not smoking; shots of tequila only on special occasions, and surrendering them entirely after one had found her dream man; having lots of money; a great husband who supplied one with enough seed for at least two beautiful children whom one could brag about; and multiple orgasms on tap.
“My, you have a busy mind,” said Aggie.
My brows drew in sharply. “Excuse me?”
She chuckled. “I can see that pretty head of yours ticking away.” Before I could respond, Aggie added, “Now, first things first. I don’t like questions. But this being your first day, I’ll allow you a few.”
All I heard was that it was my first day, which meant the job was mine, even though I had to meet Justin, my boyfriend, at six. But rather than mention that to Aggie, I decided to text him later.
Four hours with an intriguing, albeit an intense woman didn’t seem too shabby at all—overlooking the potential of a premature death due to passive smoking. It also meant that my pay would start immediately, thus removing the unpleasant task of asking my mother for a loan. The thought of that had me mentally popping a champagne cork, given that each time my mom handed me cash, it came with a lecture about snaring Justin into marrying me, even if it meant forgetting to take my pill.
At twenty-four, I was hardly ready for motherhood, nor to be the wife of a man who was more interested in his career, buddies, and ball games, interspersed with a quick, hard fuck here and there. When it came to tenderness, Justin, who was probably at the time pumping his fist at the ball game on TV, missed out.
“I have the job?” I asked.
“Don’t look so surprised.” Aggie butted out her cigarette into a crystal ashtray.
“Do you mind if I ask what you’d like me to do?” A meek smile crossed my lips. “I mean, other than making martinis.”
She shrugged. “Just keep me company. I wanted someone young around. That way I can hear about the latest fads. I watch TV, but it bores me. It actually makes me angry at times. All that silly deconstructed, incomprehensible language.”
I nodded. “It can be rather shallow and pitched to a lower form of intelligence.”
“Yes… So true.” She studied me again. “It’s as if we’ve all become dull-witted. Or is it that the dimwits have taken over the controls?”
“Maybe,” I replied vaguely. Although politics was not my thing, at forty dollars an hour, I would try and give it my best.
“Ava Rose. That’s a pretty name. Has a nice ring about it. That’s what attracted me, and the photo, of course.”
I sat forward. “I did wonder why you requested an image with my hair down.”
“Now you’re being plain cheeky.” Her eyes had a sting in them. I couldn’t tell if she was joking or serious.
“I’m… um… sorry,” I stammered.
Her face softened. “The short answer is, I don’t like ugly people around me. I couldn’t stand the idea of someone with cropped hair painted in a rainbow of colors. Or tattoos…” She studied my blouse. “You don’t have tattoos, do you?” Her face expressed concern.
Reminding myself that in Aggie’s time, women weren’t pierced or tattooed, I answered, “No, I don’t.”
“Good.”
Seeing that her attention remained on my body, I asked, “Is there any specific way I should dress?”
Aggie’s head pulled back as if I’d asked a stupid question. “Now you’re just poking fun.”
“Oh no, I mean. I didn’t… I wasn’t being facetious.”
She laughed. “You’re sensitive. I like that. I believe you studied English literature. That appealed to me. I like an intelligent, well-read mind.”
“Have you a favorite?” I asked.
“You of all would know how difficult that is to answer. It’s like asking what one’s favorite color is. It depends on the mood, doesn’t it?” Her voice had an edge of authority to it that scraped a little. “Wuthering Heights,” she said. “I’d like you to read that for me.”
That made me sit up. “Oh… that would be a labor of love. It’s one of my favorites.”
Once again, she studied me for what seemed a long while. “Good. Tomorrow, we’ll start with that.”
“I’ll bring along a copy,” I said, pleased that at last, I had something to offer that at least coincided with my degree.
“No need. I have several.” Her eyes passed by my face and landed on a dark wooded bookshelf filled with gold-scrolled hardback books.
I went over to take a look.
Aggie pointed. “You’ll find them on the top shelf.”
Looking up, I discovered hardback