Passionate Ashes (2 page)

               “
Yes, please sit.
”
He said, gesturing towards a torn-up aquamarine lawn chair pressed up against the wall. It also had a questionable green shade to it.

Jada sat and almost fell through a hole on the bottom of the seat.

               “
Sorry, I should really fix that. Not much time between the gym and the restaurant,
”
Jeff said, laughing in a sort of weird pig squeal type of way. Jada could only find enough enthusiasm for a weak smile, still not sure what her fate would be.

               “
Anyways, Jada, my darling Jada. You know how much we value your work here, but lately you
’
ve been really dropping the ball, literally and figuratively. Here at Salty Dog
’
s Mexican Saloon, we pride ourselves in our customer service and you just haven
’
t been reaching that optimum level.
”
He was pouring it on thick, but Jada already knew what was around the corner. She felt her eyes growing wet at the thought of being fired. This was her only source of income and without it she faced the very real possibility of having to live on the streets.

               “
I
’
m sorry, sir. I truly am. Just give me another shot. I
’
ve been stressed at home and I really can
’
t afford to lose this job,
”
Jada pleaded, knowing it was her last chance. Jeff didn
’
t seem fazed. Instead he just grabbed a can of pringle chips and started munching down, throwing each chip into his slimy mouth with his thick, grub like fingers.

               “
Sorry, baby doll. You
’
ve got to understand. Today is your last day here. I truly wish you the best.
”
Jeff said in between pringle chips. Jada felt a mix between desperation and anger. She had to control herself, she knew she was inches away from slapping the can of pringles from his hand and storming out.

               “
Oh and take the chair to the garbage please. I need a new one,
”
he said, as Jada got up to leave. It was her final straw. She turned on her heels, snatched the pringles can from his hand and threw it down to the ground, spilling chips all over the already filthy floor.

               “
Last I checked, I don
’
t work for your grimy ass anymore. So you can get off your fat ass and carry your own chair. While you
’
re throwing it out why don
’
t you jump on in there yourself, because honestly I don
’
t know a better place suited for you,
”
Jada said with conviction, finding some relief in the stupefied look Jeff had across his face.

Her emotions were beginning to take hold. She could feel that familiar fire inside of her. The one that took years to put out. Why was it coming back now? She needed to leave.

“
Well then, Ms. Roman. Good luck finding another job around here, what with your assault case pending. You know I took you on as a favor, and this is how you repay me?
”

He knew exactly what buttons to press. Except he never pressed Jada
’
s buttons.

Her vision was beginning to blur, and not from tears but from the rage she was feeling.

It was overwhelming.

She shot up from her chair and ran out, slamming the door behind her. She knew that if she didn
’
t release her tension, the whole restaurant would go up in flames.

She ran though the maraca filled hallway and out through the Elvis Presley shaped back door, into the abandoned employee parking lot. She didn
’
t even have time to check if anyone was around. Her blood was already glowing a bright red underneath her regularly dark skin.

“
Asha, release me,
”
she muttered into the air as her head shot back, her hands lurched upwards, and out from the palms came a stream of fire, shooting straight at a cement wall. It lasted only for a few seconds, but Jada immediately felt the relief. She collapsed down into the ground and buried her head in her warm hands, crying for the first time in years.

    
"Fuck, fuck, fuck," she said to herself through the tears.

               “
Jada! Girl, are you ok? Holy shit, was there a fire out here?!
”
A familiar voice asked her, throwing an arm around her shoulder and looking around frantically, trying to trace down the smell of smoke. It was Claire, another waitress from the restaurant. If Jada had a sister in this world, it would have been Claire.

               “
He fired me. I don
’
t have work. Darrius broke up with me two weeks ago. Rent is due next week. I used up my savings on my accident last month. I don
’
t know what to do.
”
Jada replied between heaving cries.
“
And yeah, the homeless Chinese guy lit a can of black beans on fire.
”

The full weight of the situation was crashing down on her in waves.

Only yesterday, her biggest stress was breaking up with her long-term boyfriend after he found another chick at some strip club. Now Jada was facing unemployment and an empty bed to go home to. It was all becoming too much to handle. And on top of that, her powers were starting to get more and more out of control.

               “
Oh, baby girl. It
’
ll be ok, you
’
ll see.
”
Claire
’
s embrace helped soothe Jada a bit, but it wasn
’
t enough to solve her problems. Nothing was enough at this point.

               “
You know what, girl?
”
Claire said, suddenly jumping up as she remembered something,
“
my sister is starting that maid company I told you about! She needs trustworthy girls to go clean the houses of the rich and famous. She was telling me she wanted them to start next week! That
’
s it, that
’
s what you
’
ll do.
”

               
Jada looked up from her hands, seeing Claire smiling above her. A thin smile spread across Jada
’
s features as she felt some of the burden lift off of her. It looked like the clouds were making way for the sun after all.

               
It also looked like that scorch mark was taking the shape of Jesus.

               
It was time to go home.

****

“
Babe, can you believe my necklace is missing now?!
”
Shannon yelled from her jewelry closet, no doubt throwing all her organized jewelry boxes to the floor. Connor only sighed, he was in no mood to deal with her rage at the moment. Instead, he just closed the door to his personal theatre and resumed watching the new episode of Breaking Bad.

It wasn
’
t long before Shannon came to find him, slamming the doors open and turning on the lights.

“
Connor. Do you not care?
”
She screeched, her pearls bouncing off her plunging neck line, revealing just the top of her breasts. Enough to remind Connor how fucking hot she was. Then she spoke and reminded Connor how fucking crazy she was.

“
I
’
ll buy you another one.
”
He said, trying to ease the situation and get back to his show.

“
You can
’
t buy me another, you idiot. It was a hand-made gift from Donatella. You know? Donatella Versace.
”

“
Yes. I know who she is. I
’
ll talk to her and explain the situation.
”

Shannon only looked at him in disbelief.

“
You
’
re so fucking dense. I want our maid fired. I
’
m sure Martha is putting her sticky ass fingers all over my fucking closet. Get her fired. I want a new maid here by tomorrow. And do a fucking background check on these bitches,
”
Shannon yelled, storming out of the room and slamming the dark black doors shut. Connor let out a sigh of relief as the hurricane dissipated, but then came the sadness. He sat there in silence, wondering where everything went wrong. Memories of pure joy flashed through his mind, memories of him and Shannon joking and playing in the ocean waves. Memories of their passionate weekends, filled with the craziest and the hottest sex Connor ever thought possible. Times when Connor didn
’
t feel like he was walking on eggshells around her. Moments when they would both get lost in each other, intertwined in an intricate dance of love and passion. Now, it was just constant torture.

“
Martha, can you come meet me in the theatre?
”

“
Of course, sir. I
’
ll be there in five minutes, just coming in from the greenhouse.
”

Connor hung up the phone and leaned back into the cloud-like leather seat.
  
He didn
’
t know what he was going to tell Martha, but he was beginning to feel worse and worse.

“
Sir, you needed me?
”
Martha said, whispering from the door, afraid to interrupt the show. Breaking Bad was serious business.

“
Martha! Come in, come in.
”
Connor said, shutting the huge screen off and walking over to Martha, gesturing to a pair of seats next to the door. She sat down, looking a little apprehensive. Connor could tell that she knew something was up.

“
Martha, you
’
ve been an exceptional help for the past five years. I wouldn
’
t have been able to do any of this without you.
”

He rested a hand on her knee, comforting her as he could see tears beginning to form. Before she could reply though, the doors burst open and Shannon storms in, once again.

“
You dirty bitch! Get out of here right now before I call the police and have you deported back to whatever third world country you came from.
”
She towered over poor Martha, who
’
s skin was flushed red with emotions. Connor could tell Martha had nothing to do with the missing jewelry.

“
Honey, and you
’
re sure they
’
re missing? Maybe you just misplaced them?
”
Connor asked, standing up to meet Shannon head on. His tone was dripping with confrontation. Martha sitting between them like a child caught in the middle of a WWE wrestling match.

“
Don
’
t you dare
‘
honey
’
me. Whatever the fucking case, we can
’
t prove damn shit and I don
’
t want this bitch walking around my hallways either. Get her the fuck out of here, Connor.
”

Connor was beginning to get angrier. He glanced down at Martha, who was holding back sobs.

“
She has been working for us for five fucking years, not once has anything gone missing.
”

“
Five fucking years too long, Connor. I
’
m done here.
”

And without another word, Shannon turned on her Loubitouns, which she loved wearing around the mansion for some reason, and stormed out of the theatre. Martha, on her departure, opened up the floodgates and began with the heaving cries that racked her body. All Connor could do was sit back down and let Martha rest her head on his shoulder, soaking his plain white t-shirt.

Firing Martha was no easy task, and it weighed heavily on Connor
’
s conscience. He knew Shannon lost the necklace herself, but she would never fess up to it. He also knew Shannon would have taken matters into her own hands, further than the damage she had already caused. His only choice was to fire Martha. He didn
’
t let Martha go empty-handed though. He wrote her a check for $40,000 and thanked her for all her hard work.

After Martha was gone, Connor took to the internet to Google maid services. It took him an hour before he stumbled upon an expertly done website advertising the best maids in Miami, all background checked and verified. He called the number and asked if they could get a maid in by tomorrow. The lady on the phone was incredibly pleasant and assured him that they would assign one of their best maids, Jada Roman, to tend to his house. He hung up and went back to watching Breaking Bad, hoping the meth dealing duo would numb his heavy mind for the next hour.