One quick tour of the house revealed peeling wall papers; a kitchen sink that seemed too small for a family; bedrooms with little closet space; minimal storage space in general; bath tubs that were getting discoloured and not enough ventilation. How the hell was she going to sell this house? Now she regretted she hadn't brought Krystal along; it seemed only her boobs would get this place sold for that price.
With anxious and bated breath, she welcomed the first buyer who arrived a half an hour later. From their vacant expression she could tell they weren't interested, but she had to find a way to get them to look around still. Hopefully she might aid them in changing their minds.
"Goodness me," the middle aged woman said as she turned to her husband. "It is nothing at all like it seems online."
"But that is how it will look after a paint job and some life has been injected in it. This house has a history of hosting some of the biggest names..."
"I'm not interested in its history. At present it is a drab. Come on Melvin, let's go and look at that other one."
The next couple were no different. This time it was a young couple who appeared to be in their mid twenties and who had recently gotten married. They were searching for their first home and it knifed Selena to have to lie about the house.
"What do you think Kyle?" she asked him.
"I don't know; it needs too much work. Even if we get an interior decorator, we are going to have to change fixtures and fittings. We can't afford that right now."
"How about if the price were lowered?" Selena asked desperately. She hadn't gotten permission to do that, but she would rather make a discounted sale rather than none at all.
The couple looked at each other. "No thanks," the woman said. "We're not buying."
And so Selena spent the next couple of days, getting one rejection after another. Truth be told, there was not one strong point to the house that she could use as an angle; the house was old and run down and she felt embarrassed to return to Mr. Bloomfield and let him know that he was right.
"Don't sweat it Selena," Melanie told her one evening after she had dragged herself home after another failed attempt at selling the house. "Things will turn around soon."
"I haven't had a single hit; not even one person who looked like they would consider buying the house. I can't even blame them; I blame the advertisers. Maybe that's how the house used to look, but not anymore. I have nothing to work with."
"Not unless you do a makeover yourself," said Krystal. "I could help you with that."
"It's going to take more than a paint job to make that house worthy of a sale."
"Seems you are going to need a few tips and tricks after all then," Krystal said and then quickly walked away before Selena could even respond.
She didn't think even Mr. Bloomfield could get that house sold. If she couldn't sell it, then she would have to give up the house and find another that could give her better chances. She would not give him the satisfaction of going out with him, if even under the guise of offering her tips. She was not that desperate. At least, not yet.
Chapter 3
"Good Morning Miss Patterson," smiled a too happy Ethan Bloomfield as he walked by Selena's desk Monday morning.
Selena shrunk under his stare for she knew where the conversation was headed. "Good Morning Mr. Bloomfield," she responded.
"And how are things over in Mt. Vernon?" he inquired. The self righteous smirk on his face was enough to turn Selena's stomach mainly because she hated admitting defeat.
"Not so great," she smiled.
"I bet I could sell it," Megan said as she joined the conversation. For once Selena didn't mind her intrusion as a necessary distraction.
"What makes you say that?" asked Ethan.
"I have certain skills that Selena seem to lack," she said as she pushed her chest forward and bit her lower lip.
Ethan had many women, but he seemed to have an insatiable appetite; he couldn't even ignore Megan's flirting now even though he had bedded the girl many times (if one could coin an office desk as such). "Is that so? Won't you share them with Selena? She seems to be having some trouble."
Megan started playing with her hair. "Well, first you have to know as much as you can about the people who are coming to view the property." She was now standing next to Ethan and receiving an incredulous stare from Selena. "If the couple is young, then you have to distract them so much from the property, and have them focussing on you so much they forget to look."
"Isn't that deception though?" asked Selena as she folded her arms.
"It's real estate, not religion," said Megan.
Ethan started laughing then. "My approach is a bit less seductive, and I am willing to teach you. That is, if you are willing to learn."
"I'm willing to learn," Megan said eagerly.
"I think you have learnt enough," Ethan told her. "Now please, allow me some time with Selena."
Megan pouted slightly but she knew she couldn't argue with the boss no matter how many times she had slept with him. "So, how about it?" he asked Selena when Megan was out of earshot.
"How about what?" Selena asked as if she was unaware of his meaning.
"Let me take you out for dinner," he said again.
"Mr. Bloomfield, I don't feel comfortable going out with you for dinner."
"Okay, don't look at it as dinner; think of it more as a business meeting while we eat. I know you are struggling and I simply want to help."
"Look, Mr. Bloomfield, everyone here and possibly elsewhere is aware of your reputation. I wouldn't want anyone to think there was anything going on between us. I really don't feel comfortable."
"Come on Selena. When was the last time you sold anything? Don't you think I must have some insight if I am as wealthy as I am? I won't try anything with you-scout's honour," he said as he gave her a boyish grin, flashing his dimple in the process.
Selena thought about the dry spell she had been faced with for the better part of two months. Any longer and she would have to find another job and she wasn't sure what that would be. She knew what people would think of they saw her with him, but under the circumstances, if this one time would help to catapult her career into greatness, then surely she could stand him for one evening. What did she have to lose?
"Alright, alright," she said as she threw her hands in the air in defeat. "One ‘business meeting over food," she repeated.
"Great. How about tonight, at seven?" he asked eagerly.
"Seven is fine," she told him.
He rubbed his hands with glee and then bounded off to his office. Selena thought she felt a sting on the side of her face and one quick glance across the office told her what it was. Megan was sitting there with her hands folded, staring down Selena. She apparently couldn't read her mind so she got up and walked over.
"I am not doing this today," Selena mumbled to herself as she hastily got up before the girl could get to her. But she proved to be undaunted. Selena headed for the ladies' room and the girl hurried out behind her.
"Why the hurry Selena?"
"Is there something you need Megan?" Selena asked as she pushed the restroom door open. She let it fly back and almost hit Megan in the face.
"What was that about? I saw the way Mr. Bloomfield looked when he left your desk."
"That's right Megan; Mr. Bloomfield. At least now you remember he is our boss and not your lover."
"You two are going out tonight aren't you? I know that look; he gave it to me the first time I told him I would."
"What's it to you?" Selena asked, now annoyed.
"Don't get too close to him Selena; I'm warning you."
Selena walked up to the girl until her face was a hair's length away from Megan's. "Or what?" When she couldn't furnish an answer Selena continued. "I thought so. Now please excuse me while I go and relieve myself of waste matter I actually have the power to excrete." She stepped inside and pushed the metal barrier into the slot, officially separating her from Megan.
The girl moved away slowly until Selena heard the door open and shut behind her. She exhaled sharply before she could relax once more to urinate. When she returned to her desk Megan was nowhere to be seen, and she thanked the heavens for small mercies. But what she wasn't prepared for was Krystal.
"I knew it," she squealed when Selena finally admitted she was going to dinner with Ethan. "I knew you secretly had the hots for him."
"I can't believe you really fell for that," Melanie chided. "He played on your weakness."
"I know that, but I am desperate, and Krystal was right; he has to know more about the business than I do or he wouldn't be a billionaire."