LIA
I stood outside the building with large letters atop it that spelled out CARGILL ENTERPRISE. This was the last place on my list of places with vacant positions to apply to and so far, I haven't gotten any callbacks. Lord, I know I haven't prayed in a long long time but please don't let me down this time.
I walked into the building and made my way to the receptionist, told her I was there for the job and she led me to the elevator and smiled at me, "Third floor, Room 3, Good luck".
I was diagnosed with anxiety at the age of eleven when I had this nerve-wracking presentation in middle school and I ended up super sweaty and hyperventilating, embarrassing my parents and myself. But then being me, the perfect girl who always wanted to make mummy and daddy proud, Lord bless their souls, I wore my big girl pants as mummy always said to and I did it. But yeah I pretty much diagnosed myself it wasn't like a doctor or anything, ha!
But somehow this was different, the anxiety was there no doubt but this time there were goosebumps, the hairs at the base of my neck were standing and I just knew then that something was about to go wrong. Who cares anyway, it wasn't going to be my first rejection in the last month anyway, I'd survive one more, one more and then I'm done.
I knock on the door with Room 3 above it and wait for a response but I get nothing so I gently push open the door and walk in.
There's a young, handsome man on the chair behind the oakwood desk and he gestures for me to sit with his hand. To be fair I kind of expected a stubbly old man with a lot of belly but this could work I guess.
"Alright Bri, I'll get to him and call you back."
He drops his phone on his desk and stares very intently at me. I shift in my seat because I'm very uncomfortable, do I talk? Do I show my CV? Whaaaaaaaaaatttttttt?! I'm going to go crazy.
"Uh Mr. Bryce, I… " I start to ease the tension in the room, well on my part because I'm the only tense one here.
"You're hired," he says and moves to pack his files from his table, "Be here at 8 am sharp Monday morning, you have the rest of the week to get ready. Lana can show you around until then. Have a great day." And with that, he walks out of the office leaving me in utter shock and disbelief because what the heck just happened?
***
I'm standing outside the reception at 7:45 am. Who wants to be late on their first day right? Lana, who happens to be the receptionist, gives me a tour of the building.
"This is the Cafeteria," she tells me. "On Thursdays, they serve really good pasta but do not try anything today unless you're trying to die of food poisoning."
I nod in agreement as she goes on talking and walking and finally leads me to a room on the First floor,
"This will be your office," she gestures with her hands pointing to a door "That door leads to Mr. Cargill's office."
"Okay. Anything else I need to know?"
"Nope, I think you'll do just great," she says enthusiastically "If you'll survive it." she adds under her breath walking towards the exit "Okay, your work schedule will be sent to you by Bryce in 30 minutes." and she closes the door behind.
I sit back in my chair, in my office, I still can't believe it. Lord, I'm grateful really.
At exactly thirty minutes I have a file sent to me on my work computer and I open it, it's my job on a page of Word docx. Who'd have thought it'd be this easy.
Mr. Cargill comes in by 8 am every day except on Fridays when he has other matters to tend to so I'm basically free on Fridays. I reschedule his meetings, email them to him, and a few other things but I have never had the chance to see the man in my 3 months working here. I'm beginning to think he's a ghost honestly so I go to the only person who is always ready to talk to me about anything, Lana, who has also become my work bestie… well not like I have any other besties.
"Ready?" I ask as I get to her desk.
"As I'll ever be girl," she sighs "you have no idea."
We walked out of the building and made our way to the roadside restaurant where she loves to eat because according to her "Cargills Cafeteria kills." a bit dramatic but I got her point the day I chose not to listen and tried lunch there. Long story short, I wasn't at work for a week and Lana and My sister had to take turns watching me because they thought I was going to shit myself to death.
Did I mention Lana is a convincing conniving woman why else would I be all dressed up on a Friday night and on my way to the club when I'd rather be in bed reading an emotional book?
Apparently, she was at a rough place with her sneaky link, or was it boyfriend, not boyfriend she said, and she needed a few drinks. You should know that when Lana Adams says a few drinks, she means about 10 shots plus or minus and enough bottles of beer to keep me up all night while she throws her guts in my toilet. Our relationship is very very nice. I know, tell me about it. But yeah I'd never drink myself to shit because of a man… God forbid