NEW YORK CITY, PRESENT DAY
Charlotte's P.O.V.
'Shit! I am late!' I thought as I jumped out of bed. My interview was in one hour. I had applied for a personal assistant job at one of the major corporations here in New York. I just moved here last week after graduating from South Florida.
I had moved here so that I could work to be a magazine editor and I wanted to get into one of the top magazines like Vogue or Cosmopolitan. However, I kept getting turned down. I wasn't going to let that stop me though. I decided to apply to CW Industries for their personal assistant to the CEO. It was no magazine company, but it would pay my bills until I could get the job I wanted. Plus it pays well and is one of the top businesses in NYC. If I do a good enough job, it might even help me for recommendations in the future.
BUZZ.
My phone went off, pulling me out of my thoughts. It was a text from my mom wishing me good luck. I also had a text from Ally, my best friend back home, telling me to knock them dead.
l smiled. I am so lucky to have them in my corner. My mom and I had a rocky time when we first moved from Nantucket to St. Petersburg FL. It took a while before we were really talking again.
Ally lived next door and was my age. Her mother brought her over after we moved in hopes we could be friends. We clicked instantly and were besties ever since.
I look at the clock as reads 8:00 in big red numbers.
Shit!
My interview is at 9 and I can't be late. I rush into the bathroom and quickly apply makeup. I throw on my business suit, twist my red hair up in a professional manner, and bolt out the door.
**************
I stood in the lobby of the big building. It was fancy with marble tiles and floor to ceiling windows on every wall. A beautiful fountain sat in the middle of the lobby with lily pads and those spotted black and white and gold goldfish swimming beneath the surface. The main desk was against the wall to the left of the fountain with beautiful gold elevator doors on both sides.
I walk up to the desk and give the lady my name. "Go ahead to the 54th floor Miss. Reece. Mrs. Helms will be waiting to conduct your interview." I smile at the woman as i thank her and head to the elevator.
The ride up to the 54th floor was breathtaking. The elevator had glass walls and you could see a lot of the city as you rose. I was speechless.
As I reached the floor, just like the receptionist said, Mrs. Helms was waiting for me. She was a petite woman, or would be if it wasn't for the basketball she had where her stomach should be. She had long curly blonde hair that was twisted up half way and green eyes. She was young too I assume late 20s early 30s if I was to guess. Her eyes met mine and she smiled.
"Welcome Miss. Reese, nice to meet you." she reaches out her hand and I shake it, smiling back. "It is nice to meet you too!"
"Come sit, we can begin the interview." I follow her into a beautiful office with a beautiful view overlooking Central Park.
As I sit down she opens a blue folder on her desk and begins. "So, I see you are a graduate of South Florida. What a fun state!"
"It had it's moments I guess."
"It says here that you graduated with a degree in Journalism. Why do you want to work here at a business firm?"
I thought for a moment before answering. "Well Mrs. Helms-"
"Oh please call me Kate." she interrupted smiling. I already feel comfortable with her, which is helping my nerves tremendously.
" Okay, well Kate, my dream is to own my own magazine company one day. I have applied to many top magazine corporations but unfortunately was turned down. I moved here last week because I refuse to give up on my dream. However, in the meantime I need work to support myself."
I pause for a minute before continuing. "I have done assistant work before and I really enjoy it. I have a good personality, and I get along with everyone."
Kate, who was listening intently began speaking once I finished. "I like you Charlotte. I like your character. I think you will do great. However it is not me who makes the final decision."
She looked at me, her eyes meeting mine. "You do understand however, this is not a permanent position. I will be taking leave from now until the end of March. That is only five months. I do plan on coming back after my maternity leave is over. The only reason I need a replacement now is because I need to go on bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy."
I nod at her words. That will work for me anyway. It will give me money until I can find something else. "I understand."
She smiles and nods. "That doesn't necessarily mean you will be terminated when I get back, if you do well, and Mr. W. likes you, he may find another position for you."
I nod again understanding the terms.
"Okay, great! You have passed my interview, now it is time to impress the big boss. Don't worry though, he doesn't bite."
She writes something down and closes the blue folder handing it to me. "Go ahead upstairs, tell him I sent you."
I take the folder and thank Kate before heading back to the elevator to meet the CEO. Now I am nervous.