjoying yourself here” he says as we eat our food. The kitten still laying on my lap, peacefully asleep. “Yes, I am. I love cats” I said. “I always wanted a kitten, specifically a Maine Coon. Much like this little fellow here”. He looks me in the eyes then, “Really? Most of the felines here are in fact adoptable if you’re ever interested. There’s no f*e, and when you adopt they send you home with everything that’s needed”.

“I couldn’t possibly adopt this little fellow with where I’m staying right now unfortunately. I only arrived last week and I’m staying at a small motel until I find an apartment. But once I get an apartment I will surely come pick up this little man if he’s still here” I said looking down at the sleeping figure. “Well in that case, Miss Blackwood, perhaps we can make a deal” he said looking at me in the eyes.

“What kind of deal, Mr. Jones?” I said skeptically. “It’s fairly simple my dear, you involve me in every aspect of you changing my lobby, and I’ll help you get an apartment. I won’t take it from your paycheck, in fact, I’ll make it a condition of your contract with my company. We will pay for your first years lease, of an apartment of my choosing, and after that, you should be making enough to live their comfortably on your own, what do you say?” he said with that cheeky grin.

I thought about it for a moment, I would only have to stay in the motel for a week more if I get the contract. “You have a deal then” I said. His grin shifted then, to something a little more sinister. “Wonderful, your contract has already been drawn up, I’ll make sure they add in the changes”. He then began typing on his phone aggressively, as we finished eating in silence. I decided to pick up the cute little kitten in my lap and bring him up to my face after bringing out my phone to take a picture. As the waitress came to pick up our cups and plates I told her that I’d be coming back to adopt the little guy most likely next week and to see if she could put a hold on him for me. She said that was perfect and took my information. When he went to the register to settle the bill, I couldn’t help but notice and try to listen in to the conversation they were having. But I couldn’t hear a thing.

We drove in silence back to the office. But I still couldn’t help this nagging feeling growing in the pit of my stomach over everything this man has done for me. I’ll worry about it later though. Right now I need to focus on what I’m going to do to the lobby in order to receive that contract. I want, no, NEED to get that contract. Everything depends on it.

I made my way to what they tell me is my desk. Everyone has already been working so hard for hours. I start to work on my plan, colors, artwork, furniture, everything. But I still couldn’t help but notice people still staring at me. I don’t know why, so I push it out of my mind and make the appropriate calls and emails to get what I need. And then my phone rings, blaring an Avril Lavigne and Marylin Manson’s “Bad Girl” snippet, once again drawing attention from everyone in the office. Shit! I forgot to turn it off.

“Miss Jones, I’d like an email with a detailed plan of how you’re going to change the lobby within the hour. Everyone else has submitted their plans. Good luck”. And the call ended. Well shit. I never expected him to have my number. I quickly save his number in my phone while apologizing to everyone for the disturbance, for the second time. Looking at his contact in my phone I smile. Nobody is going to be looking in my phone anyway. A picture of him kissing the tabby that I took without him noticing, and it took me a lot of guts to do this, but Daddy Atlas with cat emojis stares right back at me. Nobody will ever know. I smile again.

I put my phone down, and began typing up my detailed plans. I’m changing that nasty grey color to green. Warm. Inviting. Royal Orchard, Bitter Sage, and Green Balsam. I even put down the name of the paint company and listed trusted painters from the company to do the job. Although, I’d probably help them out too. After all the plans have been typed out, I only placed “a delicate surprise” as to where I’m getting the artwork from. I don’t want him to know that I’ve already contacted the art department of a local university to help display their students work. I’m just waiting on an email with the images to sort through the potential artwork ranging from paintings and sculptures so that I can sort through them. I should be receiving that by the end of the day. I smile. This, this is my trump card.