Chapter 3: Cosmic Love by Florence + The Machine
I woke early to the alerting tones of my alarm clock. Sighing, I sat up and rubbed my eyes and took in the surroundings of the spacious bedroom. "First day on the job," I mused and let in the thought of my very first day as a legal secretary.
Relentless butterflies flew in my stomach as I quickly groomed and fed myself. I dressed in an outfit I had carefully picked the night before. A white blouse with a gray business jacket and matching gray skirt, with black half-inch heels. I'd seen the same outfit in a catalog somewhere. I capped it off by gently weaving my medium-length blonde hair into a half-up, half-down do.
I called the taxi service to come pick me up because there was not a car in my garage yet. When the driver arrived I took in a deep breath before opening the door and leaving my newfound place of comfort. Stepping into the early sun, I regarded the house my neighbor had retreated to last night. Warmth yet again spread throughout my being as I recalled my first encounter with him. Noticing his windows were painted black, I guessed he worked a job in the nighttime. There was also a big black truck in the driveway.
The cabbie suddenly honked, and I was taken out of my trance. I got into the car and was whisked away to the city that held my future.
When the driver, Sammy, pulled up to the curb, I thought I might vomit. The towering building before me seemed too big for me. Too big for a girl who just decided to come to Vegas. Be a secretary. What was I thinking?!
"It ain't gonna bite 'cha." Sammy, the cab driver, grumbled to me as he watched me hyperventilate. I fought the urge to shrink into a small ball. Instead, though, a picture suddenly came to my mind. A face. A smiling one. A face so beautiful, so mesmerizing, not even the great artists of the past could possibly emulate it. Adrenaline surged through my body. Exhaling sharply, I slapped a wad of dollar bills in Sammy's hand and exited the car. He sped off without so much a word goodbye. What was it with these Vegas people?
Swooshing through the swiveling doors, I inhaled as I observed the first floor. That clean, cut smell of pure professionalism hit my nose. These people dressed like they were out to get something. They whisked past me, walking with purpose on the spotless tile in their expensive suits and stylish footwear. This shit just got real, I thought, and had a slight moment of fidgeting, hoping my outfit would suffice. I caught eye-contact with the receptionist, who smiled and waved me over. As I approached the desk I noticed the name, "Elizabeth Tilly," was perched right in front. She had curly red hair that was spun in a bun-like do. I wondered if I could learn how to do that with myhair.
"Hello! Do you have an appointment?" she asked, and I replied, "Yes, actually it's my first day. I was hired as a legal-" But Elizabeth interrupted me.
"Secretary in Mr. Willard's office, twentieth floor," she smiled.
"Yes, exactly." I answered, and returned her smile.
She leaned in and lowered her voice. "Just a tip: names are key. You learn all of them, it'll be an easy road." Nodding gratefully, I thanked her and made my way towards the elevators. Today might not be so bad after all.
The elevator climbed up twenty floors to Willard's Law Firm. I tried to focus on my breathing, my hands grasping on to my briefcase. When the doors opened, I stepped through and collided with a man holding a stack of paper and files.
"Oh! I am so sorry, sir. I am so sorry." I bent down and started to collect the mess I had made, cursing myself.
The man, who was also picking up the fallen paper, chuckled and said, "Dear, it is quite alright. An old man must have a startle every now and then. If we didn't, there's no telling if we'd start back up again."
We both stood, the paper in our arms in complete disarray. He began, "I don't believe we've met. You aren't filling in for the secretary's job, are you…?"
I quickly replied, "Yes, sir. I'm Emma Sherwood." He smiled and introduced himself as James Willard. My new boss. Nearly passing out from embarrassment, I again apologized for my rude introduction. God knows what he thought of his new secretary.
"Quite alright, quite alright. I remember my first day on the job. Ha! If that old bag were still alive, he'd still swear to despising me," he consoled me, (however ineffectively,) as he lead me to his office. "We'll just get you situated here, yes?" We passed several desks, receiving curious looks from the people occupying them.
After placing me at my new desk, Mr. Willard wanted me to get introduced to everyone in the office. I remembered what the receptionist, Elizabeth, had told me, about memorizing everyone's names. As Mr. Willard introduced me to the legal staff, I made a point to focus on their names. I met with attorneys, paralegals, administrative officers, and controllers. The last would be the Human Resource Manager.
Stepping up to her desk, Mr. Willard introduced me to Sheila Johnston, a bigger African-American lady with straight, short hair and bangs. I liked her immediately. Dressing in bright colors, and a Won't-Take-Your-Shit expression, she had such character. Ending her phone call, she eyed me and welcomed me to the office. I thanked her and remembered to stay on her good side.
After the initial introduction and job briefing, the day was going to be a long one. It was my 'Learning Day', but still, I had to catch on fast. The phone rang every 30 seconds, the computer software was confusing, and Mr. Willard seemed to have a hundred meetings that day. I was on the edge of my chair the entire time.
After the clock struck 6:00 PM, the day finally ended. Everyone slowly exited the office, each one taking their time to collect their things. I gathered my belongings and made my way zombie-like to the elevator. I could tell it was going to be a very long week.
Sheila, the Human Resource Manager, stood beside me. She shook her head. "Girl, you look like you had one hell of a first day."
I sighed. "Yeah, it was pretty difficult."
She just rolled her eyes. "You ever need to talk, my door is always open." With that, she exited the elevator.
On the car ride home I finally allowed myself to relax. The sun was beginning to set, and its burning colors forced my eyes closed. I decided to take a short nap… the driver seemed harmless. When we reached my house, I paid for my ride, and lazily got out of the cab. It was only around six o'clock or so.
I tossed my keys and brief case on the sofa. The trash needed taking out. I hauled the garbage bag over my shoulder and walked out to the backyard. As I approached the garbage can and threw the trash bag in, I nearly jumped out of my skin. There, on the ground, was the single most petrifying thing I ever laid eyes on. A snake… long and slithery, was three feet away from me.
I yelped and stumbled backwards until I ran as fast as my feet could carry me to the back door. Panting and clutching my heart, I slowly lowered myself to the chair closest to me. This is just not my day, I thought to myself. After regaining my strength, I decided to make myself dinner and call it a night. I shakily turned on the television, but the only good thing on was the news. I opened the fridge and surmised there was pretty much just one choice of cuisine.
"Sandwich time," I mumbled underneath my breath. After grabbing the bread and meat, I decided to treat myself with some slices of green peppers. I breathed slowly and hoped that dinner would distract me from my erratic nerves. I grasped on to a knife and started slicing when the reporters caught my attention.
"This just in," A blonde reporter declared, "Several disappearances have occured in the city of Las Vegas. Two men and three women have all been confirmed to be missing. Police investigators are trying now to discover exactly who is behind this; but for now, all they can offer is to give this advise to the people of Las Vegas: 'Be extremely cautious when you go outside at night,' they say. Police also warn citizens to travel in pairs or groups."
Disappearances! That's only twenty minutes from my house! I trembled again, my wish of relaxation going out the window. As if my nerves weren't shot enough from this day already.I gasped and cried out as I felt the knife suddenly cut the inside of my palm. There was suddenly a knock at the door. Looking around as I clutched my bleeding hand, I found a dish towel to wrap around it.
I speedily made my way to my front door. Whoever it was knocked again. "Coming, coming!" I said, and unlocked my door gingerly, with my good hand. After the day I had, there couldn't possibly be something good on the other side.
However, leaning against the door frame was my new neighbor. A small exhale of relief escaped me. "Hi!" I exclaimed and opened the door wider.
Jerry Dandridge stood there, grinning at me. "Hey," he began, "Sorry to bother you, I-" His voice suddenly cut off after glancing down at my towel-clad hand. I looked down, too. Blood was seeping through the fabric. "Are you hurt?" He asked, concerned, as his expressive eyebrows pushing together.
I unwound towel to show him the wound. "I - well, yes, I stupidly cut myself while watching the news. I should be okay. Really-"
Jerry took a step forward. "Let me help you with that."
"You really don't have to-"
He cut me off again. "I want to. Please, I insist."
"Alright." He returned my warm grin and stepped inside.
Jerry followed me into the kitchen. I noticed he wasn't wearing the wife-beater anymore, but a gray T-shirt that looked…well…wonderful. His body was heavenly. I tried not to stare. I didn't want to come across as wanton or flirtatious. He wasn't mine to stare at. He could have be in a relationship or something. Besides, how could a man like that be remotely interested in someone like me?
As we approached the table, he inquired, "So, you were cutting up food and you accidentally cut yourself?"
I winced. "Unfortunately. I was a bit distracted. It was quite a long first day-" He reached out his hand to me.
I placed my injured hand in his, the towel still wrapped tightly around it. Cool fingers carefully unwrapped the stained towel before casting it aside on the counter. My breathing picked up at our close proximity. I could see him up close now. I could even smell him. A wonderful masculine scent hit my nose, and I breathed him in; my troubles losing their importance. He examined my palm, his left hand holding it, and the right gently caressing around the ugly cut. I fought to keep my eyes open.
"Yeah, no kidding," he murmured.
He must have been referencing my exhausted eyes and disheveled appearance. I bet my hair was a mess, too. "Do you have bandages so I can wrap your hand?" He asked, and I tore my stare from our hands.
"It should all be in the cupboard in the bathroom. Thanks!"
Jerry chuckled as his touch suddenly left me. "No problem."
Smiling to myself, I leaned back against my stove. That warmth was back again. I confessed to myself that I loved it when he touched me.
Jerry returned, holding the plastic bag labeled, "Emergency Kit." He winked at me again as he set it on the table. "So, rough first day, huh?" Jerry reached for my hand again, and I carefully placed it in his. I noticed, as he took out the bandages, that his demeanor changed considerably from casual to quite serious when he focused on my hand. His eyebrows furrowed together in deep concentration as he took the towel and cleaned off the remaining blood, making me practically shiver as his cool grip tightened only slightly.
"Yeah, it was," I said, trying to keep focus. Jerry's cool fingers tenderly wrapped the gauze as his dark eyes focused on his handiwork. "My job was really busy. And I come home and there's a snake in my backyard-"
His head suddenly snapped up, and he asked, "A snake? Really?" He actually looked…a bit amused.
"Yeah, a snake! Right by my trash can." I said, expecting a look of terror. Instead, he glanced back down at my hand, getting back to wrapping.
"Wow. No wonder you looked terrified. I'll go out back after this and see if its still there."
Beaming gratefully up at him, I realized he was finished with wrapping my cut. L, Jerry still held my hand in his two strong, pale ones.
He grinned back, and slowly let go of me, much to my hidden dismay. I clutched my hand to myself and wondered if he did this often, go to girl's homes and fix them up after clumsy accidents. "Thank you, Jerry," I said.
"Sure. So this snake. You said it was near the trash can?" I lead him to the backyard.
As he walked out onto the patio, I stopped at the door. "Would it be alright…if I waited here?" I asked.
He practically smirked as he replied, "Sure. I'll just have a look around." He paced around, occasionally pausing in a perfect standstill to glance at a specific spot. I couldn't help but be reminded of statues of the Greek gods. "So," he began, "What was life like back in Virginia?"
"Oh, it was great. I miss the green." He glanced at me, giving me a small smile. I tried to keep breathing.
Trying to keep up conversation, I continued, "What do you do for a living, Jerry?" His eyes cast away again. "I work in construction on the strip," he answered. Smiling immediately, I replied, "My father was in construction!"
"Really."
I nodded. "Yes. All his life. He could've been a doctor, if he wanted to. But it was what made him happy."
Jerry nodded back, pausing in his search to focus on me. I guess my tone might have changed a bit.
"My parents died when I was six." I surprised myself by confessing this. It's not normally something I would bring up in polite conversation. Usually it makes me feel sad, the listener pitying, and the situation awkward. However, under Jerry's dark gaze, and his impossible perfection, something stirred within me that made me feel…naked. Not in the real sense of the word. I would be blushing nonstop if that were true. But somehow, my life seemed small compared to this man. All its complications, all the heartache, drama, and its longevity seemed indifferent. I was, quite frankly, comfortable with baring these truths to him. And perhaps even myself.
Immediately, Jerry approached me slowly, stopping a couple feet away. Our eyes hadn't left each others a single moment. "I'm sorry," he said so genuinely, his face expressing his concern.
I had to softly smile at this. "It's alright. I grew up with my aunt and uncle, and had plenty of family. I had love. That's all that's important," I replied. He nodded, and then finally, without breaking his gaze, said, "No snake here." I suddenly remembered about that wretched thing.
Returning back into the house, Jerry followed me and stopped in the foyer. "Well, your hand's fixed, there's no killer snake to be found…is there anything else?" He asked teasingly, and I laughed for the first time that day.
Shook my head. "No, thank you. You've done quite enough." Jerry chuckled at this but then became a bit serious.
"This week…I'm working nights. So if you're in need of anything-" Although my heart sank a bit, pretended to be completely understanding.
"Of course. I'll make sure to keep out of trouble 'til then."
Jerry chuckled again, and as he made his way out, he replied, "Make sure you do. There was something in the news about people going missing…just try be careful, Emma." The mention of my name had me rocking on my heels. I nodded and caught one last smile from the beautiful man who once again was turning away from my house.
His perfect white teeth glinted off the moonlight and his pale skin did the same. His hair and eyes matched the night's dark shadow upon the earth. Although the fall turned the later hours a bit chilly, I was quite warm. Again. Tearing myself away from his now retreating back, I closed the door. Leaning against it, I sighed. His face was branded in my mind; I still saw his eyes when I closed my own.
I fell on top of my bed not long after. I couldn't fathom all that had transpired. When I tried, my fatigued mind protested, craving sleep. All that I could think of was stress, fear, pain, and then….bliss. Like a happy ending, I thought, although it was probably the only coherent one I could make. I shifted in discomfort when I thought about everything else about my day, except for him. Jerry Dandridge. I drifted off to a peaceful slumber with his name trailing off my lips.