"Teenie!!" I sighed, hearing the stupid nickname Camma gave me when we first met. The girl couldn't say my full name to save her life. Instead of Valentina, it became Teenie. I already knew what she wanted. She didn't like the assigned work she got, told Madam she would switch with me, and would work extra hard on the case I had. We both worked at a maid serves temp agency. She was only eighteen and spirited. Reminded me of my old sixteen self. I slammed my locker to turn to the little red head, her lips puckered out already as we stood the same 5'3 so I didn't have to crank my head or bend it any. My brown tired eyes looked down at her blue crystal ones.
"It's Valentina." I told her.
"Yeah, yeah. Hey! Trade me cases. Madam said your case is only a one-day job."
"How long does yours last."
"It has a potential to be long term." She was right. It was ideal for me. I was looking for one that was long term. The agency was getting well packed with workers and Madam had a hard time turning away people with good back ground checks. The younger ones called me the old maid because I was twenty-six and the oldest maid here. I didn't complain. I had no right to when they weren't lying.
I sighed.
"Alright. We can trade files."
"Yah!" She yelled, hugged me, then we traded files. "See ya later!" She then disappeared as I felt the blood drain from my face. The file in my now shaking hands, the yellow tab that bore the name I swore I would never look at, read or associate myself with, seemed to glare back at me. I felt my stomach land at my feet as I sat on the bench that was behind me. No, I couldn't do this! There was no way I was going to go to the one man, the only man I had ever fell in love with, house. Shaking, I opened the file. He was widowed, with two children, twins. One a girl, the other a boy at eight years old. They had his black hair but grey eyes. He had green, the grass green that would read me like a book. It had been ten years since then, and since my sister's death. He was that much older than myself, but by the picture hadn't change much. Looked like he was requesting a house maid, till fall, possible permanent resident. Well, maybe I can do it for the summer, then be gone. Do my job, forget what he did, and go with the flow. I laughed at my own thought process. Better make that 'official' call. Again, I sighed. I picked up my cell phone, shakily dialed the phone number, listened to the rings, then someone picked up.
"Hello!" It was a little girl's voice. I cleared my own.
"Hello. My name is Valentina Kovalcik. Is Kazimir Augustin available?"
"Hello, Valentina! My name is Quin."
"That is a very pretty name." I said listening to the voice behind the girls voice. It sounded like an adult male, telling the girl to hand the phone over.
"I am talking to my new friend!" She yelled.
"Yea, and who is this new friend?" I heard the sarcastic reply that stopped my heart for a moment. Would she really remember my full name? Would he even remember me at all? This was a very, very sticky situation already.
"Her name is Valentina Kovalik… no….. Koval…. Hey…. Daddy!!" I heard her yell. The phone was either dropped, rubbed against something, or attempt at a hang up but after a few seconds I heard heavy breathing then:
"Hello." I took in a deep breath. Damning that sexy voice of his.
"Been a long time, hasn't it?" I asked, tightening my hold on his file. The line went quiet. Sighing, I decided to break the quiet air. "Obviously, you know who you are talking to, your silence confirms that."
"Always so observant." Now I was quiet. "I see that hasn't changed."
"Of course it didn't. I see it as my best quality. This isn't a personal call. I am employed by Madam Maids, which it looks like you have placed a request for a maid for the summer, possible permanent residency. Your file was given to Camma who doesn't do too well with long term clients, so she switched with me even before I was able to look at the file. I can..."
"Then when will you start?" His fast response made me have to catch up with the conversation. I was about to offer a better maid, one that was younger, more qualified to do the job not to mention definitely NOT me.
"I can get someone else." I said some how keeping a calm voice, but then went on; "As I remember it, we didn't leave off with good terms. That might have been ten years ago, but there is no reason to inter mingle ever again." I heard him growl on the other side of the phone as I had just turned that fraze back at him. "I only made this phone call because it is proto call. Every maid must make contact with the client to arrange meeting, wage, and so on." At least I went by the books. "I can't imagine that your thoughts of my up bringing has changed at all." I stood from the bench. Even if I had to wait for another account, it would give me a moment to rest in my own room. If you considered a one bed, small side table a room. I was grateful of Madam for what she had done for me. Considering I had run away when my step sister died leaving myself wide open for just about anything. She was the only person who came to my time of need, or rather found me. "I can get someone to your place within five hours. Looks as if you some how bought my families mansion on the hill top. The fact that you could buy it, isn't what surprises me. Although, it was a high class, sought after place." I started walking out of the locker room with the cell phone to my ear as I waved at a couple of the girls walk by. "So, as I explained, I will get someone else to cover your account. Watch with that hose, Nina." I called out to one of the girls that were watering the garden. "It has a loose handle." She waved.
"Thanks Val."
"That won't be necessary." I heard him say after the long speech I just said. I stopped with my hand to knock on Madam's office door. I froze. "Business is business, correct?" He said his voice just as calm, cool and collected as mine had been. I backed away from the door, then leaned against the wall with my arms folded, the cell pressed to my cheek and shoulder. "I am a business man and handle things accordingly. I requested services from your establishment and you so happen to get my account. It's apparently coincidental that you get it, but let's be adults here." I growled low, to myself. "So, I will see you in five hours."
"I didn't…." and the line went dead. I looked at my cell phone as it went to my anime boy wall paper. "Approve the order." Sighing, I ran my arm over my forehead, turned and walked down the hallway to my room only to pack to go back down memory lane.