Chapter Fourteen

An Interview and a Surprise

I don't know why, but I found myself thinking about that handsome stranger almost constantly from then on. His image seemed fixed in my memory, and I could not erase it, though I can't say I really did much to try and forget him. He fascinated me somehow – I can't explain it. The only thing that bothered me now was that I didn't know his name, or how I would even get to see him again. Then I would shake myself when these thoughts entered my head and reprimand myself sharply, Why does it even matter to you, Julia Evans? Who cares if you never see him again anyway? He was just a man you bumped into at the Ice-Rink for goodness sake! Forget him!

Yet despite these severe reproaches that I gave myself, I found that I could not completely put him out of my mind, much to my consternation and puzzlement. I could not explain or even comprehend why I felt this way. They were new and bewildering feelings to me, and quite unfathomable.

The next few days passed like this, and I am ashamed to say, even affected my revision for my exams. It was almost as though a battle was raging in me – a battle and confusion of feelings and emotions that I could not grasp or control. I became distracted easily, and found it hard to concentrate on my studies. On top of all that, thoughts of my possibly working at The Thornley Hotel kept filling my mind, and I wondered if and when I would hear from them. I expected a call on my mobile phone almost every minute of the day, summoning me for an interview. I waited, I hoped and I prayed.

It was on Thursday morning that I received the news that I wanted to hear my mobile phone. I reached for it eagerly as soon as I heard the familiar sound of my ringtone alert me that I was receiving a call. I cast a glance at the screen to see who was calling, and my stomach lurched forward as I read the words Number Unavailable. Could it be . . .? I thought hopefully.

"Hello, Julia Evans speaking," I said.

"Good-morning," came the reply.

I scrunched up my brown in deep thought. That voice sounded vaguely familiar, and yet I could not quite place it. Somehow voices never sounded quite the same on the phone as when you heard them in person.

"This is Ethan Richards speaking," the voice continued, "from The Thornley Hotel. I'm calling you in response to your C.V. you handed in the other day."

"Yes?" I said eagerly.

"I would like to call you in for an interview. Can you make it for Saturday morning at eleven o'clock?"

I had to keep myself from squealing out loud with delight. "Yes, thank-you. Eleven o'clock on Saturday morning is perfect!"

"Very well, Julia," was the formal and rather officious-sounding reply. "I shall see you then. Good-bye."

"Good-bye, and thank-you!"

I heard the receiver click on the other end, and I laid down my phone in exultant ecstasy. I was going for an interview on Saturday! Surely it was all meant to be! What a wonderful thing to be able to have a job in such a grand and beautiful place such as The Thornley. Even though I had seen it only once, I had already fallen completely in love with it. It had such a romantic and mysterious air about it, as well as appearing so imposing and magnificent. I could hardly wait until Saturday!

It seemed as though Saturday would never come, but come it did, and what a glorious June morning it turned out to be! I was in high spirits. Things certainly seemed to be going my way, as I walked with a care-free, lightness of step toward The Thornley Hotel. The sun was beginning to add warmth to the air about me, and my heart felt like it was singing along with the birds as I beheld them singing their melodious songs as they perched gaily on nearby fences and tree branches. Ah! Life certainly had been good to me. At least that was what I thought then as I walked happily along that morning, unaware as I was at the time that it was not life who was the giver of all good things, but rather the One who was in control of life itself.

At last – there it was! The striking form of The Thornley rising above the skyline as I rounded the bend and advanced towards my destination. It appeared more beautiful than ever to me that morning, as thoughts that I soon might be working there on a permanent basis filled me with joyous expectation. True, I felt somewhat nervous and daunted by my interview – I had never had one before, and so it was a totally new and nerving prospect; but my over-riding feelings were ones of positive hope and expectation.

I arrived at Reception and announced myself and purpose of my presence to the Receptionist five minutes before the required interview time, and was promptly told to take a seat while I waited for the arrival of the famous Ethan Richards. I took my seat gratefully and found myself rubbing my cold hands together whilst I waited nervously. It was funny that I should feel so cold on such a warm day as this, and yet I felt chilled all over. Probably nerves, I inwardly told myself. I found myself wondering what Ethan Richards would be like. I even tried to imagine an image of him by endeavouring to match a figure with the voice I heard on the other end of my phone that Thursday morning, but to no avail. It was a difficult voice to place and comprehend. It had sounded very formal and business-like, with a hint of sharpness to it. I tried picturing a gruff old man, but then that didn't really match the voice, as it sounded more middle-aged. He was probably tall and wiry, with old-fashioned looking spectacles that sat half-way down his nose, and had pinched cheeks and tight lips, with a glaring eye that examined you closely.

I couldn't have been more surprised when I recognised the figure of the unfortunate man I had knocked over on the ice-rink a week ago approach me and said formally but pleasantly enough, with an outstretched hand, "Julia Evans?"

I stood up and took the offered hand, the words I wanted to say sticking in my throat for a moment. I was annoyed with myself as I felt a hot sensation burn in my cheeks, as I stared at Ethan Richards in dumbfounded surprise. This only lasted for a moment, for I pulled myself together and said politely, "Yes, I'm Julia. And you must be Ethan. Pleased to meet you."

He looked at me oddly, which caused my cheeks to deepen into a redder flush, as I felt his eyes examining me. "Aren't you the young lady who knocked me over last week on the Ice-Rink?"

He couldn't have made me feel more uncomfortable and embarrassed if he had said I had tomato sauce all around my mouth! I felt that this was hardly an appropriate way to phrase that question, and a bad beginning for an interview.

Yet I would not be unnerved by him and spoil my chance of securing a job at The Thornley. I met his steady gaze and replied quite calmly, and with a slight grin, "Yes, I'm afraid so. I do hope you have quite recovered from the fall."

I could see a half-smile playing at the corners of his mouth, but this was so quickly vanquished that I half-wondered if I saw it there to begin with at all, and he replied in a very phlegmatic tone, "I thought so. Well, if you will follow me to the office we can get down to business."

I felt somewhat disappointed at his manner upon greeting. I thought that as he recognised me he would have been more friendly and jovial. He seemed so stiff and regimental this morning that I wondered if he could be the same person. Perhaps he's like the character Wemmick from Great Expectations, I thought as I followed Ethan behind Reception and into a room which owned the name of 'The Office.' Maybe he's one kind of man at work and a different man entirely when he's away from this environment.

Despite the fact that the butterflies in my stomach had probably tripled in number to what they were before, I felt that I conducted myself in a confident and professional manner. At times, Ethan gave me the impression from the questions he asked and the manner in which he put them that he was trying to unnerve me, and draw me out of my comfort and ease and throw me off my balance, almost as if he was testing my ability to stay calm and remain self-assured. I could sense that this was what he was doing, which made me feel bolder and more certain than ever that I wanted this job, especially now that I knew who the owner was.

"Well, Julia," Ethan said at last, rising from his seat, which summoned my cue to leave. "Thank-you for your time this morning. You shall hear from me one way or the other within a week."

"Thank-you," I said, as I offered my hand to Ethan, which he took and I gave him a firm handshake. "Have a good day."

I could feel his studious gaze on me again as my hand slipped from his, and I made my retreat from the office. When I had glanced at his face, I thought I read a look there that appeared something like admiration and approval. I was sure that I had made a good impression, and now all I had to do was wait for the answer. Wait. How I hated to wait! But it couldn't be helped, and at least I had my school exams that loomed up ahead of me to consume my time and thoughts meanwhile.

But other thoughts than school exams and the prospect of a job were the subject of my meditation as I walked home that day. I couldn't help but wonder at the change in Ethan's character and demeanour at The Thornley – he appeared so formal and so unlike the man I had met last Saturday at the Ice-Rink, I marvelled how he could be the same person. He was as handsome and good-looking as I remembered, but so different in his behaviour. One thing was certain though, he would be an interesting man to work for if I did get the job. Very interesting indeed!