Chapter 2: Having Jobs
Applying the last bit a makeup on my face, I pressed my lips together to even the lipstick. Irene left wearing a pink and white jumpsuit, and Taylor left for her interview.
Looking at the clock on the on the wall, I saw that I had half an hour left. Taylor literally stopped anyone wearing a watch this morning, just to see if we had the right time. Putting on heels and putting my hair in a bun with a silver hair pin. I winked at myself in the mirror for good measures.
My first interview for a job, and it's in a cartoon. I had to laugh at myself a bit for that. How many people can say they got hired by a cartoon character without being high?
Walking up to the Mayor's Office, I finally noticed that I was shaking. My palms were sweaty, and a girl blond dressed in a nice blue dress came running out crying. Yep, I can see myself totally getting hired in a place like this.
Entering the building kind of shocked me. I was suspecting Vlad's face to be plastered all over the place. Instead I see a nice big room with a waiting section , a water fountain and two doors. One labeled 'Mayor's Office' and the other 'Unisex Bathroom'. Walking further inside, I noticed there were people sitting down. While a middle aged woman dressed in brown and some suited up guy were talking at her desk. Deciding to sit down in an empty chair, I noticed everyone glaring at me, or smirking. Guess they either thought I was competition or not.
Seconds later the guy talking to the lady shot up and yelled. "If you don't hire me, I will make sure my father will get you fired from this place."
The lady, who I guess is Vlad's secretary, just took a sip from her coffee mug and grabbed her clipboard. "Yowl Peterson." She called out.
He stomped out angrily while another guy took his place sitting in front of the lady.
Throughout the whole day someone either yells or breaks down crying, and the secretary just calls whoever was next. Everyone sitting down just glared at each other, mostly at me though. I heard someone whisper 'That fat chick doesn't stand a chance.'
Well sucks for them, this fat chick knows she's getting the job.
One by one they all left jobless, then it came down to me, and the secretary looked ready to to explode. She was starting to mutter things like : 'lousy teens' 'publicity isn't found in a job like this' 'Why did Vlad Masters have to be Mayor?'. Looking at the clipboard she sighed.
"James Tinny." She said. "James Tinny." She repeated again. "Funny, thought the guy really had a chance." She checked the clipboard. "Thank god it's only one last person…Jeanette Velia."
Walking up to her table, I noticed how she eyed me. She sort of looked confused.
"Um…hi." I said, smiling nervously.
"Hello Miss. Velia, why do you think you deserve this job?" She asked with a professional voice.
Thinking for a while, I think I said the most stupidest thing ever. The lady's face seemed like I did. "I don't."
"Then why did you come in for a job interview?" She asked.
"Just for the experience." I shrugged.
"You're not the daughter of some famous business woman or man are you?" She raised a brow.
"Nope."
Then Vlad's voice came through the speaker next to her.
"Lilith, please bring me copies of today's papers."
Lilith sighed and pulled out an envelope labeled 'Errand Money' from under the desk. "Alright, for a test run I want you to go out and buy a copy of each Amity Park and local news paper. Got it?" She slapped a crisp ten dollar bill in my hand.
"Yes, ma'am." I nodded. This was going to be easy!
Walking outside, I noticed the closest news paper stand was just down the street. Then I saw Irene with some sort of gun shooting at a ghost! She ran down the street towards me firing at will. I had to jump into the bushes of a house to get out of her way.
"Sorry!" She yelled still chasing the ghost. Then a screech of tires rumbled through the air as the Fenton SUV went after her.
Getting out the bush I smoothed out my skirt. Making my waying to the stand I bought one of each paper, after some kids and teens bought magazines. The salesman was nice enough to put them in a paper bag so they wouldn't get ruined.
Rushing back to the Office, I noticed Lilith typing away at her computer. Clearing my throat she finally looked up, then at the clock above the door. "That was quick." She said, then went back to typing.
"Should I, uh, give these to the mayor?" I asked holding the bag.
"Well I'm going to have to introduce you one way or the other." She took a sip from her coffee while still typing.
Taking that for a 'yes,' my heart started beating fast as I made my way to the mayor's office. Knocking , I entered noticing that Vlad's office looked the same like in the cartoon. Except papers were piled high on his desk and was he skimming and scribbling at them.
"Why Lilith, that's the time you ever knocked. Are you finally learning some manners?" He looked up smirking, then he frowned when he saw me. "You're not Lilith."
Smiling nervously I came out with, "Sorry to disappoint you. So where do you want these papers?" I raised the bag.
"Just, just over there on the floor." He waved his pen at a spot on the floor. "And may I ask, who you are?"
"Just the new secretary assistant." I put the bag down. "Jeanette Velia."
"Yes well, welcome aboard Miss Velia." Vlad went back to his papers.
Smiling I walked out the door. I got to talk with Vlad!
"Get that creepy smile off your face, and take your new ID card." Lilith pulled out a plastic card with a clip.
It was official, I work for Vlad. Well technically for Lilith but, still it's pretty awesome.
Walking back to the apartment with a spare key, there were two on the coffee table, I opened the door to find Irene laying face first on the ground, and Taylor sleeping on the couch.
"My legs hurt." Irene mumbled into the floor.
"My feet hurt." I kicked my heels into the kitchen walking bare foot towards the loveseat.
"So many ghosts are roaming around this place." She pushed herself up. "I only ended up catching two though." She sat next to me.
"Lilith treated me like a mule. I never knew a person could drink at least twenty cups of coffee without a bathroom break." Irene's look told me she didn't know who I was talking about. "Vlad's secretary." I explained.
"Oh," Irene nodded, "Vlad has a secretary?" she arched a brow.
"Yeah, she could probably type out twenty-two pages of research in just a minute." I rubbed my feet. "All I did was go get her coffee, and send copies or files to Vlad, but man that's a lot walking for one day."
"Try catching a flying ghost on foot." Irene rubbed her calves.
"Why don't you tell the Fenton's to make a ghost catching bike?" I asked.
Irene looked at me like I grew two heads. "That's the most awesome idea ever."
We ended up sleeping after that.
The ringing of the phone woke me up. Sitting up, a sharp pain shot through my neck. Looking around I saw Taylor was gone and Irene was still sleeping. The phone rang again. Getting up I walked towards the phone rubbing my stiff neck.
"Hello?" I asked on the phone.
"Yes hello," A females voice came through. "I'm looking for a Irene Redheart."
"She's sleeping at the moment." Scratching my head my brain started whirring. Who was I talking to?
"Oh good, I thought she was kidnapped by ghosts." The woman's, no wait Maddie! Maddie was talking. "Well when she wakes up can you tell her to come over, we're just about to test a new invention!"
"I will Mrs. Fenton," I yawned. "speaking of invention, Irene and I thought of a good one last night."
"Oh, what was it?" She asked.
"A smaller vehicle used for ghost catching. Like a bike, or something, that …has more access to it's surroundings. Just so it can catch up to fast ghosts and stuff ." I tried my best to make it sound like a well thought out plan.
"That actually sounds like a pretty good idea…Jack, oh Jack!" The line went dead.
The phone's index box flashed the number two. Clicking the play button, the machine's voice woke up Irene.
You have two voice mails. First one sent today at five twenty-five. "Miss. Velia its Lilith. Today you got lucky, Mr. Masters had a meeting and I won't need you until ten sharp today." End of message. Second message sent today at eight thirty-one. "This is the manager of Nasty Burger calling in. Taylor Smith you got the job and you can start tomorrow. You can pick up your uniform today." End of messages.
Looking at the clock in the door less kitchen. I had less than an hour to get ready for work. Running towards the bedroom, I grabbed my suitcase and pulled out clean clothes. I heard the toilet flush and the bathroom door open.
Running towards the bathroom I shouted at the girls. "Taylor you got the job get your uniform, Irene go to the Fenton's!"
I think my quick shower broke all the laws of physics because I had fifteen minutes left. We didn't have a hair dryer and my hair was still soaking wet, and my feet still hurt. So I grabbed a hair tie and squeezed as much water as i could from my hair . Towel drying my hair I quickly put it in a messy, yet neat looking, bun. I threw on a bit of eyeliner to look sharp, and to not like a total train wreck. Going into the kitchen I grabbed my heels, spare key, and ran out.
Making my way to the office, I noticed Lilith was outside smoking. Well now I know why we haven't seen her on TV.
"You're early." She said looking at me. Throwing the cigarette away, she walked inside. Following her to her desk, she handed me a stack of folders. "I want you to file these in the cabinet labeled 'Lawsuits' in the Mayor's Office." She grabbed a soup mug filled with coffee and took a swig. "Don't mess up." She went straight to her computer.
Walking in Vlad's office I noticed a big fat cat laying on his desk. Ignoring it, I went straight to putting the folders away. Slamming the cabinet shut I heard a hissing. Turning around I see Maddie, the cat, fur on end baring her teeth at me.
"Sorry Maddie. I'll try to be quiet next time." I swear she gave me the 'you better' look. Guess Vlad isn't as crazy as I thought, that cat does look smart.
Walking out of the office I notice Vlad came in looking dead tired. I think he said something about sleeping in.
"You better go get the Mayor a coffee, make it strong." Lilith handed me a twenty.
Walking outside, I noticed that everyone looked like a zombie. As I stepped into Lilith's favourite coffeehouse, everyone inside was jumpy from the caffeine. Ordering a black coffee with skim milk, I high tailed it from there fast.
Making it back to the office I went to the Mayor's office to see Vlad laying his head on his desk. "Someone is in dying verge for coffee." I said holding the cup towards him.
"Or sleep." He grumbled slowly getting up. Looking at the coffee he reluctantly grabbed the foam cup. Taking a sip he slowly smiled. "Ah, skim milk. How did you know?"
"Took a wild guess." I shrugged.
"Well thank you Miss…" Vlad blinked then scowled. "Cinnamon sticks, I seem to have forgotten your name."
"Velia, Jeanette Velia." Smiling I walked out of his office.
Lilith gave me a dirty look. "He's old." She told me before going back to typing.
"Old and ripe." I came back with.
She busted out laughing. "Girlie, you're asking to be punished." She picked up her mug and frowned. "And I just found you a punishment."