I: The Invitation
"Work, work, work…" I mouthed as I stood behind the countertop.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes as I hear the evil aunts voices from James and the Giant Peach playing in the back of my mind. Three hours, three hours and not a since customer. I mean I'm ok with not doing anything while I suffer through my day however today just wasn't my day
"Hey ladybug…" I heard my voice call me from in the back office.
"I'm letting you leave early?" I mouthed as cross my fingers,
"You rang," I replied back to her poking my head through the doorway.
"We've got a special tasting coming in about 5 mins," she replied.
"Oh ok,"
My boss stood up to her feet and started to walk towards me.
"He asked for you personally to give him the tasting," she continued.
I was taken aback by her words.
"Who the hell here knew my name?" I thought to myself. "I'm just the token black girl…"
I felt my boss's hand atop my shoulders.
"He's the new owner of this building complex," my boss added. "He's on the up and up ladybug."
I could hear my boss's voice trying to calm me. She failed.
Ding- dong…
...But it was too late.
"Hello, welcome to the…" I began to reply automatically.
As I turn to greet the customer at the door I felt an icy chill run up my spine.
"God Aften, my dear," a sultry voice cooed.
As the sultry voice spoke I saw a thin blond woman in a skin tight green dress standing in the store.
"I believe you were made aware of my associate coming in to a tasting," she continued.
"Oh yes, a mister," my boss started to reply.
"Mr. Loptr," the blond woman interrupted. "He won't be able to come this evening I'm afraid."
"Sweet," I mouthed.
"Oh that's too bad," my boss added.
Right….
"Mr. Loptr feels awful about this mishap," the blond woman replied. "He wishes to make amends to all of you."
"Sweetheart it's nothing," my boss said with a smile. "I'm sure Mr Loptr is a busy man."
The blond woman started to walk towards us.
"Please ma'am," the woman said. "Mr. Loptr loves your product and wants to do something nice for you all. A new spa is about to open two stores down. Come on down and let the lovely people there take care you all."
"Well if you insist," my boss replied with a mass pat on my back.
"Sure…" I mumbled under my breath.
"Godt!" the woman replied just a slight hint of glee. "Come me ladies…"
My boss was the first to leave the shop. As the front door the shop opened there was a shift in the air. The woman sultry voice morphed into something else. A song, a song with no words. Just the sweetest of melodies. I felt an icy pull dragging me out of the shop.
"Come, dark mortal," the blond woman cooed. "... come to..."
Her voice was too irresistible. I followed them out of the shop. As my body hit the cold air I felt a cold touch brush against my lower back.
"...me…"