Chapter 9 – All work and no play
I awoke from a restless night, my mind foggy and my eyes sore. Though I was meant to rest after Garfield had left me, rest had eluded me. And instead I lay awake for countless hours as whenever I did fall to sleep I would see his face. Forcing myself up and out of bed I walked into the living area to find the apartment still empty. Kori must have stayed the night at Richard's, but the emptiness I had felt last night was still palpable now and I halved wished for her distraction.
I headed straight to the shower and couldn't wait for the soothing caress of the warm water. I instantly felt more refreshed and alert afterwards and with my hair still damp and the towel around my shoulders I made myself a large cup of tea. Taking a seat at the breakfast counter I pondered my next step. Not only had I been physically tired but I was mentally tired of feeling weak and helpless and I was avid I wouldn't allow myself to feel that again. I needed to do something and I needed to get a job so that I could be out and earn myself some money. Gain a little of my independence back and perhaps even my courage.
As I sat thinking this over something else popped into my mind that I had forgotten. Getting up from the stool I retrieved my bag that still sat upon the sofa. Rummaging into its depths I eventually caught hold of what I was looking for. Taking the small white card out, I looked at the scripture print upon it, Malcolm Dragor Real Estate Developer. Though I had been reluctant in expecting his job offer when we had met, it was the only proposition I had and I had nothing to loose in calling the number neatly typed below his name.
Grabbing the receiver from the side table I pressed in the eleven digits before I could talk myself back out. I was left hanging as the dialling ring droned on and I began to think twice about what I was doing. This was a complete stranger offering a job that I had no experience in doing. How was this really going to work? But before I could give up and hang the phone up, a smooth rich voice clicked on the other end.
"Malcolm Dragor speaking."
"Hel…Hello" I stuttered foolishly, "You may not remember me but we met some time last week at a café, my name is Raven."
"Of course I remember you my dear," he replied, his voice taking on a much lighter tone. "And what do I owe the pleasure of this phone call?"
"When we met you said you had a job opening as your personal assistant and I was wondering if it was possible to discuss it further." I said my voice growing stronger with my conviction.
"Of course my dear, let's meet so that we can discuss in detail. Are you free this lunchtime to meet?"
"That's….that's fine" I hesitated, surprised it was happening so quickly.
"I'll be in 'The Paper Rose Café' do you know it?"
I confirmed that I did and we arranged a time to meet. I was left clutching the receiver for a moment longer after he had clicked off the other end. Shaking my head, I grabbed back hold of my determination. This is what I had wanted to happen. I needed a job and why not take this opportunity while it was here.
Wasting no more time I went into my room and began the mammoth task of deciding on an outfit to wear. After many rejections I decided on a pair of wide leg grey trousers and a silk black shirt tucked in. If this was indeed a job discussion then I needed to look smart and presentable. I then took my time in doing my hair, first drying and brushing it out and then deciding that maybe I should put it up. In the end I decided to have my hair down and then moved onto my make up. That was a much simpler task as I never wore heavy make up anyway with touches of foundation and mascara to frame my eyes.
Finally satisfied with my appearance I took a glance at the clock. So focussed on not loosing my nerve I had missed the fact that I now had to wait an hour and a half till our meeting time. Not wanting to wait in the empty apartment watching the minutes tick by and grow restless, I decided that I would just walk in. The café we were meeting in was just to the other side of the city from where the apartment was so I could take the walk slowly and if any time still remained I could walk among the shops. Grabbing my bag, coat and black ballet pump shoes (I was walking after all) I left the apartment without turning back.
I had arrived too early. I just couldn't focus myself enough to walk round the shops. In the end I thought it best to just wait in the café and I would then be able to have a tea in comfort. This had all been fine until this Malcolm Dragor then kept me waiting. Our meeting time came and then slowly ticked past and with each minute I was growing more and more irritated. How dare he keep me waiting?
"Have you been waiting long?"
I was interrupted from my fuming by the slick voice beside me that I recognised from the phone conversation. I looked up to the right to see him standing there looking expectantly at me and I caught my breath. I had forgotten how striking his appearance was from the first time we had met. He wore a deep blue suit and shirt with a silver neck tie. The darkness of his suit made the lightness of his bleached blood hair all the more striking but somehow didn't spoil his overall appearance and look garish.
I couldn't answer him and watched as he signalled to a waitress and took the seat opposite from mine. I instead concentrated in keeping my expression straight though I found my eyes glued to his form. Everything about him was so pale, even his complexion that he almost rivalled mine. He looked to be made of ice even his eyes that I pondered if he felt cold to the touch.
"I apologise, my meeting ran over. Have you eaten?" Malcolm asked just as a young waitress came up to our table.
The girl took Malcolm's order of coffee and toasted sandwich, showing brilliant white teeth behind full lips, her large brown eyes solely upon him. Malcolm gestured to me to take my order and the girl seemed reluctant to look at me and a bored expression then spread across her features. I ordered another tea but nothing to eat just so that she wouldn't continue to stand there any longer. Once the waitress left, her blond hair bouncing behind her, Malcolm focussed his pale eyes upon me.
"I was pleased to receive your phone call, finding an assistant is proving to be a trying matter." He said, slight exasperation in his voice.
"You've had many applications?" I asked.
"A few but nothing worth pursuing, I hope my luck is about to turn around now though" said Malcolm a smile gracing his features.
Before I could answer we were interrupted by the return of the waitress with our tea and coffee. As she placed Malcolm's coffee in front of him, she gave her eye lashes an extra flutter for good measure. He paid little attention to her and I was pleased to see her retreat and begin to serve another table.
"So Raven, tell me more about yourself. Why should I hire you?" Malcolm questioned me.
I took a moment to think my answer through. "Well I'm hard working and strong minded which I think would suit a business. And though I may have no experience in this job area, I'm confident I can pick up the skills needed quickly." I was pleased with my answer, it sounded professional and confident even to my ears.
"Experience isn't necessarily needed. Where have you worked before?"
Now that was a tricky question to answer. I had worked the odd weekend job but that had been before we moved. It then left me with being unemployed for just over a year. "I've worked part time retail jobs before" I finally had to answer.
"Customer service is all the experience needed as it is necessary for any business," he smiled reassuringly, "do you drive a car Raven?"
"I…uh no….I don't" I answered and he smiled at my hesitation.
"Tell me do you have any other commitments, a husband maybe or children, or perhaps a boyfriend?"
"No" I answered feeling like this was a question about my marital statues then necessarily for the job, "I have no children or partner. I live with my room mate on the west side of the city."
"Perfect, then I'll have you all to myself," he said, his voice so low that I thought of a cats purr. I suddenly became aware of how closely his eyes were looking at me. I quickly hid the heat I could feel rising to my cheeks by taking a drink of my tea.
To my relief a waiter this time came to the table with Malcolm's toasted sandwich. I was allowed a brief moment of silence as he took a few bites of the sandwich. I found myself now fascinated by the delicacy of his long pale hands. I had never found myself so fascinated by another human being before. I briefly pondered what was coming over me. How was this man hypnotising me with just his mere gestures.
"Well, I should explain a little about what the job will entail," Malcolm said, placing his mug of coffee down, "you will be my personal assistant, this will involve taking and organising my meetings and phone calls. There will also be some paperwork along the way which will mostly need filing. My office is located around this area of the city, up broad walk and you will be working from there but there will be occasion where I will need you to join me on seeing actual properties. Of course firstly you'll be working very closely with me until you are fully trained."
The way that he said 'very closely' sent chills through my body that at first I couldn't pin point. I decided it must have been nerves.
"Do you have any questions for me my dear?" Malcolm asked.
"What will be the pay?" I asked outright.
Malcolm chuckled softly before answering, "The pay is 1.2K a month to begin with but as you gain more experience I am open in you having a pay rise. The hours are the standard eight hours of nine till five with the occasional overtime. And of course you'll be entitled to holiday."
I nodded my acknowledgement as he also answered the other questions I had thought of. Malcolm saw that I had nothing to add and signalled to a passing waiter for the bill.
"Well I am certainly interested and I will be in touch. Do you have a number I could contact you with?"
I scribbled my mobile number with my name on a scrap piece of paper ripped from my pocket diary and passed it to Malcolm.
"Raven Roth?" he said looking at the paper.
"Yes" I affirmed just as the bill arrived to our table. When I went to pay for my teas, Malcolm refused and said he would pay as he had to make me wait.
"It was a pleasure to talk with you Raven, I will be in touch." He said as he stood up from the table.
"Thank you for meeting with me" I quickly added following suit and standing with him. I extended my hand out for him to shake, keeping up my professional persona.
Malcolm took my hand with a smile. "Take care my dear," he said before turning and leaving the café.
I was left standing a moment longer watching him leave and feeling the warmth of his hand.