The Clandestine Assistant

I held up yet another dress, my reflection staring back at me. Nothing looked good on me, no matter what I wore I just felt fat. Letting out a sigh, I threw it on the bed and walked back into my closet. "Are we having trouble picking out what to wear?"  I didn't need to look, I knew that voice. "Are you going to mock me or help me?" I hollered from the closet.  "Relax. Why are your so worked up about a dress?" Charlotte came walking into my closet.  "It's a big deal, we're finally graduating, I want to look my best." "You will look great in any of these. Here, what about this one?" She held up a white dress with lace.  I shook my head. "No, that shows in all the wrong places."  "Ava." "Charlotte." I snapped at her. "I look fat in all of these. You don't get it. You would look sexy in a potato sack." "Oh stop that! I hate when you talk like that. You are not fat!"  A shook my head as I looked at my best friend. Standing there in that beautiful red dress, that showed off her curves and made her look like a model. Her blond hair straight down the middle of her back, and her green eyes that literally looked like emeralds. How could she understand, she had never been a size 10, let alone a size 14 in her life? I stepped in front of the mirror and looked at myself rolling my eyes as I headed back to the closet. "Here." Charlotte said, walking out of the closet with a black dress. "You look fabulous in this one, it shows those sexy curves you've got. And let's face it, it will drive Edward crazy." She winked.  I smiled and grabbed the dress from her pulling it on. I stared at my reflection, checking myself from all angles. Charlotte walked up behind me, put her arms around my shoulders and smiled. "See, you look beautiful." I rested my hand on her arms. "Well thank you for saying so. We better go or we'll be late. Will you drive so I can fix my makeup in the car?" Charlotte nodded. I quickly grabbed my cap and gown, then we took off down stairs.  When we got to the college, we took off in a dead sprint. I quickly put my gown over me and zipped it up as we got to the line. "You are late!" Dean McGraff scoffed.  "Sorry Dean." Charlotte smiled. "We had car trouble." His frown disappeared. "Alright find your place. You're lucky, the F's haven't gone in yet." "Thank you Dean." We both hollered as we ran to our places. We made our way into the assembly hall, taking seats in the middle as I looked around for my family. There were so many people, I couldn't find them.  Dean McGraff got on the stage and asked if everyone would hold the yells and celebrating for the end, so they could get through the ceremony. He started calling names one by one, starting with the A's. My classmates all took their walk across the stage, waving to their families, some ignoring the Dean's rules and celebrating their graduate. I scanned the crowd of faces, trying to find them, but had no luck. They were here right? Surely they were here, I know they wouldn't miss this.  "Charlotte Finch!" They called. Charlotte walked across the stage, turning to me and winking as she exited. A few minutes later they called my name. "Margot Ava Fontaine Hart." I hated when they used my whole name. I stood up and made my way to the stage. When I got to the middle, Dean McGraff handed me my diploma in my left hand, shaking my right.  "That's my Baby Sister. WOOHOO!" I heard from the crowd. Mark was standing at the back clapping, as my father laughed next to him, clapping as well. She didn't seem to be with them, not that I was surprised. I smiled at my brother and laughed, as I exited the stage and found my seat again.  "You're first name is Margot?" Kyle Hardy, who was in front of me, asked as I sat back down. I smiled and nodded. "I'd go by Ava too, if I were you."  "Shut it Kyle or I'll gut you." Charlotte said from the row in front of us.  Kyle stuck his tongue out at her, as she smiled at me and turned back around. It took another hour before all the graduates had walked across that stage. Dean McGraff stood back up to the podium. "Ladies and gentleman I present to you, you're 2021 Graduates!" Cheers erupted in the room as we all stood up and threw our hats into the air. People were hugging, and searching for the hats they had just thrown. I started looking for mine, bent down going through the scattered graduation caps. When four legs stepped in front of me. I looked up to see Edward with his new girlfriend. I stood up in shock, not sure what to say. I must have looked like a deer, standing in the middle of the road, unable to move as a car came rushing towards me.  "What the hell Edward? Go away, and take your hussy with you." Charlotte snapped, as she walked up behind me.  Veronica, the girl clinging to his arm scoffed as she turned, walking away. "Congratulations Ava, you look great in that dress." Edward said.  "Edward!" Veronica called. He turned and walked over to her, as they walked through the crowd.  "Ignore that jerk." Charlotte said. My brother and dad came walking over. Mark bumping into Edward so hard, he almost fell. "Oh I'm sorry, I didn't see you there." Mark mocked as he turned smiling at me. My dad knocked him in the arm. "What he's lucky I didn't do worse." "Real mature Marcus." My dad scoffed.  Mark came running up and pulled me into a hug. "Look at my baby sister, a college graduate." I smiled. "Thanks Mark." "Ava I am so proud of you." My dad pulled me into a hug.  "Thanks Dad." Mark looked at Charlotte. "What did you say that made her Strom off like she did?"  Charlotte shrugged. "I may have called her a hussy." "Charlotte." My dad looked at her. "That is not how a lady behaves." "Sorry, I just can't stand her." Dad shook his head. "Alright let's go celebrate shall we? Lunch at Brachett Bistro, my treat. Charlotte you must come too." "I'd love too."  "Well then it's settled. Did you both drive?" Dad asked.  "No I rode with Charlotte." "Well then we will meet you there." Charlotte and I got to the restaurant. The host took us back to the table where my dad and brother were waiting. "I ordered us a bunch of things. I thought we could dine Family style." Dad said as we sat down.  "Sounds good." Charlotte smiled.  The waiters brought out several plates of food, placing them in the middle of the table and giving us each and empty plate. We all dug in and had our fill. "So." Dad looked at me and smiled. "What's your plan? Are you coming straight to the company, or taking a little break?" "Dad I don't want to upset you, but." I turned and looked at Charlotte who nodded. I had been putting off telling my father my plans for weeks. I didn't want to disappoint him. I took a deep breath. "I'm not coming to work for the company." "What?" He replied. "Why ever not?" "Dad I just want to make it on my own. Do it my way, make a name for myself." My dad smiled. "I can understand that honey, but you'd be all setup, you'd have a good job right away." "I know dad, but this is just something I have to do, something for me." "Well at least let me help you get an interview. If they know you're my daughter.." "Dad no." I looked up at him. "I want to do it all on my own. In fact." I hesitated. "I'm going to go by Ava Fontaine." My dad sat back in his seat. He looked as if I had just stuck a knife right through his heart. "I, I just don't understand. Did I do something? Are you not proud to be a Hart?" I reached over and grabbed his hands. "Dad I am so proud to be your daughter, and I am proud to be a Hart. But I want people to judge me on my skills, on how smart I am. Not that I'm William Hart's daughter." "Well you're awful quite." My dad said to Mark.  Mark shrugged. "That's because I already told her I support her decision. Dad she just wants to be taken seriously." Dad sighed. "You'll have to start at the bottom somewhere." Ava smiled. "I know dad. I'm ok with it."  He stood up, and pulled me up with him. He wrapped his arms around me and then kissed my forehead. "Alright kid, if that's what you truly want. Then I will support you." I squealed and hugged him tight. "Thanks Dad."  He laughed. "You promise me one thing." "Anything." "You be careful. The buisness world will chew you up and spit you out. It's going to be harder for you as a woman. Some men aren't going to take you seriously. You have such a kind heart, don't let people use that against you." He leaned in and kissed my forehead again.  "I will do my best Dad." "Our flight leaves in four hours. We better get you back to the dorm and packed up." Dad flagged the waiter and paid the bill.  "Charlotte are you still planning on joining us?" Mark asked.  Charlotte nodded. "I was actually hoping to talk to you guys about hiring me. I don't mind calling in favors." She winked at me. Dad looked at Mark, then nodded. "Well." He looked at me with a smirk. "It seems we have a position open."