Sneak Peak Husbands
"Selena!" a voice called down the hall.  "Are you ready yet?"  The owner of the voice leaned inside the frame of the hall entrance.  Long blonde hair fell upon slender shoulders covered by a maroon jacket.  The matching dress suit seemed perfectly cut for her thin frame.  Her high-heel covered foot tapped impatiently.
"Almost!" Selena called back, her voice blatantly betraying her Latin American origins.
"Well, will you hurry up!  I really do not want to be late again," the young woman said.
"Alissa, if you are in such a hurry, then why don't you go warm up the car?"
"I already finished starting the car.  Five minutes ago!" Alissa said.
"Well then let's go already.  Sheesh, you always make me so late," Selena said, coming out of the room.  She was a inch or so taller than Alissa, but she wasn't quite as neatly dressed.  Her hair was pulled up into an orderly mess that was highlighted by glitter she had sprayed on.  Her dress was red and light so that her skirt danced around her knees as she walked.  Tall red sandals lengthened her already long legs.  She grinned at her friend and swung past her into the living room.  Alissa rolled her eyes and followed.
"See you later Laura!" Selena called back to the other tenant of the house.
"Bye!  Have fun at work you two!  Don't kiss too many boys!"
"Don't worry!  We will!"
Alissa hastened to her shiny black Audi and climbed into the front seat as Selena slid into the passenger seat and immediately turned on the radio.
"Alissa, you really need to relax.  You stress way too much," she said, dancing along with the beat.  Alissa frowned and shook her head.
"I don't think I stress too much.  I think you don't take things seriously enough.  We were almost late."
"Almost, but we aren't, are we?  In fact you're going to be early.  Again," Selena said, smiling.
"True; however..."
"But!  Use the word but for once in your life.  You don't always have to be so formal!  It's not like anyone cares if you say gonna or ain't or whatever!"
"I do not agree.  Why should we not speak properly?"
"You're hopeless," Selena sighed, propping her arm against the door and looking out the window.  The music filled the silence as they drove.  Eventually, Alissa pulled up in front of a large dance studio with a pair of salsa dancers on the sign.  Selena climbed out.
"Thanks again for the ride.  Just try to have a little fun today okay?" she said, as she shut the door.  Alissa smiled and nodded, giving a small wave goodbye.  As soon as Selena was out of sight, Alissa shook her head.
"I just cannot figure out that girl," she said, talking to no one in particular.  "Oh well, what do I have to do today?  8:00 am, check my messages.  FInish by 8:27 in order to..."  As Alissa drove, she carefully listed out her schedule for the day, minute by minute.  She turned her car into the parking lot of a real estate broker.  She barely noticed the old, pale man watching her from behind his cardboard sign.  Just before she went in, she purposefully left a twenty in his grimy hand.  He smiled gently at her retreating figure.  She should have read his sign...

"Alissa!  Glad you're here!  The Johnson's are ready to close the deal!  Call them immediately.  Oh and we got you a new intern.  He's in your office.  Try to keep this one for longer than a week okay?"   Alissa nodded at her boss, noticing that he had ditched the combover for a more professional look.  She had always felt baldness in men was more a reason for respect than for shame.  She grabbed her messages from the secretary as she walked into her office.  A young man stood and held out his hand to her.  Alissa ignored it and sat down.  The young man looked about her age, but she didn't seem to notice.
"Your office is next door.  My extention is 2378, and I expect you in my office every morning at 8:30 for a briefing of the day's schedule.  That will give you thirty two minutes to settle in.  You have been trained already, I am assuming."
"Yes, I have.  I already moved my stuff in last night.  Do you mind if I go get a doughnut since I'm free right now?"
"Yes.  If you were trained, then you should know that you never have spare time.  You should go punch in the latest data or make some copies.  Please find something useful to do,"  Alissa said, still not looking up at him.  He frowned and headed off to his office, brushing past a pale, older gentleman in a suit.  The man sat down in front of Alissa and grinned.  She stopped and looked up.
"Can...can I help you?' she asked, making a mental note to talk to her secretary about letting people into her office without notifying her first.
"She doesn't know I'm in here," the man said.
"Pardon?"
"Your secretary.  She doesn't know I'm in here."
"Oh, well then, umm, how can I help you?"
"No, no, the question is how can I help you," the man said, pulling out a notebook from under his chair.  Alissa could have sworn it wasn't there before, but she must have just not noticed it until now.
"Excuse me, I..."
"No need to excuse yourself sweetheart.  I know all about you.  You are always willing to serve, but rarely take time for yourself.  Keep busy with work even when you aren't at work, and your friends are worried sick about you.  They know you aren't really happy, and I know how to help you," the man said.  Alissa was too stunned to speak.  How dare he...how did he...it was all so..strange.
"I dare because I am your guardian.  I know because I watch you, and yes this is strange."  He grinned as Alissa fell to the floor.