Everyone please, please, please review. It makes me feel so good and want to write more. So, if you like this story… or don't, I don't care, just let me know! Thanks!
The girl glanced at the sign in the window and then back at Christine. "You're hired."
Christine stood there, taken aback. "I – uh… what?" she stuttered.
"Well, it really isn't up to me, but I'm almost positive you'll get the job. The boss' tends to only hire pretty girls that'll attract attention." Christine blushed at the compliment.
"Oh, I'm not pretty, but thank you! I really appreciate it. What's your name, anyways?"
"Brier," she replied, holding out her hand over the counter, Christine shook it.
"It's nice to meet you Brier. My name's Christine."
"Well, if you'd like to meet Monsieur Firmin and Monsieur Andre, I'll take you to them. I'm sure they'll be pleased to see you."
Brier led her into an office in the back. The office was rather nice, considering it was only a Starbucks.
The two men were behind a large desk discussing something that seemed to be very important because they didn't notice Brier and Christine enter. Brier cleared her throat for their attention and their heads shot up.
They looked at Brier, still not noticing Christine who was standing a bit behind Brier like a shy puppy. "This is Christine; she's come for the job opening." Brier grabbed her arm and pulled Christine to her side.
The two men looked from Brier to Christine and smiled gently. There had been an article about the men's success in a scrap metal sort of deal and Christine recognized them instantly. "Very nice to meet you… Christine, was it?"
Christine nodded and found her voice. "I'm not very experienced, but I promise -," Monsieur Andre held up his hand to silence her.
"Darling, lovely Christine, it's quite alright. When can you start?"
"Well, um… I can start whenever is best for you!" she said, excitedly. She wanted to jump up and down but she didn't want to ruin the impression she might have given them to take her in so quickly. She settled with a wide grin.
"You can start tomorrow. Brier will show you around and teach you the basics for the first couple days. You'll catch on quickly and I don't think you'll have any problems with working with Brier. You two already seem to be getting along."
The two glanced at each other and giggled, both happy she was going to have the job. Christine was still ignorant to the fact that this was one of the best and worst things she'd ever do.
After the men went through a couple of things she needed to know and papers she needed to sign, they exited the office, both squealing with joy. "I told you you'd get the job."
"Thanks so much Brier, I'm so excited to get started tomorrow. I have to get home though; I'll see you tomorrow at 9, ok?" Brier nodded. Christine grabbed her purse and practically skipped out of Starbucks.
When the crisp air reached her face she sighed. Home. She'd called the Giry's house her home. That wasn't her home and it never would be. Her home was where she'd grown up all her life happily with her mother and father taking care of her. That's where she belonged but she knew it would never go back that way.
Her happiness soon faded and warm teardrops streaked her pale cheeks. She wanted her mother and father back, but she knew they'd never be there for her again. She hated them for that. How could they leave her like that? It wasn't fair!
Christine wiped the tears away and sat on the porch. She imagined her eyes were red and puffy by now and she didn't want them to know she was crying again. Besides, it would seem rather ridiculous to be crying as she told them the good news.
After sitting there a couple minutes, she went to the door and went to ring the doorbell but stopped herself. She needn't do that anymore since she lived here. She turned the knob and walked inside as the door squeaked, announcing her arrival.
She could here shuffling coming from the kitchen and out came the Girys, each of them holding something behind their backs. Christine smiled. "What do you two have behind your backs?"
Madame Giry pulled out flowers from behind her back and Christine squealed. "Oh my gosh! What's this for?"
Meg then pulled a small cake she was holding behind her back that said 'Congrats' in green, her favorite color. "How did you guys know I got a job?"
"Raoul is friends with the two men you work for and they had called him. He then called us, asking to do something for you until he got the chance to celebrate with you." Meg said with a smile.
"He's so wonderful. And so are you guys! Thank you so much, but you really didn't need to do all of this for me," Christine said, hugging the both of them.
"It was really nothing. We just went to the store and -," Madame Giry elbowed Meg in the ribs lightly and she laughed. "I mean… uh, yeah. I took us a load of time to make this cake for you, Christine."
Meg grinned and rolled her eye. "Either way, you guys are the best."
"Well, how about we all have ourselves a piece of cake to celebrate how wonderful we are," Meg said, holding out the cake.
"Deal," Christine said, and gave Meg another hug.
Author's Note: Yes, Erik has yet to make his appearance in this story. Don't worry though! He is DEFINITELY in the next chapter. At least there wasn't any RxC in this chapter, right? Cookies for all who review!