Caroline lay stunned she wasn't sure what had just happened the last thing she remembered was rummaging to answer her phone in her pocket, then waking up like this at all the bottom of the stairs feeling rather bruised. She fluttered her eyes open trying to clear her vision, she was aware a few people gathered around her. Her eyes coming to focus on one face she didn't recognize, but one she would protest until her last breathe was the most beautiful, the most breathe taking.
Her gentle tones echoed over her "are you ok", caroline patted herself down mentally and physically assessing her over all state. "Yes I'm fine, just rather embarrassed" she smiled shly before sitting up and then standing. The crowd around her dissipating "I was just trying to find my phone, I must have slipped" kate nestled her arm under hers and helped her regain her poise. "Well you took quite a tumble you were unresponsive for a while there". "Was I?, I feel ok now as I said just embarrassed how many people saw it?" She grimaced at the prospect of the news being all over the school by the end of the day. "Not many im glad your ok though, never do heels myself always an added challenge even if they do make your legs look fab" kate finished. Shit! Did I just say that out loud, she watched Carolines shy smile confirm she had. Caroline smirked at a flushed looking woman before her, visible reprimanding herself for the slip. "Well Thank you for your help, I'm Dr Elliot I'm sure I don't recognize you" her usually hard exterior already softened as the woman in front of her smiled warmly.
"That's ok, I'm Kate McKenzie I was actually ringing you to find out where you office was I'm lost, so I hate to admit it but if you were looking for your phone this may well be partially my fault".
Kate couldn't help feel bad as she watched the woman who in apperence seemed very well kept, brush herself down and restore order to her immaculate two piece suit with a softy silk shirt beneath. "No it's fine honestly, there was a sign saying the steps were wet, I should have slowed down but I was running late for our meeting. I'm usually untouchable in these heels" Caroline laughed was she flirting, no surely not ...but still she was charmed by how easily this woman had pulled down her defenses.
Caroline reached her outer office door holding it open for the woman standing beside her, caroline followed as they entered. "Take a seat Ms McKenzie" Caroline offered gesturing to the sofas in her office with a small oak coffee table aside it.
"Thank you, please call me kate" caroline smiled "of course, please call me Caroline". They sat for some time discussing the position before getting side tracked onto other matters, it was strange Kate noted it felt oddity familiar between them, informal definitely. "So Caroline do I get extra brownie points when your making your decision on whether to hire me, based on my helping out this morning" Kate smirked.
Caroline wrinkled her forehead as if in deep through "Well possibly ,... Or I could take them away as you said you may possibly have been an influencing factor ringing my phone constantly". Kate raised an eyebrow playfully "Well yes true, but you must admire my need for punctuality I didn't want to be late to meet you. I think you also mentioned yourself the steps were wet and should have slowed down" Kate concluded smirking. "Umm" Caroline smirked "shall we call it a level playing field then" she watched as Kate's mouth stretched into a grin and she nodded in agreement. "Deal, well it was lovely to meet you Caroline ,I'll await to hear from you about the position" she reached to shake her hand. "I have to say your nothing like the dragon in heels that was described to me prior to our meeting" she laughed at Carolines dumbfounded face, she turned and let herself out of the office.
Caroline sat back down with little effort, not very often did someone leave her speechless, yet Kate McKenzie had definitely done that. Let's face it she was beautiful, funny, her cv and achievements impeccable, and she seemed to genuinely care about teaching. What was more, what fully surprised her was that she found she liked her, really liked her like they had known each other for years.
It was a strange feeling she felt exposed as if Kate saw straight through her, she wasn't scared of her, like most of the other staff she in theory she could potentially be a challenge. She seemed rather opinionated but in a dedicated kind of way, she got things done, much like herself. Caroline shook her head and stood heading to her chair, Who was she kidding she had the job the moment I saw her, at least now academically I can justify my decision, she's perfect, and well I'm always up for a challenge.