by Mia Ford
Now, two months later, I was starting to panic. If I didn’t land this job, I’d really be in hot water. So, I was more determined than ever to make this my best interview yet.
I’d timed the commute from my apartment to Creovation’s tower in Manhattan six times, but that didn’t stop my heart from fluttering nervously as I left my apartment and trudged towards the subway. Thankfully, I only had to wait a few minutes for a train. The car was blessedly empty in the middle of the day, and I rested my cheek against the glass, thinking of how it would feel to commute for the first time…provided I was able to land the job.
In person, Creovation’s offices were even more beautiful than they were as displayed on the ritzy website. Everything was modern – chrome and glass and sleek stainless steel. And furthermore, everyone there looked like a model. I’d been expected some chubby girls like myself and a few dowdy men in old suits, but seeing all of these beautiful people swarming around me only added an extra layer of intimidation to my already anxious self.
The receptionist was gorgeous, too. She was a perfectly-coiffed blonde, with pink fingernails, tapping eagerly away at a new computer. She didn’t glance at me even after I’d been standing in front of her desk for almost five minutes.
“Hi,” I said nervously. “Um, I have an interview?”
The blonde smirked. There was an icy look in her blue eyes. “Do you?” Her voice was sweet and sarcastic. “Are you sure about that?”
I bit my lip as I felt my cheeks burn bright red. “Yes,” I said, trying to sound more assertive. “I do. With Marcus.”
The blonde rolled her eyes, then tapped away at her keyboard and flicked her eyes back to the screen. “Name?”
“Hannah Perkins.”
The blonde typed something, then hit the ‘enter’ key with great satisfaction. She printed off a nametag sticker, then handed it to me.
“You have to wear this on your chest, right here,” she said, tapping right above her left breast. “You won’t be allowed inside the offices until you comply.”
I swallowed. I wanted to argue – I knew it would spoil the lines of my suit and leave adhesive all over the new fabric. But I knew the blonde wasn’t kidding around, and finally I peeled the sticker off the wax paper backing and fastened it to my jacket.
“You’ll be going up to floor thirty-five,” the blonde said. “Those elevators, over on the left.” She yawned, sounding bored. “Good luck,” she added, in a perfunctory sort of way.
I flashed her a smile. “Thanks,” I said. With my heart thudding, I walked to the elevator bank and pressed the button.
The ride up to floor thirty-five seemed to take forever. I was relieved when the doors pinged open and I stepped into a plush lobby, with thick grey carpeting. Unlike the downstairs lobby, this lobby was warmly decorated with art, including vases that looked like they were from some sort of long-ago African tribe.
“Hello, Hannah?” Before I could reply, a perky brunette grabbed my elbow and whisked me down a long corridor. “I’m Amy – I work with Marcus and William. You’ll be meeting with just Marcus today, I’m afraid that William isn’t in!”
Her chipper voice didn’t do much to reassure my anxiety.
“Thanks,” I said thinly, trying to smile. “I really appreciate it.”
Amy beamed. She pointed towards the door of a conference room. “Go ahead,” she said. “He’s in there waiting for you.”
Taking a deep breath, I uttered a quick prayer and walked in to meet my fate.
Marcus was sitting at one head of a long conference table. I walked in, smiling nervously.
“Hello, Hannah,” Marcus said warmly. “Come sit over here.” He gestured towards the chairs next to him. He was a pleasant-looking man in late middle age, with silver hair, horn-rimmed glasses, and dark eyes. Although he was smiling, I could tell that he was very serious. Instantly, my heart rate skyrocketed and I felt my palms break out in a nervous sweat.
“Sorry,” I said. “I’m just nervous – I’m really sorry.” I cringed, wishing I hadn’t said the same thing twice.
Marcus smiled again. “Relax, Hannah,” he said. “Trust me – I’m not going to bite.”
I smiled nervously and sank into a plush leather chair. With trembling fingers, I handed over a copy of my resume.
“Thanks,” Marcus said. He took the paper and glanced down. “Penn State, huh? My son went there. Great school.”
I nodded. “I really liked it,” I said softly.
“So, Hannah, what can you tell me about yourself?” Marcus took a notepad and pen, tilting the pad towards his body so I couldn’t see what he was working on.
“Well, I recently graduated with a double major in business and accounting,” I said. “Magna cum laude, with honors all four years.”
Marcus nodded. “And why are you interested in working for Creovation?”
“It’s an incredible company,” I gushed. “You guys are always listed in the Fortune 500, and I know that many employees go on to have wonderful, long, and fulfilling careers. Not to mention you’re the most well-respected consulting firm in New York.”
Marcus nodded. I hoped he didn’t realize that my answer was straight from the FAQ section of the Creovation website. I felt that way, too, honestly – but sometimes it was easier to tell people things they already knew.
“Good answer,” Marcus said. He looked up at me. “What are your interests, Hannah?”
“My interests?” My voice cracked and I blushed hotly as Marcus nodded.
“Yes.”
“Well, I love reading,” I said. “Oh, and drinking wine, and hanging out with my best friend, Susan. But I’m a pretty quiet person. I don’t really enjoy going out. I enjoy working hard and taking pride in my work.”
Marcus chuckled. “Well, you certainly won’t be having much free time if we decide you’re the right fit for this position,” he said. “Do you have any questions for me?”
I nodded. “I saw on the job posting that this job is part administrative duties, part writing copy. Could you break that down in percentages for me?”
Marcus chuckled again and I couldn’t help digging my fingernails into my palms. Even though he was treating me kindly, my anxiety was about to shoot through the roof in a hot geyser of panic.
“Well, Hannah, I’m afraid I can’t. If I had to guess, I’d say the work is mostly going to be administrative. We’ll start you out on one or two writing assignments per week.”
“Oh,” I said. I tried to smile, but it was hard. I’d been hoping for a job that wasn’t a glorified secretary position.
“However,” Marcus continued. “If you’re a promising business writer, we’ll hire someone else to complete those administrative tasks and have you writing almost full time. Does that sound good?”
I nodded happily.
Just as Marcus was about to speak again, the door to the conference room burst open. I was expecting to see Amy, the perky brunette, but instead an older man with white hair and a red face came storming in. He slammed a fistful of paperwork down on the shiny table and made a fist with one hand.
“Marcus, I need a moment,” the man growled. He didn’t even seem to notice that I was in the room. “This is important.”
Marcus glanced over at me. His eyes were wide with alarm. “Right,” he said. “Hannah, do you mind waiting in the lobby?”
Grabbing my folder, I darted quickly into the hall. The man with the red face slammed the door behind me and I jumped in surprise as he started screaming in rage.
“He did it again!” The man yelled. “He’s tested me to the last limit, Henderson! He managed to get himself arrested for sexual assault!”
“William, I’m sure he didn’t—“
“The fuck he didn’t!” The angry man – William – yelled back. “I’ve had it up to here with Justin!” I glanced at William through the frosted glass panes of the door. “I can’t take it anymore! I have to do something!”
Marcus said something too qui
etly for me to hear.
A second later, the door opened. William peered out at me.
“You,” he said. “Come here.”
Nervously, I walked back into the conference room. I didn’t know what was going to happen – were they going to kick me out because I’d overheard something sensitive? Would I have to sign a non-disclosure agreement? My head was spinning.
William walked around me in a circle, taking me in from all angles.
“You look smart,” he said.
I nodded. “I am,” I said nervously.
William nodded. “You up for a challenge?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir,” I said. “Always.”
William grinned. He turned to Marcus and clapped his hands. “This is it,” he said. Spinning back around, he reached his hand out to shake.
Nervously, I put my fingers against his. William shook my hand firmly and smiled.
“Congratulations,” he said. “You’ve been hired at Creovation.”
“What?” My jaw dropped and I started smiling so widely that my cheeks hurt.
“Yes,” William said smoothly. “And your secretary and personal assistant is going to be my son, Justin.”
I gaped. “What?”
William nodded. “Keep him in line,” he said. “It’ll be the hardest part of your job, by far.” Clapping me on the shoulder, he walked out, whistling jauntily.
Nervously, I turned to Marcus. “Is this for real?” I asked quietly.
Marcus nodded. When I noticed that he wasn’t smiling, my stomach turned.
“Yes,” Marcus said. “This is very real.”
Justin
“How the fuck could you do something so irresponsible?” Dad yelled, pacing around his office with his hands thrown in the air. “You’re thirty fucking years old! How many times do I have to tell you – behave yourself! You’re not a fucking kid anymore!”
I glanced up at him before slouching down on the leather couch. “Yeah, I get it,” I said in exasperation. “Can I go now?”
“No!” Dad snapped.
I rolled my eyes and stood up. “I’m not a kid,” I said tartly. “Just like you mentioned. I don’t have to stay here. I don’t have to do any of this shit.”
My father turned to me, looking purple with anger. “You can’t keep acting like a spoiled child,” he snarled, shaking a finger in the air. “This is it, Justin! I’ve had enough!”
I sighed. “I didn’t even do anything,” I whined. “Brett was the one who smacked her ass!”
“I don’t care!” Dad screamed. “You’ve been nothing but a disappointment to me ever since the day you were born!”
I snorted. “Yeah, okay. Bye, Dad,” I said sarcastically. “It’s been real.”
Before my father could stop me, I spun on my heel and waltzed out of his office. Amazingly, I made it downstairs without having security guards come running towards me.
The blonde receptionist perked up, as she always did when I walked past.
“Hey, babe,” I greeted, tossing my head to the side.
“Justin!” She cried out. “Wait! Your father just called me!”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, sure, Katie.”
“It’s Kathryn,” she replied.
Turning around, I threw my arms into the air. “And what did he want?”
She bit her lip. “You’re supposed to go back upstairs.”
I burst out laughing. “Fat chance, babe,” I told her. “I’m out of here.”
“Well, your father said he wants you to come to work, starting on Monday,” Kathryn said. She blushed as I stared at her cleavage, bursting out of a black silk tank top.
“And what if I don’t?”
The blonde paled. “I didn’t ask,” she said meekly.
I snickered. “Oh, I’ll come in on Monday,” I said, already thinking of how best to piss off my father this time. “Don’t worry.”
I spent the weekend boozing with Brett and partying with every stripper in a thirty-mile radius. We had a blowout that was off the chain – I spent over four thousand dollars in one night, just on champagne. Brett was in his highest form, pulling girls close and kissing them before they could resist.
However, despite all of the debauchery and fun, I couldn’t shake this bad feeling from the pit of my stomach. It was like a dark cloud hanging over my mind the whole weekend. Usually, girls and whiskey were enough to make me feel great. But somehow, it was like I knew that the end of my freedom was coming.
Monday morning, I put on a rumpled polo and a pair of black slacks. My father always prided himself on wearing immaculate clothing to the office, and I wanted to make it clear on the first day that I didn’t have the same values.
Deep down, I knew that my father and I were more alike than I wanted to believe. After all, it wasn’t so much that I didn’t respect him. But I never felt like he gave me the chance to prove myself. I’d grown up in his immense shadow and my father had never taken me seriously. I’d always been just a kid to him – just something to get in the way of his ambitions.
I wouldn’t have admitted it to anyone, but I did respect William P. Long. He’d completely revolutionized the consulting industry, and I knew that had taken balls the size of Nebraska.
But that didn’t mean that I’d ever let him know.
I strolled into my father’s office ten minutes late, wearing my sunglasses on top of my head and a jaunty grin. He had a new girl working for him – this mousy little blonde with curly hair and freckles – and I stared at her as I walked past.
“Hey sweetheart,” I said, leaning over her desk. “I’m here to meet with my dear old dad. You know where he is?”
The blonde wrinkled her nose. I frowned – was there something in my teeth? What was the matter? Normally when I smiled at little mice like her, they swooned in a heartbeat.
I wondered what I’d done wrong.
“I don’t know where Mr. Long is,” the girl said after a minute. “I just started here today.”
I rolled my eyes and groaned. “Whatever,” I snapped, turning on my heel and walking right into Dad’s office.
My father was seated behind an enormous wooden desk, flipping through a catalog of luxury office furniture. He didn’t raise his eyes until I was standing right in front of him, snapping my fingers and shaking my hips.
“I’m here,” I said. “What did you want?”
My father put the catalog down on the desk. He leaned back in his chair, then folded his hands in his lap.
“Justin, you’re going to fix your life,” Dad said in a calm, steady, and even tone. “I was very angry when we last spoke, but I’ve managed to let that anger go by now.”
I laughed dryly. “Yeah, that’s real nice of you,” I said, shaking my head. “Why am I here? You giving me another card?”
“No,” Dad said curtly. “I will not be giving you another credit card, not ever, as a matter of fact. You are here because you will be working under me, with another one of my employees.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Yeah right,” I said. “Why the hell would I do that?”
The corners of my father’s lips curled in a faint but unmistakable smile.
“Because,” he said slowly. “If you do not do as I say, I’ll be terminating access to all funds. I will repossess the condominium that I purchased for you, and you will be forced to find your own work.”
The words stung, but I didn’t want to show that I was outraged. Instead, I crossed my arms over my chest.
“So?” I snickered. “I can find work. I can do just about anything you can, old man.” I leaned over his desk. “And I can probably do it better.”
Dad laughed. “While that’s a very charming lie, Justin, I’m not sure I believe you.” He stretched the fingers of his right hand into the air, then tapped them against his desk. “Let’s see. You have a worthless degree from an online university in a major that wouldn’t get you hired flipping burgers. You have no resume. You have no skills – you certainly wouldn’t be
able to work in retail. And you’re the most entitled young man I’ve ever come across.”
“Harsh,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief. Was he serious? Could he really do all this if he wanted to?
“I know you don’t believe me,” Dad said serenely, almost like he was reading my mind. “But unfortunately, it’s time for change, Justin. And change begins with you shaping up your life and working for me.”
I grinned. “Well, the best boss to have is a relative,” I said with a smirk.
Dad shook his head. “Not exactly,” he said. He smiled again – a nasty one this time that showed his perfect fake teeth. “You will be treated as any other employee on probation,” Dad said. “The first time you are tardy, you will be fired on the spot. You are to behave as a gentleman. You are not to step a toe over the rules, do you understand?”
“This is outrageous,” I mumbled, running a hand through my hair and sinking down into the leather chair that faced my father’s desk. “I refuse.”
“Well, then you are welcome to find your own apartment, as well as income,” Dad said. “Shall I call security to escort you out of the building?”
Panic rose in my throat like hot lava and for a moment, I had difficulty swallowing.
“You really are serious,” I said slowly, opening my eyes wide.
Dad nodded. “To be honest, I’m a little dismayed I didn’t reach this conclusion sooner.” He smiled again and I had to fight the urge to punch him right in his smug face.
“I bet,” I said sourly.
“Shall I call in your new boss?”
I threw my arms up in the air. “You gonna cut my balls off, too?”
My father raised his eyebrows. “I’m choosing to ignore that remark,” he said. “But the next time you have an attitude with me, you’re fired.”
I sank down into the plush leather as Dad pressed a button on his desk. An intercom crackled.
“Hannah, please come into my office,” Dad said. He smiled at me. “Hannah will be your boss.”
“I have to work under a woman?” I groaned. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
Seconds later, the door to my father’s opened. The mousy blonde from the hall stepped inside. Her cheeks were pink and flushed and even I could see that she looked nervous as hell. She kept sticking her little pink tongue out and licking her lips anxiously, but she wouldn’t meet my eyes. As she stepped closer, I sneered when I saw what she was wearing – a badly fitting dress, probably from some discount or thrift store. Her shoes were ugly loafers, the kind that elementary school teachers wore in the nineties. And her frizzy blonde hair was piled into a knot at the top of her head, with some loose curls escaping at the nape of her neck. On another girl, it might be sexy. But on Hannah, it just made her look like she’d rolled right out of bed before coming to work.