“Don’t you need to be working for Chase?” I don’t want to take up too much of her time, though I am grateful to her for coming to remind me.
“Nothing that can’t wait for a few hours. Now, shall I make you a coffee while you organise yourself? And then the first person should be here.”
“Thank you, Elsa, I really appreciate it. Can you like, clone yourself and save me the trouble of finding someone? Or do you have a sister? Brother? Anyone who’s as efficient as you?”
She just shakes her head and laughs as she leaves to make good on her promise of the coffee. I push my list to one side and pull the stack of CVs towards me to remind myself quickly of the candidates. I’d narrowed it down to four, and all were able to come to an interview today, which is great, as I want to get this part over quickly. In truth, I’ve never had to hire someone before, but Chase gave me some advice and tips last night, which of course, I can’t recall right now, but I hope I will when I’m actually in the interview. Elsa returns with my coffee and lets me know that the first candidate has arrived. I ask her to give me a few minutes and take a few gulps of coffee while I try to get my head in order.
The first person is well qualified on paper, but I don’t sense a great vibe. The second seems pleasant but has no knowledge of the publishing industry, which isn’t a requirement but I can tell they don’t have a great interest in it. Once she leaves, Elsa brings me another coffee and also a sandwich. I hadn’t asked for one. I haven’t even thought about food, but now it’s in front of me I’m suddenly starving.
“You have twenty minutes until the next interview and Chase would never forgive me if I let you starve,” she gives as an explanation.
“I thought you were looking after my best interests. But you’re just looking after Chase’s,” I grumble without any real feeling.
“Actually, I’m looking after my own,” she replies, showing just how smart she is.
“You’re truly amazing. Are you sure about the cloning thing?” I ask and she grins. She knows her worth, as well she should.
She leaves me alone with my lunch and I pick up my phone, which has been on silent, to see three messages from Chase. I read through them quickly. They’re mostly just checking in with me and “miss you” messages. I’m missing him too. It was hard to say goodbye to him this morning, especially after spending a second night with him, slowly exploring each other’s bodies, teasing and edging each other. Being with Chase isn’t like any of my previous partners, not that I should compare. But he seems to get as much pleasure out of pleasing me as I do.
I get lost in thinking about how sexy the smattering of grey on his chest is and how I like to run my fingers through it when Elsa disturbs me again with news that the next interviewee has arrived. I gulp down the last of my sandwich and chew quickly while I send a reply to Chase. A flirty but also slightly soppy one. I don’t care. Then I put my phone away and try to concentrate.
“Hey, I have a mug like that?” Are the second words out of Darren’s mouth, right after he says hello and introduces himself.
“You like spreadsheets?” I ask, because well, they’re an acquired taste.
“Love them.” He smiles broadly and then leans in a bit closer. “I think I actually get withdrawal symptoms if I can’t use one regularly.”
Then he sits back and looks slightly shocked.
“Sorry, I probably shouldn’t have led with that. It’s not a good look, is it? To appear enthusiastic to the point of fanatical. It makes me sound mad. And I’m not mad, I assure you.” He scrunches his face up in a wince, thinking he’s made it even worse, and I can’t help but laugh. He reminds me a little—okay, maybe a lot—of a younger me. I talk through hisprevious work and experience, which is at least relevant despite his ability to rattle on, and I can’t fault him for that. He does appear to know how to be professional and is well organised.
“So, is there anything you’d like to ask me?” I end with. It’s the part of the interview I’ve been most nervous about, in case they ask me something I can’t answer or some employment technicality. I would say I can get back to them, but it always fills me with apprehension.
Darren looks at me and a small smirk comes over his face.
“What’s Rafe Rowell like in real life?”
“You know Rafe?” My eyes widen, as that definitely wasn’t what I was expecting.
“Yes. No, obviously not personally. But I have read all of his books and I’m a huge fan. I missed coming to the book signing the other week as I was called in to work an extra shift at my previous job.” He looks so downcast at the end I almost feel sorry for him. But there’s no way I’m talking about or gossiping about my clients. However, I like Darren a lot, and he seems far more suited to the job than the candidates I’ve seen previously.
“Well, all I can tell you is, if you do get the job, you might get to meet him, and he might even sign your books.”
We talk for a while about Rafe’s books, and he really is an enthusiast, which I like. In fact, being a reader should be a requirement for the job. I’m always surprised how many people don’t read a single book nowadays. We chat easily, moving on to other authors we like, and we do have some common tastes.
“Sorry to bother you,” Elsa says after knocking on the door and coming in. “The last candidate is here.”
“Oops, sorry.” I jump up and hold out my hand to Darren. “Thank you, I’ll be in touch shortly,” I tell him while Elsa shows him out and the final person in. They seem alright, but I didn’t feel the vibe I got from Darren, and by the end of the sessions I’m willing to offer him the job. Elsa calls the rest of the candidates but I make a point of calling Darren myself. He’s thrilled and can actually start the next day, which is both a relief and another source of anxiety. I have to spend time teaching him my systems as well as trying to get new work. Not to mention I need to make sure he has a contract of employment. I don’t have any time to waste, and now that there’s definitely someone else who has to be paid by this business, I double down.
I still have a lot to do when Grant knocks on my door at the end of the day.
“I don’tneeddriving anywhere,” I say. “I can make my way home.”
“But you don’t have to. That’s what I’m here for.” Grant nods assuringly.
I pack up my laptop and grab my papers and notes to work on later. When we’re in the car, Grant looks at me in the rearview.
“Where to?”