AllFreeNovel
Share Us
There’s a pause and then he says, “Good to hear.” And then, quieter. “Have you had time to write grant proposals?”
“I only got here three days ago. And before that, I was packing up my life and moving to Colorado. Since then, I’ve been Sebastian’s minion. So no, I haven’t worked on any grant proposals.”
He’s the one I talk to about my quest for grants for the Capistrano players, and he tries to fly in from New York to come to the theater productions I’m in or helping with. We’re the only siblings each other has. So when he asks about the proposals, something like a longing for home wells up inside of me.
“Make sure Sebastian gives you enough time off to be able to get it done, El. I do think this job as his minion is going to be really good for you.”
“Nope. No, you don’t. Don’t do that preaching thing, Ethan.” In a few minutes, I’ll be reaching the city limits. I hope the call drops because of poor cell service before then.
“I’m your older brother, it’s part of the job. But anyway, it will be nice to have one full-time job instead of multiple part-time ones,” he says. “Although you’ll still be working on getting grants, so I guess you now have one and a half jobs.”
“I guess so, yes. If one of us doesn’t die first.”
“Please don’t kill my best friend.”
“I won’t if he doesn’t kill me! He’s obsessed with this company. I could totally see him justifying crime to get what he wants around here.”
“No, he wouldn’t.” Ethan’s voice has grown serious. “He has integrity. I wouldn’t have asked him about a job for you if he didn’t.”
“Awww. You wuv me.”
“Shut up,” he shoots back, but I can hear the smile in his voice.
“I gotta go. I gotta focus on driving,” I tell him. “This road around the lake is curvy and it’s dark out.”
“Okay, I’ll let you go. Keep up the good work . . . or what I hope is good work. And don’t mess this up or do anything rash.”
“What, like up and join the circus?”
“Please don’t join the circus.”
“I’ll try not to,” I tell him. “But if it comes a-calling, I can’t be responsible for what I do.” I love messing with him. I’ve thrown myself into this starving artist role very nicely.
We end the call and I have to chuckle. I’m not a wannabe carny; it doesn’t appeal to me.
But being an executive assistant never appealed to me either, and here I am, Miss Corporate America.
I drive home to my apartment, which is part of a fourplex near the center of town. Already, my three neighbors have been by to introduce themselves. One of them, Dolores, even brought me a card in the shape of a kite that says “Just floating by to say hello” and a loaf of homemade sourdough bread, which I’ve already scarfed down half of.
Destiny’s Child is happy to see me, and I scrub her fuzzy little chin while she gives me kisses. I’m thinking with these long working hours, I’ll try to hire Dolores to walk her for me in the afternoons.
A text buzzes through, and I don’t recognize the number.
This is Sebastian. I’m just testing to make sure I have the correct number for you.
I’m tempted not to answer. You teach people how you’d like to be treated, so I need to show him that I’m not going to be working this late at night. The text can be responded to in the morning.
But . . . Ethan’s words haunt me, and I know I need to do well at this job. I have to have this job, and Sebastian needs an assistant he can rely on.
Hi Sebastian. Yes, this is your fearless executive assistant. I’ll be in at 8 tomorrow ready to go. Let’s do this!
He promptly writes back:
Good to hear. Also, I know you chose the apartment relocation package instead of the free suite. I just wanted to reiterate that I have a room at the resort on the second floor that’s yours if you want it. It’s got a kitchenette. Just thought it might be easier than having to drive back and forth from town every day.
Free is really, really tempting. But no. I’ll take my little, old apartment with my sweet, quirky neighbors. Besides, Destiny’s Child and I are a package deal. I can’t see Sebastian being okay with dogs in his resort.
But I don’t text him that. This isn’t an emergency, so I can talk to him about that in the morning. If I give him an inch, he’ll take a mile, probably.
