Chapter 2 #2
Mom: Drive safely on your way home. I’ll leave breakfast for you in the morning. I have an early shift.
Me: Okay.
“What kind of text did you get that has you frowning like that?”
“My mom. She just got off a shift and said she has an early shift. I hate that she has to work so hard. It shouldn’t be like this.”
I took a calming breath and closed the text message.
“Did you apply to Steele Corp?” Miranda asked.
“Yeah. This morning.”
“Anything back from them yet?”
“It’s a Sunday. I probably won’t hear anything until the end of the week.”
“That’s not what I heard. They’re setting up a recruitment day for it tomorrow. Since they just posted the opening yesterday, they’re definitely working the weekend.”
I hurried to check my email and murmured, “No way,” when I saw something from Steele Corp’s Human Resources. Opening it, I quickly read the invitation to interview in the morning.
“I can’t believe it. They actually emailed.”
“See. I told you.”
“They want me to come in tomorrow. How many applicants do you think they have?”
She shrugged. “It’s hard to say with such short notice, but a lot of people dream of getting into Steele. I’m betting they’d be able to fill their schedule with interviews.”
I nodded, feeling hopeful but also quietly giving myself a reality check.
You don’t have any experience, and you’re applying for a highly sought-after position. You’ll need to stand out, Soph.
“I think I’m calling it a night early,” I said.
She nodded and waited for me to tell my uncle before walking out with me.
The Steele building was impressively large, with a full-service cafe to the right of the main entry doors and a main reception area with seating to the left.
Next to the reception desk, security turnstiles separated the public spaces from the Steele Corp Human Resources Department and the elevator banks that had access to the rest of the floors.
I sat in the sitting area with three other women and watched the human resource manager walk through the turnstile with the previous interviewee. She thanked her for her time, watched her leave, then called the next applicant’s name.
One of the women stood and joined her.
A new woman walked in, went to the reception, and said she was there for an interview.
“That last one was quicker than the previous one. I wonder what questions they’re asking,” the woman next to me said. “I really want this job.”
“You and every other young, single woman in the city,” the other woman said with a grin.
“Why?” I asked, feeling like I was missing something.
“Are you serious or just pretending?”
“This is my second day back in the city after four years. Not pretending. What don’t I know?”
The woman next to me leaned closer to speak softly.
“The CEO is the heir to Steele Corporation. He’s still single and not currently dating, according to my sources.”
I tried not to let my face show my partial revulsion as I realized they were social climbers like my father.
“Ah. Well, good luck with that.”
The door opened, and the manager walked out with the woman who’d just gone in. The manager shook her hand, turned, and called my name.
“Here,” I said, standing.
Her gaze went from cool and welcoming to slightly curious.
Good. Make an impression, Soph.
When I reached her, I offered my hand.
“Thank you for taking the time to interview me.”
She shook my hand. “Of course. That’s why I’m here. Come in.”
I followed her into the small conference room and sat in the chair she indicated.
“Tell me a little bit about yourself, Ms. Elmantas. And why Steele Corporation?”
I launched into a smooth introduction about my personal interests as they related to business.
“As for Steele Corporation, I've followed your expansion into sustainable development projects and your innovative employee development programs. My coursework in organizational management and my internship experience with team coordination align well with your collaborative culture.
I'm particularly interested in how you've integrated technology solutions to streamline operations, which connects to my senior project on process optimization.”
She glanced at my resumé, which was at the top of the stack she had in front of her.
“If you are hired, how soon could you start?”
“Immediately,” I said without a hint of desperation.
“We have a thirty-day probationary period before we grant full-time status. After that, you’d qualify for full-time benefits. The starting salary is fifty-thousand dollars.”
She looked at me expectantly.
“I understand.”
While I was doing my best to play it cool on the outside, I was over the moon inside and already running the numbers in my head. I’d be earning enough to make a serious dent in my student loans and help Mom by offering some rent.
The woman smiled and stood.
“Thank you for coming in today, Ms. Elmantas. We'll be in touch by the end of the day.”
I stood and followed her out the door, wondering if the call I received would be a “we’ve decided to move forward with another candidate.”
Mom still wasn’t home when I got back, so I made myself a pot roast sandwich for a late lunch and switched over the laundry she’d started. My phone rang while I was still wrestling a sock from the agitator.
“Hello?”
“Is this Sophia Elmantas?"
“It is."
“This is Gail, the human resource manager from Steele Corporation. Is this a good time to talk?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I'm calling about the position you interviewed for this morning. The position is yours if you want it, Ms. Elmantas. Can you start tomorrow?”
“I can. Thank you so much for this opportunity.”
"Thank you for interviewing, and welcome to Steele Corporation. I'll send you an email with your first-day details and the employee handbook.”
Hanging up, I stared at the sock, stunned.
I was in.
I had a day job.
My whoop of joy echoed through the house. Quickly tossing the rest of the clothes into the dryer, I grabbed my keys and ran outside.
The trip to the store and back only took twenty minutes, but Mom was already home when I walked in with the cake box and a massive smile on my face.
“Something made you happy,” she said, watching me. “Really happy if you got a cake.”
I grabbed her hands, not trying to contain my excitement.
“Mom, I got in at Steele Corp. The executive assistant group for the VP. First application, and I got it. I went in strong just like you said.”
Joy lit her face, and she hugged me hard. “I’m so proud of you, Sophia. You’re so smart and capable, they’re lucky to have you.”
I’d known she would be happy for me, and when she pulled back, I didn’t see a hint of hurt from her wounds, only the pride she’d claimed.
“The starting pay is nice. I know you said no rent until I paid off my loans, but—”
“No. That’s not how we work here. Loans first. I’m here to help you, not the other way around. At least, not yet. Maybe when I’m retired and have no income of my own.”
She gave me another hug and turned toward the cake.
“Double chocolate? My girl knows how to celebrate.”
I served us each a slice, and we talked about how quickly everything had happened for the position and all the good things she heard about Steele Corp over the years.
“So if there’s an opening, do you want to know about it?” I asked.
I watched some of the light fade in her gaze.
“I’m content where I’m at. If that changes, I’ll let you know.”
She wouldn’t. At least, not yet. But hopefully things would change now that I was home. Maybe a little of my good luck would rub off on her.
“I’d better get ready,” I said as soon as it was close to my shift’s start time.
“Jay’s going to be disappointed to see you go so soon,” she said as I stood.
“Go? I’m not leaving Lunar Pulse. I’m in debt and young. There’s no reason I can’t work both jobs.”
“And there’s no reason you should.”
“I disagree. Life has taught me always to have a backup plan.”
She gave me a sad smile. “I know it hasn’t been easy, and I’m sorry for that.”
“Life isn’t supposed to be easy. It’s supposed to be lived,” I said, quoting my friend, Wrenly, who knew that lesson better than anyone I knew. “And I’m determined to live it my way, which means two jobs and world domination.”
The spark of humor relit in Mom’s gaze.
“I believe in you. I also believe that I’ll make myself sick if you leave that cake with me tonight. Take it to work with you.”
Laughing at her, I set two more pieces aside for us, got ready for work, then left with a wave and the rest of the cake.
Uncle Jay welcomed the cake and listened to my good news. Like Mom, he wondered when I was quitting.
“Having dual incomes is too tempting to pass up. You’re stuck with me for a while. Now, what drink are you serving up for tonight’s special?”
“You’re tonight’s inspiration. Let’s go with a Pink Squirrel.”
“Haha.”
The drink he made tasted like a chocolate-almond milkshake and was dangerously good. And with a cherry on top and a dollop of whipped cream dusted with more glitter, it photographed well.
“This is perfect.”
I sat at the bar to tweak the wording for the social shares and sent a message to my girls.
Me: Who’s coming out to celebrate my new job at Steele Corp?
Wrenly: Seriously? That’s amazing! I wish I could, but it’s family dinner night.
Miranda: I knew you’d get it! I can’t be with you tonight, but I’m celebrating with you in spirit.
Then Miranda sent me a separate message.
Miranda: I had a word with your Angel and told him his flirting attempts were coming across as creepy. Expect his apology tonight. If you need me, text. I’ll drop everything for you.
Miranda: I’d drop everything for you, Wrenly, and shoes.
Miranda could be protective, but she could also be provoking. Warning the guy off for me was fine. Making him apologize, though? No thanks. I’d rather he just stop talking to me altogether.
As the night progressed, I thought maybe I’d get my wish. However, the guy showed up about the same time the bar got too crowded for Uncle Jay to manage alone. I went to help fill orders and avoided Mr. Dangerous until the rush settled.
When I finally faced him, I didn’t see any signs that Miranda had beaten him. Probably because his face was too damn pretty to hit, which meant a stern warning had been all she’d delivered.
I applauded her choice as I drifted in his captivating gaze.
“What can I get for you tonight?” I asked.
“A second chance to make a better impression?”