The Clandestine Assistant

10. Interview

I walked over to the small coffee shop in the building, grabbed a hot chocolate. I sat down at one of the tables, pulled out my phone and started combing through other companies. I decided I would use the hour to my benefit, just in case nothing panned out today. I quickly got distracted watching people coming and going. Probably off to important meetings, and lunches. Before I knew it an hour had passed. I looked at the time and then quickly made my way back over to Gracen's desk.

She smiled, at me and handed me and folder. "She is ready for you. Right down this corridor, third door on the left."

I grabbed the folder. "Thank you." I gritted my teeth and widen my eyes. "Wish me luck."

"Good luck."

I walked away from the desk and looked down the corridor, frozen I couldn't move.

"Just one step in front of the other Ava. You got this."

I looked over at Gracen who gave me a wink. I nodded back and started down the hallway. I got to the third door and knocked. "Come in." I heard from the other side. I turned the door knob, and took a deep breath before opening the door. Get it together Ava, you can do this. I gave myself a pep talk. I walked in and saw an older woman sitting at a table. She had beautiful grey hair to her shoulders. She was wearing a beautiful pencil skirt, with a black silk button down top. She was very classy, and had a timeless look to her. She stood up and offered her hand. "Hi I am Mrs. Dalton."

I took her hand and smiled. "Hi Mrs. Dalton, Ava, nice to meet you."

I handed her the folder, she sat back down. "Sit please." I sat down as she opened the folder looking over the contents. "Ava Fontaine. I could have sworn I was interviewing a Christine." She looked up at me.

I felt my chest get tight, she was not happy, keep it together Ava. "Yes ma'am that may be who was scheduled. To be honest, I just walked in and told the girl at the front desk I was looking for a job, and handed her my resume.  She informed me you were doing interviews, that there was a cancel. So she put me in that spot."

Mrs. Dalton smiled and looked back down at the folder. "I see. You didn't want to do it the normal way, and send it in digitally?"

"I guess I thought coming in person would make me stand out. But now I am feeling like that may not be the case."

She chuckled and sat back in her seat, putting the folder on the table. "So how many resumes did you turn in today?"

"Thirteen, including here."

"And how did it go at the other businesses?"

I shook my head. "Not well. I was laughed at, given dirty looks, confused a few secerataries, and even saw one girl throw it away."

Mrs. Dalton laughed. "So you have just graduated. Like a few days ago."

"Yes, I just got back to New York."

"You don't have much, well any experience in the buisness world yet. Why should I hire you?"

"I am a hard worked. I graduated top of my class, and I know my stuff. My degree is in business marketing, and that is what I would love to do eventually. But I also realize sometimes you have to start at the bottom and work your way up."

"Why here specifically?"

"Dalton industries is one of the leaders in buisness consulting. You have helped companies on the brink of bankruptcy turn around completely and be profitable. Saving hundreds of jobs. I also love the charity you work with, and the help you give to cancer research."

Mrs. Dalton smiled and picked the folder back up. "You do know this is for an assistant position?"

I didn’t. I was so excited I completely forgot to ask Gracen. "If that gets my foot in the door, then I am happy to do it."

She looked over the folder again. "Well Ms. Fontaine. I am going to be honest with you. I have interviewed ten other girls today, and they were all idiots. I think you could handle the duties of this job in your sleep, but I am not sure you would like it. The pay may also not be what you were hoping for. The pay is forty five thousand a year."

"If I have to answer phones, get coffee, schedule meetings, and whatever else is needed from an assistant to get a job here. Then I am willing to do it. I'm a new college grad, I know how to live on little. I promise you wont regret it."

Mrs. Dalton smiled and stood up. "Can you start tomorrow?" She held her hand out to me.

I stood up and shook her hand. "What time do you want me here?"

She laughed. "Good. Come with me." She picked up the folder, and we made our way out of the meeting room, back to the front desk. "Gracen, Ms. Fontaine will be starting tomorrow. Can you get all the necesarry paper work ready, she can take it home and fill it out tonight?"

"Yes Ma'am." Gracen replied. Grabbing the folder from her hand.

Mrs. Dalton turned back to me. "I am going to take you upstairs and show you where you will be working, and introduce you to who you'll be working for."

We walked to the elevator and rode up to the top floor. The elevator doors opened, and I followed her to a desk. "Sarah." Mrs. Dalton looked down at the young girl sitting there. "This is Ava Fontaine and she will be relieving you of your duties tomorrow. Ms. Fontaine this will be your desk. Give me just a moment and I will be right back." She walked into a door that Said MR. Dalton on it, and shut it behind her. I was suddenly feeling uneasy. I would be working directly for the CEO.

Sarah stood up. "Hi I'm Sarah." She offered me her hand.

I shook her hand. "I'm Ava nice to meet you."

"Congratulations on the new job. This really is a good place to work."

"Thank you I am excited. What is it like working for Mr. Dalton directly?"

"Uh, he is difficult sometimes, but it's not bad." She smiled. "I can hold your stuff for you if you like."

The office door opened. "Ms. Fontaine come in."

I smiled at Sarah, setting my things on her desk, then made my way into the office. I was expecting Mr. Dalton senior, but to my surprise it was his son. My chest tightened.

"Ms. Fontaine this is my son Eli Dalton. You will be his assistant. Eli this is Ava Fontaine."

He looked up from his computer screen at me, looking me up and down. He narrowed his brown eyes towards me, and pressed his lips together. His beard hugged his strong jawline, and his face showed no emotion, he seemed cold.  "I expect you here at seven am, an hour before me everyday. I expect my morning messages to be ready when I arrive, and a coffee cup in my hand before I reach my desk. I like the doughnuts from Dryer's down the street. I expect you to stay as late as I do, and be there to run any errands I need. Set meetings, arrange travel, and greet anyone coming to see me. I also expect you to keep people from just barging into my office, for example if one of my hot ex's or current hot girls decide to show up."

He looked at me and I nodded. "Ok I can handle that."

"Don't you want to take notes, so you don't forget?"

"No, sir. I will remember."

He rolled his eyes and turned back to his computer.

Mrs. Dalton smiled at me. "Thank you Ms. Fontaine. Make sure to stop by and get the paperwork from Gracen on your way out. "

I nodded my head. "Thank you. I will see you in the morning Mr. Dalton." He ignored me. I turned and walked out of the room. "I guess I will see you in the morning?"

Sarah smiled and nodded. "My office is just down the hallway if you need me."

"Thank you." I walked to the elevator and pushed the button. I watched the floors light up one by one, as the elevator made it's way back to the top floor, letting out a ding as it opened. I walked in, pushed the button for the bottom floor, and let out a sigh of relief as the doors closed. A huge grin spread across my face as I jumped just a little, unable to contain my excitement building up. Mr. Dalton didn't seem like he would be easy to work for, but I was just hired to work for Dalton insures, and that was worth celebrating. I reached for my phone and realized I had left it sitting on the desk when I picked up my purse. I cursed myself and pushed the button for the next floor, hoping it would reset and take me back up after it opened. The elevator door opened and then closed, I pushed the top floor and luckily it started going up. The doors opened and I walked over smiling at Sarah. She looked up at me worried, and then glanced at Mr. Dalton's open door. I could hear Mrs. Dalton arguing with her son.

"I don’t care. That was super unprofessional. She is going to be your assistant whether you like it or not!"

"Well I don’t! But mission accomplished. You don’t have to worry about me sleeping with this one. She is  definitely not my type."

"What?"

"Hot, skinny, blond."

I could feel my face burning, Sarah looking at me with empathy. I quickly walked over and grabbed my phone. "I'm sorry." Sarah whispered.

I shrugged my shoulders, praying the tears welling up in my eyes wouldn’t fall before I could get out of there. I quickly pushed the elevator button and watched as the floor numbers slowly lit up. It seemed to take three times as long this time.

"You are impossible." I heard Mrs. Dalton say from the office. Two more floors, come on, come on I pleaded with the elevator as if my pleading would make a difference. "Sarah will you please help Miss Fonta…." I tried to ignore the fact that Mrs. Dalton clearly saw me standing at the elevator.

"Mom. I'm sorry. I ju…"

Great he clearly saw me too. Finally the elevator dinged and the doors opened. I walked in keeping my back to them as I pushed the first floor button, waiting for the elevator door to close.

"Ava wait." I heard Mrs. Dalton call, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn around. To let them see how upset I was. The elevator door closed, and I could no longer keep the tears in, as they poured form my eyes. I composed myself as best I could, when I finally made it to the first floor. I quickly got off the elevator, and practically ran to Gracen's desk.

"Ava are you ok?" Gracen asked.

I smiled and nodded, grabbing the folder she had out towards me. "I'm fine. I will see you tomorrow." I heard a loud bang, and saw a door open. Mr. Dalton run out, and looked towards the elevator. I quickly turned, walking outside before he saw me. A taxi was dropping someone off, so I quickly hopped in. "Go, drive, fast please." I pleaded. The man nodded and pulled out. I turned around and saw him run out of the building. I ducked down so he couldn’t see me as he looked both ways, then shook his head and walked back into the building.

I sighed and turned around. "Take me to three twenty five Colgate street please."

Twenty minutes later he pulled up in front of my building. I thanked him and quickly made my way upstairs. The apartment was empty,  so I plopped myself down on the bed. I climbed under the covers, pulling them over my head as if it would hide me from the events of the day.