The Life We Lead: Ascending (10 page)

James set his first day at the store to be
the one prior to Tyler’s uncle’s arrival home. Everything went
smoothly, and he was able to get a feel for some of his coworkers
as well as the store. Thankfully, he had the early shift that first
day and was working the later shift the next day, which made his
commute of 2.5 hours each way doable.

The following day was rather slow at the
store. In addition, James was working with two of the most annoying
people he could think of, both of whom were aggressive salesmen. As
the day wore on, he was starting to think that he’d have a problem
even getting to Tyler’s uncle, assuming he showed up, but he was
wrong.

About 7 p.m., a couple walked in who exactly
matched Tyler’s description. Uncle Todd looked extremely grumpy and
tired. Jet lag, no doubt. The other two salespeople took one glance
and disappeared.

James let the couple walk around for a minute
or two. From what Tyler had told him, he knew enough to wait for
some type of signal to approach so that he’d be welcomed instead of
seen as an intrusion.

The couple stopped in front of the selection
of smaller televisions to have a discussion. Todd suddenly moved
away toward the newer, large screen sets and pointed at one. Kathy
shook her head and dragged him back to the smaller screens. Todd
looked around and made eye contact with James, then nodded,
indicating he wanted help.

“Hi, I’m James. How can I help you?” he
asked.

Kathy spoke. “We need a television for our
kitchen. I like this one, but he likes that one. Can you tell us
the difference, besides price?”

“Absolutely, but can I ask a few questions
that might help in a proper selection?” James asked.

“Like what? This isn’t exactly rocket
science,” Todd shot back.

James smiled and began to ask questions about
how often the set would be used, how much natural light was in the
kitchen, what noise level they normally had, where they expected to
position it, what the kitchen layout was like, what their
appliances looked like, and how many people would be using it.
After hearing their answers, James drew a mini-layout.

At that, Kathy slapped Todd on the arm and
said, “See, there’s more to it than just picking up a TV.”

Todd rolled his eyes and asked James, “What
do you recommend?”

“Well, I think you have two options. The
first is to go with this flat-screen thirteen inch. It should do
most of what you’re looking for and be okay,” James said.

“And the second?” Todd asked, his eyebrows
raised in a skeptical look.

“If I may, given what you described with
viewing, sound levels, and how things are situated, you may want to
consider looking at a new high-definition set with a surround
system.”

Kathy began to laugh, and Todd’s eyebrows
went higher, this time in shock.

“I know it’s way higher in price, but hear me
out,” James began. He walked them through his reasoning, from
position and color to the flow of the rooms. This wasn’t as big a
stretch as it might have been to get them to listen. Todd’s initial
draw to the high-end sets had given him the opening he needed.

Twenty minutes later, Kathy was shaking her
head. “We came here to buy a TV for $150, and we’re walking out
spending $5,000. You talk about
me
and shopping? Geez.”

Todd ignored his wife. “You asked some good
questions to make sure we got what we needed and not just what we
thought we wanted.”

“
Needed?
Really?” Kathy said
sarcastically, and James laughed.

Todd said, “Quiet, woman,” which apparently
just made her mad, and she walked away.

The man continued, “You in school?”

James explained that he’d just finished. He
described his background and hopes for a marketing job. After this
small discussion, Todd actually smiled.

“I’m part owner and COO of a small chemical
company. How do you feel about interning as a marketing person for
me?” Todd asked.

“Wow, really? That’s a great offer, but I’m
not sure I can afford to leave here and …” James started.

“Your pay will be $25 per hour and you can
work as many or as few hours as you like. There will be some travel
involved. Do you have a passport?” Todd asked.

James paused deliberately but also with a bit
of shock, as he hadn’t expected the wage to be that high. “Yes,
when can I start?”

Todd laughed. “Give me a call Monday; we can
sort it out then. Want to make sure all this stuff you sold me is
quality.” He winked at James.

James thanked him several times and proceeded
to wrap up the transaction.

Later, he called Tyler to relay the story, to
which Tyler replied, “He must have liked you a lot. He’s a really
nice person, and if you do well, he’ll support you.”

“I think this makes us even, Ty,” James
said.

Tyler just laughed.

A mere two weeks after starting his
internship, James was on a trip to learn more about the North Sea
market. The day had been considerably more tedious than he had
anticipated, even with jet lag thrown in. The customer meeting had
gone in completely the wrong direction once his colleague Dennis
had opened his mouth about the efficacy of the biocide.

When they weren’t able to show field data for
the North Sea, the customer had begun asking more detailed
questions on field trials for all the products. Apparently, Dennis
had failed to inform the customer that they were hoping to get a
field trial with them. Now it was a mess.

That wasn’t the only mess. James had a
meeting that night to address some loose ends on the drug ring
connections. He was having a difficult time tracking down any
additional information regarding this Asian faction Petior had
mentioned, but he was now in Aberdeen and looking forward to
meeting Calum for some much needed insight. For some reason, Calum
had insisted they meet on a Friday night.

As James headed north back toward Aberdeen
after the ill-fated customer meeting, he looked around at the
rolling landscape. The hills to his left and glimpses of the
shoreline of the North Sea to his right were very beautiful, even
with the grey sky that seemed to be a shaded reflection of the
ground below. In many ways, the landscape reminded James of being
back home in Pennsylvania, minus the sea.

He found a pull-over area on the carriage way
and decided to get ready for his meeting with Calum now instead of
at the pub. Prior to the trip, he’d dyed his hair a very light
brown, almost dirty blond color. He’d taken the time to make sure
that all hair, regardless of location on his body, was reasonably
matched. Now, he put in color contacts to turn his hazel eyes blue.
He also added a small scar that started on the left side of his
chin and crossed underneath to the right. Nothing too big, but
certainly visible. He also added a small scar on his right cheek.
He debated whether to add a mole to his left ear as well. It was
the small details that stood out when trying to get to know
someone, but he didn’t want to overdo it. He was coming in clean
shaven, which was unusual, as it allowed for further feature
identification.

In the end, James added the mole to his outer
ear but used some putty to cover the two moles on his left
cheekbone. He also covered the one on his jaw, also on the left
side, and one more near his ear on the right. Finally, he made the
bridge of his nose seem wider. He then took pictures of himself in
case he needed to duplicate the look later.

Pulling back onto the motorway, he quickly
found that traffic was backing up around a major roundabout fifteen
kilometers or so from Aberdeen. Stop, creep forward ten to twenty
feet. Stop. Go a few car lengths. Stop. And so it went. About two
hundred feet from his turn into the intersection, he had to stop
again.

Bang.

He’d been hit from behind. The impact wasn’t
hard, just enough to jar him a bit.

Great, just what I need in a rental car in
Scotland.

James hoped the guy who’d hit him would
follow him until he could safely pull over.

Traffic began to move and James pulled
forward, quickly memorizing the license plate behind him. However,
he had no need to worry, as the other driver followed him through
the roundabout and into the nearest parking lot.

James got out and quickly walked to the back
of the car. Thankfully, he saw no damage.

The other driver emerged, and it wasn’t a
bloke at all. In fact, it was a very nervous woman who appeared to
be on the brink of tears.

“Are you all right?” James asked in a gentle
voice that he hoped conveyed he wasn’t upset, but was instead
concerned about her.

A few steps, and he was in front of her car.
She dropped her bag, and James bent to pick it up.

“Oh, I’m sorry, thank you. I ... I ... have
it, thanks, oh, I am sorry. I don’t know, I was just going and all
of a sudden you were stopped. I barely touched the brake as I hit
you. I ...” Tears gently flowed.

James stared into her face, holding her bag.
Even with the tears, she was very pretty. Shiny black hair was
pulled into a bun that was very elegant, but professional. She
wasn’t wearing makeup and honestly didn’t need it. Her complexion
was that of the Scots, but on the darker side. Her cheekbones were
stunning. Her eyes, shimmering with tears, were a light brown.

“Are you hurt?” James asked again.

“I, I‘m fine, so sorry. Are you fit then as
well? I am so sorry. I honestly don’t know what tae do, but I will
find a way tae make this right,” she said very quickly before
stopping and taking a massive breath.

James feared she was about to hyperventilate.
“Aye, I’m fine, no worries.” For some reason, he immediately began
speaking with a slight Scottish accent. Having an attuned ear was
useful for things like this.

“Are you sure you are okay, then?” James
added. “I don’t think the boot has much damage to it, if any.” He
gestured toward his car and then stepped back to look at hers, too,
before speaking again.

“All seems well here for you. No damage to us
or the cars, so all is well.” He looked up with a reassuring smile,
but he could see she was still upset.

“See here?” He pointed at her bumper. “Not
even a scratch to the paint, so no real chance of damage. That and
you maybe were going at a slow jog pace, so how much damage can
that even make?”

“What about here and here?” She pointed at
some chips in the car’s paint, as well as a scratch on the side of
the bumper that would have never touched his rental.

“The little pecks are just from just driving.
The scratch, I can’t say, but your front touched the back, not the
side. Come, take a look at mine; you won’t see it damaged. A bit
dirty, but no marks,” James said as they walked toward his
car.

She peered down at his bumper a moment later,
arms crossed, as if trying to hold herself together.

“What do we do then? Do we need tae phone the
police and get a report and all of that?” she asked.

“No, I think we’re okay without any of that.
My name is John Boyd.” James smiled and held out his hand in a
friendly manner. He needed to be sure this wasn’t a set up, so he
was going about it in a cautious manner. At the same time, he knew
that if this were a real accident, it wouldn’t matter who he
was.

“I am Carissa Tate.” She took his hand and
shook it. “I really am very sorry about all this. Should we
exchange information just in case there is some damage that comes
up, then?”

“I would rather exchange information with the
hope of maybe taking you to supper,” James replied. The words
surprised him, and he felt dorky for throwing it out like that, but
much to his surprise, she giggled. Her smile made her look like a
beauty queen.

“Well, that certainly is the most unique way
I have been asked out, and with me looking all tossed,” she said,
rubbing her hands under her eyes.

“I don’t think you look tossed at all. I’d
like to take you on a date tomorrow if that’s okay,” James said,
writing down his number.

He passed her a small sheet of paper so she
could write down her number as well. Good thing he’d gotten a UK
SIM card. Later, he’d have to get a combined system to link
numbers.

“Well, I feel bad. After all, I tapped you,
and here you are asking me out. And tomorrow I have plans with a
friend of mine.” She handed him her number.

“I see.” James felt a bit deflated.

“I would like tae though, perhaps another
time? But I don’t want tae go if you just, I don’t know ... just
because of the accident.” She frowned slightly.

“No worries, we can try for a different day.
I’m free tomorrow; silly of me to think you might not have plans.
I’ll be traveling soon, but perhaps when I get back I can give
you a ring and we can sort it out then? And this accident was the
best thing to happen to me today, to be honest.” Smiling
sheepishly, James looked down at his feet before looking up to see
that she was also smiling.

“That sounds alright, then. Listen, John, I
am sorry, but who knows, maybe this will turn out to be a good
thing all around. So you will call me, then? And you will let me
know if there is any repairs tae your car too?”

“Yes and yes, but it’s a hired car, so no
worries there,” James replied, still smiling. “I’ll be letting you
get on, then. Hope you have a great day tomorrow, and we’ll talk
soon. Nice to meet you. Wish it had been under happier
circumstances, but glad all the same.”

“Thank you for being so sweet and, yes,
please do ring me. Bye.”

Unexpectedly, she half hugged him and walked
to her car. She gave a small wave that James returned as she
disappeared into her car. She pulled away, still waving, as
James finally moved to climb into his car.

He got in and made his way toward the pub to
meet Calum, having forgotten that he was having a bad day. In fact,
he felt rather good.