The oddest thing about life was how something could show up out of nowhere and change everything in a split second of time.
11
EMERY
“You can do this, Em. You are a fantastic cook. Sure, you have no personal-chef experience whatsoever, and sure, working for one of the biggest musicians of our time can seem overwhelming, but you raised a kid on your own. You’ve kept her fed. You’re pretty fast on obtaining new techniques. You can do this; you got this,” I muttered to myself over and over again as I drove to Oliver’s for my first day.
I was put into contact with Kelly, who informed me that I should go grocery shopping for the week, and I’d be reimbursed for the charges, so the back of my car was filled with groceries for Oliver. I’d overthought the weekly menu a million times. Heck, I’d written out over ten different menus, with ten different styles of cuisine. It wasn’t every day you prepared meals for a celebrity.
Also in the back seat of the car was my knife roll I still had from culinary school. Why? I had no clue. It just felt weird to show up to the job empty handed, even though I was sure he had top-of-the-line knives already. I had to admit, it felt nice carrying my knives again. I’d missed using them as much as I had when I was in school.
Needless to say, I had a big job to take on, but the outcome of it would be worth it. Not only was I being given the opportunity to work for a celebrity, but I was also being given the chance to give Reese a better life—a life that she deserved.
We’d have enough money to move to a different state—a cheaper state—with more opportunities. Maybe I’d even go back to school and finish my degree and start my own restaurant someday. Maybe I’d be able to enroll Reese into a private school. Or put her in gymnastics, or theater arts. The possibilities were endless.
As I pulled up to the gated community, I gave my name to Steven at the gate. He opened the gates for me, and I drove straight to Oliver’s home. It was even more beautiful than I remembered. That morning, a team of people was doing yard work to keep the property in top-notch shape. They were trimming the bushes that, to me, already looked perfect and watering the fully blossomed flowers that were vibrant shades of yellows and reds.
I wondered how many people it took to keep a house that size up to par. I could hardly keep my small apartment clean for a day. I wouldn’t even know what to do with a property the size of Oliver’s home.
I approached the front door and took a moment to catch my breath before I wiped my sweaty palms against my smoothed-back hair. After I rang the doorbell and waited a few moments, the front door swung open, and a beautiful woman stood tall in her heels. “Hi! You must be Emery. I’m Kelly. We talked on the phone. Come on in,” she said, opening the door wider.
Taking the first step into his mansion felt surreal. My whole apartment was the size of Oliver’s living room, if not smaller. A huge crystal chandelier sparkled in the foyer, creating specks of light that danced across the room from the beams of sunlight coming into the space. The house was well lit with natural light due to all the floor-to-ceiling windows. To the right of me was a spiral staircase made of wooden beams, and my mind couldn’t stop imagining where that staircase led to. The floors were made of a natural wood, too, and seemed polished to a T.
I was glad I didn’t tell Oliver I was a housekeeper, because keeping a home that size would’ve been the death of me.
“It’s a beautiful home,” I said, glancing around in awe. It looked as if I’d stepped straight into a home-decor magazine. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Everything was perfectly in place. A clear sign that Oliver didn’t have children.
“Isn’t it? Wait until you see all of it.” She smiled. There was something so kind about Kelly’s spirit. She seemed extremely welcoming, which made my nerves somewhat falter. She led me to the living room—the living room with white furniture. I couldn’t ever imagine such a thing. Reese would have Cheeto dust and Play-Doh all over it in a heartbeat.
“So, it’s my job to get you all squared away with your tasks and paperwork that needs to be filled out. I’ll show you around the property, too, one of our last stops being the kitchen, which will be your playground.”
Kelly was more than willing to take her time with explaining all the ins and outs of being a personal chef for Oliver. She went over how he’d need three meals a day, but dinner could be early so I could pick up Reese from camp. She told me that my spending for groceries was unlimited, and I’d be reimbursed for whatever I spent. Lastly, she informed me that if Reese ever needed to tag along for the day, that was fine, by all means.
“Oliver wanted me to make that very clear to you. He said you’re a single mom, and he never wants you to feel as if you have to leave your daughter somewhere else during the day. He even offered getting a nanny for her while you’re both here too. So that’s an option.”
He wanted to get help for the help?
Kelly smiled at my somewhat stunned expression. “He wants you to be as comfortable as possible. Which brings me to my next point.” She pulled out a check and handed it over to me. “Your first paycheck.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I haven’t done anything yet,” I said, stunned by the amount written on that piece of paper.
“It’s a hiring bonus. To help get things going before you’re paid in two weeks.”
Five thousand dollars.
Simply because.
I didn’t want to look like an emotional wreck, but man, did I want to burst into tears and cry. “I can’t take that.”
“Oh, you can, and you must. Otherwise I won’t hear the end of it about how I didn’t do my job. So, help a girl out,” she jested.
“Thank you. This is just . . . thank you.”
Kelly smiled. “I’m glad I could pass on the news, but trust me, it’s all Oliver.”
When we finished a lot of the main tasks that needed to be covered, plus NDAs and contracts, Kelly sat down with me on the sofa and gave me a halfway grin. “I’m going to say this now, just so you go into this situation with an open mind and heart. Oliver’s a bit different than he used to be. He’s always been a bit of an introvert, but now, after . . .” She took a breath and blinked away the emotions sitting at the back of her eyes. “Some days he walks around as if he’s so far away from reality. If he has his headphones on, he’s probably working through some of his emotions. If he walks into a room and ignores you, or if he comes off as cold or rude, don’t take it personally. He’s just trying his best, day in and day out, to be okay.”
“I understand.”
“Also, Cam might be lingering around in the mornings before she takes off for her day.”
“Cam? As in Cam Jones?” I breathed out, stars in my eyes. “Really?”
Kelly didn’t seem as impressed. “Yes. Really.”
“Oh my gosh. I’m such a fan!”
Cam always seemed like the sweetest person whenever she did an interview. She was the only reason I’d even listened to country music. I couldn’t wait to meet her in person.
“I can’t wait to meet her!” I exclaimed.
Kelly cocked an eyebrow and parted her lips as if she had her own thoughts on the subject, but she shook her head and pushed out a smile. “Yeah. Totally. Also,” she said, shifting the topic, “don’t mind the covered mirrors throughout the house. Oliver’s working through some things. If you have to use a mirror, say in the bathroom or something, just make sure to re-cover it before you leave, please.”