Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 95311 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95311 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
"Only a fool would risk losing an opportunity to work at one of the most stable companies in the country in these economic times. A company that, along with a great health benefit plan and 401K, has infinite room for advancement if one's conduct suggests they are deserving of it," Hannah said, whilst cursing herself for a tendency to be a word-vomit champion and a real snob when she felt personally challenged. "One could start at a minimum-wage job and be having their own office with six figures if they could prove themselves worthy," she finished, her heart hammering in her chest with a mixture of defiance and nerves.
The man entered the room as she started to speak and moved to stand next to Sally as he listened. An infuriating eyebrow arched somewhere in the middle of her speech and remained until she was finished. The silence thereafter was uncomfortable at best.
Sally, bless her soul, fidgeted with her papers, cleared her throat awkwardly and said, "Well the salary is fifteen an hour at any rate. Just so you are aware. Fool or no, everyone needs to know what they are worth."
Hannah's head cocked to the side at that as she fought hard to bite her tongue. She knew by that, Sally meant she, herself, made considerably more and was therefore worth more. In general and to the company. But she knew she would do no good getting into an argument with someone who held her future in their hands.
Again there was silence. It elapsed slowly with the sound of the clock ticking it out. Five seconds. Ten. Fifteen.
The man still stood there, glancing at her, then turning his attention toward the clock. What was he even still doing there? It was troubling enough to have to deal with Sally and her snarky comments. But she had to put up with his silent presence, filling the room with a palpable awkwardness. He glanced back at her before turning to the door and opening it.
"You're hired," he said, with his back to her before closing the door firmly.
Hannah felt the wind whoosh out of her and the room's energy softened noticeably. She hadn't realized how anxious his presence had made her until he was gone. Unable to help herself, Hannah blurted out, "Who on Earth was that?" in an astonished high-pitched, school-girl kind of voice.
"That, my dear, was EM himself," Sally said, smiling in a way Hannah could only describe as mocking, bordering on condescending.
"EM is an actual person?" she asked, thinking that EM was just some generic corporation title, not someone's actual initials.
"Elliott Michaels," Sally said with a nod, throwing the file folder in the garbage. "Your new boss."
Hannah was caught somewhere between awe that someone his age could amass so much in so short a time and unease that someone so cold, dismissive and, well, rude was going to be her new boss. She was going to be HIS right hand. She had to keep HIM happy. Could a man like that even be happy? Could she ever do a satisfactory enough job to please someone who, from the looks of his company, obviously expects inhuman perfection from himself?
"Well, Miss Clary, I suggest a good night of sleep and sensible shoes. He will have you running all day. It is his intention you know," she said, rising from her seat, "to run you right out of this office. As he has done with at least two dozen eager assistants over the past year. No one has lasted more than a week. He holds his staff to a nearly impossible standard and," she said with an almost maternal look in her eye, "it seems he sets an even higher standard for those who will be around him day and night. Good luck, Miss Clary," she said, as she led her toward the elevator doors.
"Thanks," she said to herself because Sally had already shuffled back to her desk and picked up her phone. No rest for the wicked, as they say.
She got into the elevator in what she could only call a daze. She felt as though she had just been through a natural disaster and survived, but only to realize she was now prey to a herd of feral dogs. As the doors slid close, the young man standing next to his desk caught her eyes and held her gaze. Right before she lost sight of him, he smiled and winked at her. And then she was alone again.
Her car ride home moved slowly. Not for traffic or the inclement weather. She was just in shock for no better way to put it. She got a job. She was employed again. She didn't have to feel like a slacker for sitting home all day. She wouldn't feel the twinge of embarrassment for having to call unemployment every week for a check she hadn't worked for. She would have something to fill her time. She would have a paycheck again. She could have her television turned back on! She was, once again, a productive member of society.