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“Of course.” I keep my smile on as I do what I’m told.
This place is a million miles away from what I’m used to, and there’s no way in hell this woman won’t be able to tell within five minutes. Her clothes look designer, rather than designer knock-offs. Her French manicure is professionally done, and her posture is perfect, even while she’s wearing super high heels.
I’m not going to get this job. It’s way out of my reach.
“Follow me,” she says as I’m given my visitor’s pass.
I keep the pass in my hand as I follow her, trying to keep from slouching as I go.
Mirroring’s a thing with interviewers.
It might make her like me without realizing why.
She stops at an elevator and presses the button.
“How are you adjusting to city life?” she asks, taking me by surprise.
I’m suddenly paranoid that I might be wearing the wrong clothes, or something.
Then, I remember. She has my resume. She knows I’ve had one job, and that job was in Silver Lake.
“Oh, um, I’ve always liked Cressidan City.”
The elevator doors open and it’s empty.
Thank God no one else will hear my weak answers to Rita’s questions.
We step inside, and I try not to fidget as we wait for the doors to close.
“I’ll be honest,” she says as we start moving. “I usually take on administrative staff who have more work experience. Anchor West Transactions is a global company. We deal with a high volume of transactions and requests, so every part of the business needs hard workers who can think on their feet and process everything precisely and rapidly. It’s easy to fall apart if you’re a weak link in the chain.”
I don’t know what she wants me to say. She didn’t ask a question.
Is this what interviews are like now?
Am I supposed to assure her I can work fast without making mistakes?
I press my lips together, thinking.
“But I know who you are,” she says, surprising me.
She knows. Of course she does.
Secret did her best to keep my name out of the press, but eventually someone spoke to someone else, and it found its way out. There was no way it was going to stay hidden from the world forever.
Frank Palmer was too infamous. Everyone needed to know the name of his final victim, the one who miraculously survived. I got phone calls for weeks, reporters begging for my side of the story. I never gave it. They had my name. That was enough.
“I figure the girl who survived a serial killer would be tough enough to make it through our clerical pool,” Rita finishes. “You also seem to have good manners. That’s something that can’t be taught, believe me. We can train you on everything else.”
I blink at her. “Was that an actual job offer?”
“I called your old boss last night. She gave a glowing reference and told me to tell you she’d welcome you back if you decided not to move to the city.”
Oh my God. It is an actual job offer.
“Now, I don’t expect you to say yes straight away. I realize you’ll need to know a little about the work, first. I’ll get you a handbook and walk you through the office. You can think about it and give me your answer by this time tomorrow. Fair?”
I nod, completely stunned.
