Chapter Six
“I ruined a perfectly good interview yesterday, you guys.”
“Oh no, Andrea. What happened?”
“The interviewer asked me what I’d do if people were talking on the front desk. It’s a job at the council and they have a rule about no chatting out there. You have to go behind the wall if you want to talk, or something. Anyway, she asked if I would report them to a superior and I said of course I wouldn’t. I’d just remind them of the rules and ask them to go behind the wall, and that I’d stay out the front to make sure no customers were left unattended.”
“That sounds fair.”
“The moment the words were out of my mouth I knew I wasn’t getting that job. She pursed her lips and made a note on her notepad that she kept hidden from me. Then she said the working hours are eight in the morning until four forty four in the afternoon and I laughed. The shutters actually came down over her eyes as I giggled and I knew I was done!”
“Why such odd hours?”
“Something to do with a rostered day off? Instead of getting an RDO each month you work sixteen minutes less each day. And they’re strict about it, you aren’t allowed to stay later without permission.”
Emily laughed. “That’s pretty standard for council. I can’t believe you laughed when she said it.”
“I couldn’t either but I was so surprised. I’m used to staying at work until everything is done for the day. I couldn’t bare to be watching the clock for the exact moment I had to down tools.”
They passed the bread around the dinner table and their conversation all too quickly turned to Emily.
“So Emily, tell us how things are going with Cooper. Did you give in and date him yet?”
“No! Of course not. He doesn’t even want to date me. We’ve settled into a comfortable working arrangement and soon he’ll be out of my hair. Do you know he’s insisting on sitting in on every single interview?”
“Uh huh. Of course he is, and he’s not interested in you at all. I think you might be confused about that.” Shelly and Boyd both laughed as he wrapped his arms around her shoulder. “Boyd was underfoot for weeks before he got brave enough to ask me out.”
“It’s true Emily. I was besotted—always thinking up ways we could run into each other or ‘accidentally’ meet.” He grinned at Shelly and she kissed him on the cheek.
“Stop you guys! We’ve been through this. Cooper and I are not going to happen. He had his chance and he blew it. I do have an offer for you though, Andrea.” She turned to her friend who was flicking through the menu. “I want you to apply for one of our admin jobs. You didn’t find anything yet, did you?”
“The council was my last interview except for a second interview booked for next week at the job that is my number one pick, but besides that I’m still available.”
“Okay, perfect. Send me your resume, go to that second interview and if it doesn’t work out I want you to interview for a job with us. You’d be perfect and you’d like working there. The people are great!”
“All the people?” Andrea waggled her eyebrows as the rest of the table laughed.
“All except one and he’ll be gone soon.”
***
“Cooper?”
He looked up and she could have sworn his eyes lingered on her legs a moment too long. “Yes?”
“I’ve asked my friend Andrea to apply for one of the admin roles. She’s looking for a new job and when I told her we were having some adventures in our own hiring we got to talking about it. If you’re impressed by her resume, I’ll need to excuse myself from the interview, but I wanted you to know why.”
“Uh… okay. When will we have it?”
“She’s emailing it today. I already know she’d be great, otherwise I wouldn’t have suggested it. We’re close friends, though, and it will be immediately apparent to the other staff so it’s best I remove myself.”
“Fair enough. Sometimes I wonder which one of us is more of a stickler for the rules, you know.” He laughed as she frowned and walked back to her office. Even when she closed the door she could hear him chuckling.
Why on earth would he compare us like that?
***
“I’m so sorry, we seem to be missing our other panel member. Could you take a seat and I’ll see where she’s gone.” Cooper indicated the chair in front of him and their newest applicant sat down.
He almost sprinted from the room in search of Emily. He found her writing a work at height permit for an electrician planning work in the roof. He stepped back to wait for her and when she was finished she scolded him. “Why didn’t you stay with her? I would have only been a few minutes.”
“I have to tell you something first.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her down the hallway.
“Why are you whispering?”
“Here.” He ducked into an empty office off the corridor and flicked on the lights. He closed the door behind him and Emily could see his face was bright red.
“What’s wrong?” Fear clutched at her throat.
What has happened to him to make him look like that?
“I’ve done a terrible thing.”
“Don’t keep me in suspense!”
“Well, we’re interviewing Cindy Fong, right? I go out there to get her and there’s more than one person sitting in reception. I walk over to her and call out her name when I’m standing almost in front of her. Except it’s not her.”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“The Asian woman who I stood in front of, with my hand extended, was not Cindy Fong.” He dragged his fingers through his hair and stared at her. “Cindy Fong is not Asian. She’s as Caucasian as you or I. I just racially profiled the poor woman that we’re about to interview based on her surname!”
Emily leaned against the desk, a giggle desperate to escape her chest. “It’s not so bad.”
“Oh yes it is. It’s bad. Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad! I have to sit through an interview with her now, knowing that she had to walk across the room and tap me on the shoulder to introduce herself!”
“Oh, wow. You really made sure you couldn’t cover that up, didn’t you?”
“I apologised several times but I felt awful. She took it well but I’m still worried.”
“Come on, then.” She patted him on the shoulder as she walked past. “It’ll be fine. Let’s hope she’s great and we can all laugh about this a few years from now.”
The interview was great and when they compared their score sheets after the meeting, they both agreed that Cindy Fong was a definite yes for an accounting role.
“Thank God.” Cooper said. “Lawsuit avoided!”
***
Keryth Belvin positively bounced into the conference room as Sasha grinned and closed the door behind her. Cooper and Emily shook her hand and she settled herself in her chair, still beaming at them.
“It’s nice to meet you both!” she enthused. “I’m so excited to be here!”
A tap on her foot told Emily that Cooper thought this girl was odd. She smiled kindly at her and slipped her foot away. Playing footsies with him was not a good way to keep her mind on the interview.
They asked the usual questions and dutifully noted down the answers. Keryth was just as excited toward the end of the interview as she was at the start, and Cooper finally commented on her sunny nature. “Oh, I’m always cheery. Nothing that ever happens is bad enough to make me sad. I always make the best of a bad situation and can find something to laugh about. It helps that I’m convinced you’re going to hire me!” she said with an enormous grin.
“You do?” Emily couldn’t resist. “Why’s that?”
“Did you look at my resume?”
“Umm… of course, but—”
“Well, if you check again you’ll see that it’s my eighteenth birthday today! I could be off having lunch with my friends or getting ready for my party tonight, but instead I’m here at your job interview.” She smiled her sunny smile again and glanced at them both. “That shows I’m dedicated and really want this role, which makes me perfect. I bet no-one else is here on their birthday.”
Cooper laughed and it was Emily’s turn to kick him under the table. “You’re right. No one else has tried to blackmail us by pointing out their date of birth. Very clever of you.”
“I just didn’t want it to go unnoticed. I want this job and I think I’d be great at it, from what you’ve explained. Please consider me seriously before you make a decision.”
“We definitely will. Thanks for coming in, it really does show dedication.” Emily couldn’t be mean to her; the girl was just so damn cheerful.
They escorted her out and met back in the conference room to compare score sheets.
“Besides the birthday bribery, what do you think?” Emily asked.
“Well, she’d definitely be pleasant to have around, though she may turn out to be a bit of a chatterbox. She’s very young but we are employing a basic accounts person in this one. It’s nice to have some variety in the office age-wise. New ideas are always good.”
“I agree. Let’s short list her.”
“We only have one more to interview for accounts don’t we? Do you think we’ve seen enough people?”
“Yes, definitely. I don’t believe in continuing to interview when you’ve found suitable applicants. It’s like looking at wedding dresses when you’ve already bought yours and it’s hanging in your cupboard. There’ll always be something better.”
“Interesting. Okay, she’s a yes if the next one isn’t better. Good.”
“Let’s hope whoever we appoint to the accounts manager role, likes chirpy young ladies in their team.”
***
The third job applicant turned out to be the most exciting of all. The conference room had a previous booking so they held it in Cooper’s office instead.
Stacy Cook was doing well. She was articulate and gave all the right answers to their questions. She continually wiped her hands across her skirt, showing how nervous she was and when it came time for her to ask questions, her hands visibly shook. “I’m drawing a blank.” She stared at them, wide-eyed. “I’m sure there’s something clever or insightful I’m meant to ask here but I just can’t think of anything. You covered all the details I would normally want to know.” She smiled at them both and Emily took pity on her.
“That’s okay. There’s no rule that says you have to ask questions. If you think of anything after you’ve gone home, feel free to call me.” Emily slid her card across the table. Stacy wiped her hand again before she took the card and dropped it into the handbag she’d placed beside her chair. Cooper thanked her for coming and she stood and shook both their hands.
She took a step to her right and the toe of her shoe caught in the handle of her bag. Suddenly she was flailing through the air and she fell heavily against the side table. As she continued her downward trajectory, she knocked a photo frame from the table and it smashed onto the floor, the glass breaking into several pieces.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” she howled, before dropping to her knees.
“It’s okay, just leave it.” Cooper was quick to take her elbow to help her up. “We can clean that up.”
“No, no. I’ll do it. I’m so clumsy. So sorry!” She rubbed her hand along the carpet, trying to scoop up the glass. A large piece stuck into her palm and cut through the skin. Emily jumped up as blood spurted from Stacy’s hand, some of it dripping on the floor.
“Oh my goodness.” Emily pushed a box of tissues across the desk. “Let me go and get a first aid kit.” She rushed to the kitchen, leaving Cooper to deal with the bleeding, and now bawling, woman. When she returned Stacy was howling and trying to wipe blood off the shoulder of Cooper’s suit. He was saying soothing words to her and managed to finally get her into a chair, where she covered her face and let out huge wracking sobs.
Cooper and Emily stared at each other, both with helpless expressions. They offered her tissues and repeated that it was totally fine. When she finally had herself under control, they took care of her hand and Emily walked her down the stairs and out to her car. She promised to call when they had made their decision. As she stood and watched the car drive away, she cringed as she heard a backfire echo down the street.
That girl has had one difficult day!
Cooper flopped into the chair opposite her desk the moment she was back upstairs. “Have you ever had a day like this?”
“Nothing surprises me any more. But no, today was a one-of-a-kind experience. I’m exhausted.”
“Me too. Imagine if we’d booked more than three!”
She pursed her lips. “You don’t have to rub it in Cooper. You were right, okay?”
“I’m not trying to rub anything in. I’m just saying imagine how crap today would have been if more crazies had been scheduled.” The look on his face made Emily laugh and she relaxed. Something she hadn’t done in his presence since he’d arrived last week. “I know you’ll say it’s inappropriate and that you’re not interested, but do you want to get dinner with me? The apartment is boring on my own and I’m tired of eating frozen pizza.”
“Damn, I was going to suggest we get a pizza. Oh well.” Her lips twitched as she made fun of him. “Maybe I can make an exception and we could get a pub meal?”
“Perfect.” Pleasure filled his voice and his face. “I have a few emails to answer then let’s get out of here.”
“I’ll need at least thirty minutes. Plus I’ll need to organise someone else to lock up.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you when you’re ready.”
Dinner with Cooper. What the hell am I thinking?