The Boss Lady Read online

  “Miss, that’s not even remotely necessary.”

  “You can’t tell me what is and isn’t remotely necessary.” She was mocking me. “I will call your boss.”

  “If that will make you feel better, please do. The number is 6, 3 --”

  Miss Nevels raised her hand and placed her palm in my face. She put a halt to my numbers. I had never seen anyone say shut the fuck up with a hand gesture until today. She removed her cell from her pocket and she scrolled through her contacts until she reached the number she was looking for. She put her cell phone to her ear. Then my cell phone started ringing inside the belt clip attached to my waist. I removed my cell and hit talk.

  “Hello, Miss Nevels. How are you today?”

  Her dark brown eyes went fiery red. She was pissed and I was the cause of it. She hung up on me and I shoved my cell back in my belt clip.

  “You think you’re so fucking clever.”

  “No if you would have shut your trap for two seconds I could’ve told you that I own this moving company. I’m Lukas Hamilton. The t-shirts says Hamilton Moving Company.” Duh, corporate lady.

  “No wonder it’s a piece of shit.”

  “Lady what is your problem? I will personally fix whatever is wrong. Why are you so goddamn hostile?”

  “You can’t properly do your job and you’re an incompetent asshole! That is my goddamn problem Brad, Chad, Caleb.”

  “Lukas.”

  “Same thing.” She rolled her eyes.

  Jesus she is a raging bitch. I inhaled and exhaled. I could choke her to death and not give a damn. I was one step from blowing my own brains out. I’m cool. I’m a hulking six two and she was acting like she was going to beat me bloody. This little chocolate lady was a mere five foot five at the most without the three inch heels. Sure she was no skinny-menny but I was a beast compared to her. One thing for sure she was fearless.

  “Mom would you stop it!” I heard the little girl scream from the bottom of the steps. The ten year old silenced us both. “Stop yelling at that man!” Kelly’s voice was powerful for a kid.

  This is the first time this has ever happened in my six years in the moving furniture business. I really wanted to shake this lady. There was no way that sweet little girl belonged to this black bitch. But clearly they looked alike, only difference was the little girl had green eyes, lighter hair and lighter skin. Miss Nevels was staring at me like she was going to rip my eyeballs out the sockets. She was scary but I don’t scare easy.

  Miss Nevels took two steps forward in an attempt to intimidate me. I was six-two, how was that going to work? Under normal circumstances that closeness would be good for a man and woman but with her it was the complete opposite. If only it were legal to through her over my shoulder and lock her in a closet until she learns to behave. She was having an adult temper tantrum.

  “Mom.” The little girl, Kelly was now standing right beside us. “Mommmmmm, I need to show you something in my room.”

  “Okay, I will be right up.” Miss Nevels said through gritted teeth as she eyeballed me like she could take me in a brawl, like she could best me in hand to hand combat.

  Kelly moved to the staircase leaving me and her mother in a fierce eye battle.

  “Move the remainder of my shit in and then get the fuck out.” She mumbled the words so her daughter couldn’t hear her. Her breath smelled like lemon flavored cough drops. She crossed her arms under her breasts and pushed them up without realizing what she was doing. Her breasts were slightly spilling out her top and distracting me. I hadn’t even noticed she had breasts before that moment. How the hell did I miss full D cups?

  I glanced at her daughter Kelly standing by the stairs to take my mind off the mean ladies tits. I smiled at the girl who smiled back. I drew my eyes back to her evil guardian. “Yes mam with pleasure.” I sort of nodded.

  Miss Nevels turned and the sound of her high heels tapped as she stormed up her curved marble staircase with her daughter keeping pace beside her.

  There was nothing but pure hustle after that. I got all my guys together and we emptied that truck so fast. There was a new world record set. In and out was the goal. Miss Nevels took every moment to glare at me. I was her new target. She had lain off my guys and I was alright with taking the brunt of her displeasure and constant examination. She didn’t say anything but she didn’t need to. She was menacing enough with her uppity presence.

  What kind of asshole was married to her? I noticed she was without a wedding ring. That’s not a surprise. She had money coming out her ass. I wondered what she did for a living and how she spawned such an adorable kid. I made sure her TV was working properly. It was getting hot inside the house with the door open. Miss Nevels had removed her fitted suit jacket. She was wearing a pale blue button up blouse. No matter how big and perky they were I refused to look at her tits.

  When we were done I searched the house and found the rude woman in the kitchen. She was sitting at the island with a glass of red wine pressed to her lips. She had a MacBook laptop opened in front of her.

  “Miss Nevels, we’re done.” I interrupted.

  She glared at me like I was Satan. Geez, alcohol doesn’t even loosen up this evil bitch. “Okay, do you want a standing ovation?” She sneered.

  “Very funny Miss Nevels, don’t you think it’s a little too early for a drink?”

  She rolled her eyes at me. “I paid you. You are done. What do you want?”

  “I wanted to make sure you got my card so you could call me with the estimate for the damage to your floor.”

  “No thanks, I will take the tip money I refuse to give you and repair my floor. I just want to be done with you and your little moving company.” She brushed me away with a hand gesture.

  “I’m sorry you feel that way. I will put my card on the refrigerator if you change your mind.” I was lying. I was glad she was going to let me off scott-free. I placed my new business card on the huge stainless steel refrigerator with a Blue Cross Blue Shield magnet that was already there. I never wanted to lay eyes on this rude woman ever again. I can’t wait to leave this house. This was my first day back at work and it was the pits. I promised the guys I would take them out for drinks tonight after this long dreadful day. I didn’t drink anymore but I would be their designated driver. It was the least I could do. Wish I could’ve put the little girl’s TV up on the wall. I’m sure she she’ll get it mounted. That little girl was smart and resourceful.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Every other job was a walk in the park after that unwarranted drama. I had only gone out on other jobs a few times but all the guys felt the need to mimic the bitchy bossy lady from last week. Miss Nevels the Devil was a joke that never went away.

  I learned the hard way that you should never tell a black woman to calm down. Tony said it was the trigger word to make a black chick act a fucking fool. Since I said it to the lady a few times they said they were waiting for her to slap the shit out of me. I also learned that black woman could care less how much bigger you are than them. They will push your buttons and never back down. It is always best to stand there and take it until they just get tired of yelling. That was exactly what Tony was doing when I came down the stairs that day. He wasn’t saying a word. I wasn’t sure if all the black guys in my employ were pulling my leg or being truthful with their insight into the black woman. It didn’t really matter. I would probably never encounter another raving black woman ever again. Every black woman I had ever encountered was nice enough. Tony’s mother and his girlfriend were always nice and sweet to me. Tony’s mother even cooked a shitload of food for me to eat while I was off work for that month.

  My crew thought I was going to punch Miss Nevels in the face but I would never hit a woman, not even a rude one. I think they thought that only because of my recent trauma. It was good talking to people. It was nice to be back at work.

  The month I was off was the longest month of my life. Working made me feel better. I wasn’t feeling so empty and suicid
al. Work filled a large number of the hours of my day. Being at home was depressing and I couldn’t sleep. Even with the over the counter sleeping pills I only would sleep and hour or two at a time. I woke up extremely overheated, sweaty and sometimes violently. I preferred to just stay awake. I had too many problems to fix instantly. I was a mess in more ways than one but I was determined to stay afloat. I was also determined to not let anyone see what a hollow shell of a man I had become. My pain was the kind I couldn’t share for fear it would devour me.

  Every one of my guys was out on a job. I was alone in my personal office cutting the paychecks. My receptionist Sara was probably painting her nails at the front desk. My cell phone rang and I answered. I didn’t recognize the number on the caller I.D.

  “Hello.” I said.

  “Hi is this Lukas Hamilton?” The unknown caller asked.

  “Yes I’m Lukas. Who is this?”

  “It’s Kelly.”

  I searched my brain for an old girlfriend named Kelly and I couldn’t remember one, definitely one that sounds so young. “Kelly who?”

  “Remember a week ago you moved some furniture into my house where this black lady was yelling at you. I’m her daughter the little girl, Kelly Nevels.”

  “Yes I remember you,” And your rude obnoxious mother. “Kelly, what can I do for you?”

  “I just moved out here. You told me you have a daughter. I don’t know any kids out here. Can I meet her? You told me that me and your daughter like the same stuff. We could have a playdate.”

  I don’t know what I expected her to say but somehow I just didn’t suspect that. “Does your mother know you’re calling me?”

  She hesitated. “Ah-no.”

  “How did you get my number?”

  “It was on the business card that was on the refrigerator.”

  “Oh yeah I put one there.” I remembered.

  “Your moving company is not that far from my house.”

  “Yeah I’m just a few minutes from your house.” She must have checked the address along with the number. Smart girl.

  “So Mr. Lukas Hamilton can your daughter come over and play with me?”

  “I’m sorry Kelly. She can’t.”

  “Why not? Is it because my mom was mean to you?”

  “No it’s not that.”

  “You don’t like black people?”

  “No I like black people.” I held in a snicker. This little girl was adorably precocious. Why was her mother such a raging bitch? “See Kelly my daughter, she died. I didn’t get a chance to tell you that the last time I was at your house.”

  “She died?”

  “Yes.” I exhaled. It was so strange saying it out loud.

  “Mr. Lukas, are you serious?”

  “Yes I’m serious.”

  “That’s terrible. What happened to her? Was she sick?”

  “No, she was in a car accident.”

  “Did she have on a seatbelt?” This girl was too smart for her own good. I see a future in law for her.

  “Yeah she was wearing a seatbelt but it was a really bad accident and she just wasn’t strong enough to survive.”

  “That’s so sad.” Kelly was quiet and I wondered what I should say next. “It’s really sad when kids die.” She gently added.

  “Yes it is.”

  “Are you going to be okay?” She was guiding this conversation.

  I smiled into the phone. Was this kid really ten years old? She was so intelligent. “I feel sad sometimes but I think I will be okay.”

  “I think you will be okay too.”

  “Where’s your mother?”

  “At work.”

  “I don’t think she would like for you to be on the phone talking to me.”

  “I don’t know. My mom is a really nice person. She has just been really stressed out lately.”

  “I’m sure she is very nice.” I was lying to the kid. There was no way that lady was a nice person.

  “Hey Mr. Lukas, my mom just got home from work. I will call you tomorrow.”

  The line went dead. Kelly Nevels had hung up the phone on me. That was one of the strangest calls I had ever received in my life. I just shared more with this kid than with my own family. I hadn’t uttered a word to my folks since the funeral and I felt oddly comfortable talking to a ten year old girl. That basically means I’m one of the neediest adult men on the planet. If a ten year girl is my intellectual equal I’m in bad shape. Or maybe I just miss Hailey so much that it feels good to hear the voice of a kid that is happy, alive and breathing. God I miss my daughter.

  ***

  My cell phone rang the next day at around three-thirty. This time I recognized the number, it was little Kelly Nevels. I hesitated a moment feeling strange about this entire situation. I am a thirty-three year old man and conversations with ten year old girls may not be a good idea. Maybe I shouldn’t answer the call but I couldn’t blow off a kid.

  “Hello.” I answered.

  “Mr. Lukas.”

  “Yes Kelly it’s me.”

  “How ya doing today?” Her voice was bubbly and happy.

  “I’m good. How are you?”

  “Okay I guess. I’m bored. I finished my homework.”

  “Why not watch same TV?”

  “My mom put a block on the music videos and the cable channels.”

  I laughed to myself. “Oh well, parents do things like that sometimes. I’m not sure your mother would approve of you calling me.”

  “Are you a dangerous criminal?”

  “No.”

  “You’re not a kid perv are you?”

  Is a kid perv the same as a child molester? “No.”

  “You ever killed anybody?”

  Jesus? “No.”

  “So what do you do?”

  “I own the moving company that moved your furniture in your new house.”

  “I know that already.” She giggled into the phone.

  I knew I shouldn’t have asked but I was curious. “What does your mother do at her job?”

  “She’s a Senior Hedge Fund Manager. I don’t know what that means but it sounds important. That’s why she’s always stressed out.”

  I’m sure that’s not the only reason. “Yeah sounds pretty important.”

  “Are you a nice person?” She innocently and candidly asked.

  “Yes I think I am. I’m just a regular guy that goes to work.”

  “Hey Mr. Lukas.”

  “Yeah.

  “When did your daughter die?”

  “Five weeks and four days ago.”

  “That wasn’t that long ago. I think you’re going to be sad for a long time.”

  “You think so?”

  “Yeah, people really love their kids.”

  “Yeah I really loved my daughter.” More than life. More than living. I want to die just as much as I want to live.

  “What was her name?”

  “Hailey… Hey where’s your dad?” I knew I shouldn’t have asked but I was curious.

  “He’s around sometimes but not enough to talk about.”

  “Oh, how do you like your new school?”

  “It’s okay but we have to wear uniforms and everybody is smart. So I have to actually pay attention in class.”

  “Where are you right now?”

  “At home.”

  “Where’s your mother?” I couldn’t believe Kelly could call me so freely.

  “At work.”

  “You’re home alone?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Are the doors locked?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You need to make sure.”

  “Okay. I’m only at home by myself for an hour or two. I know not to open the door for strangers.”

  “Everyone is a stranger because you just moved out here and you don’t know anyone.”

  “Yeah, yeah yeah Mr. Lukas.” She blew off my warning just like Hailey would have. Kids are too trusting of adults. They think you will protect them but sometimes we
fall short. I wasn’t there to protect my Hailey and now…

  “Yeah, yeah yeah.” I mocked her nonchalance. “Did you ever get your TV mounted on the wall?”

  “No, could you do it for me? I got twenty dollars.”

  “For you I would do it for free but I have to have your mother’s permission.” I was sure I would never get the thumbs up to step back into Miss Nevels the devil’s opulent house.

  “How about my grandmother’s permission?” She bargained. This kid was a riot.

  “I don’t know maybe.”

  “My mom is going out of the country this weekend. My grandmother’s coming over on Friday to stay with me. Can you do it on Friday? I can have my grandmother call you. She’s going to pick me up from my new school and she’ll be here with me on Friday.”

  “If it’s okay with a grown-up then I can do it. If she calls me and says it’s okay then I can do it.”

  “Great, I’ll hook it up. I mean make an appointment. Mr. Lukas she’s going to call you. Don’t worry, my grandmother’s really nice. She’s not going to yell at you. She goes to church.”

  “Okay.” I chuckled.

  “I can pay you.”

  “You don’t have to. I will do it for free.”

  “Mr. Lukas, I know that things cost money.”

  “Yeah they do but I still can do it for free. I can use your old wall mount. It’s not a problem.”

  “Okay. I’m going to find something to eat. I will have my grandmother call you on Thursday and then I will see you on Friday. Do we have a deal?”

  “Okay it’s a deal.”

  “Bye Mr. Lukas.”

  “Bye Kelly.”

  She hung up and I sat there wondering if this was really going to happen. Why was I taking odd jobs? Why was I taking an odd job from a little girl? I knew why? I didn’t have anything else to do. Kelly reminded me of my precious daughter and I wasn’t ready to forget my Hailey just yet. I didn’t have anyone to grieve with me. I didn’t have anyone to blame. Well I actually did have someone to blame but what good would that do? It wouldn’t bring my Hailey back to me.

  I felt like I was sleepwalking in a nightmare and one day I would wake up. One day I would have my daughter back and we would go to the zoo or the park. We would go out to get her favorite strawberry ice-cream and then to Dunkin Donuts.