Chapter One:
Twice Bitten....Bitten By Love & Bitten By the Devil.
As I walked into the store front, I was met with boxes of shoes stacked upon shoes.
I caught a glimpse of myself in the dusty mirror, My 5ft3 frame and curly hair was barely visible in the mess.
How could a single human being survive in this place? Was I in the right place? The Devil’s Boutique in Beverly Hills? The boutique that specializes in the city’s newest most premiere shoes?
“Hello?” I said as I stopped at the front desk.
A muffled, cluttered “Ekk!! Hello?” came from the left-hand corner of the boutique and out stepped a small, slight woman in her 50’s. “You must be Jane! How lovely to meet you! My name is Shelly...Did you have trouble finding the place?”
“Oh no, I always give myself 10 min to get lost!” I thought, “did I have trouble finding the place? No,
I had trouble finding you in the boutique.”
“Nice to see someone that prepares for the unexpected! That is exactly what we need for this job position! Someone that can be the marketing guru! And please try not to be like our last employee Jessica. After the interview she didn’t even bother to return the vase I gave her! Can you believe that?
What a bitch.
“Wait, you said after the interview? Did you hire her?” I inquired.
“What do you mean did I higher her? Such a silly question, I gave her my vase of flowers. She burnt her bridges. I wouldn’t want a someone like Jessica; Someone that takes my vase gift and didn’t even do the pre-employment assignments to write my three press releases, an Oprah pitch, and read two books all BEFORE I gave her the job... I mean the job was hers already... She told me she had to focus more on SCHOOL instead. Can you believe that?!? I told her to return the vase when the time is right, because I did not intend to give it to an employee as ungrateful as she was.”
“Ummm, Right. So she took your vase that you gave to her, but she could only keep it if she accepted your job offer that you would not give her until she did work for you...”
Exactly! So, you might have to stop by her house to pick that up for me tomorrow.”
With a surprised tone I replied, “Don’t you want me to write some things up for you, too?”
“Oh, don’t be unreasonable, you don’t have to write anything. We have to get started! The Academy
Awards are coming up and we want our shoes to be part of the gift baskets. Can you start ASAP?”
As I took a deep breath sitting next to a mile high pile of papers and boxes I said, “I can start tomorrow morning...”
Shelly replied, “Wonderful, I need you to run out and get my lunch! Pick a place, surprise me! I am a free spirit! I love surprises and spontaneity. Please don’t lean on those boxes and stand up straight.”
As I stared at her hand waiving the $100 bill in my face, I thought, “Well, how bad can six months be? I could be a part of something big and help develop an amazing product!”
Taking the $100 was like selling my soul. I should have known the smug smile on her face was the start of something....I walked out the door and across the street to an intriguing little restaurant with a grand opening sign out side.
I stepped into the dimly lit place. I was met by the rich aroma of freshly baked bread and sauteed garlic! It was love at first breath! I can only imagine how biting into the food would be...maybe
“Love at first bite?”
I walked up to the bar and rang the old antique bell. Out from the back room emerged a glowing young man of 25 with a brooding Johnny Depp presence, olive skin and the whitest smile I had ever seen. “How may I help you?”
“Help me...” I repeated while holding my $100 bill.
With a chuckle he said, Yes, help you, and from the looks of it...with 100 dollars I can help quite a bit!
“Well, can I see a menu? Where am I? Who are you?”
“I’m sorry we don’t have menus printed yet, but my boss, manager and owner is having me verbally explain the menus...You are in the Goblin’s Goblet Brewery and my name is James. At your service,
My Lady. The owner is Alexander “The Great” Smith. Yes, he has a rather large ego. Now may I ask who I have the pleasure of meting?”
“No you may not have my name I am in a hurry! My new Boss, I’m sorry, I really need to get back ASAP. Do you have anything ready made that I can grab and go?”
Why, yes. I saw you walking from the Devil’s Boutique...Why don’t you take Shelly our most popular Mozzarella Basil Pesto sandwich with a side salad, a scoop of our famous Raspberry Sorbet injected with our signature red vodka and of course don’t forget a bottle of our finest red wine.”
“Okay, How much does all of this cost?”
“For you we have a $50 special.”
I blushed a little, but paid and hurried out with lunch for my new boss. Before I made it to the door, however, I heard the most ghastly sound coming from the loft office space above the restaurant/bar.
A man screaming, like the howl of a man transforming into a werewolf on a full moon, “Jimmy
Where the hell are you?”
James replied, “Coming boss, I was on my lunch break”
******
Once back into The Devil’s Boutique, I presented my boss with her lunch which she loved.
“Wonderful, Jessica! I can’t wait to get started! Remember not to touch a thing without my permission and you can have that space over there for your work space. Just don’t move anything, I will help with that later.”
“My name is Jane, and where exactly is my desk?”
“Right there, We don’t have desks, yet. Bring your Yoga mat tomorrow, you do yoga I’m assuming?”
“Yes, I am getting my Yoga Certification”
REALLY?! We can lead classes here for consumers! We have the best ballet flat that yoga practitioners will love. Oh and where are my manners, let me show you the place! In our main room we have the shoes on display and in the center we have places for consumers to sit. In the back we have a corner for nails, threading and dressing rooms for guests to try on our clothing that rotating designers will have on display. Lastly, in the right hand corner we have a bar! It is my hope to eventually serve small snacks, wine and beverages to complete the entire experience right in our boutique. A person can come and spend the entire day here without having to leave!”
“Just, like Hell!” my boss excitedly exclaimed.
As I signed my six month contract on the door step of our boutique, I said, “Genius! This is really fantastic and exciting to be a part of! When do we open?”
My boss replied, “What do you mean? We have been open for six years.”
Twice Bitten: Bitten By Love & Bitten By the Devil.
To Be Continued...
*Posts are inspired by true events. No names are included. Any names written are fictional composite characters and not directly related to any individual.... If you think you see yourself, take look in the mirror and ask...*
