I can’t believe it; this is really happening. I look down at the brown pencil skirt, white blouse, and black stiletto heels instead of the usual jeans and t-shirt I used to wear for work. I am so excited and nervous to start my new job today.
I walk inside the building and head over to the receptionist sitting behind the front desk.
‘Somebody, please pinch me,’ I thought to myself, ‘I need to make sure this is not a dream!’
I suddenly felt a slight sting on my right arm.
“Ouch! Why did you do that?” I say to the pretty receptionist. She is a beautiful brunette with grey eyes, an oval face and a lovely smile.
“You asked someone to pinch you. So I did,” she replies, her beautiful smile shining.
“I can’t believe I said that out loud,” I exclaim with wide eyes.
“You did, honey. But welcome to Crawford wine company. My name is Nora. How can I help you?”
The company I will be working for is a family-owned wine company founded in 1970
“I am the newly appointed secretary for Mr. Jason Crawford. How can I get to his office?”
“I didn’t know Mr. Crawford was hiring a new secretary. Could you wait a minute? I need to call to confirm what you are saying.”
“Sure, no problem,” I replied calmly while panicking silently. What does she need to confirm? Does it mean I didn’t get the job? Why would the older Mr. Crawford tell me I had gotten the job. Nora’s voice suddenly interrupts my train of thought.
“Sorry for keeping you waiting; take the elevator to the 20th floor. Once you get there, you will meet someone who will help you,” she says.
“It’s fine. Thank you,” I say, in relief as I realized my fear was for nothing.
The older Mr. Crawford had told me he had worked hard to convince Mr. Jason to give me the job. I am so happy he did, this job is going to be the beginning of many new things in my life.
I follow Nora’s instructions. As I step out of the elevator at the 20th floor I am greeted by a beautiful lady with a short blond bob. She looks as though she is in her early thirties. If she started working at the company while she was in her early twenties, as I am, that she will have a lot of knowledge about the industry.
“Good morning. My name is Vivienne, Mr. Crawford’s secretary. I will help you settle in,” she sternly says.
“Hello, it’s nice to meet you Vivienne, but I thought I had been hired as Mr. Crawford’s secretary,” I say, confused. This is the second time someone had said something to make me question my new position in the company in the short time I had been in the building.
“No, you weren’t, I am Mr. Crawford’s secretary. Your position in the company hasn’t yet been decided.”
“Excuse me, I don’t understand. That was not what the older Mr. Crawford told me.”
“Of course that is not what he told you. But, that is what is happening,” she says, further confusing me.
“Can you please explain to me what’s going on?” I ask.
“As much as I would love to, I have a meeting to attend. Once it’s over, the CEO will answer all your questions,” she explains.
“Alright. Thank you. How long will I have to wait?” I ask.
“I don’t know, maybe an hour or two.”
“That’s a long time. Is there someone else who can explain things to me in the meantime?” I ask, impatiently.
“No, I’m sorry. You can either wait, or you can say goodbye to your job?”
“Wow! Don’t worry, I will wait,” I say with surprise.
I can’t understand why Vivienne is speaking to me with such a stern tone of voice. The older Mr. Crawford had explicitly told me I would be his grandson’s new secretary. I can’t understand all the confusion since my arrival. I decide that I will have to wait until the meeting is over to find out.
I am finally able to meet the CEO after a long two hours. It is the first time I am going to see him in person and I’m feeling a little nervous. The older Mr. Crawford has shown me many of pictures of him, but nothing beats seeing someone in real life.
I knock on the door of his office and wait for a response.
“Come in,” a deep voice says from behind the closed door. I say a little prayer, turn the doorknob, and step inside.
I walk inside and find the CEO seated behind his desk, waiting for me. I take in his features as I approach him. His jet black hair is flecked with grey. If I did not know his actual age, I would think he is a man in his 50s who looks very good for his age. However, the older Mr. Crawford had told me that his grandson is 37, so I know he is not as old as his hair portrays. His full eyebrows are black and perfectly shaped. His hazel brown eyes are beautiful; they look like deep pools of caramel. His nose is straight and a little pointed, but not too much. His lips are just the perfect size and color.
“Miss Brown, please take a seat,” Mr. Jason says, gesturing to one of the chairs in front of his desk. I was so distracted by him that I hadn’t noticed the beautiful interior of his office.
The walls are painted white, with a brown feature wall behind his desk.
“Thank you, sir,” I say, as I sit on the white chair he had indicated towards.
“I will try to make this quick and not waste any of our time,” he says and places a document in front of me. “This is a contract that states you will leave my grandfather and I alone. I will pay you what you require and in return you will ensure that you don’t see or speak to my grandfather in the future.” he continues.
I am shocked to my core. Mr. Jason’s statement has completely blindsided me. My feeling of excitement to start a new job completely disappears and are replaced by feelings of utter bewilderment.
“Why would you think I would sign such a contract?” I ask, feeling insulted. I don’t bother to pick up the document to read it, there is no way I will agree to an agreement like that.
“You want money, so I’m giving it to you,” he responds.
“But I want to work for money,” I argue.
“You can quit the act. I am not my grandfather. I don’t believe you would prefer a job over collecting money from this settlement.”
“Clearly you’re not! He knows I would never betray our friendship for a few dollars,” I exclaim.
“A few dollars?” he questions with a laugh, “You insult me Miss Brown. Check the document and tell me if that amount is just a few dollars.”
“I don’t care what amount written in there! I will not take it!” I state, pointing to the document.
“Even though I think you should have a look before you say anything you might regret,” he urged.
“I am sorry, Mr. Crawford, but I am not going to read this document. There is no amount of money that will stop me from being friends with your grandfather.”
“You’re telling me that even one million dollars is not enough?” he asks, smirking.
“What did you just say?” I ask, questioning what I had just heard. Why would someone pay me such a tremendous amount of money just because I am friends with an old man?
“You heard me right, Miss Brown. I will pay you one million dollars, in return you will sign this contract that states you will never speak or see my grandfather again.”
I am in utter shock and disbelief! Why wouldn’t he want me to be friends with his grandfather? He’s a lonely old man who I have grown very fond of. As much as that sort of money would change my life, I can’t accept it. The conditions of the funds are insulting. If I accept them I will forever be disappointed in myself and my convictions. Money like that would transform my situation, but I am not suffering to the point that I will stoop so low to accept money that comes with such awful conditions.
“So, what do you say Miss Brown?” He asks, expectantly.
“Mr. Crawford, I am sorry, but I can’t accept your offer. I would prefer to work and make my own honest money,” I answer.
“You’re sticking to your act! Just tell me how much more you want, I will have my lawyers draft a new contract immediately,” he responds.
“Mr. Crawford, I don’t want your money.”
“Then what do you want?” he asks, growing angry.
“I want to work and earn my money. I was excited to be doing that here,” I say, truthfully.
“That’s a lie; I don’t believe you,” he rebuts.
“I know you might not believe me, but I promise, I’m not friends with your grandfather because of his money. I didn’t know he was wealthy until he got me this job. Please allow me to work here for you so that I can earn my own money honestly,” I implore him.
“I don’t believe a single word out of your mouth. However, since Grandpa wants you to work here I have to allow you to. I don’t have any concrete evidence as to why you shouldn’t,” he begrudgingly says.
“Thank you so much,” I say with relief.
“Don’t thank me, I’m not the one who got you the job,” he says.
“I know but still, thank you! However, your grandfather told me I would be your secretary, but I think you already have one.”
“That is correct,”
“If you already have a secretary, what will my title be?” I ask.
“You will be my personal assistant,” he answered.
“What will I be doing?”
“You will run errands for me at the office,” he says, casually waving his hands.
“Alright, thank you.”
I feel relieved that I know how to fill the job description. I was worried he might assign me something outside my field of expertise. Although running errands might not have anything to do with my degree of business management, anyone can run errands.
“That’s all for now; you can leave. Vivienne will provide you with all the required information.”
“Thank you for allowing me to work here,” I say as I stand up to leave.
“Don’t thank me yet, you will be leaving us very soon,” he says quietly, with an evil smirk.
“Excuse me?” I ask, shocked by his words.
“Nothing, Miss Brown.”
I walk out of his office with thoughts racing through my head. Given how my first day has started, I have a bad feeling about my future in this position.
