Chapter 2 #2
“So it’ll make a million and one.” She grinned tossing some gummy bears at him. She knew how to stay a teen; she just wished she knew how to do it and not fall for Jordan at the same time.
∞∞∞
“Well what do you think?” Jordan asked as they walked around the dealership again. “Come on there must have been something that you liked.”
“I don’t know. The cars are okay but if I’m picking up boxes to be delivered to sites, I don’t think they’ll fit very well in the trunk.”
“Good point let’s go across the street then,” he said pointing towards the other dealership and she agreed.
An hour later, they were still looking as a salesman approached. “Hello folks what can I interest you in today?”
“We’re just looking still,” Jordan answered as the man turned to Mel.
“For the beautiful woman?” he asked leering down her top.
“Yes for my…better half,” Jordan told him placing an arm around her waist. She gave him a sly grin as the man backed off slightly. “It’s for our company. What do you think of the Jeeps, Mel?”
“They’d be easier to pick up deliveries in and there’d still be plenty of room for clients if needed.”
“That’s what I thought, maybe you could find whichever one is equipped with everything? Or set us up to get it? I don’t want Mel worried about getting lost and it’s easier to have everything at your fingertips,” Jordan said to the man who moved off quickly. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s fine…I’m used to it but sometimes it’s a bit much.”
“Well, the guys will soon learn to cool it and if you don’t want to go the whole corporate look that’s fine with me. Half the time I’m in jeans and a t-shirt when I come into the office.”
“I’ll figure it out,” she said with a smile as the salesman returned.
“I have a few that might interest you,” he stated showing them through several of the different varieties.
“Mel?”
“I don’t want to feel swamped in it,” she admitted vetoing the two largest she knew she’d never be able to judge. “The two door ones wouldn’t be very conducive for clients.”
“The Cherokee?” he asked as they headed back to the one that they’d looked at earlier.
“It looks promising,” she agreed.
“If you want, we can take it for a test drive I just need to see your ids. I’ll be right back with the keys,” he said as they handed them over, or as she handed her fake one over.
“You didn’t say how it went with Henry.”
“He told me to go and use the last week as vacation. Speaking of him, did you put your bid in?”
“Not yet, we have until the end of the week, why?” he asked as she glanced away hearing the note in her voice that said he was eager to get the contract and she really didn’t want to dash his hopes.
“Well, since I no longer work for him…don’t do it. I know it sounds good but the guy who drew up the plans…just don’t do it, okay?”
“What do you know Mel?”
“The full plans, even if they use the heaviest building materials out there it’ll never support the structure the way it should.
I may not have an engineering degree, but I can calculate capacity loads pretty well and the only way they’ll be able to do it the way the plans are designed is if they pay someone to overlook the safety aspects. ”
“How long have you known this?” he asked giving her a slightly surprised yet interested look.
“Since Henry got the plans. Don’t worry, I’ve already found a way to put a bug in someone’s ear and hopefully it won’t happen but…”
“It’d be safer for me not to go after it and get fired in the process while I argue over the safety of the structure?”
“Yeah, Henry included you knowing your company was newer than the others simply because he thought you would fall in line easier if you won the bid.”
“What would you have done if I had?” Jordan asked her and she knew deep down, she’d never have let him take the risk after meeting him that first time.
“Changed your bid. I was the first person to see them when they came in so I’d have been able to do it or at least pull it. I’ve put it out there that this isn’t the project they want to take on as much as I could, but I only have so much reach with my contacts.”
“Thanks Mel. You wouldn’t happen to have a copy of the plans, the full ones?”
“I might have snuck a copy of them onto a disk before I left,” she admitted. She didn’t want any of her old coworkers to get hurt if the structure wasn’t built to code.
“If you get them to me I can check into it. I know several people on the building code board; if they aren’t up to code I’ll get the info into their hands.”
“Thanks Jordan; I may not like Henry but there are several people there I do like and don’t want to see them get hurt.”
“I won’t let that happen,” he assured her as the salesman reappeared.
Another hour later and they were driving away from the dealership, him in his car and her in the new dark green Jeep Cherokee that had every convenience known to man. They stopped in at the office for him to update the car insurance and give her a key to the place.
“Good to go?” he asked standing outside the car’s door after she’d slid in behind the wheel.
“All set…I’ll see you Monday,” she grinned before heading home.
Tate was shocked when he stopped in the next day.
“Damn, maybe I should drop out of school and get a real job,” he joked hugging her to his side.
“Oh yeah I can just see you driving anything other than your bike. Come on biker boy, let’s get that homework done before classes tomorrow.”
“Sure thing Mel, you planning on bringing that to school tomorrow? Guess it’ll give you more room to change than a stall at the train station.”
“The other part of this job that I’m going to love, corporate dress is not mandatory. So first we study then you can help me decide what to wear tomorrow.”
Mel knew he hated helping her shop let alone watching her try on her own clothes, but he suffered through it, and she found a perfect outfit.
She paired her best pair of skinny jeans with her three-inch heeled knee-high boots and added a tank top with a half sweatshirt like top which she was going to replace with her favorite blazer before going into the office.
“Wow, dang Mel, you look…” Tate said as she slid out of the Jeep well aware of the stares headed towards her.
“Thank you, not too much for school, right? I mean not compared to my normal self.”
“It’s a bit more look at me sort of like your work clothes but hey, if you’re comfortable showcasing your assets who am I to argue?”
“Are you saying the length of the top draws attention to them Tate?”
“Not to mention the traffic stoppingness of your tiny waist. Hell even I didn’t know you were this small. You usually wear layers upon layer here; this wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain senior who’s been chasing after you all week, would it?”
“Nope, I just figured why hide myself away anymore? I like who I am—both the high school student part and the worker bee. If I want to kick some butts in these hallways now, who could blame me?”
“Who indeed,” he grinned following behind her severely enjoying the swish of her backside.
“Stare at my ass anymore Tate and you’ll lose your spot as my best friend,” she warned.
“Come on Mel it’s pretty fabulous I’ve got to say, especially in those jeans.”
“That’s the point Tate but you’re not supposed to notice,” she countered hitting her locker to grab her books for the day.
“Then I apologize but be prepared because you’re about to meet the rest of the student population in ten, nine, eight…”
“Oh shut up Tate.” Mel laughed heading to her class.
He wasn’t wrong though, there were certainly several heads that turned in her direction as she walked with her usual calm to class.
She didn’t care if they stared; she was used to it, and she could deal with it faster than anyone could flip a switch.
“What do we have here,” Stephanie cooed as she walked into the room. “Don’t tell me, mommy gave you her rolodex of old johns?”
The entire room fell silent at the comment and Mel wavered between pulling back her fist and punching the girl or simply walking away. The first would jeopardize everything while the second…well, the second simply didn’t feel right.
“Ignore her Mel, come on let’s go sit,” Tate whispered taking her arm.
“Aw isn’t that sweet…little Tater protecting the big bad slut,” Stephanie mocked raising her anger higher.
“Mel, let…it…go,” Tate said slowly to her. “You know you don’t want to do this.”
“You’re right, I don’t,” she agreed glad he was with her to keep her from losing her temper. “She’s simply another insecure jerk who thinks putting me down will help her.”
“Exactly so come on Mel…sit,” Tate grinned at her.
“Aw look everyone, the bitch knows how to sit,” Stephanie said with a nasty laugh.
The room fell deathly silent as Tate held her shoulders to keep her in her seat. The door shut and Ms. Simmons looked around the room curiously.
“Mr. Tatum, do we have a problem with our seat?”
“Not at all Ms. Simmons…not at all,” he answered sending her a supportive look before heading to sit down.
With the Jeep, she didn’t have to leave as early, and she figured she’d spend a little extra time with Tate before heading into the city. She’d timed the drive yesterday and knew that even with traffic it would only take her half an hour, forty-five minutes at the most to reach the office.
“I have never seen you so mad,” Tate said as he cast sideways glances towards Stephanie and her gang. “You’ve got to let it go Mel.”
“She’s telling everyone I’m a hooker Tate. How am I supposed to let that go?”
“I don’t know but if you do go after her make sure it’s where no one can see and when she can’t tell it’s you. She goes to the administration, and they’ll call your mom, so will the cops.”
“I know Tate. I just can’t. Would you be able to let it go if the person who owns the school is calling you a hooker and insinuating that you follow orders, likely demeaning, humiliating, and disgusting ones they way she was?”
“No, I’d deck her the first instant I could but I’m not in your shoes.
If the truth comes out you’re the one who’ll be in hot water not Stephanie, especially if the cops or social services get involved.
Look I love you, Mel, and I can’t get through high school without you.
The part of the day when you’re not here it sucks and no way do I want to have to do it all day every day if you get expelled. ”
“Alright, I’ll let it go.” Mel sighed before finding a fry stuck in front of her face and tickling her lips. “Be careful or I’ll bite,” she teased as he let her have it.
“Really Indy…this is a public place we don’t need your kind and their sleaziness spreading disease all over the seating area,” Stephanie stated leaning down on the opposite side of the table from her.
“Shut up Steph. God, why can’t you go hang with your own friends and leave me alone?
Is your life really that pathetic that you have to amuse yourself by saying things that do more to draw attention to your sexual habits than mine?
” she stated standing up as well. Hers was to leave, get away from her before she did something incredibly stupid rather than to go toe to toe with her though.
“Like I would ever take money for sex unlike you and your mother. You know I haven’t seen her in a while, is she in rehab again? I’ve heard sex addiction is a real bitch.”
“I wouldn’t know Steph, unlike some I don’t sleep with the entire football, baseball, soccer, and swim teams. Not to mention I’m not currently making my way through the basketball team either.”
“Mel, just ignore her and sit down,” Tate cautioned.
“I’d do what he says, after all isn’t that what slaves do?
Listen to their masters? I wonder just how far you let them push you?
I mean Tate’s obviously not that big or strong, so what does it take to really get you off Indy?
Whips…chains…a wad of cash stuffed down your pants so you can buy those breasts? ”
“Sorry to disappoint you but these are one hundred percent real and so is everything else about me, unlike you and your nose job. It’s really sad they couldn’t fix it.
I mean it’s turned up so far you can see there’s nothing inside that thick skull of yours,” she threw at her, fury radiating through her body.
“Then again that’s pretty obvious since you’ve been standing here the entire time with half your breasts on display where your blouse isn’t buttoned.
So who were you with just before lunch I wonder?
Oh wait that’s right, you were in the supply closet with Gary.
Yeah, that Gary, only problem was he didn’t want you, did he? ”
“Shut up, you filthy bitch,” Stephanie stated reaching out to slap her, but she ducked backwards away from her. “Just because your mother had all the guys panting after her doesn’t mean you do.”
“I’d suggest you put your hand down Miss Augustan,” the principal stated as she raised it again as he reached them. “Is there a problem Miss Taube?”
“I don’t have any those seem to be all on her,” she said flashing him a smile. “I should be going though; don’t want to be late for my internship.”
“Of course, Miss Augustan perhaps you’d like to join me in my office?” he said pointing towards the building.
“Nicely done little tigress,” Tate teased fluffing her hair. “How’d you know about her and Gary? And really, Gary?”
“Yeah let’s just say I heard them on my way out here. She was telling him to say her name, but he kept saying ‘Sarah...Sarah…Sarah’. It was hilarious and disgusting all at the same time.”
“Well, I’d say you’ve just made the Queen Bee mad as hell.”
“Who cares, after all if I’m a tigress wouldn’t I simply squash her?” she teased taking her bag and heading to her car, parked directly in front of the quad where they were eating.
“Have fun Mel!” Tate shouted.
“Always do,” she said with a wave as she drove off a huge smile on her face.