Haden pulled his car into the stall his father pointed out to him and shut the engine off on the small blue box. He reached behind him and grabbed his bag, then climbed out and shut the door. He didn’t bother to lock the doors at first, praying someone would steal the blasted thing before he had to drive it again.

“I won’t get you another one if you lose this one,” Ronald assured him, certain he knew what his son was thinking.

With a grunt of disgust, Haden pressed the button and closed his eyes, grimacing when the soft beeping echoed through the morning stillness. He looked around at the nearly deserted area, thankful that it was Monday morning, and most people were either at work or sleeping off the remnants of the fourth of July.

“Your apartment is on the top floor, but you won’t have to walk up seven flights of stairs,” Ronald told him as he walked beside him, leading him to a glass security door. “There are elevators on every floor and each apartment has two balconies.”

“One for sitting and the other for throwing myself off of?” Haden asked, still sulking from his recent events.

“The apartment has everything you would ever need,” Ronald said, ignoring his son’s tantrums. “There’s a microwave, fridge with an icemaker, even a washer, and dryer. It’s just one bedroom and one bath, with a walk-in closet. There are central air and a fireplace in the living room. It’s really a very nice place, and perfect for a bachelor.”

Haden took the card his father removed from his wallet and stared at it blankly.

“It’s a security key,” Ronald told him. “You have to scan it to get into the building, and when you have guests, you have to ring them in. The entire complex is locked down to prevent unwanted visitors, or neighbors from taking advantage of the amenities.”

Haden waved the card in front of a keypad and listened to the door click, then pulled it open. He held it for his father to step through, tempted to shut him inside, and run for his life but knew there was no escape for him. He followed his father down the wide-open hallway, secretly admiring the elegant décor of the plush appearing corridor.

They paused in front of a silver elevator and was about to press the button when the doors slid open. Haden smiled at the attractive young blonde who stepped out, then followed his father inside, still staring at the woman who blushed and smiled back.

“As I said, there are a lot of single women in the place,” Ronald told him. “But remember, you are only allowed 1 date per pay period.”

“It just means I’ll have two weeks to scope out the scenery,” Haden chuckled, feeling himself relax with the ordeal put before him.

“I thought you might enjoy that part of the conveniences,” Ronald smiled.

They pressed the button to the seventh floor and listened to the soft pop songs echoing over the speakers. It was much better than Haden had originally thought the place would be, but he hadn’t seen his apartment yet. For all he knew, his father bought the furniture from the Salvation Army.

The doors slid open again and Ronald stepped out, leading the way down the corridor to the end apartment. He paused beside it and waited while Haden removed the keys and unlocked the deadbolt. He pushed the door open and stepped aside, allowing his son to enter ahead of him.

Haden paused in the living room, looking around with surprise. Instead of used, torn furniture, there was a six-foot black leather sofa and matching loveseat, a recliner, two end tables of black with glass lamps, and a matching coffee table. Above the brick fireplace was a flat-screen television, and in the corner, on top of a three-shelf bookcase, was a stereo system.

“The place comes with satellite and internet as part of the rent,” Ronald told him, watching his son walk into the small attached dining room.

Haden didn’t comment as he glanced around to the wooden desk beneath a row of three windows, and the round four-person table and leather chairs. The kitchen appliances were stainless steel, and the counters were black and grey granite.

“The laundry room is perfect for a single person,” Ronald continued, closing the front door and walking to two doors beside the fridge.

Haden opened the cupboards, amazed at the amount of food that was there. One cupboard was stocked full of three kinds of top roman, making Haden nearly groan. It had been a joke between his father and himself when he was in college. Ronald made certain he had the money for food, so he wouldn’t have to live off instant noodles, and now he was forced to literally eat his own words.

“There’s a pantry here, and the laundry room,” Ronald said, opening each door in turn.

Haden looked at the small stackable washer and dryer before frowning. He had no clue how to wash clothes, much less how to use a washer, but with so many women around him, he was sure to find one willing to help him learn.

“The bedroom is over here,” Ronald said, walking to a set of double doors across from the living room.

He opened the doors and waited for Haden to walk through. He watched as his son roamed around the elaborate room with its new king-sized black sleigh bed, matching bedside tables, and lamps that resembled the ones in the living room.

There was a black six drawer dresser and mirror that matched the design of the bed, along with two small leather chairs and an end table next to the set of doors, that opened up to the patio. The closet was large, but sizably small compared to his closet at the mansion. His clothes had been hung up, or put away in the drawers, and his many shoes were sorted into pairs on the shelves beneath his jeans.

“Your bathroom is over here,” his father told him, opening another door.

Haden tossed his bag on the bed then walked into the master bathroom. It was nice, though nothing extravagant. There was a small shower, separate from the garden-style tub, and a granite counter with two small sinks. The mirror behind the counter went from one end to the other and reached nearly all the way to the ceiling, with four round lightbulbs on a bar above. The floors were basic white tiles, and the walls were painted a soft beige, just like the rest of the place.

The bedroom, closet, dining room, and living room were carpeted in a short pile, soft grey, with fairly decent padding beneath, just enough to offer comfort to tired feet and legs. The floors of the kitchen and laundry room were the same tile as the bathroom, and the patios were simple concrete.

Haden walked back into the living room and opened the patio door. He was impressed that all the apartments looked out onto the large pool and hot tub, which gave him a full view of the feminine attributes the complex offered.

“The exercise room is in that glass-enclosed space down there,” Ronald told him, pointing to a large glass wall on the first level that looked out onto the pool. “There’s an entertainment area off the main lobby that is available for parties, and the complex holds monthly get-togethers where they have pot lucks, show movies, play games, that sort of thing.”

“I have to admit, Dad, it’s much better than I expected,” Haden said going back into the apartment.

“I would never make you suffer too badly. I wanted you to have a place that would offer you companionship, as well as a sense of luxury and comfort.”

“I still don’t like any of this. I just wish you’d let me live my life my own way.”

“Whoring and boozing are not how I expected you to grow up, and I will not allow you to waste your life. You’re better than that, Haden, and one way or the other, I’m determined to make you understand that.”

“I have a feeling I’m beating my head against a brick wall,” Haden grumbled.

“That’s how I’ve felt for years.”

Haden stepped out of the blue Honda and locked the door, clenching his teeth at the sound of the beep. He adjusted his dark grey dress pants across his flat stomach, and snugged his cream-colored pullover back inside his waistband, then walked casually into the front double sliding doors. He paused for a moment and looked around, then spotted the customer service booth to the left.

“I’m here to see the manager,” he said as he stepped up to the counter, smiling at the cute brunette behind the Formica top.

“Do you have an appointment?” she asked, a deep blush tinting her pale cheeks.

“Yes, I do. The name is Haden Val…Dalton.”

The brunette picked up the phone and pressed a button, then lowered her eyes to Haden’s intent stare.

“Haden Val Dalton is here to see you,” she said into the receiver.

She paused for a moment before saying, no problem, then hung up the phone and looked back up into the handsome man’s expression.

“The manager will be with you in a minute. You can have a seat over there,” she said, pointing to a metal bench off to the side.

“Thank you, Miss…?”

“I’m Latasha Hadley, but everyone just calls me Tasha.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tasha. I hope we’ll be working together.”

“We probably will. I usually work every day after school, and during the summers.”

“What school do you go to?” Haden asked, ignoring the disapproving glances he was getting from the young man near the fax machine behind Tasha.

“Encino High. I’m a senior next year.”

“No kidding? I’d have taken you for a college student.”

“I get that a lot. I just look older than I really am.”

“Well, I’m still happy to have met you,” Haden said, turning and walking to the bench.

He glanced back at the girl and noticed the blush she gave the young man when he stepped up behind her. He looked angry and she seemed embarrassed and even a bit shier than she had a few moments ago, and he couldn’t help wondering if they were involved, or siblings.

“Mr. Val Dalton?” a young woman asked, stepping up to him.

“It’s just Dalton,” he told her. “Val is…my middle name.”

“Very well. I’m Kathleen Gage, the store manager. Thank you for being so prompt.”

“You’re the manager?” Haden asked, ignoring her compliment about his habit of being punctual – when he wasn’t drunk or recovering a hangover.

“Is there a problem with that?” she asked with a frown.

“No, of course not, it’s just that I was expecting a man. What I mean to say is…you’re awfully young to be managing a place this big.”

“I’ve been here since I was sixteen, and I’ve worked my way up the ranks. Now, if you’ve finished chastising me about my age and gender, perhaps you’d like to have that interview you arranged?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel insulted.”

“Please come with me,” she said, leading the way down a narrow passageway.

They passed by two offices before reaching a set of metal stairs. He followed her up then, fighting to keep his eyes off her tight backside. She was a very attractive woman with long blonde hair and blue eyes. She was tall, about five feet eight inches, and very slender with firm round breasts that left his neglected libido straining against his slacks.

“Right in here, please,” she told him, then followed him into an office at the top of the stairs. “Have a seat while I get your application. Would you care for some water or a soda?”

“No, thank you. I’m fine,” he lied, wanting very much to find something cold to hold across his lap. “So, do people call you Ms. Gage or Kathleen?”

“Most everyone knows me as Kat.”

She ignored his handsome smile as she sat down behind the desk and removed the papers she had tucked in the top drawer.

“Well, Mr. Dalton…” she began.

“Haden, please. I’ve never gotten used to being called Mr. Dalton.”

“I see by your application that you graduated from L.A. Preparatory Academy with honors, then spent the last few years traveling Europe. With the Prep’s grades and reputation to back you up, I’m surprised you didn’t go to college.”

“It wasn’t my scene,” he answered, wondering exactly how many half-truths his father had written down.

“You don’t have any experience working in a shopping center, or much of any place. You held down one job during your senior year, and that was at VSP. Why didn’t you stay on there after graduation?”

“As I said, it wasn’t my scene. My father got me the job, and I didn’t care much for it. He was hoping I’d take over his position when he retires, but I didn’t like the job.”

“Without a job to back you, how is it you spent eight years traveling Europe?”

“I have rich relatives,” he smiled, glancing at the black and white security cameras behind her.

“The position I have available is for a day stocker, with weekends off. The job is full-time, forty hours a week, and it starts at seven in the morning. You’ll get a fifteen-minute break at ten thirty, a half-hour lunch at twelve-thirty, and a fifteen-minute break at two-thirty.

Your shift ends at four o’clock unless there’s overtime available. You’ll be given a list of orders to put away every day, and you’ll have to get that list done before you leave, or it will be passed on to the night shift. I can promise you, the night crew won’t appreciate having to finish your job and do their own as well, so I’d suggest you work at completing your list as quickly as possible.”

“What if I can’t finish it? Can I stay over and complete it?”

“That’s not a reason for overtime, Mr. Dalton. If it becomes a habit for you to leave your job half-finished, I’ll have no choice but to let you go. You’ll be put on a three-month probation to prove yourself to me and to the company. If you make it that far, there will be a twenty-five cent an hour increase, and another raise six months after that, based on your work ethics. Promotion is very common and easy in this company. We always promote from within, and we recognize those who work hard. We have inventory every six months, and the job provides you with a smock and discounted lunches. If you are asked to do a job for another department, you will receive a free meal token. If you don’t use them, then you can cash them in once you’ve received twelve, for four hours of PTO.”

“Sounds impressive,” Haden said, admiring the way the job sounded so far.

“It is impressive, and every employee who is recognized for their hard work, receives eight hours PTO, along with a certificate and a cash bonus of fifty dollars. That is why we have very few employees who leave our organization for another position. Uptown Centers were sold about ten years ago. Before that, promotions were difficult, and the employees were treated as drones. The new owner appreciates hard work and diligence and recognizes it in every one of our team members.”

“Who is the new owner?” he asked, suspicion echoing in his tone as he thought of his father being just the type of man to make these impressive incentives.

“It’s a local company called CD Enterprises.”

“Never heard of them,” Haden said, relieved that his father wasn’t the owner.

“I know they own several other businesses, but they are all local. They don’t have a desire to move outside of California, so they can concentrate heavily on the companies they have and offer higher bonuses.”

“So, what do I have to do to get hired on here?”

“You’re already hired. Your application came from the main office. I asked to meet with you, so I could get a feel of what kind of worker you were.”

“And how do I feel?” he asked with a wicked grin.

Kat was quiet for a long moment as she just stared at him. Haden was good-looking, and the way he had acted with Tasha, he knew it. She had watched his interactions with the girl over the security camera before going to meet him herself, and so far, she was not impressed, despite the jumping of her pulse.

“You can start first thing tomorrow,” she said, at last, ignoring his comment completely. “Roz Sanchez is over the stockers, and she’ll show you the ropes. I’ll warn you now, she’s not an easy person to get to know, and she’s far from having an open personality. She’s very good at her job, and she demands excellence from her crew. Keep your nose clean and do as she asks, and there won’t be a problem.”

Haden frowned when she stood up and walked to a set of lockers in the corner. She may have been the only woman who wasn’t affected by his boyish charms or handsome face, and he didn’t know if he liked it. He had never had a problem attracting a woman, but this one seemed to be cold-hearted and frigid. That was two personalities he’d never gotten along with. She may be beautiful, but she seemed more arrogant than he liked, despite how his libido was acting at the moment.

He watched her open the middle locker and pull out a stack of bright orange vests, then frowned. She looked at each one in turn before she found two she liked, then turned back to him.

“These should fit you,” she told him, handing him the articles. “Put your name on the inside and make certain you remove your personal belongings every night before you go home. You’ll be given a locker of your own and a new padlock, and the smocks stay here after your shift is through. You’ll put them in the hamper at the end of your week, and they will be on the shelves at the beginning of the next shift. Laundry is done three times a week, so make certain you have it in before you leave on Friday, or you won’t have it back until the following Wednesday, and you cannot work without a smock. Every department has its own colors. I’ll set you up for orientation tomorrow and you’ll be given a name badge and shown how to clock in and out. Do you have any questions?”

“How old are you?” he asked, surprising even himself as he asked the question that had been bouncing around the back of his mind since he first met her.

“If you’ll come with me, I’ll show you to the lockers, and get you a padlock,” she told him, ignoring his question again.

She walked back down the stairs and turned the corner into a large room that resembled a high school locker room. There were long wooden benches between two rows of metal lockers, with another set behind the first. She walked down the first row and paused at number 106, then opened the door.

“I suggest you don’t keep anything of value in your locker, or even bring anything to work with you,” Kat told him. “We have never had any problems with theft, but there’s always a first time. You can keep your key with your badge, so you don’t lose it, but remember not to lock it inside. There are only two keys to every padlock, and I have the second one. If you lose yours, you’ll have to pay to have a copy made. The lockers are used by both the men and women, but the employee bathrooms are segregated. Make certain you remain on your own side of the stalls, Mr. Dalton. The one thing we do not allow is fraternizing between employees while at work or in the store.”

“I’ll make sure not to forget that,” he said, smiling as a tall redhead walked into the room wearing a dark yellow smock.

“Come back up to my office and I’ll give you a new hire handbook,” Kat continued, heading to the entrance of the locker room. “The breakroom is next door. The company provides all the drinks you want for free, but you cannot have an open container on the floor. If you need to keep water with you, make certain it is in the bottle with the lid on.”

Haden looked behind him and smiled at the redhead who watched him walk away. With all the attractive women in this place, he may not resent his father’s insistence that he get a job as much as he thought he would.

Kat opened the door to her office again and walked to a set of filing cabinets. She opened the bottom drawer and removed a sealed package with a padlock, then opened the top drawer and removed a folder of papers, and turned around.

“The new hire paperwork will need to be filled out and returned tomorrow,” she told him, handing him the folder and sitting down in her seat. “You’ll be issued a boxcutter, but since it is considered to be a weapon, you will be responsible for keeping it on your person or secured in your locker.”

Haden watched as she removed a yellow handled knife from her desk and cut a slit in the package with the lock. She removed one key, then handed him the package.

“You’ll be issued a name badge tomorrow,” she told him. “Since you’re a new hire, the company offers you vouchers for a week of free lunches. If you don’t want to use them, you can hang on to them and use them any time you choose. The job can become intense at times, and the hours are long. I suggest you don’t skip meals and stay hydrated. The store gets pretty hot when you’re working, and we’ve had people pass out before. You look like you’re strong enough to handle the work but make certain you don’t overdo it. Take your breaks when you’re scheduled to, and don’t skimp on the free drinks. We don’t allow alcohol or drugs on the clock, and you’ll have three days to get a drug screening done. The new owner is very particular about having a safe work environment for all of his employees.”

“I don’t do drugs, and I promise not to drink on the clock.”

“Good. The package has a voucher for you to do the drug screening, so you may just want to stop by the place and get it over with today unless you have other plans. You’ll need to show your ID and sign a waiver, but the results only take a day to get back to us.”

“I…lost my ID on the plane back from Italy,” he lied.

“Then I suggest you get it replaced. The store hours are from six am to midnight.

Inventory is in August, and the week before is rather hectic, so it’s a good time to pick up some OT.”

“Sounds great,” Haden said, glancing quickly through the papers in his hands.

“Do you have any questions so far?” she asked, watching him flip through the pages.

“You’ve given me enough to think about for at least a month,” he chuckled, closing the folder and looking up into her blue eyes. “What time do you want me to start tomorrow?”

“Your normal shift starts at seven, but you have a lot of papers and some training films to go through before I introduce you to Roz. Let’s say…eight-thirty? That should give you a chance to sleep in before the chaos begins.”

“Is the store very busy during the days?”

“Yes, normally, but we have a case lot sale starting tomorrow, so it will be even busier. Roz is going to need you to keep up on the items that are on sale, so your normal worklist will be short. It’s actually a good time for you to start. You’ll be able to ease into the job.”

Haden smiled and watched her stand up, then stood from the chair. He had a distinct feeling this was her way of saying the interview was over.

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning, Mr. Dalton,” Kat said, reaching her hand out to shake his.

Haden shook her hand with a slight frown. He felt a strange tingle erupt inside him as their hands touched. It was an exciting sensation that sent a wave of warm chills running down his spine.

“I…look forward to…tomorrow,” he told her, removing his hand and gazing into her blue eyes.

“Yes. Tomorrow,” she said hesitantly.

Haden quickly pulled himself under control and smiled, then walked to the door and headed down the stairs. Kat sat back down in her chair with an unceremonious thump. She felt the tingle his touch caused and was suddenly aware of places on her body that she hadn’t noticed in years.

A warmth began to travel along her spine and down her torso, causing her to clench her thighs together tightly. That man was dangerous to her senses, and she would have to mentally remind herself to avoid him as much as possible, despite her pounding heart.

“Who was that gorgeous hunk?” the dark-skinned woman asked, coming into the office and closing the door. “Everyone has been talking about him since he walked into the store.”

“Tasha has a big mouth,” Kat said, taking the key to his locker and opening the top drawer to her desk.

Gina sat in the chair still warm from its recent occupant and watched her friend. The slight blush on her cheeks told her the woman wasn’t as immune to his good looks as she pretended.

She watched Kat remove a black plastic box with a Rolodex style card system. She pulled out a specially made card from the Ds and slipped the small key into a plastic envelope that had been glued to the card, then returned the box to her drawer.

“So, who is he?” Gina asked again.

“His name is Haden Dalton, and he’s starting tomorrow morning. He’ll be working with Roz during the week.”

“Lucky woman. Too bad she doesn’t like men, though I wonder if he could melt her heart of stone.”

“It will be interesting to see the two of them together, but I wouldn’t get too used to having him around. He gives me the impression he’s a playboy, and he’s not serious about working. He’s spent the past eight years traveling through Europe with the money of rich relatives.”

“Playboy? That sounds like fun. I wonder what kind of habits he’s picked up along the way.”

“Habits I doubt either of us would be interested in discovering,” Kat snapped.

“Okay, I know that tone. I’m going back to work. But don’t knock the man. He’s gorgeous and I’m sure you’ll be hearing about him from the women in this store. You know, if you put him in a more visible department, I’m sure our sales will increase. It would be nice to give Kennedy something more to talk about than how many teenagers we have working here.”

Kat watched her friendly smile as she walked out of the office, then frowned. Having Haden Dalton in a more visible location was what she was worried about. She wasn’t certain if she was strong enough to avoid the man if he was where she could see him every day.