Chapter 2: Employment
Figuring out a schedule with Mrs. Rodriguez was not difficult. She had me down to work the first couple weeks on only Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from the lunch hour until closing.
"We are the busiest during these times at the Branch," she commented as she showed me around. "This is your teller station but you'll see that once you have completed your training with HR at our main branch. This is..."
"Oh my, Ana!"
I turned from the bare station that held nothing but a computer to see the girl who had been with the guy who helped me with her car. They were just friends.
"Hi," I waved at her.
"You two know one another," asked Mrs. Rodriguez.
"Yes," she smiled and jumped away from her computer. "She was having car trouble when we met," she hugged me tightly before pulling away. "I didn't know that you were the new teller we hired."
"Yes I am. I didn't know you worked here either," I told her. "Then again," I continued with a shrug, "I usually drop off my deposit in the drop box. It's so busy here."
"Exactly why we needed more tellers," Mrs. Rodriguez commented. "You and Myra will be at our fourth and fifth station," she said motioning to Myra's and then to mine. "Those are right in front of the line," she pointed ahead. "Miss Matthews stated that she liked your smile and since you'll be one of the first faces that our account holders see, I wanted you right here next to Myra."
Mrs. Rodriguez then leaned in and whispered.
"No one ever complains about Myra. As you can see she has that cheery disposition."
I nodded and we continued on.
"This is Kimberleigh," she pointed to another teller. "She has the second station."
I smiled at her remembering that it was her who recommended that I apply here.
"And then we have Elena," the Manager continued, "Our first station. Then up here we have Miss Elsa Hoskins, the teller operations supervisor."
Miss Hoskins walked down from her station and greeted me with a smile. "It is nice to meet you, JoyAnna."
I almost wanted to tell her that she could call me Ana but I let it go. Mrs. Rodriguez began to call me Ana and in truth it was a nickname reserved for close friends and certain family members. As I looked at the woman who would become my supervisor, I was immediately intimidated and had a feeling that it would be a while until we were calling each other by nicknames of any sort.
"Our HR and Mrs. Rodriguez spoke very highly of you," Miss Hoskins continued. "They were impressed on their interview. I hope that you show me the same determination that they saw."
"I assure you I will do my best. I am both honored and pleased that they spoke highly on me," I smiled at her.
"Be sure to see me when you come back here next week," she said walking back to her station.
"If it gets really busy or if account holders have complaints then you can refer to Miss Hoskins. She was a teller for me straight out of high school. I usually don't hire tellers that young but she was quite focused on working here. Ten years down the line and she is an operations supervisor. I hope you have the same focus to push yourself," Mrs. Rodriguez stated.
"Oh I hope I will too," I smiled.
I had to do well at this job. This was the second job that I had gotten all on my own ever since I had moved here. True the first one didn't work in my favor but I had high hopes that this was going to work out just fine. Mrs. Rodriguez went over dress code and I was glad that Dayna had sent me a couple skirts and a dress pant. Together I probably had only three outfits to use to work and I told myself that that would be fine for now. Eventually when I got more money, then I could get another outfit or two.
My training was held a distance away from the Branch and from where I lived. I had been spending more on gas and neglected to pay the electric bill this month.
"If I pay a portion," I spoke on the phone while sitting on the floor looking at my burger from the dollar menu through candlelight.
"It won't be enough to turn it back on," the electric company tells me. "You didn't pay all of last month either. So you are past due on that as well. The portion would only cover last month and not this month's bill."
"I just got a job," I shake my head setting my burger down. "I'm looking to get a paycheck in a couple weeks."
"I'm sorry Miss Summers but until we can collect the full past due amount there's nothing we can do."
I let out a sigh and take a deep breath before speaking again. "I understand. Thank you."
I set the phone down before staring at the candle's flame that is dancing around in my living room / kitchen / dining room.
"Perhaps I need to buy more candles," I let out a casual laugh to myself.
Despite how dark things look, literally, I actually manage to find a smile and contentment at being there with what little things I have.
The paycheck had come just in time and it was a blessing in disguise. I had not thought that I would have gotten paid for the couple hours I came to the bank to meet the other tellers and fill out paper work but I was. It wasn't much but it was still more than what I had right now. I also did not think that they had paid me for my mileage.
"What does even mean," I asked Miss Matthews thinking that something had gone terribly wrong with my paycheck looking at the amount.
"You've never heard of being reimbursed for your mileage?"
I shook my head.
After explaining it to me I still didn't quite understand why I had gotten it. I was coming to the main branch for training. It's not like I was complaining or anything about receiving the money back but I just felt like it was undeserved.
"Miss Summers, when the Company feels that you shouldn't have been made to pay for something that benefited us then we reimburse you for it. There is no need to feel guilty about it. Not only that but this bank is generous when it comes to its' employees' benefits. As the HR manager it is my responsibility to ensure that employee satisfaction is at its highest. When you perform your best, the Company performs at its best. And when that happens, we generate more funds than we ought to. We recognize that none of this would be possible without our workers, all of our workers," she smiled at me.
"It's just that I'm new and..."
Miss Matthews waved her hand. "If its one thing I cannot tolerate is when a young woman sells herself short. I have high hopes for you Miss Summers. I am the first person people usually meet when they start working here and sometimes I'm also the last. And I want to tell you this that the reason why I hired you was because I saw a focused young woman who had a plan on what she wanted in life. Don't ever lose that," she stated sternly.
I nodded and stood up to leave. "Thank you again Miss Matthews."
"Jillian," she smiled. "You may call me Jillian and speaking about calling me, if you ever run into any trouble, my door is always open. I tell everything this, that my office is confidential. If you have a concern about your job or the Company, you know where to reach me."
"I do and thanks again, Jillian."
She smiled and nodded at my acknowledgement of her name and I went to leave her office.
I decided to head out to that car garage that I had been recommended by Myra and her friend. I had forgotten his name but remembered that he was friends with Peter. Finding the garage wasn't that hard. I had looked it up on the computer in the training room. It was a small business but it seemed to be doing pretty well. They even had a business account with us.
That was something that the trainer wanted us all to know about. Business accounts were important to the Bank of Dauntless. Every account holder was but they had noticed that businesses were leaving the local bank and moving on to bigger financial institutions.
"We provide a customer service not only through our efficiency to complete a task but also the knowledge of our products and what we have to offer our account holders," the trainer said.
I had arrived at Eaton's garage the same time as another car. It was an older car but it was classic.
"That's a beautiful car," I commented.
The driver, a blonde smiled and walked out. "Thank you. It was my mothers' and before that my grandmother owned it."
"Is it a Rolls Royce," I asked.
"Yes it is. 1974 Rolls Royce Corniche," she stated with confidence. "It's one of the few left with this light caramel color on the outside and inside. They took good care of the car before I got it and I intend to do the same."
"You must value your car then?"
"I do," she answered while eyeing me out with some concern.
"The reason why I ask is that I was recommended to bring my car here a while back and I wanted to make sure this is a good place. If you value this car that was passed down to you from your grandmother then you must trust this place," I nodded to the garage.
The girl's face lit up and she smiled. "Of course I trust this place. I sort of own half of it," she says and I am at a loss for words.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't..."
"It's okay," she motions for me to follow her which I do. "What problems do you have with your car?"
"It stalled out on me a while back, I think it was a couple weeks ago and the person said that I probably needed to have the engine checked," I answer honestly.
"Well let me call Peter. Peter," she shouts.
Just as I see him emerge from a door that leads to the garage outside, the blonde walks up to him and hugs him tightly.
"This young lady," she says pulling back and eyeing him out the same as she did me. "She needs some assistance with her car. Be nice," I hear her whisper the last part.
Peter turns to me and smiles immediately.
"Are you stalking me?"
"I need an excuse to stalk my cousin," I question as he walks away from the counter and hugs me. "Who is she," I whispered just before he pulls away.
The blush that creeps onto his face as he shakes his head trying to hide the smile let me know that there might be something.
"Well," I link arms with him as we walk back out the front door.
"She's a friend, Ana."
"I need more than that," I lean against my car when we get outside.
"What makes you think that there is more," he replied.
"You don't smile like that when you see a girl walk through the door. I could have sworn I saw your breath leave you when you hugged her so yes there is more. And I'm going to get it because I haven't seen you in almost a month. I need more so spill."
Peter huffed. "We met in college, freshmen year. We became friends right off the bat," he rubbed the back of his neck. "I sort of messed it up by sleeping with her roommate."
I shook my head. Typical Peter.
"Then when she started hanging out with this guy over here," he looked towards the shop and then back at me. "I did everything to sabotage their relationship. I even convinced a girl to sleep with him hoping that would break them up. Now they're engaged and own this place together."
"Obviously your plan didn't work," I rolled my eyes. "Why would you even do that?"
"Because I love her," he shrugged.
"Exactly, why would you do that to her," I pointed back to the door. "You love her and yet," I shook my head. "Men," I muttered.
"After I saw what you went through believe me I did everything to make things right. But it still hurts that she and I are only friends. I hate that I can be myself with her. I just feel happy. There aren't that much girls out there that are classic that way you know. She's like her car," Peter turned around to look at it. "She's timeless. Girls like that are just natural and I didn't like that she just friend-zoned me."
"So you acted like a jerk," I questioned, "thinking that that would make her come back to you?"
"What can I say, I'm not that smart," he shrugged.
"Yes you are," I ruffled his hair. "Perhaps if you stop sleeping around with all these other girls and as she said be nice you may just come across someone who is nice for you too," I offered.
"What makes you think I'm sleeping around?"
"Does Myra ring a bell?"
"I never slept with..." Peter paused and then looked down at me. "Edward told you to come here and see me didn't he?" I nodded. "Those two are definitely in the friend-zone too. The only difference is that they both have feelings for one another."
"TMI about other people," I put up my hand. "I asked about you," I pointed to him. "So you're here because..."
"Because I owe her for all the trouble I put her and Tobias through."
"I remember Edward and Myra mentioning that, I think," I looked away trying to remember.
"Like I said when I thought about how I hated what Cain did to you, I realized that I was being a jerk to Tris. I didn't like it that someone mistreated my cousin. It woke me up as to how I was mistreating Tris. I told Tobias that I'd work here until they found stable workers and things seem to be working out. The only problem about working here is that now Tris and Edward are on this idea that they're setting me up with any nice, pretty girl that they meet," he wiggled his eyebrows at me.
"Is that why I got referred here?"
"Possibly," he shrugged going to the driver seat and pulling the lever to pop the hood. "I'll let her down easily when I walk back in and she sees that I didn't get your phone number."
We both ended up laughing before he sighed and shook his head.
"I'm a little scared of this answer," he started after looking at several things. "When was the last time you had anything changed or repaired in here?"
"Since I brought it," I asked. Peter looked up and nodded. "Never."
"That's what I was afraid of," he sighed.
"Can I drive it still?"
"I give it a month, maybe two before you won't be able to. Your intake valve shut down on you. That's why your car stalled. We'd have to order that part. Is this a Toyota? Yup, this is," he answered his own question.
"That will cost, won't it?"
"I'll ask Tobias if I can work that off, too."
"You don't have to," I began but was quickly interrupted.
"You giving out sweetheart deals again, Peter?"
"No," Peter chuckled turning around to the guy. I turned around too and almost let my jaw drop. "JoyAnna, this is Tobias the garage owner. Tobias, this is my cousin JoyAnna."
"Cousin," the guy smirked holding out an arm for me to shake. "Well in that case I wouldn't mind if you helped her out on this one. It's nice to finally meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too and Peter doesn't have to work it off," I turned to Peter. "I got a job. In fact I just got my first paycheck."
"Ana," Peter stated. "I know you probably need it for something else. You can always pay me back whenever you want," his eyes full of concern for me as I nodded and then turned to thank Tobias.
Peter had the part ordered and we spent his half hour break catching up. He displayed a bit of guiltiness for not checking up on me after I had moved out of his apartment but I told him that I was getting on now. Once a week I would drive to see Dillon and have dinner with him. I was doing well and I know the first couple months he and Dillon had put everything on hold for me.
"I know that you two are family and that you're my cousins but I didn't want to use that as an excuse to expect you two to drop everything to cater to me and help pick me back up again. I'm going to be twenty two years old. I think I can manage. And to be honest the past month, I feel content. Like I know I don't have a lot but I'm content that I'm standing on my own right now. I appreciate what you two did and I know I can always count on the two of you but I'm glad that I was able to do this on my own," I smiled at him.
Peter leaned over and kissed my forehead. "I always knew that you could. You just needed to believe in yourself, JoyAnna."
I had left the garage with plans to get together with Peter the same as I did with Dillon. Peter still felt a bit guilty for leaving me quite alone after I had moved out but I assured him once again that I was alright.
A week from seeing Peter, I had dinner with Dillon. Of course this time it was at a restaurant bar not far from their job. If he used words like 'their job' that meant that Taylor and Adam were going to be joining him.
"Hey," Adam called out when I walked in.
"Yup they're here," I mumbled going over to their table. "Hey," I replied hugging everyone around the table.
Also present were two other guys from their job, Sam and Jason. They were both cool. I had met them before when I had joined Dillon to eat out. I had bonded with Sam almost right away. It wasn't until later that I found out from Dillon that his sister had gone through the same thing, only that the girl her fiancé cheated on her with ended up getting pregnant. Jason on the other hand was really quiet and laid back. He actually was reserved whenever in the presence of women which I did not mind. Tonight though, he was adamant on finding out about my last visit.
"I heard that you talked with our supervisor," Jason said lifting his glass to drink.
"And yet she lives," Sam joked.
"Jane said you got a smile from him," Taylor pressed.
"What," Jason and Sam both choked on their beers.
"We should have you come to the office more often," Dillon teased.
"Shut up," I pushed him.
"Alright here you go guys," the hostess came by and laid out our tabs.
Just as Dillon went to grab it, I reached out and took it. "Tonight is on me," I smiled.
"Ana, I can't let you," he shook his head leaning over but I held it away from him.
"I'm getting a regular paycheck, Dillon. Please," I smiled as he nodded.
Working at the bank had been hard at first. Of course the most common asked question was if I was new. There was a sign that said teller in training, please be patient right next to my window. Of course I'm new but I never said any of that. I just smiled and nodded and helped them the best I could.
The first week was over and Myra took me out to celebrate. We went to the nearby Olive Garden and actually had fun with one another.
"So you survived your first week," she said with a smile as we finished off the chicken flatbread and shrimp scampi.
"I did and quite honestly I don't know how I would have gotten through Mrs. Giovanni's fifteen billion transactions if you weren't there to help me."
"Friday is always the busiest. Mrs. Giovanni doesn't like the online banking so she'll come in at rush of course," Myra smiled as I laughed. "And she'll want to go through her entire check book. She's adorable though."
"She is," I agreed."
"Don't worry, you're getting used to it," Myra smiled.
Myra had been a tremendous help the first week. She had even gone clothes shopping with me after I had gotten my second paycheck for another work outfit. I was glad because I had been there for almost a month and was still using the same three outfits.
"Good Morning Myra. Good Morning Ana."
I looked up and smiled. "Good Morning Miss Matthews. I mean Jillian," I smiled again.
"And Good Morning to you, Mrs. Giovanni," Jillian turned to Mrs. Giovanni in front of me. "How are you today? I hope my girls are treating you well."
"They always are," Mrs. Giovanni smiled at her. "Oh Jillian," she exclaimed hugging her. They exchanged more conversation as I went to retrieve Mrs. Giovanni's statements and other papers she requested. I had just got back in time to hear her say "I really like this one. She's always smiling."
"That's good," Jillian smiled at me.
"Here you go, Mrs. Giovanni. Is that all for you today," I asked.
"No. Thank you sweetie," she smiled and then walked with Jillian towards the back where they continued to talk for a while before she left.
"Miss Matthews used to work here when she was in College," Myra whispered.
"I'll be back," Elsa said walking away getting our attention. "Mrs. Rodriguez and I will be in a meeting with Miss Matthews. Elena, you're in charge for now. If you need anything else see Brandon. Unless it's an emergency than you call for me."
Brandon is one of the branch's loan officers. He and I didn't get along at first but Myra assured me that he was like that to everyone. Sure enough outside of work, he is a pretty cool guy. He and Kimber are cousins and it was hard for him to keep him job at the Branch when she got transferred here but Mrs. Rodriguez made an exception as long as there was no favoritism. As a result, he was critical with all the tellers.
"Elsa wants to become the next Miss Matthews but I honestly don't think she's going that far. Mrs. Rodriguez didn't even want to make her teller supervisor," Myra continued. "I don't like her. Neither does Kimber but," she leaned in to me.
"I didn't hear that from you," I finished with a smile.
"Exactly!"
Myra and I had gotten close over the past month as I worked here. We had even gone to the movies. I almost felt like a third wheel since Edward came. That was until we met their friend inside the theater. It was none other than Peter. We all laughed about it at dinner when Edward told Peter about how he and Myra were trying to get me over to the garage only to find out that we were related.
"Dear Lord here he comes. Mr. Pain in the ass," Myra whispered looking down at the counter top. "This is one of our prestigious account holders," Myra commented as I looked down also. "He gives everyone a hard time. Once Edward was in here with him, apparently they knew one another," she waved her hand and continued to whisper about him.
"He can't be that bad then," I added. "I can help you here," I raised my hand a little to signal I was ready and call the next account holder over.
"Just be careful. If you do the transaction correctly, he won't complain about you to the manager," she whispered.
Just as I felt the account holder's presence, I turned to my computer.
"Welcome to Bank of Dauntless," I smiled.
"Miss Summers, this is a pleasant surprise."
I looked up and noticed that it was Dillon's shift supervisor. He was dressed the same way as he was when I first saw him. Business slacks with a dress shirt rolled up to his elbows showing his arms tattooed up. Was he the account holder that Myra was speaking of?
"Mr. Coulter," I smiled up at him, getting my fingers prepared to type away just in case he was.
"So this is your new job," he continued to look at me with a smile on his face. He did not wait for me to answer since the response would have been obvious, instead he continued talking. "You look content working here," he commented.
"I am," I agreed nodding as Myra sat next to me.
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed her lean forward and smirk over at me. "Oh my God," she mouthed at me with a huge grin.
"What can I do for you today," I asked trying to ignore her.
"I actually didn't come here for business. I am having lunch with my mother."
"Oh," I said a bit surprised. "She works here? I'm so sorry. What is her name? Let me get her," I offered about to walk away. We had our call center on the second floor. I didn't know everyone in there and figured that's probably where his mother is.
"It's quite alright," he stated shaking his head a bit. "She's already been informed. She is in a meeting and I was told she would be a couple minutes."
Myra's jaw dropped and she started to scribble something down on her post it. I knew what she was thinking because it was the same thing that I was thinking. At the same time I shook off the thought quickly. It would have been foolish to think about something like that.
"How are you? I haven't seen you in a while," he questioned.
He came to speak to you - Myra's note read. She discreetly maneuvered it over to my side of the counter.
"You're usually there in the office with my workers," he added.
His conversation bought my eyes away from the note. I almost wanted to argue but instead I went for playful.
"Well, I remember there was this nasty shift supervisor," I teased with a smile which made him look down to hide his widening grin. "He told me that it wasn't ancestry dot com and that he didn't appreciate his workers being bothered," I leaned forward, resting my arms on the counter that separated us.
"Are you saying that you assumed you're no longer welcomed back," he smirked looking up at me.
"I thought as much was implied when I got escorted from the building," I nodded as he chuckled.
"Last time I checked, he didn't ban you from the property," he replied.
"So I could revisit there if I wanted," I asked, "even at hours when workers should be focused on business," I emphasized the last word.
He smiled briefly before nodding. "I'm pretty sure any visit would be welcomed. I'll even make sure that that nasty shift supervisor doesn't kick you out again."
Myra's hand came down on the counter causing both of us to turn and look at her.
"I'm sorry," she waved her hand again. "There was some spider on the counter. It was making its way over to me," she laughed nervously. "Silly spider," she commented to herself before turning away.
"Anyway," he cleared his throat as we both turned back to one another. "It was nice seeing you again, Miss Summers. I hope to see you showing up at my building at inconvenient work hours again," he smiled.
"Thank you Mr. Coulter. I'm sure I'm due to see my cousin again," I nodded.
"In that case I'll see you around," he tapped on the counter before turning away.
Myra hopped over just as he looked back at me.
"Oh and you can call me Eric," he said.
"And you can call me Ana," I shrugged a little.
"Until we meet again, Ana," he nodded with his smile still intact.
"Goodbye Eric," I smiled as he turned away for the final time and headed out of the branch.
"Oh my God," Myra gripped onto my arm and shook it. "He never talks to anyone like that. You didn't tell me that you knew him!"
"I didn't know that he was the one you were talking about."
"Come on Ana," Myra encouraged. "Is that really all you're going to give me? Our biggest account holder walks in and engages you in conversation without needing to do a transaction and you're not going to tell me how you two know each other so well?"
"We don't know one another well," I replied. "He's the shift supervisor for my cousin," I shrugged. "I met him when I went there to see my cousin."
"But he remembered your name. He greeted you by name, your last name! And may I just say one more time that he did not come here for a transaction," he put her hand up and rolled her eyes. "That means something."
"You're reading too much into it. It was just a casual conversation."
"You flirted with him," she smiled.
"I did not flirt."
Myra changed her stance. "So I could," she twirled her hair. "Revisit if I wanted," she batted her eyes. "Even at business hours," she titled her head leaning on the counter.
"I did nothing like that," I smiled and shook my head.
"Whatever," Myra replied. "You can call me Eric," she said in a deep voice trying to mimic him. "You can call me Ana," she did an overly girly voice.
I rolled my eyes returning to my work as another account holder walked in. Even though I didn't want to think too much into it, it did make me smile wondering why he did come over and speak to me if he didn't need to do a transaction. It did feel a little bit like flirting. Maybe it was just one sided on my part but it still felt like he was if what Myra said was true. What I couldn't stop thinking about was that he remembered me. We had only seen each other once and he remembered me. He talked about our last conversation as though it was precious to him. It had felt good to be remembered.