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Just as I prepared to leave, my phone buzzed, and my heart raced as I read Ariel's name on the screen.
Amy, meet Courtney in the lobby at Rosedale Tech. She'll help you from there. Good luck!
I exhaled a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding; my anxiety momentarily appeased. Grateful for Ariel's guidance through unfamiliar terrain, I sent off a swift reply.
Thank you :-)
I bolted out of the door, nearly tripping over my own feet in my haste. The thought of running into Mitch at Rosedale Tech made my heart race faster than a Ferrari on the Autobahn. As I pulled up in my reliable Honda SUV, I couldn't help but wonder what he would say if we crossed paths after what had happened with my overbearing parents.
My nerves were frayed as I made my way to the lobby. Ariel's text had been vague, and I had no idea who would be conducting the interview. But I trusted my friend not to put me in a sticky situation. As I caught a glimpse of myself in the rearview mirror, I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "You've got this," I told myself, sticking my tongue out at my reflection for good measure.
Inside, Courtney greeted me with a warm hug and congratulated me on my success. I was grateful for her support as we headed toward the elevators, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.
And then I saw him - Daniel, the most enigmatic of the six co-owners of Rosedale Technologies. He greeted me with a warm smile and polite words, and my knees went weak.
"It's nice to see you too," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.
Daniel led me through the seemingly endless corridor until we reached a massive door marked "HR." Squaring my shoulders, I braced myself for the interview that awaited me.
"Go ahead," Daniel murmured, motioning for me to enter first.
Once I took my seat in the office, my nerves began to spiral out of control. This was a golden opportunity for me, but I couldn't shake off the growing unease that threatened to consume me. All at once, it felt like someone cranked up the heat, and the room seemed to spin wildly. It was as if the walls were closing in, making it difficult to catch my breath. Despite my inner turmoil, I forced a shaky smile onto my face and mustered a meek "Thank you.” All the while, I couldn't help but worry that my anxiety might sabotage everything.
Daniel, sensing my discomfort, asked gently, "Are you alright?"
"Um, I'm just a little nervous," I admitted. "Could you please open the blinds for me?"
"Of course," he replied, walking to the window and adjusted them, allowing in more light. As sunlight flooded the room, I felt the walls recede and my breathing steady. "Is that better?" Daniel inquired.
"Yes, thank you," I said gratefully. But before I could fully relax, Daniel broke the disheartening news that Rosedale was downsizing due to an unfortunate event. He didn't elaborate, but I knew he must've been referring to my recent kidnapping and the ransom money involved.
My fleeting relief was immediately replaced by despair. Surely, Ariel must have talked to Guy about my need for a job. If there were no open positions, why did she set up this meeting?
"Oh, I-I'm so sorry," I stammered, reaching for my bag, my voice laced with disappointment. "I won't take up any more of your time... Really, I understand!"
"Wait, let me finish," Daniel said gently. "We've had to restructure our bookkeeping role, and I believe it could be a win-win situation for both of us."
A flicker of hope ignited within me. "That's wonderful! Can you tell me more?" I asked, handing him my résumé. "I recently earned my MBA, so I'm prepared to tackle any role within your accounting department."
"Fantastic!" Daniel exclaimed, grinning. "Let's move on to your question, shall we?"
After we discussed the remaining interview topics, Daniel informed me that Rosedale had designed a new part-time remote bookkeeping position that could be mine if it aligned with my goals. While the pay wasn't as generous as I had anticipated, I was ecstatic about the chance I was being offered!
"That's phenomenal news! I'm elated beyond words," I expressed, my enthusiasm unmistakable.
"I'm delighted to have you with us," Daniel responded. "When are you available to begin?"
"Immediately," I answered with fervor. "Do I need to arrange anything or complete any paperwork?"
"You'll have to sign the offer letter," Daniel clarified. "That's the initial step. Following that, several forms must be filled out."
"I'll keep an eye out for that," I stated, feeling reassured that everything was falling into place.
"I'll be notifying Courtney right away, so she'll handle it from here," he assured confidently. "However, please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any inquiries or require assistance."
"I most certainly will, thank you," I expressed gratefully. Then Courtney peeked around the doorframe and Daniel then left me in her adept care.
She extended her congratulations and promptly provided the necessary paperwork to finalize and sign. Courtney’s thorough examination of the documents simplified the process, and her clear explanations of the company's policies left me genuinely grateful for her aid.
