Chapter 4
Eric
I watch as she takes small sips of the cider. Her big, bluish-green eyes take in her surroundings. I can’t quite figure out what to make of her. She’s young. At least ten years younger than I am. I try to remember her résumé and application, but in the end, I can’t remember much and decide I’ll interview her on the fly. Worst-case scenario, I hire her for a few weeks and it doesn’t work out.
“So,” I begin and her eyes dart back to meet mine. “Ariana Harlow, remind me, what did you study in college?”
She sets the mug in her lap. “I just graduated with a major in marketing with a concentration in social media marketing and I double minored in event planning and business administration.”
I nod. “Impressive. Do you have any work experience?”
Her cheeks turn pink and her eyes dart down for a second before tracking slowly back to mine. “Yes,” she says quietly.
I wait for a second because I’m wondering if she’ll continue, and just as I open my mouth to speak, she continues.
“I was fortunate to get several prestigious internships while in college,” she starts. She clears her throat and takes a sip of cider.
I motion for her to continue. It’s almost like she’s stalling, which is strange. Normally people her age would jump at an opportunity to tell a potential employer about a fancy internship.
“I worked for Levitz and Canterbury one summer. I had an internship for credit with the in-house marketing division of Vintage magazine. I worked at Cannon and Fairfax another summer. I had an externship at the Galaxy Studios, and I also interned for Grayson Mitchell,” she rattles off as if working at all these world-famous companies is some sort of everyday occurrence.
It takes me a full ten seconds to recover and lift my jaw off the floor. “Well, that’s…uh…impressive. What were some of the projects you worked on that interested you?” I question as I glance at Joy, whose jaw is still somewhere in my basement.
“Oh, well, at Cannon and Fairfax, I was part of a team that made the marketing campaign for Fruity Sorbet lip balm,” she says.
“The one where all the celebrities were on the ads and all over social media?” I ask.
She nods and blushes again. “The idea of the celebrities being on Team Fruity or Team Sorbet was mine,” she says in almost a whisper.
“Wow. That’s…just wow,” I manage. “Do you have any references?” I ask because this can’t be true. There’s no way someone this talented just landed on my doorstep…or in my pigpen in little Storyview Falls.
We might have a few billionaires that reside here, but this is not a rich-and-famous sort of place. This is the place where everybody knows your name, your favorite food, and what time you go to bed at night.
“Of course,” she says in an almost insulted way.
I scratch the back of my head. “What’s the biggest mistake you’ve ever made?” I ask. There has to be a catch twenty-two.
Her lips twitch as if she’s fighting a smile. “I was at this photoshoot for a social media campaign at Vintage magazine and the magazine editor wanted me to pick up these scarves. So I went and I didn’t confirm which bag of them when I picked them up, I just grabbed the one closest to me when the girl at the store said it was on the counter. Anyhow, I get back and we open it, and they are not scarves, but berets. We didn’t have time to switch.”
“Wow, she must have been pissed,” I mutter, knowing the editor only by her infamous temper.
She giggles. “Yeah, until the photographer put a few on the models and then they both were like, yes, this is even better. Thank God they loved them, or I would have been fired on the spot.”
She pauses. “Anyhow, I learned always to double-check even if I think it’s obvious.”
I chuckle. “I bet. So what’s your weakness?”
“I can be a little too loyal,” she admits. “I’m working on that.”
“Can I be brutally honest?” I ask as I watch her twirl her hair around her finger.
She nods.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
She laughs. “I know this sounds crazy because even thinking it makes me feel like I sound crazy, but I didn’t want a big-city job. I just didn’t. I want something different. I want to live somewhere where everyone knows my name. I want to make a big difference in a small place. I want to feel like my contribution matters…and not just once in a while, but every day. I know small-town life isn’t perfect. And I’m sure working on a farm will have its challenges, but I love new experiences and I’m excited to learn. I could even make Petunia a mascot,” she says with a grin.
Joy and I both laugh. “Well, perhaps meet some of our other animals first,” I suggest.
“That’s fair,” she replies. She opens her mouth to say something else when Earl and Buck come waltzing in followed by Kingsley.
“And then I told Irene that leaving it out will attract the—” Earl stops midsentence and Buck runs into him as all three men stare at Ariana.
“Hi,” Ariana squeaks with a small wave of her hand.
I press my lips together to keep from laughing because Kingsley looks like he’s in love; like giant hearts will pop out of his eyes as though he’s a cartoon character. Earl and Buck look completely dumbfounded.
“Earl, Buck, Kingsley, this is Ariana Harlow. She’s here to interview for the social media marketing manager position,” I state as I motion to Ariana.
“Hi, nice to meet you,” Kingsley says as he walks over and extends his hand. Ariana stands and shakes it.
“Nice to meet you too. What is your job on the farm?” she asks, her eyes sparkling as if learning this is the most interesting thing ever. I narrow my eyes as I look between them. The last thing I need is Kingsley falling for a slightly older woman. His sister would reach out from her grave and beat me over the head. He needs to be focused on school.
“I run the farmstand,” he answers and then hooks his thumb over his shoulder and motions to Earl and Buck. “Earl Helmner helps with the animals and some of the field stuff. Buck, or Rob Buckner, is the jack-of-all-trades. He’s been here since…when did you start, Buck?”
“When the dinosaurs were roaming these parts,” he says in his old gravelly voice.
Ariana giggles. “Wow, you must know everything about this farm, then,” she says.
My eyebrows shoot up when Buck actually fucking blushes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him blush a day in his life.
“Well, I suppose I know a thing or two, but Earl’s been here just as long,” he adds.
“I would definitely want to do some spotlight social media on you three. In fact, highlighting staff and the animals would be a great way to share Windsor Family Farm with the public,” she says as she looks back at me. “People love stories. You just have to learn how to get them to start listening to yours.”
The room is silent as everyone stares at her, captivated by what she’s saying. “What other ideas do you have?” I ask.
She looks around. “You need more social media-friendly places here. Everyone has a camera phone and social media now. Everyone wants to take a cute photo when they go somewhere. Also, a better setup for people to interact with the animals. You said you run the farmstand, do you give out recipes?”
Kingsley glares at me. “I told you. Ella keeps telling me to post them.”
I narrow my eyes again and look back at Ariana.
“Also, better signage and more signage off Main Street. Heck, make Storyview Falls part of your story. People from other places wouldn’t necessarily come here just for the farm, but a full day trip to a cute small town included, that’s a huge selling point,” she continues. “Anyhow, those are just some things off the top of my head.”
“Impressive,” Joy says quietly.
“The kid’s got some good points there,” Earl mutters as Buck nods.
“I for one vote for that recipe thing,” Kingsley adds.
I glance back at Ariana. She stares at me with such hope that I know before I speak I’m going to offer her a job. There’s something about her, a magnetic pull. I thought it was just me feeling it, but the way all my staff is staring at her makes me think she’s just one of those people that attracts other people. Like some sort of light with moths surrounding it.
“A three-month trial,” I state.
“Really?” she asks, her voice rising an octave.
“Yes. When can you start?” I ask.
She grins so wide I can see her back teeth. “Uh, now,” she squeaks.
Everyone laughs. “OK. Well, let’s get your paperwork filled out, then,” I add. I turn to my staff. “Do you all need something?”
“Lunch?” Earl asks.
“In the crockpot in the kitchen,” I mutter as I motion for him to go inside my house. I always cook for everyone on Tuesdays. It was a tradition started by my mom and dad and I guess I liked it.
I turn back to Ariana. “Let’s get your paperwork filled out,” I state as I grab my laptop and settle it on the desk next to me.
“Do you need my help?” Joy asks.
“Nope. Go grab food. I got this,” I reply, pulling up the documents we need. We hire seasonal workers, so I know the drill. Although it’s been a few years since I hired a full-time or even part-time employee.
“OK, let’s get this done,” I state as I pat the chair closest to me. Ariana sits down, her knee grazes mine. She quickly pulls it away. I look over at her fair, freckled skin. She is very beautiful. And based on what she was wearing before, I’m guessing she’s not used to country life. This is going to either work out great or be a huge mistake.