"Thank you!"
"Please do visit us again!"
I heard the staff call out as the soft sound of wind chimes signaled the opening and closing of the doors of the store. I remained seated behind the counter, poring over the sales reports of the previous 3 months. A smile forms on my lips as I see the numbers begin to pile up. "Celestial Creations" remains very much in demand. It's sought after by not just the rich and powerful but by the simple everyday people as well. Working here has been a great fortune for me and, if I am allowed to be boastful, for the rest of the staff as well.
I had my doubts when I was hired to be the manager for this store all those years ago; new luxury brands with no backing rarely do well in the current market. I thought at first that I would only be working here for a few months before it all goes belly up, but against all odds, instead of failing, the company flourished into what it is now today. One of the most recognizable and well-known luxury brands in the country. One where the rich and famous go to make their purchases.
"Mike! Can you carry these to the back, please?" I called out to Mike, the company driver/guard for the store. Though most of the time, he stands by the door and makes sure everything is good. I pointed to the stack of cases by my feet once he rounded the counter where I am working on. Mike smiled as he crouched down and lifted the stacked cases in one go. I eyed him as he went to the back, each case containing the latest of the stock that the boss dropped off earlier. One of them had inside it a custom order for the wife of a senator. A three-piece set of diamonds and rubies that cost almost half a million dollars. Thinking of that price tag made me remember the last conversation I had with the boss, about the latest project he is thinking of, inspired by the collaboration he had with "Victoria's Secret" and that wedding project he was commissioned to work on a few months ago.
A project that is going to be a first for the company and would push us into the limelight not just in the world of luxury jewelry but also in the world of high fashion. Or at least in the world of wedding high fashion. Just thinking of the possible sales we would be making due to this project had me seeing stars. Though thinking of the expenses we would be incurring to go through this is also making me a little bit reluctant. It was only the fact that the boss told me that he would be using his own personal funds to finance this project that assured me that we would end up bankrupt.
"I placed them on the rack by the vault, Helena," Mike said as he came out of the back door. I nodded in thanks, and he went back to his seat by the front of the store. I went back to reviewing the books, tidying up the numbers before I sent them to Miss Hazel for final checks. I was almost done when I heard the others start a conversation about a rather troublesome topic, making me look up from the screen of my work laptop to them.
"Hey! What do you think about the new girl that came with the boss?" Gale asked, the most gossipy of the staff. Always looking for something to talk about, this time though, her topic was the boss. "What do you mean?" Mike asked, joining in. "The new girl! Callie! Do you guys think she's going to be with the boss as well?" Gale exclaimed. This was dangerous, and I wanted to stop them from talking about it, but I admit, I am also interested in what they think about it. So, I kept quiet and let them gossip for a bit; I'll tell them to stop later. "I wouldn't be surprised if she already is with the boss!" Alyssa responded with a grin on her face. She has been the most invested in the boss's life, especially his love life. I am as well. I mean, it's not every day we get to meet people in a relationship like them. One guy engaged to two women, with some others in the mix as well.
"I know, right! And she seems really into the boss!" Gale replied giddily, clearly loving this topic. "With the way she was always touching him? Of course she's into him!" Lyra added, not looking at the others while wiping down the glass counter by the wall. The words made me remember how the newest girl in the boss's life seemed to really be close to the boss. How her eyes glowed with obvious attraction as she gazed at Percy during their meeting. How her hands were almost always touching him all the time. Plus the tenderness the boss seems to treat her with tells of a closeness the two had. It made me curious as to how the two met and how their story went. Of course I didn't ask, though I wanted to.
"Of course she's into him! I mean, who isn't?" Gale scoffed; the idea that any woman wouldn't be attracted to the boss seemed unbelievable to her. And I agree, the boss is a very attractive man. Handsome beyond reason, kind and gentle, though he had the rough look with him. A body sculpted like those ancient Greek statues. He also had a mysterious feel to him and a bad-boy aspect due to his numerous scars all over his body. I often wonder about how he got those scars and agree with the others when they theorize about him being former military. There is a wildness to him that just screams "Danger." But all that does is draw people in, men and women, though the boss seems to be exclusively a ladies' man.
"Yeah! But it seems like she's more than just into him; it's like there's history between them, you know?" Lyra mused, turning to the others now. It seems like I am not the only one to notice that. "Actually, I heard something about that when I drove them to the airport," Mike suddenly said, carefully, like he was not sure if he should share what he heard. I would prefer it if he didn't share, but my own curiosity is winning over my more professional tendencies. So, I kept quiet but listened closely, ready to step in if the information they are talking about steps across some lines.
"What?" Gale asked, as expected, while the others turned to him, waiting for him to share. Mike, visibly shaken a bit from the attention of us all, swallowed first before starting to share. "Okay, when I drove them to the airport, I heard the new girl tell the boss how she wanted to finally meet his mom," Mike started, and the rest nodded, encouraging him to continue. "And then the boss replied that his mom would also like to meet her." He stopped, looking at each of the girls but me. "And this is what I am talking about. The boss said that his mom would like to finally thank her for saving him when he was young!" I felt my eyes go wide at that reveal while the others had a more vocal reaction. "Wait! That means they knew each other long before now!" Gale exclaimed. "That makes sense! I mean, even Miss Hazel and Miss Piper knew the boss from when they were young!" Alyssa reasoned, and I agree with her thoughts.
"I get that, and the boss doesn't seem to be the type to just go and hook up with just about anyone." Gale agreed as well. "That's true; otherwise, you would have hooked up with him already!" Mike added, teasing Gale. Everybody here knew how she tried to hit on the boss a few years ago when she started working here. Even though nothing came out of it and she herself stopped her advances due to being intimidated by both Miss Hazel and Miss Piper, her actions were still a great source of teasing material for everyone, including the boss and his women. "Will you guys let that go already!" Gale complained as we all smiled at her, though Alyssa giggled, looking away. "I gave it a shot, okay! Can't blame a girl for trying!" Gale huffed, turning around and fussing over those earrings on display.
"We're not blaming you; it's just funny for us that you tried hitting on the boss while you are still new to the job!" I told her as gently as I could, joining in for the first time. They all turned to me, quite surprised that I was listening in. I smiled at them, letting them know that it was okay with me. They were quiet for a bit before Gale grinned, looking at Lyra and Alyssa each in turn. "Well, at least I gave it a shot! You two are still dreaming about it!" I looked at them and saw them blushing at the insinuation; it seems Gale wasn't the only one affected by the boss's allure. Mike was laughing loudly now, irritating both women. "Oh shut it! We can dream as much as we want, you know!" Lyra shot back, and I tuned them out as they argued among themselves about the boss and his appeal.
"Still, I wonder how the boss does it?" Mike suddenly asked, taking my attention from the reports. "Does what?" Gale asked. "You know, get with multiple women! I mean, we know about Miss Hazel and Miss Piper, but there are others he's with, right?" Mike explained, and the others nodded. I thought back to the other women I have seen with the boss throughout the years—three others, if I am remembering right. "Yeah, but I don't think they're his girlfriends, though," Alyssa commented, head tilted in thought. "They're still with him though. It's obvious in the way they cling to him!" Lyra stated, and I silently agreed. It made me wonder what he has that allows him to be like this. Or more importantly, why do those women allow themselves to be shared by just one man? Granted, the boss is one hell of a man, but still. Maybe I'm not seeing something that they are. Or maybe that's just how they are. Either way, I have no say in the way they live their lives and would rather not be involved in it at all. Not at the risk of losing this job.
"Makes you wonder if they ever fight with each other for him or his attention?" Gale suddenly commented. I turned to her, alarmed. This was going into dangerous territory now; any more and I would have to stop them. "Huh? Maybe? Or maybe the boss has them all in line or something," Mike teased, a grin on his face. I narrowed my eyes at him, though he didn't notice by the looks on his face. "I'd like to join that line if I could!" Gale muttered in a low voice, though I still heard it since she is standing near me. That was the line I am talking about; I decided to speak up now before we go further.
I clapped my hands, getting their attention. "Okay! That's gone far enough, guys!" I chided them, not harshly but still intending to let them know what they are talking about now is not okay. "Whatever happens within their love life is not our business." I look at each of them, letting them understand that this is a serious matter. "And make sure that none of the boss's girls ever hear you talking like this! Okay? If that happens, then I don't know if you'll be fired or not." I reminded them of the possible repercussion they may face if they are heard. After all, if there are people that could affect the boss's decisions, it would be the women who share his bed.
They all nodded at me, acknowledging my point. I nod back and go back to my reports, satisfied at their reactions. Though I know they would continue to talk about them, at least they would not be doing so as openly as before. The sound of the wind chime resounded all over the store, announcing the entrance of a customer. "Welcome!" they all called out as one, making me smile. No matter what happened, this group of people are great workers, and I am proud to be their manager.