LISA
The first house I'm visiting today is absolutely stunning and so is the woman who lives here. She puts down a coffee and a water for me, chats for a moment, then turns to leave but not before I catch another glimpse of her cleavage. Once again, I try very hard not to stare. She's so pretty; long, dark hair, feline cat eyes and perfectly arched brows. She's petite with a child-like, almost shy smile, but there's also a certain sadness to her. I've seen it before many times. The Hamptons is often the last-chance saloon, a place where couples buy a house with the idea of spending more quality time together in order to save their marriage but more often than not, they fail to repair what's broken.
I know she lives here permanently. My records tell me this pool is one of the few that's been serviced over winter. Normally we shock the water by adding unstabilized chlorine, then a winterizing product to keep the pool free of algae before the winter cover goes on but instead, it's been heated twice. It must have been lonely here in the cold months. Very few people who own a second home in Southampton come here between October and March and the rental prices are so extortionate that no one considers renting in winter as it's simply not worth it. However, the beach is beautiful and quiet when it's cold, so maybe she likes that.
As I check the temperature of the water, which is supposed to be an exact twenty degrees Celsius in this particular pool, I see Miss Kim has changed into figure-hugging sportswear and she's talking to what I assume is her housekeeper on the terrace. Yoga perhaps? Women are all into yoga around here, always striving to look their best. If that was her aim, she's certainly succeeded. The black knee-length tights and tank top show off her curves and amazing breasts that may or may not be real. She's toned and when she stretches, I catch a glimpse of her honey-colored midriff. Eyes on the pool, Lisa, I remind myself.
My job is fascinating in many ways. I get to see a glimpse of lives very different to mine, a sneak peek into another world. Miss Kim's world is rich, polished and designed to perfection, but my guess is that she lives here alone and spends her days wondering what she could have done differently to stop her husband from straying, beating herself up about something that isn't her fault. I wouldn't trade my life with hers for the world. Her kitchen is the size of my whole apartment and even though she drives a reasonably understated car, her Mercedes hybrid still costs more than Pool Masters pays me in a year.
Just as I close the hatch to the machine room my phone rings, and I grab my coffee and take the call while I walk to the end of the yard. Through the wrought iron gate in the secure fence, I see a stilt bridge that stretches over the dunes, down to the beach. It's a stunning location; the house is so close to the ocean that I can hear the gentle pulsing of the waves. "Hey, Jihyo." I smile, happy to hear from my friend. She's also the booking manager for an agency I work for part-time and she's calling from her work number.
"Hey, babe. A booking just came in for tonight. I know it's a little last-minute. Are you available?"
"Yes, no problem. Where am I going?"
"West End Road, Mrs. Ashworth. She asked if you could come earlier as she wants to have dinner with you first. She's offering seven-hundred dollars extra."
"Sorry, I can't do that," I say. "I want to put Lily to bed before I leave. The usual time is fine for me, though." It's totally ridiculous that someone is willing to pay seven-hundred dollars just to have dinner with me, and as tempting as it may be, I have to draw the line somewhere, especially with a four-year-old. Besides, my clients tend to get carried away if we spend too much time outside the bedroom, confusing reality with a fantasy they've paid a lot of money for. Mrs. Ashworth is one of those clients and I don't want her to get the wrong idea about us.
"Okay, I'll let her know you'll be there at eight-thirty."
"Great." I glance at the house and lower my voice, but Miss Kim has disappeared from my line of sight. "Any special requests?"
Jihyo is silent for a moment, possibly scrolling through her notes. "No. Just bring your extension." She chuckles. "Same as always."
"Okay." I give a conspiratorial laugh and roll my eyes skyward. "I'll be ready for pick-up at eight." Mrs. Ashworth has a dirty mind, but her vocabulary is sparkling clean, and she's even managed to come up with a word that makes a strap-on sound innocent.
"Perfect, have fun. And on a personal note, I'll see you on the weekend," Jihyo chimes before she hangs up.
Sliding my phone back into my pocket, I take another moment to enjoy the view before I head to my next job. The beach looks inviting today, with the ocean lying peacefully behind the sand that sparkles in the golden sunlight. It's a priceless view, one that undoubtedly looks even more spectacular from the top floor of the house. A man is strolling along the shore, throwing a ball for his dog. The Labrador enthusiastically tears into the white foam to catch it, then comes running back, its ears flapping as it shakes out its coat right in front of the owner, making the man laugh out loud. I smile as I watch them and think of Lily, who's been begging me to get her a dog for months. We don't have the space in our small apartment, and I can't expect her sitter to be responsible for both a child and a dog when I'm at work, so I've told her she'll have to wait a couple of years.
Behind me, I hear gates open, the rattling sound pulling me out of my thoughts. Turning to grab my toolbox, I watch Miss Kim get in her car and drive off.