Chapter 2: Available Immediately
958 Words
Rebecca waited nervously in her chair as the man behind the desk in front of her studied her resume.
“Why did you leave your former position?" the man, a Mr. Donnell, asked. He looked like a human vulture, with a thin, sallow face and a long, hooked nose. He apparently was fond of looking down that nose at others.
Suppressing a sigh, Rebecca forced a polite smile. “I was laid off due to financial reasons."
“I see." Mr. Donnell scribbled a few notes on Rebecca's resume. “And you're currently not working?"
Rebecca fought the instinct to roll her eyes. Why didn't this guy just look at the online application where she had already explained everything? “I have a part-time waitressing job, but it's only Friday through Sunday."
“Waitressing," Mr. Donnell noted politely, but Rebecca didn't miss the faint sneer on his face. “Ms. Owens... Willow Employment Solutions is committed to providing reputable companies with qualified administrative employment. I don't know if any of our clients need a *waitress.*"
He eyed Rebecca up and down. “Especially one of your... proportions."
Rebecca stiffened. Snobbery *and* fatphobia? Great, just great. But d*mn it, she needed a job that paid better than serving drinks and food at The Whiskey Kitchen.
“As you can see by my resume, I was an administrative assistant at Zimmerman Medical Supply for four years," she said, keeping her tone calm and polite by grace of incredible self-control. “And before that, I was an assistant to the general manager at Mountain Shade Bank in Redding."
“Yes, well," Mr. Donnell sniffed, “I really don't think—"
She was interrupted by a quick knock on the door, and a woman, this one tall and svelte with sleek dreadlocks of black hair and dusky cinnamon-colored skin, poked her head in. “Pat, sorry to interrupt," she said, a little breathlessly. “We just got a call from a new client, Vannevar Software. They need an emergency admin temp ASAP. Today, if possible."
“Today?" Mr. Donnell sputtered. “Ms. Willow, I'm not—"
“I could do it," Rebecca blurted, her heart pounding. “I'm available immediately."
The woman – Ms. Willow – looked her up and down with appraising dark eyes. Unlike Mr. Donnell's, hers were calculating instead of patronizing. “Is that your resume?" she asked, nodding toward the papers on the desk.
Without waiting for a response from either of them, she seized the paper and scanned it quickly. “Eight years of experience as an admin? Perfect. Come with me."
Gladly, Rebecca grabbed her purse and followed her, not sparing a backwards glance for the grumpy Mr. Donnell.
Ms. Willow led her into another office down the hall, bigger than Mr. Donnell's, and tastefully decorated in varying shades of gray, with bold splashes of red here and there.
She motioned for Rebecca to have a seat, and then picked up the phone and pressed a button. “Ms. Colton? I do have someone available to start immediately. Give me a moment and I'll email her resume to you."
She sat at her desk and rapidly typed at her laptop for a minute. “All right, sent." Another long minute passed before Ms. Willow nodded. “Great. I'll email you the necessary paperwork and have her fill out what we need here, and then I'll send her over." She glanced at her computer clock. “With any luck, we'll have her there by four."
The next thing Rebecca knew, she was filling out a ream of paperwork, via tablet, for her new temporary job. For the first time in months, things were looking up. The salary was very reasonable, and should help her make rent next month, especially if she kept her part-time job.
She was grateful California had a law prohibiting credit checks for employment except for a few rare exceptions, otherwise there was no way she could have gotten another administrative assistant job.
“We'll expedite the background check, but Vannevar needs the help desperately so they're taking you on contingency," Ms. Willow—her first name was Jazmin, Rebecca had discovered—said. “I assume it'll be clear? If not, tell me now."
“It'll be clear," Rebecca assured her as she electronically scribbled her signature on the job offer form.
“Great. Just so you know, Vannevar is a new client with us. We only signed with them last week and haven't placed anyone there yet. Please let me know if you run into any issues or problems."
“Do you anticipate any?" Rebecca asked nervously.
Ms. Willow shook her head. “No. They seem solid. They've been around for about fifty-five years, and they have a good reputation. You'll be working for the Chief Operating Officer, Nicholas Vann. He's the CEO's grandson and heir apparent. His executive assistant was in a car accident and they need someone to fill in while she recovers."
She printed out copies of the paperwork Rebecca had just filled out. “Take these with you, and when you get there, ask for the head of HR, Lena Colton."
Rebecca nodded as she carefully stuffed the paperwork in her purse. She glanced at the address Ms. Willow had scribbled down for her. Thankfully, it was nearby—only six blocks away. She could walk and save money on cab or bus fare.
She reached out to shake her new employer's hand. “Thanks for everything. I really appreciate the opportunity."
Ms. Willow nodded. “We—and Vannevar Software—appreciate your willingness to start right away. Good luck."
Her heart swelling with optimism, Rebecca walked out the door and toward her new job.
- Writer
