Meeting The Client

"I don't understand why you're shipping me off again. Am I not at optimal performance as I am?"

"This has nothing to do with your performance, Valerie. This has to do with someone else being hired in your place. The Watsons have no use for a second maid." Her boss' deep, rumbling voice rang from the doorway.

Valerie growled under her breath as she hastily packed her things in a duffel bag Mr. Shakoi provided for her. She didn't have that many belongings, but her old suitcase was no longer big enough to fit all of her things. While she was a housemaid, the Watsons were very kind and took her on trips with them, hiring a substitute housekeeper until they got back. She felt like part of the family. "I prefer to be called a keeper, Oek." Yes, she was brave enough to call her boss by his first name. She had been with his company for years and had become well acquainted with the man, though it never went beyond business.

"Whatever you prefer to be called, you're still a housemaid, Valerie. Besides, there's no reason to be angry, I've already found you a new location."

"Wonderful. Not only did I just get replaced, but you aren't giving me any time to grieve?" She stood and put her hands on her hips, obviously making a half-assed attempt at being serious, though she was mostly sarcastic. She didn't mind moving on to another house; it simply have her something to do until her anger about being replace left her system. Valerie huffed and went back to packing the last of her things, zipping the bag and grabbing the pillow the Watsons bought for her on their last trip to Ireland. Valerie hadn't been able to go, so Mrs. Watson took hundreds of pictures of scenery and landmarks and remembered to buy her a trinket; a feather pillow with mint green accent lace around the edges. She held it close like a teddy bear and nodded to Mr. Shakoi, a sign that she was ready to move on.

As they walked down the stairs, Shakoi told Valerie to sit in the car with his driver while he talked to the Watsons for a moment. He was going to thank them for their business and leave them a card with his office address in case they found anything of Valerie's after she left and wanted to return the items.

She sighed and walked outside, waving half-heartedly to the kids as they played outside, and the daughter, Meg, ran to her and wrapped her arms around the maid's legs, "Please promise you'll visit!" The small brunette demanded, looking up at the sandy-blonde with big brown eyes.

Valerie sighed and smiled at the ten year old, "I'll visit every single time I get the chance." She set her pillow on her rolling suitcase and knelt to give the girl a much needed bear hug. Meg was one of the best at giving bear hugs, and Valerie appreciated them more than anything. "I'm going to miss you two." She said, smiling at Meg's brother, Hurley. He had stopped playing ball and was watching his sister and the housekeeper say goodbye and, though he didn't want to admit it, he missed Valerie already. He waved at her sadly, holding his basketball sized red dodge ball in his left arm.

Valerie was close to crying, but she wouldn't let it happen yet. Not when she had a new client to meet. Standing and gathering her things, she put her mind to different things. What would her new family be like? Would they have kids? Grandkids? Family staying with them? Would they own a giant house or just a condo? She'd always enjoyed condos, but never got to fully enjoy it, since the last condo owner she'd worked for worked her hard, and worked her constantly. She barely remembered what the sky looked like until she did dishes and got to look out a window.

She shoved all of her things in the trunk of the shiny black car Shakoi took everywhere and slid into the backseat, watching the kids play for what seemed like forever before Mr. Shakoi stepped out of the house, sending a warm smile to the children as he stepped off the stoop and walked toward the car, climbing into the passenger seat.

"Alright. I gave them a card with my office address in case they found anything you forgot or wanted to send you letters." He turned in his seat to look at the dark-blonde, "Ready to meet your new client?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." Valerie grumbled, crossing her arms and legs, as the backseat was roomy enough to do so. She thanked the gods that the seats in this car weren't leather, as the bare backs of her legs would stick to the material. While she was a maid and needed to look presentable and professional, she chose a black mini-skirt and white button-up t-shirt, layered with a grey pinstripe vest. Some matte black pumps finished the outfit. She enjoyed feeling sexy, and didn't think she was overdoing it.

Oek Shakoi thought it was very fitting to meet her next client. She would need to be sexy and extremely tolerant in order to stay there and not lose her mind. He was a difficult person to deal with, let alone live with. Shakoi motioned to the driver to go and Valerie rolled her window down, calling a final goodbye to the kids as they shrank into the distance. Her heart grew heavy, but she would visit them, and that made it a little less harsh.

"I'm glad you enjoyed your time with the Watsons, Valerie. They loved having you with them." Oek noted, watching the road and leaning his bead back on the rest.

"Then why would they replace me?" Was her only answer as she sunk into the seat, her forehead against the side of the car.

Her boss couldn't think of an answer, so he stayed silent. Valerie watched the familiar landmarks pass as they went farther and farther out of town. Apparently her new client lived in the middle of nowhere.

Not the middle of nowhere. Just the very tippy edge of town. It was a good size house, two floors; probably a duplex or sorts. She climbed out of the car, not bothering with her suitcase. The driver, Tenic, would take care of them and bring them in. Mr. Shakoi always told her that first impressions were the most important and that she would wait to bring her things in until after she met the client.

She and Shakoi walked to the stairs leading to the second floor and knocked on a sturdy wooden door.

"Come in!" They heard the bark come from within the home and Oek proceeded to open the door and walk in.

"Grimm, remember that new housemaid I promised you?" Her boss called, standing with his hands folded behind his back. Valerie crossed her arms and awaited an answer.

The chair in the next room thudded against the wood floor; probably the product of someone getting up to fast or simply a lifetime of abuse. A well built man who looked about twenty eight stepped into the kitchen/dining area. Atop his head was a mess of sky blue hair and eyes that matched the depths of the ocean. His face didn't change as he gave Valerie the once over, "This her?" He growled, walking closer and crossing his arms, mimicking the scowl on her face, "Not real pretty." In a split second, he uncrossed his arms and hooked a long finger under her chin, forcing her to make more direct eye contact.

"You're not real pretty yourself." She retorted, pulling out of his reach. He growled and looked at Shakoi.

"She's a bitch too, Oek. Disobedient don't work fer me." He crossed his arms and glared at Valerie.

"Now, now, Valerie, this is your new client, Grimmjow Jeagerjaquez. Grimm, this is Val-"

"Yeah. Caught 'er name already." He growled and stepped back, studying the girl.

"Alright then. Valerie, I'll have Tenic grab your things." Oek bowed respectively and left the room, leaving Grimmjow and Valerie alone. They did nothing but stand and glare at eachother.

"Not what yeh expected, eh?" Grimmjow smirked, leaning back against a doorframe and watching her shift uncomfortably.

"Not at all, actually." He narrowed her eyes at the blue-haired man, "I expected a family. Like the one I just left." She wasn't happy at all that he wasn't what she was hoping for, but a job is a job, and she was told she would be very well paid for this one. It was now apparent it would be a chore to deal with this man.

Grimmjow scoffed, "I'll show ya yer room." He stood off of the wall and walked deeper into the house and Valerie reluctantly followed, her heels making a heavy click on the wood floors.

Grimm smirked as he looked her over again in his mind. Long thin legs, slender arms, a toned stomach and short sandy-blonde hair. What was she, some kind of goddess? Nah. He didn't believe in gods and goddesses, though this woman hired to clean his house could very well be walked into a guest room, walking in and waiting her Valerie to come in.

Valerie was somewhat impressed at how well kept his place was. She looked around on the way to her room. The décor wasn't impressive, but the cleanliness as optimal, "You had another maid?"

"She quit on me." He stated, watching her legs as she made her way to the room he was standing in, "Thought I was a pain in the ass, and left."

"I haven't even been here five minutes and I can already tell that." She grumbled, just loud enough that Grimmjow heard it. He growled but didn't say anything. She finally turned into the room and gave it the once over, "Not bad. It needs color." She couldn't help but be critical; she wasn't in a great mood after a bad introduction and she certainly wasn't excited to be moving in with this man.

Tenic brought her bags in and followed the sounds of voices to the room, walking between them and setting her suitcase on the bed, along with her pillow, which upon being noticed, earned her a strange look from Grimmjow. She gave him a sidelong glance and tightened her arms across her chest, "It's from Ireland."

Tenic stood and bowed to Valerie, "Mr. Shakoi apologizes for not coming in again, but he has another appointment." With that, the large bald man left leaving the two alone, permanently.

Grimmjow smirked, "You can start with lunch."