Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 32431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
“Ms. Carmichael, you’re needed on the fifth floor.” The intercom on my desk buzzed just before lunch the following Monday. Everything stopped in the room as all eyes turned to look at me. The fifth floor was human resources. Why would they be calling me? Was there something wrong with my resume, my work performance? Couldn’t be. I’d been here long enough that if there were anything amiss they would’ve caught it long before this. As for my performance, my direct boss was always singing my praises.
I left my desk without acknowledging any of the looks from the others, and made it to the bank of lifts on trembling knees. All the way up, I questioned what could be awaiting me at the other end of this ride. The fear in the pit of my stomach made me want to throw up but there was no time to take a side trip to the nearest washroom.
I walked into the office and greeted the lady behind the desk. Her smile didn’t tell me anything of what was going on. “Have a seat Ms. Carmichael.”
I sat in front of her desk as she opened one of the drawers and retrieved a packet. This is it, my walking papers. I couldn’t even dredge up the energy to ask why? All I could think about was the many bills I still had yet to pay and the new apartment I was sure to lose for non-payment.
“Open it, it won’t bite.” She went back to the open file on her desk as I opened the envelope with shaky fingers. At first I couldn’t make sense of what I was looking at.
My head swam and my vision dimmed as the words came together. “Is this real? I asked the woman behind the desk. The nameplate said her name was Julia Simmons. She folded her arms on the desk and leaned forward with a wide genuine smile.
“Congratulations. Once you’re done here you’re to head upstairs to meet with Mr. Harp, he’ll fill you in on all you need to know.” Her lips kept moving but I would be hard pressed to repeat any of what was being said. I was going to embarrass myself and faint dead at her feet was all I kept thinking.
I filled out the paperwork the best I could, only having to go over what I’d written a time, or two. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be feeling right now. Had I been expecting this, hoping for it? I knew through conversations with the others that I was the most qualified.
My education set me above the others by a mile, but I never let myself believe that that would be a deciding factor. From all indication, Mr. Harp was a man who put more stock in loyalty than such things, so it came as a surprise that he would choose me over so many others that had been here longer.
But had I been secretly hoping even as I told myself I didn’t care? I had no answer, other than now that it was a reality I had rocks in my stomach. What was it that Amy had said about being that close to the great man?
I pushed the filled out papers across the desk for her perusal before getting to my feet. “Come, I’ll take you to the lift.” I followed her to the other side of the wall from where I’d disembarked. There was only one lift there.
I watched as she put in some kind of code and the doors slid open. “Good luck Ms. Carmichael.” I thanked her for her well wishes and waited for the doors to close.
I didn’t have to push the buttons; there were none to push. The doors closed and a smooth ascent begun.
I got off on the top floor into a vestibule fit to grace a mansion. Beyond was an outer office with a handsome desk that took up a lot of space. There was a four foot vase in the corner nearest the window that spelt money, but other than that the room was basically bare.
The door to the inner office opened and he was just there. He looked just as I remembered. Imposing, handsome, contemplative.
“Come in Ms. Carmichael.” I stepped into the room like a frightened mouse. You’d better get it together unless you want to lose this job before you start.
Putting aside the sexual overtones everyone had attached to the position, this job was more than I’d hoped to achieve in the short time that I’d been here. It would look great on my resume, a solid cap in my feather.
I fought down my nervousness and reminded myself of who I was and what I was doing here. “I wanted to say thank you for the opportunity Mr. Harp.”
“We’ll see how much of an opportunity it is. You have a three month trial period to get through yet.” I was only a little deflated by his words, but that didn’t last long. There was no reason I couldn’t do this job.