Blinding Mirror

by Shelley Halima

  “I need a job badly and I want to work here. I don’t have any job experience so I know my application will go straight to the trash. That’s why I wanted to make my pitch directly to you. I’m a fast typist and I can file, answer phones and run errands. Well, as long as it doesn’t involve driving because I don’t know how. I promise I’ll be a hard worker. You won’t regret hiring me.”

  “To be frank, all of my secretaries are experienced and have been doing this for years. The head secretary, Betty, has been with me since my brother and I took over from our father.”

  “Was she experienced when you first hired her?”

  Gino hesitated for a moment.

  “Well, no. But she caught on quickly.”

  “So can I if you give me a chance.”

  “Listen, I wish I could help you out but I do know most of the jobs we’re hiring for are out in the field or administrative positions that call for a degree plus experience.” He stood up. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you out. But there are other businesses around here that I’m sure you’ll have better luck with.”

  Oliva forced herself to cry. Gino glanced around his office for a box of tissue and when he didn’t spot any he took out a handkerchief from his jacket pocket. He leaned over the desk and handed it to Oliva who took it and heartily blew her nose.

  “I’m sorry. I know I’m not leaving a very professional impression on you. But it just seems like nothing is going right for me. I don’t mean to be so emotional but ever since I lost my mother and father it seems my life has gone downhill. It’s been just one thing after another one.”

  “You lost your parents?”

  “Yes.” She sniffled and pretended to struggle to gain composure. “You know about Flight 182?”

  “You mean the one that crashed in San Diego last year?”

  “Right. They were on that flight. I would’ve been on the plane with them but I stayed home because I wasn’t feeling well. So many times I’ve wished that I was on that plane with them. I don’t have anyone else—no brothers or sisters, aunts or uncles. I was staying with my dad’s friend until he, uh, began making advances. So now I’m renting a place not too far from here. My parents didn’t have much to leave me and my money is dwindling which is why I need a job desperately.” She dabbed the handkerchief at her nose. “This is going to sound silly but the other reason I want to work with you so bad is Dorchester Plaza.”

  “Dorchester Plaza?”

  “I know you and your brother built it. My parents and I used to go there every Sunday to window-shop and have lunch. I still go there and pretend they’re with me. My father was an admirer of a lot of your work. He was a bit of an architectural buff and he showed me many of the buildings you did in the area: the Lyndon Building, Century Mall. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to go on and on.”

  “That’s quite all right. My brother is the one who is responsible for the designs of the building. I handle the construction end. In any case, I’m sorry to hear about your parents.”

  “Thank you. I apologize for taking up your time.” She rose from her seat. “I just had to give this a shot.”

  “Wait. I’ll talk with the girls and see if maybe they could use some extra help around here. Perhaps we can start you off part-time.”

  Oliva’s face lit up. “Really? I won’t let you down. I will work so hard, Mr. Valente!”

  “Hold on a minute. I can’t make any promises but I’ll look into it for you.”

  “Okay. I’ll keep my fingers crossed. It would be great if something good finally happened for me.”

  Gino picked up a note tablet and a pen and handed them to her.

  “Write down you number so I can get in touch with you.”

  She took it and wrote her phone number.

  “And your name. What is it by the way?”

  She looked up from writing.

  “Olivia. Olivia Machado.”

  Chapter 23

  Oliva, now Olivia, walked to her place feeling she had accomplished her mission. She knew it was only a matter of time before she heard from Gino. She put on a convincing performance and the job was as good as hers. How could he add another twist of bad luck to her already heart-wrenching sob story? Finding out his parents died in a boating accident was just what she needed when she was coming up with a tale to spin. Pilar told her once that one of the things that could connect total strangers was a similar tragedy. She owed everything to her. Before she met her, Olivia only dreamt of what she was now well on her way to attaining. Pilar showed her it could be done. That’s why she chose the last name Pilar held onto. Her life and all she was about to achieve would be a dedication to Pilar and her own way of making up for her betrayal.

  In five minutes she was able to push the right buttons in Gino to get what she wanted. She had no doubt given even more time with him she could have him wrapped around her proverbial finger.

  The call Olivia was waiting for came the next afternoon. She was just getting ready to take a nap when the phone rang.

  “Yes?”

  “Miss Machado, please,” said a female voice.

  “This is she.” Olivia sat up in the bed.

  “Hello. This is Betty St. James from Mr. Valente’s office. He told me to call and inform you he has a part-time position here in the office if you’re still interested.”

  A smile that would make a Cheshire cat proud spread across Olivia’s face.

  “I’m very much still interested.”

  “Good. You can begin Monday. Your hours will be from eight to twelve, five days a week. Before you come to this office, stop down in Human Resources in 108 to fill out the necessary paperwork. Be sure to bring at least two pieces of I.D. And, I guess that’s it. Any questions?”

  “No, not that I can think of. Thanks for calling.”

  “Certainly. And Miss Machado, Mr. Valente told me this is your first job so I feel I should let you know I oversee all that goes on in the office and I run a pretty tight ship. That means no tardiness, no personal phone calls unless it’s an emergency and always, always be professional. Anything less than that and I’ll take it up with Mr. Valente. Are we clear?”

  “Yes, I understand.”

  “We’ll see on you Monday.”

  Olivia heard the line click and she hung up the phone. She sat back against her pillows and began thinking of all she had to do to set her plan in motion once she started to work at Valente Construction. Near the top of her list was coming up with a way to get rid of Betty St. James.

  Chapter 24

  Olivia’s confidence in her plot to win over Gino took a hit. She had been working at Valente Construction for three weeks but only had two opportunities to engage him in conversation and both times were interrupted by Betty telling her about a task that needed to be completed. The time slot that she worked also went against her in finding some time to spend with him. He normally came in late in the morning and stayed late at night. The person who often worked late to assist him was Betty. Olivia thought at the rate she was going she would never find a way to get close to him.

  One thing she detested about the job was being under the constant watchful eye of Betty. She scrutinized everything Olivia did and once lectured her for half an hour over the importance of filing correctly because Olivia mistakenly filed a document in the folder behind the one it should have gone in. Olivia didn’t know it but Betty’s scrutiny would be the key she needed to get closer to Gino.

  Betty had never been pregnant but if there was one thing she could do it was spot when someone else was. There didn’t have to be the obvious bump either. There were a few instances that she informed women of pregnancies they weren’t even yet aware of. Only one time was she wrong. However, she was sure the new girl Olivia was expecting. She didn’t like Olivia from the start. She had a brash confidence that irritated Betty to her core. She walked into the office as if she was the boss. Betty had been there for fifteen years and she would be damned if the young upstart was going to come in there wi
th that attitude. She tried to talk Gino out of hiring the girl but he was insistent. Who the hell did she think she was to just walk off the street and appeal for a job to him directly? No, Olivia had to go. During one of the late nights she worked with Gino she let him know her suspicions in the hopes that along with her complaints about Olivia’s work would make him consider letting her go.

  Olivia was typing up a memo when Gino walked in.

  “Good morning, ladies.”

  “Good morning, Mr. Valente,” they all chimed.

  He walked over to Olivia’s desk.

  “Olivia, may I speak to you in my office for a minute?”

  Olivia looked up at him puzzled.

  “Of course.”

  She got up and followed him into his office. As she passed Betty’s desk, the smug look on Betty’s face let her know she was behind whatever talk Gino was about to have with her. She entered his office and he closed the door behind her. She sat in the chair in front of his desk and he leaned against the desk facing her, arms folded.

  “Olivia, I have a very delicate question to ask you.”

  “Sure, what is it?”

  “Um, are you, uh, are you with child?”

  The wheels began to spin furiously in her head.

  “Why do you ask?”

  “Please answer the question.”

  Now Olivia knew for sure Betty was behind him asking the question. The day before, she made a remark to Olivia about her having that glow that many pregnant women have. Olivia ignored her but now...Then it hit her. The nosy witch had really helped her out. She already had the story ready for Gino whenever the opportunity presented itself–and here it was. Olivia covered her face with her hands and worked on the tears. When she felt the tears come, she removed her hands.

  “Yes, I am pregnant. Remember when I told you about my Dad’s friend that I was staying with until he began making advances?”

  “I remember.”

  “Mr. Valente, he did more than make advances. He-he-he raped me.”

  “Dear God!” As he did before, Gino handed her his handkerchief for her tears.

  “Yes, he raped me.” With as forlorn a look as she could muster she turned her head up to Gino. “I was a virgin. I was saving myself for my husband and he took that away. Now I’m just soiled and dirty and no one will want me.”

  “No, don’t say that, Olivia. It wasn’t your fault.” His heart went out to her. To have gone through the tragedy of her parents being killed was bad enough but to then be raped and impregnated by the only person left to turn to was terrible beyond words.

  “I was going to have an abortion. I couldn’t do it. I don’t want this baby to not have a life because of that monster. It’s not the baby’s fault.”

  “I understand. You’re so brave. I had H.R. send me a copy of your application and saw that you just turned twenty-one this year. I’m truly in awe that you’ve managed to survive all you have at such a young age and to be so strong. I’m sorry for prying and asking you about this.” The reason he wanted to know was he was a bit taken with Olivia. He tried his best not to show it but he actually looked forward to seeing her face when he came in every morning. Still, after Betty told him she thought Olivia was pregnant, he was surprised at the jealousy that arose in him. He figured she must have had a boyfriend. And that jealousy was strong enough for him to cross the professional line and ask such a personal question.

  “I’m glad you did. It feels so good to talk to someone about it instead of keeping it bottled up. Am I going to lose my job though?”

  He looked shocked at the question.

  “Come on, Olivia. Do I look like some heartless shrew? Of course I’m not going to fire you. Just be sure to take it easy. I’m going to tell Betty not to have you picking up those boxes of old files and taking them down to storage anymore. And don’t worry about medical expenses or anything. We have a great benefits package that you’ll be eligible for soon. And if you need some prenatal care before then, just tell me and I’ll pull some strings. Let me know if I can be of help in any way, okay?”

  Olivia stood up and hugged him tightly. She then stepped back and pretended to be embarrassed by her gesture.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Valente. It’s just that being shown such kindness makes me feel like I’m not so alone, you know?”

  “You’re not alone.” He held her gaze for a few moments and then broke it. I’m one second from taking this girl in my arms. I’ve got to get ahold of myself.

  There was a knock on the door. Betty didn’t wait for a response to her knock and opened the door.

  “Mr. Valente, that call from Illinois you were waiting for is on line 1.”

  “Thanks, Betty.”

  Betty stood at the doorway as if she were waiting for Olivia to come out.

  “Thanks again,” Olivia said to Gino.

  “You’re very welcome.”

  Olivia turned and walked out past Betty. Betty went back to her desk and sipped on her coffee and looked at Olivia as she went back to typing the memo. She tried to read something past the self-satisfied smirk on Olivia’s face. She wondered what Mr. Valente said to the girl but it didn’t look as if she would finally be out of her hair anytime. Olivia looked up from her typewriter and their eyes met. Betty didn’t know why but she was unnerved by the look Olivia was giving her. She turned away and shuffled some papers on her desk.

  Olivia knew she had to find a way to get rid of Betty as soon as possible. She found the ideas she had come up with were far too involved and she needed something relatively simple. Even though today was the first time she and Gino spent any time alone since she first approached him about a job, she could tell he was beginning to like her. Why else would he send for information on her and ask about her pregnancy? Olivia thought at first she was imagining that certain look in his eye when he greeted her but after the tension she felt from him in his office; she knew she wasn’t imagining it. Now she needed to spend time with him to work on him some more. Betty was the only secretary able to work the late nights with Gino since the other two secretaries Desiree and Valerie had kids they had to attend to when they got out of school. Once Betty was out of the way there should be no problem with her being chosen as the one for the late work nights. Sure she was still inexperienced but despite Betty’s comments about her work, she knew she caught on to many things quickly. Yes, Betty was about to be taken of.

  As Olivia was about to leave for the day and Desiree and Valerie to lunch, Betty announced she needed to speak to them for a minute. They all covertly rolled their eyes and walked over to where she was standing by her desk.

  “Girls, on Friday we are going to have some very important clients from Japan come in. Actually, they’re not clients yet but we’re hoping they will be. Desiree, I’m going to need you to arrange a catered lunch and set up the conference room, and Valerie you’re going to be in charge of arranging transportation from the airport and making hotel reservations. I’m going to need your desks to look extra spiffy with not a pen out of place.” She looked at Olivia as if she were specifically directing her last comment to her. “So wear your best outfits and an eager smile. It’s very important we make the greatest impression possible. That’s all, you may go.”

  The three of them left out of the office and as soon as they were out of earshot of Betty they began grousing.

  “I cannot stand her sometimes!” exclaimed Desiree as she pushed the elevator button. “She can be cool one day then the next she’s Cruella DeVille. ‘You may go’,” she mocked. “Just dismissing us like little schoolgirls.” She pushed her long dark hair off her shoulder as they got on the elevator.

  Olivia couldn’t help but feel a little envious whenever Desiree wore her hair down because it reminded her of her long locks that were still in the beginning stages of growing back.

  “We’ve been working here long enough to know how to conduct ourselves,” Valerie chimed in.

  “She was probably just saying that for my benefit,”
said Olivia.

  “Psh!” Desiree waved her hand. “She shouldn’t have to tell you either. I couldn’t believe it when I heard this was your first job. You conduct yourself like you’ve been doing this for years, Olivia.”

  “Thanks,” Olivia blushed. She liked Desiree and Valerie. They were the closest she had to having friends. Though she spared the details, she confided in them that she was pregnant. They didn’t seem to judge her and were quite supportive.

  “Yeah, you really do,” agreed Valerie. “Don’t you just love it when she decides to make these announcements right when it’s time for us to leave for home or lunch? She was sitting right there at her desk for a full hour before she called us over but she waits until we’re about to leave out.”

  “Okay, we’ll see you tomorrow,” Desiree told Olivia.

  “Bye,” said Valerie.

  Olivia waved to them both and began her trek to her apartment. She had to call JoJo when she got home because she needed his help again. She didn’t know if he could supply what she needed but she was pretty certain he would know someone who could.

  Chapter 25

  Gino was giving his potential new clients a tour of the building. His brother Anton was still out of town overseeing a project in Philadelphia so Gino introduced Anton’s staff and showed off some models of projects in the works. He and the Osakis struck up an even better rapport in person than over the numerous telephone conferences. Everything was going well but when they got back to his office, all hell broke loose.

  As soon as he walked in and saw the looks on the faces of Olivia, Desiree, and Valerie, he knew something was wrong. Desiree came up to him, did a quick, awkward bow to the Osakis and whispered to Gino.

  “Mr. Valente, something is terribly wrong with Betty.”

  “What? Is she sick?”

  “I don’t know she just started acting really strange and ran out of the office--” She looked over his shoulder and gasped.