Chance

by Rachel Rise

  I leaned against the wall and arched my eyebrow, waiting for her to admit that she knew that small concept. “Yeah, I guess, but money doesn’t hurt.” She laughed and turned away from me, then headed back to her desk. I thought about that and rolled my eyes. I didn’t believe for a minute she realized that.

  I went back to my desk and started working on crunching some numbers and was just finishing up when I got called into Paul’s office. My first thought was maybe Michelle was right. Maybe there was a promotion and I was being considered for it. But when I got to Paul’s office I learned that that wasn’t quite the information he would give me.

  “Shut the door behind you, Charity,” he stated.

  I did just that, then turned around and he told me to take a seat. I felt nervous as I did because there was something obviously on his mind. “You’re scaring me,” I quietly admitted, chuckling, but feeling like the look in his eyes was saying that everything was going wrong.

  “I’m sure you’ve heard about the promotion that is supposedly being offered to someone.” He paused and I nodded, acknowledging that I had a general census about it. “Well, I’m not sure who started that rumor, but they’re sorely mistaken.”

  I wanted to throw Joe under the bus and say that sources had it that he could be the culprit, but I didn’t. “Okay…what does that mean?” I asked.

  He put his hands together in a praying motion and scooted up closer to his desk. “I wanted to tell the ones with the most seniority this first, but we’re going under and the doors will be closed soon.”

  I was dumbfounded. “What?” I asked, stunned that he passed that news along.

  He nodded. “We’re filing bankruptcy and so you should probably start seeking out employment elsewhere.” He hesitated. “I will give you a glowing recommendation.”

  I could have been knocked over with a feather, because I went from thinking there was a promotion, to learning that we were closing. For nearly ten years I had called my work, my second home. I didn’t want to look for another job. “There’s nothing that can be done?” I asked.

  He shook his head. “I’m afraid not. And I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone. I’m making my rounds and letting people know and an official memo will go out next week, but I thought you should be one of the first. You’ve given a lot of years to this company.”

  A lot of years and it wasn’t even going to matter once the doors closed. I stood up from my chair. “Thanks for telling me,” I said. I turned to go and he stopped me with his words.

  “Charity, I didn’t want to have to tell anyone this. I’m really sorry.”

  I nodded. “I understand.” I couldn’t face him because I was afraid I was going to start crying. I got out of his office and hurried back to my desk. Once I sat down I had to force myself to put on a happy face. Michelle came up to my desk.

  “What’d he say?” she eagerly asked.

  I looked up at him, then shook my head. “It wasn’t about the promotion. He just needed to talk to me about a project I’m working on.”

  “Oh!” She looked disappointed. “Hopefully soon!” She left my desk and I watched her go. She was still a newlywed as she’d been married barely a year. This was going to be a blow to everyone, not just me. I just hoped we could all locate jobs in the struggling economy.

  CHAPTER 20

  Nolan

  I

  walked into the nightclub and was hit with the nostalgia once again. I glanced around, almost expecting to see Charity walking by. However, I didn’t see her, so I proceeded into the noisy atmosphere of The Renaissance. I spotted Benjamin at the bar and he had two women, one on each side of him. They were laughing and drinking and it looked like maybe the party had already started for him.

  I smiled at approached them. Benjamin looked my way. “Hey, Man.” He shook my hand, then turned to the two women. “This here is Daisy and this is Shelby. They’re our dates for the evening.” He was beaming and I choked on his words.

  “Our what?” I asked.

  Benjamin laughed. “Live a little my man. They’re our dates.” He leaned in and whispered in my ear. “You can thank me later!” He patted me on the back and I felt very uncomfortable with being there. I smiled at the women and nodded my greeting, but I was not in a position that I wanted to do anything about it. I ordered myself a beer and was grateful when it took less than thirty seconds to get it for me.

  I downed half the liquid as Benjamin did most of the talking. I was in and out, not really paying attention, but acting like I was. When Shelby started talking to me I had to do a lot of convincing her that I was listening.

  “What do you do in your business?” she asked.

  “I’m the CEO,” I said. “I get the final say in all decisions that handle corporate affairs.”

  She looked excited. “That sounds amazing!” It was evident that what sounded amazing was the six figure salary I got every year. I just smiled and looked aimlessly around the club, trying to seek out the best escape route.

  “What about you, Shelby?” I asked. “What’s your career?”

  She giggled like I asked the craziest of questions. “I’m graduating from Columbia in the fall, then I’ll decide what I really want to do.”

  I didn’t mean to appear so surprised. “You go to Columbia University?” I asked.

  She chuckled. “No, silly. Not in a million years. I go to Columbia Community College. It’s a small college in Maine, not too many people heard of it.” She smiled and I felt like crawling in a hole.

  “Oh!” I looked away from her. The night couldn’t be over soon enough.

  Turns out, though, that Benjamin had other ideas once we were done with the club. When the women went off to the restroom, he was eager to nab me. “Let’s say you take Shelby back to your place and I’ll take Daisy back to mine. These women are fine!!”

  I laughed, not believing we were even having this conversation. “Um…yeah, I don’t think that will work.” I put my empty bottle down on the bar. “I have to go.”

  He looked at me with bewilderment in his eyes, but I didn’t look back. He could do what he wanted with Daisy or Shelby, but I was getting out of there. I had too many other things on my mind and it didn’t include having sex with the strange woman. My how things changed.

  CHAPTER 21

  Charity

  I

  did my part of maintaining the secrecy that Paul so desperately wanted. However, I prayed that no one found out I knew, because it would come out as a definite betrayal to them. I went home after work for the week following his news to me and searched diligently online. There were a few positions that I felt confident I was qualified for, but a few that I felt I had no qualifications. Yet, that didn’t stop me from applying. I had to find some job and that meant putting myself out there, whether I deserved it or not.

  Although, even though you apply for something, doesn’t mean you’ll get it because after another week went by, I still hadn’t heard anything. I kept applying in hopes that someday, something would magically appear.

  After two weeks of keeping the secret, the memo finally came out. Paul promised me he wouldn’t tell anyone I knew and I trusted that, so I pretended like I was just as much in shock as they were. People started crying and I had to force the waterworks too. Unfortunately, I already had my fair share of crying, so that wasn’t quite as easy.

  In the memo, Paul had said he was going to try to place his employees with various competitors, as a good-will deed he felt he owed them. Yet, I didn’t feel that he would be able to place over a hundred candidates to odd office jobs, so I didn’t hold my breath on that one.

  So, when he came to me a week before we would be closing doors and told me that he thought he might have found the perfect job for me, I really felt more like he was just giving me a line. But, could I really not go with it. “Where?” I asked.

  “It’s a corporation called WM Financial. The CEO is looking for a well-
rounded individual that can be his personal assistant. I immediately thought of you.” He was rattling on all this great sounding information. I would get paid more, have better hours, etc. It had me excited, but then I questioned why he chose me.

  “Why me?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “I feel I almost owe it to you. We’ve been working together for so long and I don’t want you to feel like you can’t catch a break. Just go to the interview.”

  He handed me a card. It already had the time, date, and place that I needed to go. “Fine!” I said, staring down at the card. I then looked up at him. “Thanks for thinking of me.”

  He nodded. “Good luck!” he said.

  I left his office and slipped the card into my pants’ pocket. I went back to my desk and looked down at the box that I had already started packing. It was tough saying goodbye to the memories. I barely noticed when Michelle approached my desk. I gave her a smile and she started talking about the great opportunity that Paul found for her and she only hoped it panned out.

  She didn’t seem nearly as upset to say goodbye to those she worked with, so I wanted to be supportive of her. “Where?” I asked.

  “It’s a lawyer’s office on the North side of town. I’ll start off as a file clerk but the pay is equal to what I make now. What about you?” she asked.

  I told her about the position and she seemed happy for me, so I could hope that the interview went well. A few more employees approached my desk and we each talked about what places we had lined up and a part of me got a little stronger. It just wouldn’t be the same, but I would make sure I still kept in contact with everyone. That’s all we could do.

  CHAPTER 22

  Nolan

  T

  here was a knock on my door and I looked up. “Hey, Lydia.” I smiled. She was the HR manager and the one that would solely grab the applicants for Francesca’s replacement. I still couldn’t believe I had to find a replacement, but there was no talking her out of it. The ad went up just two days earlier, so I couldn’t believe Lydia would have a candidate, as of yet, lined up.

  “Hey! So, I don’t know if you hear about Broderick Incorporated?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, they filed bankruptcy.”

  She nodded. “I’ve been in contact with one of their managers and he’s seeking out employment for over a hundred employees.”

  “Wow! That’s nice of him,” I said. “Any candidate in there worthy of note?” I asked, laughing slightly.

  “Well, there’s a few, but he spoke highly of one in particular. I put her resume on top and you can look through these. She’s set up for an interview tomorrow, actually. I’m sorry for the delay.”

  I shrugged. “That’s fine. We have to get it done sooner or later, right?” I grabbed the folder from her. “Thanks!”

  “You’re welcome!” She left my office and I opened the file. I grabbed the first one out of there and saw the appointment sticker on it. She would be there at ten o’clock the next day. I pulled it off, so I could look at her resume and my jaw dropped when I saw the name.

  “That can’t be,” I mumbled. I turned to my computer and quickly typed out a search on Broderick Incorporated. I looked over the website until I found a link for a staff directory. As I had hoped it was alphabetically placed in the database. I scrolled all the way to the bottom where it said, Charity Wilcox. I clicked on her name, hoping there would be a picture. When it came back, I leaned back in my chair and stared at my computer. Sure enough her picture was there. Out of all the women that could be interviewed for Francesca’s replacement, I never would have expected to see Charity in the mix.

  I read through her profile and found myself continuing to stare at her picture. It was like a dream come true, but there was a problem. Was it possible that we could even work together? I didn’t know what happened to her two years ago when she walked away from my car. Anything could have prevented her from calling me.

  “She could be married by now,” I muttered, still reeling in the revelation.

  That wouldn’t stop me from giving her the interview she deserved, no matter what I thought about it. The truth was, I couldn’t wait to see her and I hoped she felt the same once she saw me.

  CHAPTER 23

  Charity

  I

  entered the large corporation and I was in awe. The building was newer than the one I currently worked in and much more extravagant. I felt nervous, but not as much as I did when I typically would have to go to an interview, but then again it’d been many years since I had to face that kind of stress.

  I put a smile on my lips and proceeded to the large oak desk, where a woman sat behind it, typing away at a computer. She looked up. “Hello. May I help you?” She looked vaguely familiar and when she looked at me, she also seemed to have the moment of recognition.

  “Um…uh…yeah, I…I’m here for an interview with…” My words trailed off. I don’t even remember being told who I was supposed to be meeting with. I’m sorry. I’m not sure the name of the person I’m meeting.”

  She nodded. “Okay. I’ll get him and he’ll be with you momentarily.” She left and never once did she mention who I was supposed to be meeting. I shrugged it off and took a seat in a small waiting room. While I waited for her, I looked around, being nosy as I wanted to see what it was all about.

  I caught a glimpse of the wall, where several pictures were displayed and I casually looked through them until my eyes landed on the one picture. I frowned and looked around to see if they were back yet. When I noticed they weren’t, I got up and went over to the wall. I looked at the picture and read the name on it. “Nolan Baxter,” I whispered. I couldn’t even believe it, even though I was staring at the picture and name plate.

  I heard someone clearing their throat and I turned around and was staring right at him in the flesh. My face had to be an array of redness because I was surprised to see him and the fact that I was still just as deeply connected to him was clear.

  I moved closer to him. I opened my mouth to say his name when I realized the woman was staring at us both. It then dawned on me where I met her before. It was two years ago the night my car broke down. “Hello,” I calmly said.

  He nodded. “Ms. Wilcox. Will you follow me?” I didn’t find it odd that he was so professional, especially because there was a woman gawking at us, but I felt really strange following him into his office. I didn’t know what to expect, starting with how he felt about me now.

  When we got back to his office, he closed the door behind us, then walked around and looked at me. “Wow!” I muttered.

  He nodded. “Yeah…agreed.” There was a smile tugging at his lips, but then he moved further away from me. “I first off want you to know that up until I got the resumes, I had no idea you were interviewing. In fact, I went online to see if it was the same Charity Wilcox.”

  “Oh…you did?” I asked. He nodded. “And when you saw it was?”

  He snickered. “Well, I didn’t cancel the interview, did I?”

  I chuckled and shook my head. He motioned for me to take a seat and then sat down in his oversized chair. It wasn’t as awkward as I assumed it would be, but there was a definite cause for concern. Would I be offered the job? And, would I accept?

  CHAPTER 24

  Nolan

  A

  s she answered the questions, I found my eyes trailing to her lips, then moving downward to the tiny scar on her chin and the cute freckles on her neck. My eyes kept moving, wanting to take her all in, and see if I was daydreaming or if this was real. When she would finish her answer, I would look back up, meeting her gaze and appearing totally professional.

  At the conclusion of the interview, I found myself feeling overwhelmed with confidence that this could really work. For three years now, I’d been wondering what my life would have been like if Charity would have been a permanent fixture. I’d thought about her numerous times, only to kick myself for not making more of an effort. But, it was
a two-way street. She didn’t make an effort either, so that’s why I would always question if maybe she wasn’t feeling the same kind of connection.

  “I believe that will do, Charity,” I said. I then cleared my throat, realizing how effortlessly her name rolled off my lips. “I mean…Ms. Wilcox, that’s all the questions I have.”

  She blushed and looked down at her hands that she’d been wringing in her lap, since the moment we started. I smiled because it was cute that she was so nervous in front of me, but then again it could just be her kneejerk reaction to interviews.

  “Do you have any questions for me?” I asked.

  “Um…yeah, I actually do,” she said. I was anxiously waiting for her question, not really prepared for what she needed to ask. “Do you think this would be a good idea?” she asked.

  I frowned, thinking about her question. It wasn’t typical, such as how often is payday? How many paid holidays are there? When would I start? Those are questions I would be accustomed to answering. However, it was clear that Charity had a different agenda in mind.

  “Well, let me put it to you this way,” I started. “I do feel compelled to help you out here. Call it whatever you want, I would like to offer you this job…solely on good Faith, have you.” Her eyes narrowed, but I quickly considered. “I doubt it’s a secret that I like you. Let’s face it…we haven’t exactly been around one another too often, but we’ve technically known each other for more than three years. When we have encountered one another, I have found myself to be drawn to you. If that worries you, I’m sorry, but it’s the truth. Do I think having a working relationship would be the wisest decision, knowing the past we’ve shared, probably not.” I shrugged. “That doesn’t really deter me from taking a chance.” I paused, reading her expressions, but getting nowhere. “What about you?”