Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(7)

“Yup,” Krista said as Ben said, “Exactly.”

Sean turned back to the girls, who had looks of determination on their faces now. “I’ll talk to Ray, see what he says. If he agrees, I will want to try you out for a week. I will pay you, of course. Can you get a vacation from where you currently work?”

Both nodded, wanting to prove themselves.

“Okay, I’ll talk to Ray.”

“Whoa, wait a minute,” Kate said, holding up her hands and leaning back. She looked at Jasmine. “My bullshit meter is going off. He’s playing us. Before we even go to this f**king Ray guy, we need to know if this is even viable. I don’t want to waste my vacation if I’ll hate the job, or if the money and benefits are less than I am making now.”

This was that personality Ben was talking about. Krista sipped her wine. She refused to feel anxiety over this. Sean needed to know what he would be working with, and Kate needed to learn to control herself if she ever wanted to get anywhere.

“Good point,” Sean said. It sounded like he expected this. He had his chess pieces lined up. Krista wondered if she’d ever see the game before he was playing it out.

“I’ll say this,” Sean leaned back and surveyed the two girls, ”If you work out and I don’t think you’ll let me down, I will exceed your current salary by 10%. Our company has excellent benefits so I’m not worried there. Is that good enough?”

Kate and Jasmine looked at each other. Jasmine said, “I will need a 12% increase over my current salary, because I’ll be damned if I get paid less than Kate for doing the same job.”

Sean looked a little surprised and laughed, “Fair enough. Let’s see how far you get.”

“Oh, we’ll get there,” Jasmine retorted. She never looked at the bright side, always thinking that if left to chance, the world would let her down. But when it was in her hands, she knew what she could do, and she did it. She might have to shank someone, but she got what she wanted.

Meeting adjourned, everyone relaxed. Jasmine learned that Sean surfed, and the next half-hour was spent talking about it. Krista, knowing how long it took to get to the East Bay from her house, kept her eye on the clock, and when it was time to go, sounded the alarm.

“It’s still early,” Sean said as everyone was getting up and getting their stuff together.

“The L is unpredictable, and the BART doesn’t run as much on the weekends. Besides, Kate is a slow walker,” Krista said as she checked her handbag, making sure everything was accounted for.

“You are a speed walker, and Jasmine has those giant spider legs. It is so not me!” Kate yelled from the bathroom.

Sean stood and wandered toward the living room with everyone else.

He looked at his watch in confusion. “Yeah, but I drive.”

Everyone stopped and looked at him. They all had been so long without a car that they forgot the lack of planning that went with it.

“But, don’t you want to drink?” Jasmine asked.

“I don’t need to drink. And I am certainly not going to take public transportation that far. It would take forever,” Sean said, looking around the living room in interest.

Everyone looked at each other and shrugged. They all headed back to the table except for Ben, who went to get another bottle of wine.

“Where did you get this piece?” Sean asked from the living room.

Thinking he was talking about one of Abbey’s weird artistic choices, of which always had Ben scoffing politely, everyone glanced over in interest. If Sean liked something Abbey bought, they would all make fun of him mercilessly.

“Oh, so good of you to notice,” Ben said, walking over. It was the painting he’d done based on the dream of Krista’s emotions. At the time she had been struggling with her job, her life, and with her constant desire of Sean. Abbey had let Ben hang it in the far corner of the living room where it was mostly hidden by an ugly Japanese screen and some giant, fake green plants. One could only see it if they hit exactly the right angle. Apparently Sean had.

“That is one of my creations. I did that over the space of a few months.”

“You did this?” Sean said in awe, his eyes traveling all over the canvas.

“Yes. I did, yes. Got an A on it, actually.”

“What did you call it?”

“Lost and Found.” Ben had his hands behind his back, surveying the piece with Sean.

“Hmmm. It’s…fascinating. That name gives it a certain...tone.”

All three girls rolled their eyes and turned back to their wine.

“Thank you, yes, I put a lot of time and focus into getting it just right. I had to guess in a few spots, and a few other things were tricky, based on the subject matter, but I think it came out okay.”

Sean took a step closer, riveted. “Is it for sale?”

The girls turned back to gawk.

“Oh,” Ben was taken aback. “I hadn’t thought about it.”

Sean turned to study him. “If you will part with it, I’d like to buy it from you. It…I can’t explain why, as one never can with art, but it speaks to me. I’d really love to hang it in a place where it will be the focal point of my living room.”

Jasmine and Kate looked at Krista. Krista looked at her wine.

“Well…” Ben looked back at the piece. “It did take me a while to complete. I put a lot into it. I would hate to part with it.”