Filed to story: Can’t Get Enough Of You
Maybe I could even afford daycare if I was careful with my money.
But it turned out not to have been the answer to my prayers after all. It had been a false alarm. It was obvious by how my interviewer was totally blowing me off.
I glanced at my wristwatch. If I didn’t get going, I was going to lose my job at the restaurant. I couldn’t afford my bills if I had to rely on my freelance jobs alone.
“If that’s all, Mr. Shannon,” I started, not able to hide the irritation from my voice. “I won’t waste any more of your time.”
He blinked at me, surprised. “You’re leaving?”
I nodded. “It seems this interview is over.” If it really started, I added mentally.
His phone beeped again, and I didn’t hide the roll of my eyes.
“Miss Lowden,” he said, looking up at me. “It looks like you’re the perfect candidate.”
I frowned at him. “What?”
“Your resume is impressive, you’re clearly passionate about what you do, and… I’d like to offer you the job.”
My jaw dropped and I gaped at him, not trying to hide my confusion.
“I don’t understand.”
Mr. Shannon pushed his hands into his pockets casually. “I’ve been authorized to hire you right away if you’ll accept the offer. So, what do you say, Miss Lowden? How do you feel about being our new in-house campaign designer?”
I had no idea how this had just happened. Was he… offering me the job? Without a vague ‘I’ll call you back,’ or a second round of interviews, or… anything?
“Miss Lowden?” Mr. Shannon prompted.
“Oh, my God. Yes!” I exclaimed. “I mean, of course.” I barked a laugh I couldn’t contain before I clasped my fingers over my lips. “Where do I sign?”
Mr. Shannon chuckled. “We’ll take care of the paperwork when you come into work on Monday.”
“Monday?”
“Is that too soon?” he asked, looking concerned.
I shook my head. “Not at all. I’ll be here first thing.”
His concern melted into a satisfied grin and he opened the office door for me so that I could walk out. I contained myself beautifully. I kept my composure.
“If you have a bit of time, I’d like to give you a tour of the facilities,” he said when I wanted to turn toward the elevator.
I glanced at my wristwatch again. If I didn’t leave right this minute, I was going to be done at the restaurant for sure. But… I had a job! A great one! For the first time, I could close my eyes and jump without worrying that Liam would be without a safety net too.
“Of course,” I said. “I just need to make a quick call.”
Mr. Shannon nodded and I took out my phone, dialing my manager’s number to tell him something came up and I couldn’t finish my shift.
Something came up all right, but I couldn’t work the rest of the month-or the rest of my life
-in that hellhole.
When I ended the call, the weight fell off my shoulders and I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
“Ready?” Mr. Shannon asked.
I nodded and plastered a professional smile on my face, even though on the inside, I was bubbling and burning with the desire to call my mom, to call my friends, to shout it out to the world that finally something was going my way.
Mr. Shannon seemed a lot more present and engaged when he took me through the building. He showed me everything there was to see in the place. The different departments where people in neat clothing were hard at work. The cafeteria where he said they even catered for vegetarians, food allergies, and various religious diets. The garden outside where stressed workers could take a break and enjoy the fresh air, and so much more.
I struggled to take it all in. I only partially absorbed the loads of information he was dumping on me about the company. It was a large gourmet food distributor, and he talked rapidly about how food evoked emotion. He wanted me to bring that out in the campaign he was planning.
My heart was singing. All I could think about was Liam’s face and how it lit up whenever he saw me, and how I’d be able to see it even more now. I’d finally be able to spend more time with my son. We wouldn’t have to scrape by, and I wouldn’t be consumed by stress. It was a dream come true.
We rode the elevator to one of the top floors, where Mr. Shannon wanted to introduce me to the head of human resources. She was going to take care of my contract and account details on Monday, so it would be good for me to know her.
This part of the building was slick and luxurious, with thick carpets underfoot, rich wallpaper, and heavy bookcases along some of the walls. The people who passed us were dressed even more sharply than the rest of the staff, and they looked clean and polished and sure of themselves. It was clear I was in the management part of the company. The place had an air of reverence.
The conference rooms had large glass partitions rather than walls, and we walked past a meeting in session.
When I glanced at the man who stood at the end of the long table, my heart stopped.
I knew that face. The dark hair, the piercing eyes, the way his mouth moved when he talked.
I was jerked from the present and thrown back in time, to a place where a handsome college graduate had bought me a drink late at night and taken me back to his apartment. I was suddenly back in college, sleeping with the one man who had managed to see me for who I really was.
Nolan.
The father of my child.
“Are you coming?” Mr. Shannon asked, and I realized I’d fallen behind. I nodded and hurried to catch up to him, but my eyes drifted back to Nolan where he stood in front of a group of people, in command, in control, completely at ease.
At the last moment before I passed, his eyes locked on mine.
And he smiled.