"Hello, Catherine," my mother said indifferently. I knew I was just a child my parents had to have to get the inheritance my grandfather had left them. They really didn't want children because life was more fun without trouble. I never let it bother me because I always stayed in their good graces and benefited from their lavish lifestyle.
"Hi, Mom. I just called to see how you and dad were doing," I said in a sing song voice. I heard a huff of disbelief. When it came to me they weren't very patient, so I intentionally annoyed them. They were too easy to irritate, but it was the only way I actually got to talk to them.
"Catherine, we know that you still don't have a job. If you need money just tell us. Or you could come back and we could get you a job or get you into a school in L.A.," she huffed into the phone.
"No, I can manage just fine on my own," I muttered. I wasn't fine, but it wasn't like she really cared so what was the point in giving up my pride.
"Please, you'll be working at a strip club soon if you don't get your act together. We heard about you sleeping with Evan's friends along with your boss. You need to think about our family name."
"I didn't sleep with anyone. I'm so glad you believe strangers. Evan is an asshole and I'm not interested in your help. I can manage without you two."
"Well think about it," she said. "I've got to let you go. Your father and I have a dinner date to go to right now."
She didn't even say bye before hanging up the phone. Why I bothered was beyond me. She wasn't the loving mother; she was more like the "show me off" mom. If she couldn't show me off I was useless. I got up and grabbed the opened bag of chips and a can of pop and jumped back on my favorite site. I looked for more information on the Grey family, but I couldn't find any images or anything on them. They kept a really low profile. Even with their avoidance usually there was some picture out there.
The next morning, I looked out the window and there was a limo idling outside my apartment. There was a muscular beast of a man leaning on the limo looking up at my window. I flushed with embarrassment and pulled away from the window. I tightened my robe and went to make coffee when there was a knock at my door.
I looked through the peephole to see a very well dressed and perfectly built couple. I opened the door to let them know they were in the wrong place, but something about their eyes was familiar. They were tailored in expensive suits and I wondered if Evan had made up some more stories and the feds were after me.
"Miss Catherine Kinney?" the long legged beauty asked. She had to be at least five eight and her hair was platinum blonde wrapped in a tight bun and not a hair out of place. Her facial structure was model perfect without the photo editing. I gripped my robe tighter, feeling uncomfortable with my normal person look.
"Yes, how may I help you?" I responded suspiciously as I looked back and forth between the two. He was even bigger than the guy standing by the limo.
"Hello, I'm Chloe Grey and this is my brother Gage. We're here because you left a voicemail regarding a position at the Wolfe's Den," she said as she stuck out her hand to shake. The strength in her hand was intense. I felt like she had the grip of a man. I was going to need to hit the gym.
"Yes, I did, but I maybe expected a call back or something. I didn't expect a visit. I didn't even fill out an application or anything," I accused. Their presence wasn't the norm. Maybe that's the way they did things from where they're from, but it's not what's expected for any job.
"We did a background check on you after your call. The main concern for the boss was the sound of your voice. He believes it would be perfect for the position he has in mind. Please gather your things for the next several days so that we may depart to the Den. The boss doesn't like to be kept waiting," the stunning blonde with green eyes informed me as a matter-of-factly.
It was strange, but the big beast of a man refused to look at me, and he didn't say a word. I looked at him from head to toe. He was handsome, but I wasn't attracted to him. He had green eyes that matched the blonde, but he had brownish black hair. Now that I looked at them better it was obvious they were related. I was starting to feel very uncomfortable, until she hurried me along.
"Come now, you must ignore Gage. He can be the silent type," she murmured, leaving Gage outside as she came in and closed the door behind her.
"So what's the position he thinks I would be suited for?" I asked, referring to their earlier reference to the boss liking my voice. I was thinking he wanted me as a receptionist or some customer service person.
"I don't know. It could be many positions," she replied nonchalantly, but I could have sworn I heard a deep manly chuckle come from the other side of the door. So Gage wasn't a mute.
As classy as these people looked I was glad I had some expensive luggage my parents gave me for my last birthday. I wasn't afraid of them, but that didn't mean I had no common sense. Taking my safety in consideration, I decided to call my parents and let them know where I was going to be.
"Hi, Catherine. Did you change your mind?" she asked with her shitty attitude.
"No, I didn't. Actually, I was going to tell you I have a job interview in Washington at a vacation resort," I cheerfully replied, loving to rub it in that I didn't need her.
"What's the name?" she asked, as though she thought I was making it up.
"Wolfe's Den," I answered reluctantly.
"Oh, I'll look it up and call you later. Maybe your father and I could go visit and see you working there. Please tell me you're not going to be someone servant or maid or something. Don't embarrass us like that!" she bitched.
"Calm down, I wouldn't embarrass you like that," I responded.
"That's hard to believe," she remarked in disbelief.
"I haven't interviewed yet. I'm on my way there right now," I sighed; she never listened to me.
"Fine, call me once you get the job," she said before hanging up again. Chloe just stood there with her mouth hanging open.
"Does she always talk to you so insolently," she asked completely offended, like I shouldn't be disrespected by my mom. She shook her head and looked back down at her phone.
"Yeah, well they weren't always loving parents," I said with a bit resentment.
"Mr. Grey wouldn't approve of them," she admitted.
"Well it doesn't matter, does it?" I was starting to not like this Mr. Grey. He was sounding like a tyrant. They all did his bidding, his photo was hidden from sight, and he wouldn't care for my shitty parents. I wanted to give him a piece of my mind, but I haven't even seen him yet.
"It will to him. We take family very seriously since we lost our parents ten years ago." After that little detail my anger subsided. It seemed he had a heart after all.
Miss Grey waited impatiently for me to finish, tapping her high heel while she went back to working on her phone. It took about twenty minutes for me to get everything I needed before we left my apartment. I opened the door, and Gage immediately took the luggage from me. It had to weigh almost a hundred pounds, but he picked it up as though it was as light as a feather. Damn, I felt like a weakling next to these two specimens of perfection.
He escorted both of us into the limo before loading my stuff into the trunk. The driver who was almost as large as this Gage character didn't greet me either, both of them were acting as if they were not allowed to talk to me, which I found really weird. I hoped they weren't a culture that refused to acknowledge women that weren't related to them.
I know that it was foolish to get in the limo with them, but they knew about my call and my personal information so they must be legit. Or maybe I let all that sodium get to my head. Even though Gage made me uncomfortable, I wasn't afraid of him. In fact, he made me feel secure in his presence. He reminded me of my parent's iron gates at the front of their mansion, strong, protective, and silent.
"Are you hungry? The drive will be about five hours, and we woke you up. We can stop somewhere for you," she asked. I blushed because I didn't have any money, and it didn't take long for her to figure out my discomfort.
"The Grey Company will be handling all of your expenses for now on," she said, patting my knee.
"I can't believe this is how you treat your future employees?!" I said aloud.