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“You applied for the position of personal assistant to our CEO.”
Oh, my God… that’s who he is. I swing my legs around, shimmying to the edge of the bed, and I put my feet on the floor, in the hope it’ll ground me.
“Yes… yes, I did.” Really late last night.
“I’m so sorry to call this early, but I was just checking my mail over breakfast and I saw your application. I wanted to catch you before your day got started, because I wondered if we could set up a meeting. It’s not an interview, you understand… just a preliminary chat. Your interview – if you have one – would be with Mr. Bennett himself. He’s the CEO. Initially, though, I’d like to arrange a video call between the two of us, maybe sometime today, if that’s possible?”
It might be, if he’d stop talking long enough for me to get a word in.
“Would twelve-thirty be okay? I can come home during my lunch break.”
“Certainly. I’ll set it up and send you an email.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
We end the call, and I stare at my phone for a few seconds. That was a strange way to wake up, but I can’t help smiling, wondering if my luck might be about to change.
Still, there’s no time to dwell, and I pick up the coffee cup, taking it over to the sink, before I head for the bathroom.
I’ve spent most of the morning watching the clock, and as it ticks around to noon, I start to get nervous. Miles Hampton might have said this wasn’t an interview, but it feels like one to me. In fact, it feels worse, if anything, because if I don’t make a good impression, I know I won’t get to the next stage of meeting the man I’m going to be working for… Mr. Bennett.
I told Lucian when I got here this morning that I had a dental appointment at twelve-thirty, so he’s not surprised when I pop into his office and announce I’m leaving.
“I’m not sure how long I’ll be,” I say, and he looks up from his desk. “My dentist is renowned for running late.” That’s not true at all, but I’d rather concentrate on my conversation with Miles Hampton than spend my time clock watching.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got a fairly easy afternoon.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
A small part of me feels guilty about lying to him… and about looking for another job in the first place. But I still can’t escape that feeling of disappointment in him. Lucian has changed in my eyes, and I don’t think he’ll ever change back. I don’t think I’ll ever feel comfortable working here again, either. A lot of that is down to Cole, though, not Lucian…
Still, I refuse to think about Cole. Mostly because I feel so foolish when I do.
Fortunately, the bus is on time, and I use the journey back to my apartment to revisit some of the research I did earlier. In between checking the clock and doing my job, I’ve also found a few minutes to look up TBA. I probably should have done that before applying for the job, but I thought I’d have more time than this, and although I’ve only scratched the surface, I’ve discovered they’re a public company, established thirty-six years ago, that their last declared turnover was eye-watering, and that TBA stands for Theodore Bennett Associates. Theodore… that’s quite an old-fashioned name. As I’m riding home on the bus, I wonder if he prefers to be known as Theo, or maybe even Teddy. I can’t help smiling at that thought, picturing an image of the 26th President of the United States, and wondering if Mr. Bennett of TBA might be middle-aged and cuddly…
I shake my head. I need to stop daydreaming and focus.
The company’s website is really stylish, but I suppose it would be. They’re an advertising agency. They probably do this kind of thing day in, day out. Even so, it’s also very comprehensive, and I’ve only had time to check out a few of their better known clients before the bus stops opposite my apartment block.
I should have spent more time studying the company’s profile, the services they offer, and the people who work there, but it’s too late now, and I let myself into my apartment, just slightly out of breath.
I’ve got five minutes before my scheduled call with Miles Hampton and I set myself up on the bed. I know that sounds weird, but I don’t have a table or a desk, so the bed is my only option, other than the floor, and at least here I’ve got a blank wall behind me.
Once I’m comfortable, allowing for the nervous churning of my stomach, I open the email Miles Hampton sent me early this morning and click on the link within it, following the instructions to join the meeting he’s scheduled. I’ve done this dozens of times for Lucian, so I’m not fazed by any of it, although the moment I’m able to see my own image on the screen, I quickly adjust my hair. I hadn’t realized it was so untidy and I could kick myself for not checking in a mirror before starting this call.
“Hello.” Miles Hampton looks to be around thirty years old, and when he smiles at me, his blue eyes sparkle and dimples appear on his cheeks… and I almost groan. He reminds me far too much of Cole, but with blonder hair, and I suck in a breath, telling myself not to judge.
“Hello, Mr. Hampton.”
“Call me Miles, please.” I nod my head and he glances down at something in front of him, although I can’t see what it is. When he looks up again, he’s still smiling. “I know you’re on a tight schedule, so we’ll get right down to it, shall we?”
“Okay.”
“You’re currently working as a PA to the CFO at…” He glances down again. “At SKJ Robotics. Is that right?”
“Yes.”
“I notice you haven’t been there for very long. Why do you want to change jobs already?”
