A Curve Ball Called Love

Virginia smiled.

“Well, she hasn’t been so good at her jobs. I mean, she’s almost always reactive…” she started and he shrugged,

“And that’s my fault. I am the one to blame. I am the one who puts her in the position to be reactive and she’s breaking her back to make sure that I still come out as the good guy.”

Virginia took a long, deep breath.

“Let me have her as part of my team. It’s the only way I will stay at Entity. The only way my financial investment stays at the company.”

Virginia seemed confused.

“What?” she shook her head. “Are you sure?”

“Let’s make this deal, Miss Deacon. Let Tiffany keep her job and I promise that I will make her job easier.”

Virginia pushed a strand of hair from her face.

“Are you saying you’ll behave if I keep Meyers as part of your team?” she asked and Douglas nodded.

“I think she’s already proven that she’s all the team I need,” he said. “Plus, I wouldn’t need you to just have her on the team. I know that her position isn’t exactly permanent. I would like to have that handled.”

“Mr. Ingram, shareholders don’t necessarily get to dictate how things are run.”

He smiled.

“Unless they own more than half of the company,” he said, shrugging. “I’d like her as a permanent employee and maybe while you’re at it, get her a raise.”

He was looking right into her eyes, making her realize that he meant business. Virginia took some time before she exhaled loudly and nodded.

“I think I can make that happen.” She extended her hand and shook his.

“Good.”          

“Okay, I’ll let her know then.”

“No, I should,” Douglas said. “I do have a lot of bridges to mend anyway.”

Virginia smiled and then looked at the Camry.

“I’m sure you do.”

“She didn’t check her gas before she drove here… I sent someone out to get me some. He should be back soon,” he lied and Virginia nodded.

“Okay. I guess I’ll see you at the office.”

He nodded and Virginia climbed back into the back seat of the sedan before it drove off. Douglas exhaled loudly and walked back into the house.

“Sofia! The car keys you found in the kitchen,” he said as he walked into the living room.

“They’re still in the kitchen. On the counter,” Sofia called out from the laundry room.

“I’m heading out.”

“Should I call your driver and tell him to come round?” Sofia asked. She walked into the kitchen holding a basket of freshly folded laundry. “He’d said something about getting the cars detailed after last night. But the Cadillac is still in the garage. You can use that.”

Douglas looked at the keys in his hand.

“No, I’m fine, thanks.” He began heading to the front door before he stopped and turned around. “Thanks for…” his voice trailed off. He didn’t really know how to tell her that he was thankful for her always showing up for him. It seemed like she’d been doing that all her life. Since he was younger, Sofia was the one housekeeper who treated him like more than just a boss.

“I know that these last few days have been terrible but you know I’m always here for you, mijo, right?” she asked and he nodded.

“I do.”

“Good. I also know that you have something for that woman who’s been cleaning up your mess,” Sofia went on. “Maybe you don’t act like such a pendejo every time, huh? She looks like a really good person.”

He smiled at her.

“Sure, Sofia.”

He walked out of the house and got into the driver’s seat of the Camry. He closed his eyes as he ran his hands over the steering wheel. He inhaled deeply. The interior of the car smelled exactly like Tiffany. It was intoxicating just being there. He then started the engine and strapped himself in before he programmed the GPS to Tiffany’s place.

The drive there was shorter than he hoped for. He didn’t have enough time to rehearse his apology, but at least he had an olive branch: an apology and her job. He was nervous when he finally got to her door. He could almost feel his heart beating out of his chest as he knocked on her door. It took a few minutes before Tiffany opened it. She looked different than what he was used to seeing. Her hair was hanging loosely on her shoulders and she had no makeup on. However, she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever known.

“Hi,” he said in a soft voice.

“Hi. What are you doing here?” she asked. “What did you do now?”

“Nothing,” he said. “Besides, it’s just been an hour or so since I saw you.”

She shrugged and leaned against the barely open door.

“What are you doing at my doorstep, Douglas?” she asked.

“I just wanted to thank you for what you did for me today,” he said in a soft voice. “I know it wasn’t exactly easy.”

She shrugged.

“I was just doing my job. It’s not like I had any choice.”

A smile played on his lips.

“Yeah, I’m also sorry about that. I know I haven’t been the best client.”

She shook her head.

“Actually, the right words are you’ve been the worst client.”

He laughed and took a long, deep breath.

“I know, and I would love to do anything to make it better for you.”

She looked at him and gently pushed a strand of her hair back from her face.

“Really?” she asked. “I’m not exactly in the best position to ask for something right now.” She opened the door and that was when he saw the half empty bottle of wine in her hand.

“Do you need someone to help you finish that last half?” he asked.

“This is just the first bottle. I have half a mind to finish the three others I have in my wine rack,” she said and he looked at the car keys in his hand.

“I’m suddenly rethinking my decision to bring you these keys.”

“I’m not an idiot. I don’t drink and drive.” She grabbed the keys from his hands. “Heck, I hardly ever drive.”

“Yeah, I was surprised when you showed up in the car. In the driver’s seat no less.”

She walked into the apartment and he followed her in.

“I just wanted to drop the keys and thank you….” He started but she’d already poured him a glass of wine. He watched as she walked into the living room, leaving the glass on the counter. He didn’t need a second bidding. He picked up his glass and followed her into her living room.

As he sat down, he couldn’t help but notice that Tiffany’s apartment was just as sophisticated as she was. The whole apartment could possibly fit in his backyard with plenty of space to spare but it was still intricately designed. He could feel her influence on everything in that place. From the gray-ish color on the wall to the succulent on her coffee table. The living room had a grey sectional couch decorated with some black, maroon, and yellow and white striped throw pillows. There was a grey rug on the floor with fine light yellow lines. The kitchen had grey cabinets and white granite counter tops that were a perfect contrast to her stainless steel double door fridge and stove. It was at that point that he noticed that all the appliances were stainless steel. The coffee maker, microwave oven, sandwich grill… they were all a nice, shiny metallic silver. There was a small stained wood dining table with four chairs around it. There was a burgundy runner on the table and another succulent in a small white pot. In the living room, Douglas noticed a shelf with a record player and a number of records next to it. He wasn’t so sure but there might have been close to a hundred records on the shelves. He couldn’t tell but there were several wicker baskets on different shelves, each holding some records.