‘So, where does it leave me, and Outercover?’
‘If you want me to go now, I will. Aaron will be back and wanting my answer on the job soon anyway. I got the sense offering me the position was as much about quickly plugging a gap for you guys as me being the right person for the job. So, he’ll probably be pissed.’ At that moment Alice’s flight response started to fire up again. The last thing she wanted was a confrontation with Aaron.
He’d seemed so nice when they’d sat down together to discuss the role and when he’d made the offer. She had heard a rumour that the marketing manager had left suddenly under a cloud – she’d had an affair with one of the board members. Alice hadn’t asked Todd about the story. It was none of her business and she tried not to get involved with gossip. She’d had enough of that in Hope Springs. But if it were true then Aaron was under considerable pressure to get the marketing department back in order quickly. Combine that stress with his unpredictable behaviour and Alice was sure that things would only get worse before they got better, and she didn’t want any part of it.
She wouldn’t have minded staying on as Todd’s assistant while she looked for something more to her liking – she’d enjoyed doing the research. But she’d only been filling in while someone was away. Why did she need a career as opposed to a job, anyway? To pay their whopping big Melbourne mortgage. That was why. Also, Alice felt a certain pressure to show she was worthy of a place beside David. She knew she was her own person and shouldn’t buy into such a shallow view, but she also knew all too well David’s high standards and the vision he had for his life, and theirs together. His determination and ambition had initially drawn her to him. He was everything her previous partner, her husband, hadn’t been. So she couldn’t complain because it was pretty much what she’d signed up for.
Todd’s phone in his hand pinged with a message. ‘Sorry, I’d better check this,’ he said.
Alice looked back at her screen and as she did was notified of a new email too. She glanced at it while Todd was distracted.
‘Oh!’ she said at seeing it was from Aaron and ‘Many Apologies!!’ was in the subject line. She read the message where he apologised for his behaviour that morning and acknowledged how unprofessional it was. ‘Pah!’ Alice said aloud at him blaming it on being under too much pressure. She shook her head. There was no excuse for his behaviour. He closed with saying he really looked forward to her joining the company and being part of the team. You’ve got to be joking! Alice thought.
‘So, I take it that’s still a no, then?’ Todd asked.
Alice looked up, frowning.
‘I was blind copied in,’ he explained.
‘Oh. Right.’
‘So, I can’t print out another copy of this?’ he said, picking up scraps of the torn-up offer letter.
Hell no! ‘No, thanks.’ Alice began to fume as she re-read Aaron’s email. What a cop-out to not apologise in person – although maybe Aaron realised she didn’t want to be in the same room as him again. He could have called her. Email, for god’s sake. It was probably best for her, too, she thought, and she started to simmer down. Alice didn’t do confrontation of any sort very well, and tended to get embarrassed, awkward and tongue-tied when put on the spot or verbally backed into a corner. But she was still angry, which was helpful right now, she thought, as she pressed Reply.
‘Don’t go saying something you’ll regret, Alice,’ Todd warned, clearly sensing what she was doing.
Dear Aaron,
Thank you for your message. Your apology is accepted. However, I have decided not to accept the position in the marketing department.
I wish you and Outercover all the very best.
Alice
She re-read her message. She longed to give Aaron a decent lecture about his deplorable behaviour and tell him what a childish prat he was, but refrained. If she started, she’d probably end up with a two thousand-word essay. Best to stay professional and on point. So, instead, she copied in Todd, as he was the one who’d brought her into the company, and quickly pressed Send.
‘Damn. I’ve gotta run. I’ll talk to you later. Again, Alice, I’m really sorry about this morning. Keep doing what you’re doing for me here – work from home if you’d prefer until the dust settles. Just let me know where you are.’
Chapter Three
Alice couldn’t concentrate and found herself stiffening and holding her breath whenever she heard anyone on the stairs. Finally, she decided she’d finish off the last of the research at home, as Todd had suggested. If he caught up with Aaron, no doubt Alice would be banished from the building anyway. Now that she was seeing Aaron in this new light, she realised he might have the capacity to get quite nasty. Anyway, she was pleased to use any excuse to go home to Bill. Hopefully he would be happy to see her and hadn’t spent the morning pulling the house apart in distress because he was on his own. Once she’d finished her work, she’d take him for his first decent walk.
Alice had just sent Todd a text letting him know her movements, said goodbye to Chelsea at reception, and left the building when her phone began to ring in her hand. She got such a shock she almost dropped it. Actual phone calls were a rarity when everyone tended to communicate online via social media and send text messages and emails. The number was marked private. She hesitated as she had a policy of not answering unknown numbers, but then reminded herself she was still on the books at plenty of job agencies and was now officially back on the hunt.
‘Hello, Alice speaking.’
‘Alice Hamilton?’
‘Speaking.’ She sounded a bit abrupt and unfriendly, but Alice was cautious of those scams that tricked you into saying yes and then drained your bank account because you’d apparently given verbal permission, or however it worked.
‘This is Brenda Andrews from Gold, Taylor and Murphy Real Estate. Do you have a moment to speak?’
‘I do, but my partner and I are no longer in the market. We’ve recently settled on a property – moved in, actually,’ Alice said while trying to remember which house the woman might be calling about.
‘Congratulations, that’s great, but this call is not about a property. You put in an application for a job in administration a month or so ago.’
‘Oh. Yes, yes, I did. But I received a letter saying I was unsuccessful.’
‘Yes. We kept your CV on file, as promised, and a similar position has come up. If you’re still looking for work, that is?’
‘I am, yes.’
‘I’m terribly sorry about the short notice, but would you be able to come in for an interview this afternoon at four o’clock?’
‘I could make four today. Do I need to bring anything with me?’
‘No, just yourself. I think we have everything. You’ll be meeting with Carmel Gold. I’ll text you a confirmation with our address so it’s all clear.’
‘Great. Thanks very much for the call.’
‘My pleasure. Well, I look forward to meeting you in person should you be successful. Good luck.’
‘Thank you.’
Alice checked the time. If she got a wriggle on, she could make it home, give Bill a quick walk or have a play in the yard, shower and dress more appropriately. She hurried to the train station.
*
Alice smiled at hearing claws clicking on the hallway floorboards, getting louder. She bent down, ready to catch the dog before he raced outside.
‘Sit, Bill,’ she commanded loudly, and was surprised and impressed to find him sitting just beyond the door when she opened it. ‘Stay,’ she said, and edged inside and closed the door behind her. ‘Oh, what a good, good dog you are.’ She squatted down and made a fuss of him. ‘I hope your day has been less eventful than mine,’ she said, giving Bill’s ears a final ruffle before standing up again. ‘Do you fancy a walk? Then I have to go and try to get myself a new job.’
Alice changed her heeled shoes to runners and attached the lead to Bill’s collar. ‘Now, let’s see if you really are as well behaved as
they said you are.’ She was half expecting a sudden show of wilful exuberance as she got out onto the footpath, but Bill trotted along beside her perfectly, and stopped and sat every time she asked him to when crossing the streets on the way to the park. It made her wonder how he’d come to be available for adoption. The shelter hadn’t told them anything about him beyond his name, age, suspected breed, and health and vaccination and de-sexed status.
As they walked, Alice alternated between talking to Bill and running through imaginary interview scenarios and questions in her head. Before she knew it, they’d done a whole lap of the park. She was feeling calm and okay about the interview, although she wished she didn’t have to go back into the city and face an interrogation.
‘Shall we go home, Bill?’ she asked, leaning down to give the dog a pat. Bill stretched out on the grass, his tongue hanging out. Oh dear, had she overdone it? She’d walked briskly, not thinking about the dog’s short legs. He didn’t strain at the lead, so she hadn’t given her pace any consideration. She stood up straight. ‘Come on then, off we go,’ she said, and gave a gentle tug on the lead. But Bill stayed where he was. ‘You poor thing,’ she said, scooping the dog up. She was fully aware she might be creating a problem by giving in to him so easily, but she didn’t have time for life lessons right now. Thank goodness we didn’t end up with a larger or heavier breed, like a Golden Retriever or something, she thought, tucking the solid little dog under her arm. She laughed when Bill licked her ear.
‘Okay, you’re welcome, but don’t get used to it!’
*
‘Now, wish me luck, Bill,’ she said as she prepared to leave the house again, having showered and put on her best navy skirt suit. ‘You stay. I’ll be back later. Hopefully David will be here before too long.’ Her heart strained as she backed out the door and closed it on Bill, who was lying on his tummy with his head on his outstretched front paws. Oh, that look, Alice thought, feeling decidedly sad and guilty to be leaving him.
Right, interview mode, she told herself as she found a seat on the train. It had arrived on time and the carriage was almost empty, which she took as good signs the interview would go well. Then the butterflies started to flutter inside her. Oh god, I hate interviews. And she was feeling so much pressure now that she had no alternative employment or other options to fall back on.
Chapter Four
Alice’s finger shook as she pressed the button for floor twenty-four in the shiny elevator. Stepping out, she took in her surroundings. Very nice, she thought. All around her was chrome, black marble and glass. On the marble reception desk was a tall, colourful floral arrangement of green foliage and orange blooms, which had a spiky and architectural look to it. She gave her name and Carmel’s and went across to sit on one of the chairs arranged around a marble-slab coffee table with a smaller, matching floral arrangement in its centre. Alice stared at the arrangement, trying to decide if she liked it or not. Probably a strategic choice for such an office, she thought – friendly enough but also spiky, so you never forgot who had the upper hand. Though, this was not where real estate clients came, was it? She realised what was missing and looked around to double-check. No, there was no display of photos of properties for sale or rent. There was probably a window at ground level full of advertising she hadn’t noticed, and perhaps the agents only met clients out at properties or in cafés. In that case, the flowers definitely were spiky to remind visitors who was in charge, she decided.
Alice reminded herself to breathe, while her insides were clenching and quivering. She wiped her clammy hands down the sides of her skirt. God, how awful if Carmel were to arrive now and be greeted with a wet handshake. Urgh. She checked, for about the fifth time, that her phone was on silent and then frantically tried to remember the interview questions and answers she’d been running through over and over in her head. But her mind was blank. Oh no. Why this job? What are my three proudest moments? Where do I want to be in five years’ time? Oh god. I don’t know. Alice pulled out a plastic bottle from her bag and took a sip of water, and then struggled to get the top back on. She was still fumbling when her name was called. She looked up, cursing the flush creeping up her neck, signalling she’d got caught out doing something she shouldn’t. Had she? No, she was just stressed all round. She leapt up quickly, tried to pick up her handbag and compendium, dropped them, caught them, and got up. God, pull yourself together, Alice!
‘Alice, I’m Carmel Gold, lovely to meet you,’ the woman said, smiling and offering her hand. She was impeccably groomed in a grey pinstripe suit with the firm’s black and gold logo on the pocket. Alice took a deep breath while trying not to look too obvious, ran her fingers quickly down her thick dark brown hair to smooth it, and then clasped the hand. Carmel placed her left hand over Alice’s.
‘Just a friendly chat, no need to be nervous,’ she said, looking Alice up and down.
‘Thanks,’ Alice said, a little breathlessly. She smiled back and felt herself relaxing ever so slightly.
‘Through here.’ Carmel led the way into a small room with a round table and three chairs around it and several more pushed back against the wall. The room was sparse and basic, done out in pale timber and navy carpet with nothing of the opulence of the reception area. A jug of water and five glasses sat in the centre of the table.
‘Take a seat,’ Carmel said, picking up the jug and pouring water into two glasses. Alice sat with her back to the window so as not to get distracted by the view, which she was dying to inspect. Whenever she was in a high-rise she loved looking down onto the city, figuring out which direction she was facing and then trying to pick out favourite landmarks. Carmel placed a glass in front of her.
‘Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome,’ Carmel said and sat down opposite Alice. ‘So how do you feel about being trained to become an agent yourself, Alice? Are you a self-starter? I need someone with great initiative who can think quickly on their feet. Is real estate for you, do you think?’
Alice was a little taken by surprise at the lack of preamble. ‘Oh. Yes. That sounds great. Yes, I think I’d be good at real estate,’ she said, recovering.
‘I’m looking for more than a PA – I’m looking for a protégé. It’s a great opportunity for the right candidate, and I think that might be you, Alice. You’re intelligent, you’re adaptable, you clearly work hard and you’re impeccably groomed,’ she said, ‘which is a must in our industry.’
Wow, you got all that from my CV, application letter and two minutes face-to-face with me? Alice thought.
Being tall and lean with big hazelnut-coloured eyes, long lashes and masses of naturally wavy hair, she had received compliments about her looks before, but it was rare for anyone other than her uni friends to comment on her intelligence.
‘So, what do you say?’
It felt like something out of a team-bonding session or get-rich-quick seminar. Maybe Carmel had attended a few of those in her career. But Alice did like her direct approach, which left no room for ambiguity. And she did seem friendly enough, despite her slightly abrupt style of asking questions.
‘Absolutely, count me in!’ Alice said, instantly regretting her level of enthusiasm. She sounded like the schmuck who’d just signed up their life savings to a dodgy investment scheme.
‘I thought heading out for a coffee might be nicer than a stuffy conference room,’ Carmel said. ‘There’s a lovely café downstairs. What do you think?’
‘Sounds great.’
‘Come on then.’
In the confined space as the lift doors closed on them, Alice caught a whiff of Carmel’s perfume – it was bold and deep, bordering on the masculine more than the feminine. If not actually a man’s aftershave, it was definitely an oriental, sandalwood type of scent, unlike the delicate rose-based perfume Alice wore. She only knew these things because soon after she’d arrived in Melbourne, David had taken her into Myer and David Jones to test every perfume in order to choose her a ‘signature scent’ for when he next
went through Duty Free and could buy it cheaply. After much discussion with the shop assistants and learning more about perfume than she ever thought there was to learn, Alice had ended up deciding on one that smelt like roses. Well, David probably made the decision in the end, really. She liked it, but she wasn’t a scent-wearing kind of person. A small part of her had secretly hoped he’d have forgotten all about it when next he went overseas. But he hadn’t. Alice still had to be occasionally reminded to put on perfume when they went out together. She actually thought she preferred men’s scent generally.
‘So, how has your day been?’ Carmel asked, breaking the silence.
‘Interesting,’ Alice said with a laugh.
‘Ooh, I’m intrigued. Tell me more.’
‘The boss where I’ve been working had some sort of meltdown this morning and cracked the glass on the photocopier – right in front of me while I was filling in on reception. I got quite a fright.’
‘Oh, my goodness. That sounds very unnerving. Well, I can assure you no one at Gold, Taylor and Murphy is prone to such violent outbursts!’
‘I was meant to sign a contract to work for him, too. That certainly changed my mind.’
‘I’m not surprised.’
‘So, how was your day?’ Alice asked, suddenly feeling that she’d said too much.
‘Great. Successful,’ Carmel said, beaming.
‘Brilliant,’ Alice said.
‘Yes, even after all these years I still get a buzz out of a sale.’
‘That’s great. My partner and I have just bought our first home together.’
‘Congratulations.’
‘Thanks.’
‘So you know the excitement, but from the other side of the fence, so to speak.’
‘Yes. Though, to be perfectly honest, I think I was more relieved there’d be no more weekends full of house hunting and disappointment.’
‘I’m sure. It doesn’t pay to get too emotionally involved. Here we are. After you. Just around to your left.’
A Life of Her Own Page 3