Page 18 of Falling for Nicole
“Nicole,” he snaps, amusement dancing in his eyes. “You are capable of doing your job, right, and not just objectifying your boss?”
My face flames red and my temperature soars as I attempt to look anywhere but him. “I’m sure I’ll be fine,” I mumble.
“This is going to be such fun.” His voice is amused but his face is deadly serious, so I have no idea how to take that comment.
He disappears through to the office, leaving me in the box filled shack. Letting Bailey off his lead, praying he doesn’t start chewing on the newly plastered walls or something else equally as disastrous. I walk behind the bar and start familiarising myself with my surroundings. I didn’t pay much attention when I was here last night, but it looks incredible. It really is the ultimate surf shack with its natural wood, boards propped up against the walls, and different colours everywhere you look.
I’m busy pressing buttons on the till when Dec reappears, now dressed in a black skin tight t-shirt with a Dec’s Surf and Shack logo emblazoned over his left peck. Remembering his last words to me, I stop myself from looking any lower.
“Official opening day is next Saturday, but I’ve invited people here Friday night for a test run.”
“Okay. Set me to work then, boss.”
We spend the day unpacking the tables and chairs and getting the place looking ready to be filled with paying customers. Dec talks to me about his plans for the place and the staff he’s already employed. They’re coming in Thursday for training, and they’ll all be here opening day.
“Here,” he says, throwing a catalogue at me where I’m sat at one of the new tables, taking a break. “Write down whatever you want and I’ll get it ordered.”
Glancing down, I see multiple images of t-shirts, vests, hats…anything you could need branded, really. I flick through and see one of the pages that has the corner turned down is for swimwear.
“You expect me to walk around in a bikini with your name printed on my tit?”
“What you wear is up to you, as long as it’s branded and is in keeping with the theme around here. I ordered them for the female surf instructors, but if you want to serve in one, I’m sure it’ll help get us some customers in.”
“You’re a pig.”
He shrugs off the comment and I go back to looking at my uniform options while he faffs about behind the bar.
“Here,” I say, placing a list on the bar.
“These are for you.” He slams a couple of boxes next to my piece of paper. “Over the next few days, I need you to give out as many of these as possible.”
Pulling open the first box I see a pile of flyers staring back at me, announcing our opening weekend with a couple of offers to bring people in.
“As in, shove ‘em through people’s doors?”
“Do whatever the fuck you want with them, just ensure people turn up.”
I’ve actually quite enjoyed my day with him; he’s been the kind of person I always knew he could be. But something seems to have sent him back to being the usual arrogant arsehole he is with me. I guess that was him being civil during work hours.
“Okie dokie. Are we done for the day?”
“Yes. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Grabbing Bailey, who thankfully didn’t destroy anything, I get the hell out of there and away from his suddenly sour mood.
* * *
I spend the evening searching for a place to live, hoping a miracle might have happened and my perfect place might have been uploaded today.
“Found anything?”
“There are loads of gorgeous places, but nowhere I can afford,” I sulk. “Look at this one. It would be perfect.” When I saw the first photo of the cute little cottage, I thought it could be the one because it was so dated inside. I’m not shy of doing a little work to make my perfect home. I stupidly got excited and looked through all the images before glancing at the price. My heart dropped when I saw that I couldn’t afford that one, either. I really was going to end up living in a tent.
“Oh my god, that is so cute, Nic. It would be perfect,” she agrees. “Have you spoken to the agent to see if there’s any movement on the price? It’s well dated; maybe if you promise to do it up or something they might knock a little off.”
“I need more than a little off.” I let out a huff and fall back on to the sofa in frustration.
