After setting down her leather backpack, Cierra followed Zelda through the living room and into the kitchen, which was outfitted with every modern appliance imaginable. Floor-to-ceiling glass showed off a coveted, lush backyard garden, and the home’s walls were at least twelve feet high. Like most real estate in this tax bracket, the open-floor concept showed off the kitchen and dining area. There was even a built-in booth between the garden and kitchen, which appeared to be more for personal use.
“Cierra, why don’t you take a seat in the breakfast nook, and I’ll grab us something to drink? Green tea okay with you?”
“Green tea sounds great, thanks.”
Zelda didn’t respond verbally but gave a subtle nod and glided to the pantry. Cierra wasn’t sure how to read her. The woman was intense, but perfectly hospitable, like at the dinner party. While she was fetching the tea in the kitchen, Cierra could hear her talking and laughing with a familiar male voice: Erik. She’d nearly forgotten about him. Instantly, she felt a thousand times more self-conscious.
Gathering herself, she took a few deep breaths. Cierra needed this job ASAP. And for the interview, all she needed to do was act as if she felt the complete opposite.
They’re lucky to have me. They’re lucky to have me.
Zelda reappeared with a bamboo tray in her hand. Atop the tray were two black clay mugs and a steaming teapot, from which bright floral and jasmine-touched scents flowed.
A few steps behind Zelda appeared Erik, engrossed in his phone. His clothes, like Zelda’s, looked comfortable in an affluent way. Faded tan chinos and a half-way unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt revealed a sand-colored, well-toned body. He reminded Cierra of a young Keanu Reeves, with his shaggy darkbrown hair and deep hazel eyes. He also reminded her of every handsome douche Harry had worked with in consulting.
What’s he doing here?
“As promised,” Zelda said. She ceremoniously placed a small handle-less cup in front of Cierra and poured the tea with effortless flourish. The tea tasted even more aromatic than it smelled. Cierra’s first sip made her reconsider the grocery-store green tea packets she kept at home.
“Sorry for the wait, Cierra. Erik keeps showing me these dumb videos . . .” As she started laughing again, he glanced up to stretch out his hand.
“Nice to see you again,” he said with seemed like a genuine smile. “Zelda’s been going on about you all week.”
“Just me?” Zelda said accusingly, and then looked at Cierra. “He was explaining to me how big of a deal it was that you worked at Terra, I didn’t realize just how prestigious the restaurant was. Your experience is really something.”
“Oh, that’s, uh, high praise. Thanks,” she said, slightly buzzing that Zelda had been excited to seeher. And surprised by Erik’s apparent online snooping, especially given their brief conversation.
“Do you live in New York? Or visiting from somewhere else?” Cierra asked, making small talk with Erik as Zelda had gotten sucked into responding to an email on her phone.
“I live in the city full-time, have for a few years now, but needed a place to stay, so”—he shrugged—“I’m currently crashing with my brother and sister-in-law.” Cierra recognized the unsure smirk he made after saying so; she often made the same face whenever she disclosed living with Mia while she was “between leases”.
“And we’re so happy to have you,” Zelda replied, putting her phone away. “Even though you have a habit of distracting me.”She turned to Cierra. “If you take the job, I’ll give you full power to kick him out whenever you need to.”
Erik looked appealingly towards Cierra. “Listen, I mostly work out of the house, so I’ll be out of your way. You’ll have zero problems from me. Anything to escape another evening of Zelda’s rice bowls, or worse . . .” He bared his teeth while tilting his head toward the leftovers on the stove. With a quick swipe, he grabbed an apple from the kitchen island and began to walk away.
“Or worse, what?” Zelda snapped at him.
He continued to saunter on and briefly turned his head to take a chunk out of his apple. “Oh, and I have a date later tonight, so I probably won’t be home till later.”
“Is that the same girl you saw last week? From that app?” Zelda lifted her eyebrow with a hint of disapproval.
“Listen, we all can’t find our soul mates at underground gallery openings, like some people. And yes, her name is Nadine. We’re just getting to know each other.”
Zelda rolled her eyes at her brother-in-law’s comment and placed the cat-eye glasses, which had been perched on her head, on the bridge of her slim nose. “I don’t see what’s so difficult about meeting people in person.”
“The last time I tried meeting someone in person, I—” his eyes involuntarily flickered towards Cierra, before his cheeks immediately turned pink. “You know what? I don’t have to explain myself.” He raised his hands dramatically. “I’m gonna be late for work.” He turned back around, this time disappearing from view, until Cierra heard the closing of the front door.
“Okay, so Elliot and I can’t cook for shit. Erik has a point.” Zelda briefly took a sip from her steaming mug. “But that’s hopefully where you come in. We’re going to have a crazy busy summer ahead of us. As you’ve seen, we desperately need help athome, and we’ll also need you for various events we’ll be hosting between now and Labor Day, including some travel.”
Cierra nodded. “That should be doable for me.”
“Now, it’s a temporary position. We live in Seattle — but I have so much business to do here the next couple months and couldn’t stand the constant flying. Anyway, I just want to be clear that this would be short-term. Would that be alright?” She was grasping her hands together and smiling so widely Cierra could see a ruby-decorated canine.
Taking a moment before responding, she reveled in the fact that someone like Zelda could want her culinary skills this badly. Slowly, she began nodding her head, as if she were doing the Lawsons a favor. “I think that will work.”
Zelda placed a hand over her heart and bowed her chest over the table. “Oh, thank God. Sorry I’m a little nervous, I’ve just never had to deal with all”—she waved her hands around every which way—“this before.”
Cierra straightened her back, choosing to believe in the nonexistent authority she had in this situation.
