Later in the day she managed to snag an open house that she hoped she would be able to sell. It was located in Mt. Vernon, and judging by the images on the screen, it was a sizable and attractive house. Surely she could make some money from that. She gathered the information and placed them in a folder. When she was leaving she ran into Mr. Bloomfield.
"Are you sure you don't want any help?" he asked her.
She held the folder up to him and smiled. "I have a showing tomorrow," she told him.
He reached out and took the folder from her. For a few seconds he scanned the information inside and then handed it back to her. "That won't be an easy sale."
"We will see about that," she said as she turned to walk off.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," he told her. When she glanced back she saw him standing there looking at her still, almost as if he was stripping her with his eyes. Suddenly she felt naked and she hurried away before her clothes actually fell to the floor. She bumped into Megan as she was heading out the door and one glance at Mr. Bloomfield told her he was lusting after Selena. She threw daggers at the woman with her eyes, and wandered off in Mr. Bloomfield's direction, but the man went inside his office and closed the door before she even got there.
Selena shook her head at how pathetic Megan was being, but she had more important matters to attend to, and neither Megan nor Mr. Bloomfield factored into her plans now. Tomorrow she had a house to sell and a point to prove. She only hoped luck would smile on her and give her this much needed sale.
Chapter 2
"I do think he is hot," Krystal said to Selena.
"I was never disputing that. All I'm saying is he thinks he is some sort of God or something. He isn't used to not having his way or what he wants. I am just tired of his advances all the time," Selena countered.
"Well find somewhere else to work," she told her.
Selena had hardly stepped inside her apartment when Krystal showed up. She seemed to have a thing for Mr. Bloomfield as well and couldn't understand why Selena always got so worked up about the man.
"It's not as easy as that. The job market is very thin these days and you know I won't even get anything permanent. I have to make do at Bloomfield Properties for the time being at least."
"You know, I think deep down you have a thing for him but you are scared to admit it because it will make you like all the other women falling at his feet," Krystal said, which earned her a pillow across the side of her face. "Ouch," she screamed and tossed one back at Selena.
"I do not," Selena answered and went to the kitchen then for a glass of juice. "He is too cocky for my taste. Can you imagine me waiting hand and foot on any man? Furthermore, I just present a challenge, and it isn't as if he is really interested in me."
"But are you interested in him?" Krystal asked as she joined Selena in the kitchen.
"Most definitely not," she responded. "I wouldn't be caught dead with him."
"Okay," her friend said. "I will pick out a coffin for you." She laughed and ran as Selena threatened to strangle her.
Just then the door opened and Melanie walked in. "What the dickens is going on here?" she asked.
"Selena is afraid to admit she had the hots for her boss," Krystal was quick to point out.
"Ethan Bloomfield?" Melanie asked. "Please," she said as she waved Krystal off. "If Selena were ever interested in him I'd slap her silly myself. That man only uses women for his own satisfaction."
"Thank you Melanie," Selena said as she stuck her tongue out at Krystal.
"You know, I think that is a black thing; you two always think the same way. As for me, I think he is hot and she is a fool not to bed him if even one time. Who knows, she may even get a house or car out of it if she plays her cards right."
"That's corporate prostitution," Melanie said as she laughed. "Don't pay her any mind Selena. Her blonde hair speaks volumes."
The three girls had been friends since middle school; always inseparable. It was a private institution so there weren't many black students at the time so it came only natural that Selena and Melanie turned friends really fast. Krystal joined the posse later, being one of the few whites at the time that didn't care about skin color or anything others seemed so consumed with. She was overly simple and nothing bothered her much, but Selena and Melanie had to be her Jiminy Cricket. Krystal had had her heart broken more times than anyone either girl knew, but she was never afraid to re-enter the game. She got promiscuous at times, but both Selena and Melanie envied her attitude towards life. They were more the cautious types; not that that won them greater levels of happiness.
"Anyway Selena, how's it going at work? Any luck?" Melanie asked.
"I have an open house tomorrow and I am hoping beyond hope that I make a sale. Mr. Bloomfield seems to think I won't and I need his expert advice on pitching a sale."
"Well he is the real estate tycoon who made billions of dollars in the business; maybe he does have information you might need," Krystal pointed out.
"I don't think that's what he is after; he just wants to get me alone somewhere to work his charm on me. Besides, I don't see why I shouldn't be able to sell that house."
"Where is it?" Melanie asked.
"Mt. Vernon."
"That's a tough neighbourhood Selena," Melanie told her.
"Maybe if you flirt with the prospectors they might make an offer," Krystal grinned.
"Does everything have to end up in bed for you?" Melanie asked her.
"Hey, if it works, it works," Krystal added shamelessly.
"There will be no flirting or boob flashing Krystal. I will try to sell this house the old fashioned way; I will make them want to buy the house."
"Have you gone to see it as yet?" asked Melanie. "Maybe you ought to just in case it isn't what it appears to be on the surface."
"I plan to do that before the first set of viewers arrive," Selena responded.
"Well good luck," Melanie told her. "I know things have been slow lately, but you know you can come to me at any time. I've always hated this real estate commission based income."
"But you know when it's good it's good. It's just a dry season now I guess."
"Would you like me to come with you tomorrow?" Krystal volunteered. "Maybe I can help your sale along." She pushed up her breasts as she spoke and flashed Selena a broad grin.
Both Selena and Melanie laughed at her insinuation. "No thank you Krystal; I think you are either going to scare away the sales or cost me my job, or both."
"Don't say I didn't offer my services," Krystal said as she pouted.
The girls remained for the better part of the night until Selena had to chase them home. She had a big day coming up and she didn't want to turn up looking frazzled and beat down. After they left Selena showered and went to bed, but sleep was slow in coming. Eventually her eyes grew heavy and she passed out without realising it.
At six her alarm clock startled her, and she jumped up and slapped the device to turn it off. She sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes. Normally she would lie down again and take another thirty minutes, but not this morning. This morning may prove to be the turning point in her career. This house, as far as everyone was suggesting, would be difficult to sell, so maybe if she did, then it would land her a few other choice properties.
She got up and showered, then carefully selected her attire for the occasion; white linen pants with a sky blue chiffon blouse that fell to her hips seemed appropriate. She would be walking around and standing a lot so she chose to wear her white kitten heel pumps. She didn't bother accessorising above the silver watch she wore and her earrings; it wasn't a date after all.
One cup of coffee later and she was out the door. The property wasn't difficult to locate and she pulled up along the curb. The house wasn't as elaborate as it seemed from the photos and instantly she began to doubt her abilities to pass it off as a good deal. It was listed at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, but it appeared to value at most half of that. She checked for the keys and heaved an exasperated sigh before climbing from the car. The inside of the house did not give her reason to hope and she wondered who had tagged the selling price. She had chosen this home because of the commission she would earn from selling it; now she really had to oversell in order to earn anything at all.
She walked around the two level house; the decor was detestable, and the colours on the wall did nothing to liven up the space. She knew from experience that buyers didn't conceptualise how the house would appear if they spruce it up; if there is nothing eye catching when they first view it, then they won't buy. She wished now she had a magic wand that could easily transform the space, but she was only left with her wit and charm; not two of the best qualities for a real estate agent. She needed a sharp tongue and convincing words, and she immediately started rehearsing in her mind how she would approach the prospective buyers.