Emma paced up and down the corridor outside the mayor's office. August had not told her that the job was so high-profile. There was no way she would get it. She just had to count this as interview experience and be grateful that he was paying for the petrol to travel them all the way here and back.

She had been waiting over half an hour. Apparently the job interview had been scheduled after a town meeting and it had run on longer than expected. A clerk had pointed out a water cooler down the hall and asked if she wanted a tea or coffee while she waited. Emma had politely declined.

She hated the waiting. It gave her time to worry about all the things she might forget to mention and if the mayor would just take one look at her résumé and laugh her out the front door.

"Come on Swan." She tried to encourage herself. "You've faced worse than this. There's no way a small-town mayor is going to be as scary as a high-school full of kids you don't know."

The doors opened and two people walked towards her, busy in conversation and carrying a small stack of paperwork each. Emma recognised a sheriff's badge on the man. He was good-looking, wearing casual clothes and hanging on his companions every word. The woman beside him… Emma had to look twice as she approached. She was dressed in smart business clothes which would have made any other woman appear unapproachable, but when she smiled at the sheriff's words her face softened and Emma took a step towards her without realising it.

"Ah yes." Regina said as she noticed her waiting. "You must be the one o'clock appointment. Sorry I'm late." She turned to the sheriff. "Thank you Graham, I can take the papers from here. If you'd like to follow me Miss Swan we can begin the interview straight away."

Graham opened the office door for her, holding it for Emma as well once Regina had gone inside.

"Good luck." He said before closing the door.

Emma looked around the mayor's office. It was a little bare of personal decorations, but there was a small plant on the windowsill. Everything appeared tidy, paperwork was neatly stacked and the pens were all perfectly upright in their holder.

"If you'd like to take a seat I'll just get your résumé and take a few notes while we talk."

"Sure… I mean, thank you."

Regina sat down at her desk, opening the top drawer and taking out a manila file. She glanced inside to check that she had the right résumé and then turned over to a crisp new page on her notepad.

"Now, I see you haven't had any experience working in an office before?"

And so the interview began. Emma felt her energy waning as Regina asked her question after question, her answers gradually failing to match the mayor's obvious expectations for a PA. Eventually Regina put her pen down on the desk and looked up at Emma.

"Do you have any questions about the position?" She asked.

"No, but I think…" Emma blurted out. "If you give me this chance you won't be disappointed. I can learn anything you think I should know and I would work really hard."

"I'm sure that you are aware this position has been vacant for a long time now. Some believe that is because I am too particular about who I will employ. If the truth be known, you are the first applicant."

"I am?" Emma looked hopeful.

"This is a small town. We don't have many new faces and the people are set in their ways. They are correct about one thing, and that is that I demand the 100% from my staff. The other clerks are general town employees; none of them work directly for me, but I am still the mayor. If you accept the position, they will also answer to you for additional duties you wish to delegate to them."

"You're offering me the job? That's it?"

"On a short-term trial basis, to see if you are as quick to learn as you say."

"When do you want me to start?"

"I assume you will need time to collect your belongings and say your goodbyes in the city. Would Monday morning be convenient?"

"Yes, of course."

"There is a B&B in town, I believe they have vacancies if you wish to move there on a temporary basis until you can find a more permanent home. The office dress code is smart-casual. No jeans, no trainers, no hoodies. T-shirts are fine so long as they don't have inappropriate wording or images on them. Once a month you will attend the town meetings with me. On those days you will wear smart clothes only."

"Got it."

Regina stood up and walked Emma to the door. She held out a hand and Emma shook it as she glanced out into the hall.

"It was nice meeting you Miss Swan."

"Call me Emma." She said, eager to be off to tell August the good news.

"I will see Monday."

Regina closed the door and Emma forced herself not to run down the corridor in her excitement. She had a job. A grown-up job, in an office and she had to wear smart clothes. Sure it was a trial basis, but she'd soon show the mayor how well she could work. Emma practically skipped down the front steps to where August was sitting on his bike.

"No luck, huh?" He smiled as he spoke.

Emma just stuck her tongue out at him. "Trial basis."

"Told you."

"How soon can you get my stuff sent over?"

"When do you start?" He figured he could borrow a truck from some friends and drive her down, given a couple of days notice.

"Monday." She told him.

He quickly recalculated, now he'd have to hire one.

"And I need to buy some new clothes, something suitable for a mayor's PA."

Make that a large truck.