Hot Coffee (The Hollens)

Chapter 12 ( Watch This)

Emma's POV

When I saw him in the kitchen preparing breakfast I wanted to tell him. I had to tell him what I heard

last night, but when he told me about the paycheck, my mind state changed. I was so looking forward

to buying some new stuff, from underwear to clothes to getting a new hair-do; so I let it be.

And Sharon was sort of scary with her judging eyes, sharp mouth and long nails. She would slap me

back to Africa if I had told him about her conversation. Besides, it wasn't my business. Mr. Hollen was

capable of taking care of himself and his relationship was above my pay grade.

The next day I looked at my paycheck. I wanted to cash it out so badly. One thousand dollars in just

one week was indeed generous. I didn't make that at Carl's Cafe in a month.

I found Halley in the backyard watering the plants.

"Um, Halley," I began. I was still mindful of how I approached her. "I really want go to the bank and

cash this so I'm taking my half day today."

"I think I'll come too."

"Okay, but... Uh."

"Relax, Emma. Mr. Hollen isn't here and there isn't much to do. We can take a half day together. I'll get

my bag." She moved towards the chambers.

Did she seriously want to go out with me? Halley? That was very unexpected.

Luis took us to a near-by bank. I loved how the mansion was situated between nearly everything we

could need: supermarkets, clothing boutiques-- affordable and not-so-affordable, hair salons, movie

theatres, stores, parks, clinics and health centres, libraries, a museum, malls and churches.

"After this we'll go shopping," Halley said softly as we cashed in.

The car was parked on the street and Luis followed at a close but respectable enough distance behind

us as our personal bodyguard.

"Is he obligated to do this?" I asked.

"Yes. Whenever we leave the mansion. It's just for protection."

"Oh, okay then."

Halley led us to Sisters, a fashion boutique with a wide range of accessories and different styles in

clothing.

"Try this on, Emma." She handed me an off the shoulder black dress and ushered me into a changing

room.

I took off my over-sized dress and tried on the new one. Halley's mouth dropped open when she saw

me in it. "Emma, you're beautiful. Why do you cover up yourself like a saint?"

The dress did fit me beautifully so I took it to the cashier.

"Lets go to the hair salon now. We have to do something about that abomination on your head."

"Are we going into transformation mood today?" I asked as I tried to match her pace out the boutique.

"Nope, just you," she answered without looking back at me.

"What would you like to do to your hair today?" the hairstylist asked.

I looked at Halley and she smiled back. "A relaxer," she answered for me.

"Okay. Lets get started."

Halley ushered me into a chair and the stylist started on my hair.

My hair went from neck length to mid-back in a matter of minutes. She gave me tips on how to care for

my now relaxed hair, and what she explained made me regret having a relaxer, but my hair was more

manageable and looked beautiful.

After my hair was finished and the hair maintenance lessons were over, I got a free makeup application

on my face.

"Emma, remove your glasses and change into the dress now because we're going to the mall next."

I changed in one of the rooms in the hair salon and it felt magical, like when Cinderella's fairy

godmother changed her rags into the beautiful ball gown. Halley's eyes popped again. She paid for the

service, took my hand and we walked towards the car, laughing as if we had been best of friends since

forever.

"I need you to do one more thing Emma."

"What's that Halley?"

She snatched my glasses and threw them out of the car's window as the it pulled off the curb.

"Halley, what the hell!"

"Would you relax. We're going to the mall. I've got a friend there. She's an eye specialist. We'll get you

some contact lenses instead of that ugly pair of magnifying glass you wore on your face."

"Why are you being so nice to me now, is there a catch to this?" I had always been curious about her

'niceness'.

"No catch. I know I was a bitch before, but we're a team now. Agnes had a good talking to me before

she retired."

"Retired? Mr. Hollen fired her!"

Halley laughed. "No, he didn't."

She explained what Agnes had told her three months prior about early retirement so she could spend

more time with her grandchildren and have her own life. I'd cursed Mr. Hollen in my mind for nothing

and I, now, regretted it.

"We're here," Halley opened the door and ushered me out, once again, and we stood in front of a huge

mall.

"These are the best kinds, they'll work like magic once they're in your eyes," the eye specialist said as

she showed me how to insert the contact lenses.

The contacts felt strange on my eyes but my vision was much clearer than it had been with the glasses.

"What if I forget the take them out and I fall asleep?" I asked with concern.

"That's okay, Emma. You could sleep with those on. You just may not want to make a religious habit of

it, but a few times won't hurt."

"Really?"

"Affirmative. I don't kid."

"Thank you so much." I paid for it and she gave me a free pair courtesy ofMr. Hollen.

"I need to get myself a dress now, Emma," Halley said as we rode up an escalator. We entered a

clothing store and Halley took a dress off a rack and went into a changing room.

"What do you think?"

"You look amazing, what's the occasion?"

"We're going to a party."

"A what?"

I'd never been to a party, well except for the one Carl threw at the cafe to celebrate his last birthday,

and I was on duty in my working clothes. I'd never actually dressed up and attended a party.

"Lou, can you make one more stop?"

"That's my job," he answered in a stunned voice.

He was a built guy with a bald head, always dressed in a full suit and tie but he never wore a smile,

well I'd never seen it-- the average solider. I was certain he was armed and trained to defend himself

and those he had to protect.

"Drop us off at Saint Street, then you can head back to the mansion."

"I can't comply with that Miss. Halley."

"You could make an exception. We'll be gone for a while. We're attending a friend's birthday party."

"Then I'll wait until it ends. I can keep to the car but I can't leave without the both of you."

"Fair enough, Lou. Thanks."

"You're welcome."

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We arrived at an average-sized house. The backyard was decorated with lights and music systems.

There were tables covered with drinks and snacks. Young adults were dancing and grooving with each

other to the music. Halley's eyes scanned the crowd.

A guy walked over to our direction. "Hey, I thought you wouldn't make it. Who's this?" His eyes were on

me.

"This is my friend, Emma. Emma, this is my boyfriend, Matt." She pulled him in for a hug.

"Happy Birthday, baby," she squealed and handed him a small box.

He opened it in front of us and revealed a Rolex with diamonds around its face. Our pay was generous

but it seemed like Halley had a spending habit. How could she afford a Rolex with diamonds?

Oh man...

A bitter feeling came over me. Could it be one of Mr. Hollen's?