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Damn. This was going to be hard.
“Well, to be honest, I'm just trying to find a job, as you know. I've applied at a number of different companies, had a few interviews, but nothing has panned out just yet,” I admitted. “They all want experience I don't have yet, which is part of the problem with just getting out of school, I suppose.”
“Yeah, yeah, I understand. Believe me, I do. The market is tough right now, especially in real estate development,” he said. “A lot of companies downsized after the bust and many are still leery about hiring new people right now. They don't want to take on too much in labor before they know if the market is truly solid again.”
“Exactly,” I said. “And as you know, things with my family have made it a bit harder. I had to take some time off for my father.”
Sebastian grimaced, and I felt bad for bringing it up. He and my father had been close since college, and he knew all too well the toll it took on our family when my father had died. I didn't want him to hire me out of pity, but it was the truth.
I hadn't been able to look for work while caring for my dying father and after that, planning a funeral – all things my mother couldn't deal with. And now, I was rushing to find a job since I was the one trying to keep a roof over our heads – something else my mother was incapable of doing.
“I can't imagine how hard that must have been for you,” he said quietly, looking down at his hands. “I was around your age when I lost my father, and the funeral was up to me too. It's such a tremendous burden to put onto a child's shoulders – especially one who's just graduated college and is trying to get on their feet. But you did a wonderful job of holding it all together. I commend you for that, Violet. I know that your father would have been proud of you.”
Hearing such high praise from Sebastian was nice, even if it was about something so depressing. It was nice to know that someone felt I had it all together. Because honestly, it didn't feel that way to me most of the time. I felt like I was being held together by rubber bands and scotch tape – and that the slightest breeze would bring the whole house of cards crashing down on top of me.
Before I could thank him for his kind words though, Sebastian spoke again, “And that is why I asked you in here today. I could use someone with a level-head and your organizational skills around here,” he said. “I've been considering hiring an assistant for some time now. I know that I desperately need one, but I could never find someone I trusted enough to do the job. And after watching how well you handled everything, under the enormous burden of pressure and stress on your shoulders, I knew you'd be the right person for the job. So, what I'm saying is, the job is yours if you want it.”
My mouth was hanging open and I wanted to say something, but I couldn't find the words. So instead, I merely smiled, “Thank you, Sebastian. That means a lot to me. More than you know, actually.”
“When can you start?” he asked, opening up a planner and looking up at me.
“I can start whenever you need me,” I said. “You're the boss. You tell me and I'll be here with bells on.”
“How about tomorrow? That way we can get you prepped for the trip to Bali in the
next couple of weeks and –”
“Bali?” I almost choked and stared at him with what I was sure was a dumbfounded expression on my face. “Seriously?”
“Yes,” he said with a smile. “Being my assistant comes with a few perks now and again, trust me. You'll be traveling to some pretty cool places, I have to admit. We're opening a new resort in Bali and I need to travel down there to personally oversee a few things. And I could use your help with it.”
Bali. Wow. I'd walked into his office an unemployed mess and I was walking out as his personal assistant who was getting an all-expense paid trip to Bali. I had to wonder if his friendship with my father had anything to do with it, but I wasn't complaining because hey, Bali.
“Wow, I don't know what to say, Sebas – Mr. Townsend. Thank you,” I stammered. “For everything. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the opportunity.”
“Sebastian,” he said. “No need to go making me feel older than I already do.”
“Sebastian, then,” I said, a broad smile on my face. “I won't let you down. Thank you so much.”
“No, thank you, Violet,” he said, smiling, those baby blue eyes boring straight into my soul. “Thank you. I know you're going to be amazing.”
CHAPTER TWO - SEBASTIAN
Violet had grown into quite the young lady, I had to admit. Having been around her most all of her life, I still pictured her as a child. It was easy to do. But having watched her handle herself so well during her father's illness and subsequent death, I saw firsthand how grown up she was now. It blew me away. She was most definitely not the precocious little kid I'd known.
Yes, perhaps I felt a little bit sorry for her. But I knew how hard things had been on her and all she'd had to endure and overcome. But feeling sorry for her wasn't the only reason I'd hired her. Sure, Chuck would have been grateful to me for taking on his daughter like I was doing, but that wasn't the reason I'd given her the job either.
In all truthfulness, I was impressed by her. She was a lot stronger than I think even she realized and she truly was a remarkable young woman.
Violet intrigued me in ways very few woman had before – probably because I'd watched her grow from a small child into the beautiful woman she was today. Even still, knowing all I knew about her, it was easy to forget that this was Chuck's daughter. She was so mature, so well-spoken, so smart, and most of all, so grown-up.
With her auburn hair pulled back in a bun, and a suit that was tailored to her petite, but curvy frame, everything about her cried out straight-laced and professional. And when she spoke, you could tell that she knew what she was talking about and was probably the smartest person in the room. The fact that it was so hard for her to get a job was crazy to me – but then again, her resume was pretty bare. Which was why I was there to help her.
It might not be the exact job in her field she'd always dreamed of, but it was a foot in the door.
As she left my office that day though, I caught myself staring a little too long as she walked away. Yeah, she was all grown-up alright. Beautiful woman with just the right number of curves she seemingly developed overnight. It was abundantly clear that she was no longer the little girl I'd known and was all woman now.
Don't worry, Chuck, I thought to my deceased best friend, I won't go after your daughter, I promise.
