A new Job

I look at the building. Mancini is written in large letters on the front. I'm shaking as I prepare myself to go in, yet I don't want to. I know I should, I don't even know what the company is.

My mistake, I spent all night reading his contract I didn't consider searching and finding out about the company. What if he asks me what I think of the company?

I can’t even answer that. I go to walk in, yet I can't, I need this job even if he has a side of him I don't feel comfortable with. I stand looking at the building, time seems to be passing me by, as I keep glancing at the clock, watching as it moves. I should have been in there twenty minutes ago, I am late.

Why I am so afraid to walk in there I don’t know. I laugh slightly, I know why. I have the words of that contract burned into my head and now my mind is playing games with me, telling me that is what he wants.

Maybe I should leave? I am late now, so no doubt he will be busy. Giving my head a wobble, I walk through the doors; a young man stood waiting.

"Miss Delcox?" I nod looking at him. He is short and thin, but clearly very well-educated. My eyes begin glancing around. Why is everyone dressed so casually? I look down at myself; I am overdressed, way too overdressed.

"This way. Mr Mancini has been waiting for you." I nod and follow. Why am I so quiet? I can't just nod in response to everything and I certainly cannot get through the interview nodding. He has been waiting. Surely after 5 minutes, he should have said to tell me I am too late.

He guides me to a door opening, Marcus sat there at the desk. He looks up and smiles at me.

"I assumed you were not coming and had changed your mind?" He looks at me. Is that a question? I believe it is, even if it isn’t, I need to speak.

"No, sorry I was just running a little late." Okay, so I lied, maybe not the best start to this job interview, but what is the other option? I was standing outside debating if I should come in after reading your contract. Yeah, lying is the best thing right now.

"Come in and sit down." Nodding, I do. My mind goes back to the guy, he knew my name.

"Wait a minute, how did he know my name?" I never gave it to Marcus, so how did the other guy know it?

"Not that hard, Miss Delcox. You see, I work closely with the firm that declined your application. A simple phone call and I was able to get your name." His response seems genuine; still weird though.

"Anyway, how did you find the contract, the terms inside it, the jobs you may be required to do from time to time?" His words make me look at him. My cheeks begin to fluster as my heart rate speeds up. I can't deny it or lie. What happens if he asks me a question about it?

"Erm, well." I move and grab the contract out of my bag and place it on the desk.

"You gave me the wrong one." His eyes glance down, and the shock is evident on his face. He clearly had not meant to give me that one.

"I am so sorry, Miss Delcox. Please accept my apologies, for I carry a few contracts around with me. I am truly sorry." He quickly grabs it, shoving it in his drawer. His hand reaches into his case and hands me a different one.

He looks ashamed slightly, I feel bad and like I need to make him feel safe that I don’t think it was bad.

"Hey, no worries, Mr. Mancini. It was excellent bedtime reading material." Okay, that was wrong, maybe I shouldn't have read it? Okay, no I should not have read it, maybe I shouldn't have admitted to reading it? I am not getting this job.

"You read it?" He looks shocked. Maybe now I have lost the job for sure, and before even being interviewed? Time to grovel and apologise.

"I did, and I apologise for that. It was clearly invading your personal space. I didn't look at the cover, I just flipped it open and began reading. Then afterwards, I just couldn't stop reading it. Again, I am sorry. I should have respected your personal space."  Only now have I realised what I have done. Anyone else would have put it down and not read it, but me? No, I did.

"It is fine, Miss Delcox. Honestly, call me Marcus. As my personal assistant, you may from time to time be printing these off anyway. I was just surprised it interested you enough to want to read." His voice is low as he sits looking at me, and all I can do is nod in response.

"So, what I will need help with. You will be my personal assistant, here and outside of work. I may from time to time invite you to an event as a sort of escort—none sexual of course—but you will be paid for your time with me. You will be writing up contracts, ensuring I make all my appointments, and pretty general stuff, to be honest." Once again, I nod. What is wrong with me? I need to speak.

"That all sounds fine with me. Can I ask what the dress code is?" He looks at me and laughs slightly.

"Sorry, I should have told you. I don't like the whole suited-and-booted rule. If you’re comfortable like that, sure, but as long as you do not show up in jogging bottoms and a baggy jumper, you are fine. Smart casual is fine. I will however always be seen in a suit as I go to meetings." He seems so relaxed, a little too relaxed to be someone's boss.

"Okay, that is great." He nods at my response.

"Now, please tell me about you. I like to get to know my employees on a personal level, so then I know who they really are." Nodding, I open my mouth to answer, closing it again. What parts should I share with him? Should I share everything or just the good parts? Do I go into details about being the sixteen-year-old who lost her baby and turned to drugs? I shouldn’t, even I know that shouldn’t be said.

"I am 26, born in the country, and my dad raised me alone till I was 22 when he passed away. I was a model student in school, went to college and to university studying business, law, counselling, and accounting." I guess a slight lie, there and parts missing but they are not important. I go to carry on, but his hand lifts up stopping me.

"Why so many different courses?" He looks at me questioningly.

"Well, I was always going to do business and accounting, but then after my dad had an issue and needed a lawyer, I decided to do law as well, and the counselling, well, I don't know. I just wanted to do something that could help people on a personal level, not just business. I got scholarships, so after one university degree I moved on to the next." It was tiring, that is for sure, but well worth it—or I thought it would have been anyway.

"So, I hope this is not too personal, but relationships? Your close friends and partners, how much commitment do you need for them?" His question throws me, yet another question I can answer easily, but at the same time, I am not sure I should tell the truth.

"My friends are all miles away. I moved cities to find new work and clearly failed at that. And no partner, the last two years I have not wanted that commitment while trying to find a job and settle down here." Truth; I can't lie and then somehow have so much free time on my hands.

"Okay, well, Miss Delcox, if you are willing to take the job, then it is yours." He looks at me waiting for my response.

"Sorry if this seems rude, but why? Surely, you have a drawer full of applications for this job. Why just give it to me without checking my experience?" Maybe I shouldn't be asking this, but I feel I need to.

"Well, firstly, yesterday you were like a damsel in distress, and well, I can't have you staying like that. Second, I am an outstanding judge of character, and you, Anaya, seem perfect for the job. I guess a third thing would be sometimes you have to take risks to move forward. Here, I am taking a risk." Nodding, I say nothing else. His reasons are enough.

"So, is that a yes?" He looks at me waiting.

"Yes, I would love the job." He smiles and stands up.

"Great, let me show you around while I explain the business, and if you are not busy tonight, I have a business meeting I need someone to accompany me to?" He looks at me. This seems to be going too quickly, but I need the job.

"Of course."

He smiles as we walk out the door and he shows me around the building. The building is big, and he introduces me to the main people I will be speaking to daily. He has done well for himself, that is for sure, but I love the fact the place is relaxed; no one stressing over getting work done. Sure had I known what the business was before I came into this building I would probably not have shown up for the interview.

"Anyway, that is everything. Let's get the paperwork signed." We walk back into his office and I begin signing the paperwork, including a confidentiality form. The last form I read through is how much I will be paid, but to be honest, I don't care. Anything is better than nothing.

"All done." I smile and slide the forms across to him.

"Great, tonight at seven I will pick you up, and you start work here tomorrow." Nodding, I stand up.

"Thank you." I stretch out my hand and he shakes it as I go to leave, but my hand stops on the handle and I turn back to him.

"What sort of meeting is it? Sorry, I just don't know what sort of thing to wear." I don't, and to be honest, if it is a sit-down meal type thing, nothing I have in my cupboard is suitable. I highly doubt a little black club dress will impress—well, not in the right way anyway.

"We are going to El Nicho. If you do not have something suitable, let me know. We have company cards to cover extras such as these." I begin shaking my head, but in reality, I need it. I am overdrawn so I can't even pretend I had something and buy something new.

This job isn’t as easy as I thought it would be, now I have to admit I don’t have the money to buy a dress.

"That would be helpful, I don't have anything suitable for there." He nods and picks up the phone. Talking quickly, he smiles, and a woman walks through the door handing him something before quickly leaving again.

"Here is the card, there is no limit. Ensure you have the correct shoes and accessories to go with the dress, bring the card to work tomorrow, and it will go under business expenses." Nodding, I take the card and leave, and my next few hours are spent walking around shops having no luck.