Hot Coffee (The Hollens) novel Chapter 19

Emma's POV

Sharon came and turned the entire house upside down within one week.

It was Wednesday afternoon, the last Wednesday in June. I had just finished wiping the tables in the living room and mopping the floors. Today was scheduled to be my half day. I wanted to visit the library and get some new books. I had already taken my bath and was on my way out. When I got to the living room area I almost had a heart attack. Sharon had her two  four year-old twin nieces over and they were making a huge mess on the floor I had just cleaned. Snacks, juices, chocolates and sodas were everywhere.

"Aren't you going to clean that up?" she asked with a smirk on her face, peering down from the banister.

I wanted to say no but I knew Mr. Hollen wouldn't be too pleased about my attitude if I did. So I went back to my room, frustrated, changed into a rag and cleaned up the mess as she took the children outside by the pool.

"You two did such a good job, we should do this everyday," I heard her said in a baby voice as she walked away.

"That snake," I grumbled to myself.

It took me an hour and a half to completely get rid of the stickiness from the mess they made.

I skipped the library, I just wasn't in the mood anymore. I prepared something to eat and went back to my room and locked the door. It was still my half day and I needed some rest.

On Thursday I varnished the tables in the living room as Mr. Hollen instructed. I was just about done when Sharon came with a bundle of makeup supplies and began to do her makeup. Powder flew everywhere. She was deliberately throwing powder onto the clean floor and the table I had just varnished. After her mischievous little act she left, and I cleaned the tables and the floor all over again.

On Friday I was in the laundry room. I was folding the clothes from the dryer when Sharon appeared behind me.

"Here, these aren't clean," she said as she handed me a basket filled with clothes Halley had already done yesterday.

"Halley did those already," I informed, thinking she was confused.

"I don't care what she did. I'm telling you to do it over and you better get to it right now!" she commanded then left.

What was her problem? I couldn't catch a break. She always popped up when I least expected it, even in my dreams-- I'd had a nightmare she shot me in my back. I feared her, no doubt about it. She seemed like the kind of woman who was capable of doing anything. The kind of woman who could get away with murder.

I redid the laundry, as she requested, folded it and brought it up upstairs to the master bedroom. I was about to enter, since the door was already unlocked, when I heard her on the phone again.

"It's taking longer than I expected. He wants a big wedding with all his useless family and irrelevant friends... Don't worry about it. We'll soon accomplish what we have in store."

Who was she talking to and what were they up to? This was the second time I'd overheard her on the phone, plotting something with the person on the other end and Mr. Hollen seemed to be stuck in the middle of it.

I knocked as she ended the call. She rushed over to me, grabbed the basket and shut the door in my face. I went back downstairs and found Halley in the kitchen making peanut butter sandwiches.

"Hey, girl," she greeted with a smile as I sat my exhausted body down on a chair. "You don't look too good."

"That woman is going to drive me insane," I groaned and rested my head on the counter.

Halley passed me some sandwiches and a glass of chocolate milk. "Eat up."

I ate like a raging pig. I wished the sandwiches could have just taken the pain and worry away.

The kitchen door pushed in and Sharon walked in. "Hello, my maids," she smirked and sat down next to me, bouncing her nails off the counter top, making an irritating noise.

I remained silent.

"What is it Sharon?" Halley asked.

I panicked. Sharon liked to be called Mrs. Hollen.

"That's Mrs. Hollen to you!" she snapped, slamming her hands on the table.

"He hasn't married you as of yet, and there's no guarantee that he's going to marry you."

"Look here you little..." Sharon got up and walked over to her.

Halley stood her ground.

I was alert, ready to part them if a fight was to be broken out.

"Careful where you're stepping, Halley," Sharon warned.

"Why don't you take that warning or threat and shove it. Your power here is limited because, at the end of the day, Mr. Hollen is still the one with the final say, not you."

I was surprised at Halley, she was braver than I thought.

Sharon made one more glance at me and left the kitchen. 

Halley and I giggled afterwards.

"She's so full of it."

"I don't know how you manage to say that to her, Halley."

"Emma, that's why she's picking on you, because you're bowing down to her. You have to stand up for yourself and put her in her place. It doesn't matter if we're 'just the maids'. She's taking advantage of us."

"Shouldn't we tell Mr. Hollen?"

"No. I have a plan. Two can play this game." A sly smile crept upon her face.

"Halley, what are you up to?"

"Just watch and learn from the master," she giggled like a child.

Halley washed her face over the sink and headed upstairs and knocked on Mr. Hollen's master bedroom door. Sharon opened it.

"I'm so sorry for what I said in the kitchen. I was out of line. Can we put this behind us?" Halley asked.

What the hell? What was she doing?

"You're forgiven Halley," Sharon smiled in satisfaction. 

Halley smiled back and descended the stairs and I pulled her into a living room. "Halley. What was--?"

"Shh. Lesson number one, keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

__________

The next morning , Sharon was making coffee for Mr. Hollen. She had taken over that duty from me. Halley and I walked in the kitchen and saw her with two cups of coffee in her hands. 

Halley purposely pushed past her a bit too hard, knocking over one of the cups. "Oh my goodness, Mrs. Hollen, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to."

"Halley, you just knocked over Ethan's coffee. I can't remake this."

"Well Emma can do it while I clean this up."

"Okay, whatever," she said without thinking twice then left.

"Now you can make him a cup of coffee," she said as she grabbed a broom to clean up the spill and broken tea cup.

I smiled as I went over to the coffee machine. I missed making coffee for him so much.

"Thanks Halley," I mouthed as I informed him that his coffee was ready.

He told me he'd be down for it shortly. I got so jolly on the inside; I hadn't seen him in a while. He had been working late hours at the office and when he got home I was usually asleep. He came in with a vest and a baggy shorts. He looked so sexy in the morning. Halley left just as he came in.

"Good morning, Emma."

"Good morning, Mr. Hollen. Here's your coffee."

He sipped it immediately. "I miss your coffee so much."

I blushed. 

"There's something I need to tell you," he said and my heart skipped a beat. "I'm glad I hired you."

"I'm glad too."

"Also, my company is hosting a summer auction in Miami next weekend."

"That's great. We'll be safe this time around, Mr. Hollen. You won't have to worry."

"I know I won't have to worry because the two of you are coming along with me."

"Sir, but Sharon... She wouldn't be--"

He didn't let me finish. "Sharon won't be attending. She will be out of the country to attend a fashion show."

I was relieved. Oh my gosh. Me, Halley and Mr. Hollen in Miami! What is in store for me?