"Hey, Margie. I just called to ask you if you know anyone who's hiring. Please call me back as soon as you can, thanks." Kelsey said as she leave a message to her friend and hanged up the phone.
She let out a sigh and straightened her clothes. Once she got the wrinkles out of the way, she took her purse and a folder full of copy of her résumé. Today, she was going for a job hunting. She wanted to get a part-time job to help her mother to pay for the bills at home. She just hoped that today someone will hire her.The moment she got off of the bus, the fresh breeze of spring collided with her body. She voluntarily smiled and scanned her surroundings. She was currently in downtown and she looked at different stores that could possibly hire her.She started giving her résumés out to different restaurants, clothes stores, jewelry stores, even cafes, but all the managers told her that they would just call her for an interview if they needed her. She went to the very last store around the place and she got the same reply.When she was completely out of hope, she left and came back home thinking what a day of wasted time. When she got home around five o'clock in the afternoon, her mother was still at work. She usually came home at seven o'clock depending if she would visit Kyle in the hospital. Usually, when she did, she gets back at around nine.Since Kelsey figured out that her mother would visit Kyle because he had a chemotherapy the next day, she decided that she would cook dinner instead. She started gathering all the ingredients she needed and heat up the pan. When she was finished cooking, she placed a whole plate of fried chicken on the table and covered it. Then she put the lid on the soup so the steam wouldn't come out and remained warm. Ace would love their dinner.Speaking of Ace, Kelsey went to knock on the neighbour's door to get him. Since Kelsey worked in the morning and her mother worked in the afternoon, Ace would usually stay at their neighbour's apartment until she gets back from work. Their neighbour, Paulina Freeman, didn't mind Ace staying there at all since she also had a son who was the same age as him."Hi, Mrs. Freeman, I'm here to pick up Ace." Kelsey greeted as Paulina beckoned her in."Of course, please, come in." She said as Kelsey noticed the boys playing with toy cars in the living room. Kelsey sat on the sofa and watched the two boys."Kelsey!" Ace practically screamed jumping on her lap. He hugged her tightly sucking the air out of her lungs."Too - tight - Ace!" She tried to say in between breaths. When Ace had release her, she quickly took a deep breath and kissed him on the cheek. "How was your day?" She asked enthusiastically. Usually, Ace had the most outrageous stories. He would tell her what he did that day as if he was telling a story from a fairytale book. Sometimes, it even seemed like he was way too smart for a five year old kid."It was great! Me and Pearson played all day. Paulina even taught me some cool stuff. Like when you light up magnesium, it will make this very bright light, kinda like a flashlight." He said with his movie-sounded-like voice. Paulina used to be a scientist, but when she got pregnant to Pearson, she quit her job to take care of him."Wow, that's very impressive. Did you do experiments?" She commented ruffling his hair with her hand."Yes, it was so much fun!" He squealed enthusiastically as he jumped up and down in excitement. Kelsey chuckled at her brother's peppy mood and beamed at him."I bet it was." She said as she saw Paulina entered the room with a tray of chocolate chip cookies and glasses of milk. "Okay, why don't you play with Pearson some more." She suggested."Okay!" He screeched leaping his way to Pearson, who was busily playing with his cars. Paulina set the tray on the centre table and handed a whole bag to Kelsey."Thanks Mrs. Freeman, but you shouldn't have." She said genuinely."It's fine. I know how much Kyle and Ace love those cookies.""Thank you so much. I'll make sure Kyle get some." She said grinning gratefully at Paulina."Your welcome. You and your family are always welcome here. Especially Ace. I can tell Pearson enjoys his company. And I really do hope that they will go to the same school. I am actually planning to enrol Pearson to the day care three blocks away. You should do the same for Ace. He seems to be the type of kid who likes learning." Paulina suggested as the two of them regarded the children eat some cookies and drink some milk."I really want him to go to school. But I'm afraid our budget is a little too tight. That's why I am looking for a job right now. If you know any openings, Mrs. Freeman, can you maybe...." She trailed off looking hopefully at Paulina."Of course, dear. I will tell you right away if there's any hiring." She assured her as Kelsey smiled at her. "You know, you're really lucky with that brother of yours." She said nodding her way to Ace. "Your mom is really lucky she found him wandering off the streets. There's only a couple of special kids like him around the world. They're very rare.""What do you mean?" She asked creasing her eyebrows together.Paulina laughed softly. She thought that the Parker knew that Ace was a very special child. "Didn't you ever notice? Ace has a photographic memory. Everything he has read, seen, or heard is permanently stuck in that little head of his and his brain absorbs all the information. He will remember them word for word or even what you were wearing yesterday.""Are you sure? I've never really notice before?" Kelsey asked in bewilderment and amazement."Let's try it out, shall we?" Paulina asked as she turned to Ace, who was quietly munching on his cookie. "Ace?" She said as he looked up with those innocent, moss green eyes and adorable chubby cheeks. "Do you remember what you read on that big book this afternoon?" She asked him slowly as she referred to the gigantic science book she had. "You know, about those cells?"Ace regarded the two ladies in front of him and tilted his head on the side. He looked at Kelsey who was waiting for him to answer. "Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things. The human body is composed of trillions of cells. They provide structure for the body, take in nutrients from food, convert those nutrients into energy, and carry out specialized functions. Cells also contain the body's hereditary material and can make copies of themselves." He said as he continued to munch on his cookie and stated all the facts without batting an eyelid.Ace regarded the two ladies in front of him and tilted his head on the side. He looked at Kelsey who was waiting for him to answer. "Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things. The human body is composed of trillions of cells. They provide structure for the body, take in nutrients from food, convert those nutrients into energy, and carry out specialized functions. Cells also contain the body's hereditary material and can make copies of themselves." He said as he continued to munch on his cookie and stated all the facts without batting an eyelid. Kelsey was completely flabbergasted. She stared at her brother in awe with her jaw dropped open. She couldn't believe that Ace was blurting out facts out of nowhere. She couldn't even memorize a sentence of what he just said by only reading it once. He was absolutely a genius! "See, photographic memory." Paulina said grinning widely at Ace. She let out a chortle and waited for Kelsey's reaction. "T-tha-that is nearly i-impossi
The next morning, Kelsey woke up with a groan. "Wake up, Kelsey!" An annoying voice yelled as the bed continued to bounce up and down. "Wakey, wakes!""5 more minutes!" She said burying her head on her pillow and threw the covers back on herself. Unfortunately, someone took the covers off and the cold wind blew meeting her pale skin."C'mon, mom already left and you promise we are going to look after Kyle." He said as he sat on the bed and hung his head low. When Kelsey felt the stillness on the bed and quietness of her brother, she quickly sat up. She suddenly regretted ignoring him because the tears that were forming in his eyes melted her heart. She rushed to him and cuddled him between her arms."I'm sorry, I promise we'll go. C'mon, don't cry." She shushed him as she rocked them back and forth. Tears flooded his cheeks and guilt ate Kelsey as she heard him sob quietly. "No baby, please don't cry.""Is he going to get better? When is he coming home?" He asked looking up with h
The next day, Mason was once again sitting on his office chair and looked through the pile of résumés. He separated the files from men to women then from women to gorgeous women. When he had three résumés in his hand, he called Nina in."Nina, I want an interview with these three. They seem to be the only women I'm interested in hiring." He said bluntly as he handed the folders to Nina."Yes, sir, right away." She nodded her head and headed back to her office. Nina was a beautiful woman. She had golden hair, fierce green eyes, and slim yet sexy body. It was one of the reasons why Mason hired her as his secretary. Not only was she smokin' hot, but she was also intelligent and punctual. She worked professionally and diligently. She never complained about any of the crazy jobs that Mason asked her to do. She would always say, 'Yes, sir.' No questions, no complains!Mason stared at the screen of his desktop where the pictures of the three women were plastered on. The first one had blon
"Bro, face it. It's hopeless." Ricky said as Mason let out a groan and smacked his head on the table."I mean, Blondie was too clingy." Ricky reminded as the girl's face flashed before his eyes."Hi, I'm Chelsea." She giggled flirtatiously."I'm Mason King and this right here is my business partner, Mr. Richard Hellman." Mason introduced as he beckoned her to sit on the chair across from him. But to his surprise, she sprawled herself on his table and placed her long tanned legs on it sexily. Her dress was way too short for both Ricky and Mason's liking."Tell me, do you like what you see, Mr. King?" She whispered seductively as Mason voluntarily shivered in disgust."This is an interview, Ms...." He looked down on her résumé and found her last name. "Castillo." He continued. "Not a club.""So, you're suggesting that you want me in your bed tonight?" She asked batting her eyebrows. 'Wow, talk about desperate.' Mason thought."I'm suggesting for you to leave." He announced earnin
"Yo-Your what?!" She stuttered. She tried to clean her ears and rubbed her eyes. She even tried pinching herself waiting for the moment that she would be waking up on her bed. Unfortunately, she was still seated on the comfortable seat staring at the amazingly looking guy in front of her."My hire bride, Ms. Parker. You will be posing as my wife." He repeated with the same firmness on his voice.She stared crazily at him for a few seconds before harsh words exited her mouth. "Are you crazy? Me, get married, to you? Is this some kind of a sick joke?!""Look, I know it might be a little overwhelming and too much information for a day, but I need to find myself a bride and get married within the next three months." He explained."So you mean to tell me that we are getting married? In three months?!" She asked flabbergasted."Fake marriage, and that is, if you are willing to take this job. It's one in a life time chance, Miss Parker." He stated as the phrase kept ringing in her head.
"Yo-Your what?!" She stuttered. She tried to clean her ears and rubbed her eyes. She even tried pinching herself waiting for the moment that she would be waking up on her bed. Unfortunately, she was still seated on the comfortable seat staring at the amazingly looking guy in front of her."My hire bride, Ms. Parker. You will be posing as my wife." He repeated with the same firmness on his voice.She stared crazily at him for a few seconds before harsh words exited her mouth. "Are you crazy? Me, get married, to you? Is this some kind of a sick joke?!""Look, I know it might be a little overwhelming and too much information for a day, but I need to find myself a bride and get married within the next three months." He explained."So you mean to tell me that we are getting married? In three months?!" She asked flabbergasted."Fake marriage, and that is, if you are willing to take this job. It's one in a life time chance, Miss Parker." He stated as the phrase kept ringing in her head.
Kelsey shook her head firmly and took a deep breath. When she felt like she was ready, she went inside the glass door and made her way to the booth."Good morning, Mr. King." She greeted formally with a tight smile on her face."Ahh, you're five minutes early. I'm impressed." He said nodding his head in the process. "Have a seat." He ordered as Kelsey sat on the connected booth across from him."Mr. King, I would-""First of all, if you're going to agree to this arrangement and accept my offer, I think you have to call me by my first name. It would be weird calling me so formally, is it not?" He asked with a raise eyebrow.Kelsey shot him a weirded look and shook her head. "Okay...Mason. I would like to hear your terms and see the contract, please.""Here." He said handing her a folder. "Everything is explained in there. How you would act as my wife, the story of how we met, and other relevant details. Do you need time to read the contract over?" He questioned as she started rea
The next day, Kelsey woke up at seven in the morning to get ready before Mason came. She took a bath and made sure she had everything she needed when she moves in with him.Yesterday, when she told her mother that she had to moved out, Hilda almost had a heart attack. It took Kelsey half an hour before fully calming her down. Hilda, of course, was against the idea of it but she knew how important it was for her daughter. She was devastated that her only daughter was leaving home. She really wasn't ready for all of these, but she knew that at one point in her life, her kids will grow up and leave. She was just too scared to let go."Are you sure you have everything?" Hilda asked as she watched her daughter from the door frame of her room."Yeah, I think I have everything. Besides, I'm only going to be gone for a short period of time, it's not like I'm actually going to go through this marriage." She explained as Hilda helped her close her luggages.Hilda let out a sighed. "What abo