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Pilar held up her hand. “I can’t get upset with you, Jessica, for you not recognizing me. It was my intention that people know me by my actions.”
Jessica nodded.
“While I’m honored to meet you and know that Mr. Middleton spoke of me, I have to ask, what are you doing here now?”
“Well, I originally came to the island because I knew Peter was stepping down from the CFO position.”
Jessica knew that, too, and it was bringing her all sorts of pain and agony to think she was going to have to adjust to a brand-new boss.
“I suspected as much,” Jessica said.
“I came to the island to offer the position to Brian,” she said. All in one final swoop, Jessica was happy for Brian and resigned for herself. Just as Jessica was about to give Brian a congratulations, Pilar spoke up. “That was my original goal, but Peter said I should give you a chance. He actually left a referral for you. It was a long shot as you’ve just been assisting for most of the time at Butler, but his words do carry a lot of weight. So, after looking at the work and reviewing the files I found here... I find I’m not so sure that Brian is the best person for the job.”
“Excuse me?”
“What I’m saying is I’m going to decide who to recommend for the CFO interim job. The only two in the running are you and Brian.
* * *
One of you will get the job of CFO interim.
Jessica heard the words, but they hadn’t sunk in yet. These moments happened to lucky people who went to the right schools and knew the right people. Jessica didn’t come from that type of background. She wanted to say maybe the woman was mistaken but her reputation in the company didn’t affirm that Pilar was having a lapse in judgment.
“I’m sorry,” Jessica stammered. “Everyone told me to find you, but it wasn’t clear what the reason was. If I had known you were with the company, I would have come earlier.”
Pilar smiled and gave a shrug. “I haven't taken any offense that you're just coming to see me now. I imagine if you knew who I was, you would have made a beeline to me right away and then this natural meeting would never have happened.” Jessica just nodded and looked at Pilar.
What was there to say to this woman? And how had she hindered or helped her chances by visiting now?
“Would you like to have lunch?”
In truth, Jessica wanted to say no. She didn't want to have lunch with her. She needed to run back and tell Beth the news. Jessica had just finished coming back from reading with Lars and this was not the outfit that she wanted to be sitting down with management in. However, we have to deal with the situation as it comes, is what Mr. Middleton always said.
“If it’s not an inconvenience, I’d be delighted.”
Jessica followed Pilar into her home until they were in the kitchen. Vaguely from her periphery, she could see wooden pieces of furniture and some bright splashes of flowers. Jessica couldn't look around the way she really wanted to. After all, this was an upper management’s home.
“So, you may be wondering what exactly Peter told me about you.”
“I'll admit it has crossed my mind.”
Pilar didn't answer the question right away. Instead, she kind of tilted her head to the side, as if she were assessing Jessica in new ways. Jessica had to fold her hands in her lap to stop herself from moving or squirming. This woman had a way of looking at her that made her feel as though she was stripping back every defense and seeing who she truly was.
“Peter said that you were someone who understood numbers. He said one of the things he truly liked about you was that you didn't just take the number on the sheet as if it was the beginning and the end. He said that you actually went to find out where those numbers led to and who they were connected to. That's such a rare skill in today's age. So many people look at the number and as long as the source seems valid, they go right on their business taking that number for whatever it’s labeled as.”
Jessica cleared her throat. “I learned early on that I couldn't take numbers for whatever they were labeled as. If I did, then the number would label me as nothing more than an administrative assistant, and I know I'm so much more.”
Pilar smiled. “I like that straightforward and bluntness in a person.”
“I know that you said that you came to offer the position to Brian. I'm curious what changed your mind?”
Pilar sat down at the table. “Well, young lady, if you must know, when the both of you got to the island I had random individuals ask you questions, and I found that the candidate that I thought was the best fit might not be the one. I found out that a recommendation from Peter, which to be honest I thought it was just a mercy favor, was truly an exceptional person. I’ve decided to hold up on my decision and see how things turn out.”
Jessica nodded and crossed her legs to stop her nervous fidget. She wanted to get a raise but from nothing to CFO interim would be circumspect at best. The rumors behind it would be harsh. Everyone would think the worst about why she had gotten the promotion. All that being said, Jessica had to admit it would be nice to go to Ms. Prince as an equal and she would see how wrong she was about her.
Then Jessica thought that joy would last all of three minutes and then the truth of the work and responsibility would hit her like a ton of bricks.
“I’d like to say, no matter what happens, I’m honored that Mr. Middleton thought enough of me to recommend me. If I may ask, what did he say I did to even be considered?”
