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She didn’t stop to ask how Ms. Pope knew it was her on the phone. It didn’t matter. She just asked, “When do I start?”
Chapter Two
Stacy wasn’t sure what to expect this time when she walked through the door of BSC, but she had a different feeling coursing through her as she approached the office. Was it because now she knew what the interior looked like?
Taking a deep breath, she rang the bell once.
Tina opened the door immediately, as though she were expected.
“You know, you can still get out of this. If you walk away now, they can’t do anything...”
“I’m here to negotiate my terms.”
Tina had a sad expression on her face. “Please, just make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.”
The phone buzzed. Without waiting for Tina to pick up the receiver, Ms. Pope’s voice filled the office. “Tina, send Stacy back to my office now, please.”
“She’s on her way, Ms. Pope.” The secretary waited for the line to disconnect, then continued. “Please be careful.”
“You didn’t know what you were getting into?”
She shook her head. “Times were different. And I believed anything would be better than the life I was forced to live. Some days I don’t think I can thank Ms. Pope enough for what she’s done for me, for everything she’s given me.”
“And other days...?” Stacy prompted, wanting to know exactly what Tina thought of her life. She hoped it would give her an inside tip on what her own life would become if she accepted the job.
“Other days, I wish I’d let my husband kill me. Don’t keep her waiting, she gets testy.” Sitting down behind the desk, Tina started working on some mysterious paperwork.
Stacy easily remembered the directions to her potential future boss’s office and was much better prepared for the chill air that blew over her body as she entered the weird hallway. Knocking on the door, she opened it when prompted and was once again struck by the beauty of the other woman.
“Again, thank you. Hearing such things never grows old. But we are here to discuss your contract.”
She followed the other woman’s example of getting straight to business. “You said you would give me three things. In exchange I will give you three things, am I correct?”
“Yes.”
Gathering her courage, Stacy pressed on. “First, let’s discuss my salary.”
“Very well,” Ms. Pope placed her elbows on the desk and gave her full attention. “You will be considered a salaried employee. I believe those are the terms you use these days. As I’m sure you understand, we keep peculiar hours here, and you must be available to us whenever necessary, with certain exceptions. We are not monsters,” she chuckled. “We will allow you to have vacations without fear of work interrupting your time away.”
“And the pay rate?” She’d never been good at this part of the interview.
“We shall start you off at eighty thousand per yea
r. There are bonuses if your work is outstanding, and some of our clientele may wish to give you gifts if they are pleased with you and your services.”
For a moment she wondered if she’d had a heart attack because she couldn’t feel her heart beating any longer. Eighty thousand dollars a year as a starting salary? She was nowhere close to making that after almost ten years in retail. She didn’t think between herself and her husband that they’d made that amount the previous year!
“I take it the amount is acceptable to you?”
“You’re not just going to read my mind for the answer?” she asked before she could stop herself.
Ms. Pope gave a throaty laugh. “You are refreshing, Stacy. What is the next point that you wish to address?”
Stacy allowed herself to be directed back to business, though she did note that her soon-to-be boss had not answered her question. “What will I do?”
“We do keep a client list. You will be responsible for following up with some of our clients. Not all of our dealings are for souls. Some people barter other services. You will contact them when it is time for them to fulfill their obligations. Sometimes we have a need for travel arrangements. Sometimes we shall have a client who wishes to travel, but for obvious purposes would find it inconvenient to do so alone.”
“What obvious purposes? Can you give me an example?”
