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There’s an almost hostile vibe coming off him. Of course he wouldn’t normally interview someone like me. In fact, I hadn’t expected him to. I was sure he would pass me off to some lower-level employee. It wasn’t my fault that he took the interview himself.
“Of course, Mr. Clarke. I’m very grateful to Mr. Moreno for putting in a good word for me, but would never expect you to just hand me a job. I’m a hard worker and believe I can be an asset to your company.”
He purses his lips and hums at me slightly, diverting his eyes to the computer screen next to him. With a few clicks of the mouse, he brings up a document I can’t see.
“Your resume says you recently graduated from Branson College with a degree in marketing and that you’re looking for a place on a marketing team.”
“Yes sir, I graduated Summa Cum Laude.”
“It doesn’t appear you have much experience in marketing and none in the hotel industry.”
“That’s correct, sir.” I nervously smooth out my skirt once again. This has been the crux of the problem in all my previous interviews. “While attending school, I worked for a local independent bookstore and helped them with some small marketing campaigns that saw a five hundred and seventeen percent ROI and a thirteen percent up-tick in business. I can assure you, I’m a hard worker and a quick learner. If you give me a chance, you won’t regret it.”
“Hmmm…” There’s that hum again. I wonder what it means. He continues assessing me with those deep brown eyes and I meet his gaze as confidently as I can while my hands shake slightly in my lap. I twine my fingers together, hoping to steady them. After a few moments of silence, he turns his eyes away from me to glance back at his computer screen, where my resume apparently sits.
“Well, Miss. Simmons, we don’t currently have any openings in our marketing department and even if we did, I don’t believe you have the experience that would qualify you.” My shoulders slump in defeat. I came all the way here for this? If he didn’t have an open position, he should have just told Mr. Moreno and saved us both the trouble.
“However.” His eyes dart back to me, only lower this time. Is he staring at my lips? An unwelcome blush heats my cheeks, and I involuntarily wet my bottom lip with my tongue in response. That seems to bring his eyes right back up to mine. “I lost my latest assistant this morning and I’m going to need someone right away. If you can start on Monday, the job’s yours. I think you’ll find that the salary and benefits are more than fair. You’ll receive a salary of seventy-five thousand and full health benefits, including a 401k with an employer match.”
My eyes bug out as I hear the number. Seventy-five thousand dollars? Most entry level marketing positions start below fifty thousand dollars. There has to be some kind of catch. “Youlostyour assistant?” I ask, unable to keep the skepticism out of my voice.
“That is what I said, Miss. Simmons,” he practically snaps back at me.
Ooookay. While the money is certainly tempting, I worked my butt off the past four years to be in marketing, not someone’s errand girl. Especially not a sexy arrogant grouch like this man.
“What about the marketing position?”
He leans back in his chair, steepling his hands in front of his chest. The corner of his mouth lifts a fraction in what looks like it could be a smirk one day if it triedreallyhard. “You can learn the business while working for me and if you want to transfer to the marketing department after a period of time, I’m willing to consider it.”
What choice did I have? This job would pay better than a marketing position and it’s not like any of those offers were rolling in anyway. I could work for him, learn the business, and then move to a marketing job. I could make this work. Paige needs school supplies, and I’m sure that my mother is behind on her rent again. Yeah, there’s no other logical choice.
“In that case, Mr. Clarke,” I stand, reaching my hand across his desk to give him my most professional handshake, “I accept. I look forward to working with you.” He raises out of his chair, and I’m suddenly made aware of exactly how tall he is. I’m five-foot-four and he’s almost a foot taller than me. I tip my head way back to look him in the eye while his large hand engulfs mine. A shock immediately runs up my arm, through my chest, and down to my center. With a tiny gasp, I pull my hand back from his and avert my eyes so he can’t see my reaction. I squeeze my thighs together to lessen the ache that’s settled there.
What the hell was that, Hollie?We don’t get all gooey for boys. Especially not a grouchy one in a suit who is going to be our boss. But Archer Clarke isn’t a boy at all. He’s most definitely a man and I don’t have any experience with men. Hell, I don’t have very much experience with boys.
“I’ll see you Monday at nine sharp, Miss. Simmons. Not a minute later.” Not daring to speak in case he changes his mind, I simply jerk my chin down in a quick nod, turn on my heel, and swiftly exit his office. I can feel the weight of his eyes on me until I close the heavy wooden door and sag against it with relief.
∞
Stepping into the typically gloomy Seattle morning, I can’t hide the wide smile on my face. After months of searching, I finally have a job! Sure, it’s not the job I was expecting, but it is something. Plus, my salary is more than I could have hoped for. If Archer Clarke needs someone to answer his phone and make him coffee, that’s fine by me. I’d be happy to do that for $75,000 a year.
Of course, he wasn’t very forthcoming about how he “lost” his last assistant, but I’m sure I can handle anything he throws at me. I’ll be the best damn assistant he’s ever had. Then he’ll have no choice but to move me to the marketing department. It is a start, and that is all that matters.
As I make my way down the street to the nearby parking structure where I left my decades old Toyota Camry, my phone buzzes in the bottom of my purse. I step out of the foot traffic and lean against a building while I dig in my bag, looking for the insistent cell phone.
I grab it triumphantly, but my smile falters a bit when I see who is calling. Mom. I should make her ringtone the theme for the Wicked Witch of the West so that I have fair warning. Anxiety pools in the pit of my stomach. I don’t know why she’s calling, but you can bet it isn’t for anything good. Shaking my head at myself for being unkind to the woman who raised me, I accept the call and hold it up to my ear.
“Hi, Mom,” I say while continuing down the street to my car.
“Were you planning on calling me?” Her words are slightly slurred, and I heave a sigh when I see that it’s only 10:45 in the morning. She’s starting with the liquor early today. Either that or she’s high. Hell, it’s probably both. “Of course, Mom, I just left my interview and I’m walking to my car right now.”
“And?” she clips out at me. My hand tightens around the plastic of my phone. If I squeeze it any harder, I’m afraid I’ll crack the plastic. When she’s drinking, she is not the most cordial person to speak to. I mean, our conversations are never great, but they are exponentially worse when she has some vodka in her.
My voice is tight as I say, “I got a job, Mom. I’m starting on Monday and should be able to send you and Paige money real soon.” I know that’s all she really cares about. She couldn’t care less about my career. I definitely wasn’t telling her how much money I will be making. She would expect all of it.
“So, I guess that fancy degree in marketing was worth it. Surprise, surprise,” she slurs at me. I want to chuck the phone at the wall now. She’s never been supportive of me going to college. She considered my leaving an act of abandonment, equal to that of my father’s. If she had her way, I’d still be in our small town of Milford in eastern Washington, working a job waiting tables and taking care of her.
“It’s actually not a marketing job. I don’t have enough experience yet for that. I’ll be working as the Personal Assistant to the owner of Clarke Hotels, Archer Clarke. It’s a great opportunity for me to learn the ropes of the hotel business and could lead to me transferring to the marketing department eventually.”
