I began what I’m
posting below a couple of years ago and then put it aside. I don’t yet have a
title for it, and it may not ever get finished. However, maybe posting a first
chapter will give me the impetus to continue…or at least dwell on the life of
Madeleine rather moi.CHAPTER 1
Madeleine couldn’t believe
she had scored an in-person interview, especially since her work background was
so sketchy, but she was very grateful to be seated in the elegant reception
area of the Lorax Company. She gazed around the room, noting the beautiful art
on the walls, the cushy carpet on the floor and the kind of furniture that made
you want to curl up with a good book. She even found the colors pleasing…a soft
silvery gray with accents of bright and bold orange and blue in the pillows and
beautiful glass items placed on dark wood tables around the room. She was so
lost in her thoughts about the décor she didn’t hear her name called. When she
did, she realized the individual waiting on her was a bit annoyed she hadn’t
responded by jumping up immediately. Ah well, Maddie thought as she followed
the beautifully dressed and coiffed woman down the hall.
Spencer was seated at his
desk, working away when his soon-to-be-ex-assistant knocked and opened the
door. He stood and waited while Sharon came into the room followed by a woman
whose appearance was the exact opposite of Sharon’s.
“Spencer, this is
Madeleine Marlow. She is your next interview for the position as your Executive
Assistant. Ms. Marlow, this is Mr. Spencer Lomax.”
Madeleine took a very
shallow deep breath and walked across the carpet toward the very tall and very
attractive man behind the desk. He stood, held out his hand and she surrendered
her much smaller one to his grasp. Almost immediately, there was a tingle up
her arm. She felt as though she’d been zapped by a live wire and her eyes
opened wide. She pulled her hand back as quickly as she was able and watched
Mr. Lomax. His eyes, too, had widened at the contact and he reflexively rubbed
his hand on his pants.
“Ms. Marlow, I’m delighted
to meet you. Why don’t we move to the sitting area? It’s much less formal and I
find it makes me as well as the interviewee feel more comfortable.” Seated, he
continued, “I found your resume very interesting. Could we begin by having you
tell me a bit about yourself?”
Maddie cleared her throat
and sat up straight. “I realize employers no longer are allowed to ask certain
questions, but I believe the more information one provides, the easier it is to
reach a decision. I’m twenty-nine years old, and as you saw on my resume,
graduated from college magna cum laude with a degree in marketing as well as
art studies. I didn’t look for employment immediately because my aunt, the
woman who raised me, was diagnosed with a serious cancer. Even though she
didn’t want me to put my life on hold, I loved her dearly and made the decision
to care for her until she either got well or passed. She died this past spring.
I spent the following months clearing out her home and executing the
instructions she left in her will. Now, I’m free to pursue a life of my own
which I hope includes a career as the right hand of the CEO of a company like
Lorax.”
“You realize your lack of
employment history is a serious impediment to qualifying for and obtaining an
Executive Assistant position?”
“Yes, I certainly do;
however, I strongly believe I am far more capable of providing the assistance
you would need than my resume would indicate. In fact, I so strongly believe in
my abilities that I’m willing to work for you for a week gratis and if you’re
not satisfied with my performance at the end of that time, I’ll go on my way.
But, if my work is more than satisfactory, then I’d expect you to hire me
full-time and pay me for the week I spent on probation.”
Spencer looked at Maddie
and back at the resume he held in his hand. “It says here you know shorthand. I
didn’t think they taught that skill any longer.”
“My aunt taught me and
practically worked my fingers to the bone drilling me on my ability until she
believed I was more than competent. I know it certainly came in handy during my
college years as well as toward the end of her life when the doctors or nurses
had extensive instructions for me about her care.”
Spencer stood up,
indicating the interview was at an end. As he walked her to the door, he told
her he had a couple more applicants to interview and would definitely get back
to her regardless of his decision. Maddie thanked him, offered her hand wondering
if there would be another zing. It was there and Spencer held on to her hand
for a bit before releasing it, all the time looking into her eyes.
Maddie resisted the urge
to rub her hand on her skirt until she was safely in the elevator. Even then,
rubbing her hand hard against the material didn’t totally eliminate the small
electrical charge she still felt. She wondered why Mr. Lomax affected her in
such a way. No one, man or woman had ever before given her such a feeling. She
rather liked it and wondered what would happen if she was actually hired. As
the elevator doors opened on the first floor, she shrugged her shoulders and
walked out, thinking she wouldn’t be back there any time soon. Mr. Lomax
undoubtedly need someone with lots of experience.
Spencer was again seated
behind his desk and thinking about Madeleine Marlow. Her appearance was the opposite of any of the candidates he’d seen so far. She’d worn a
summer suit of obviously very good quality, but it looked as though it was a
size or two bigger than she would need. The sleeves went down to her hands and
the collar of the blouse was close around the neck. The suit skirt was fairly
long and the shoes she wore were more like something a much older woman would
wear. Then there was her hair and total lack of make-up, or at least it
certainly didn’t appear as though she were wearing any. Her hair looked to be a
beautiful color, neither blond nor red, but a combination of the two. She had
it pulled back so tightly into a thick bun at the base of her head, it was
really hard to see what it might actually look like loose. He found he’d very
much like to see that hair loose; and he expected it would be fairly long
considering the bun’s size. Her eyes were large when opened wide and a blue so
dark it almost looked black. Spencer thought her eyes would be her best feature
if she wore a little make-up and darkened the reddish-gold lashes with mascara.
And, finally, what about that little zap he got both times their hands met. It
didn’t exactly go directly to his cock, but it did make him wonder what it
would feel like to press himself against her from head to toe. What kind of a zap
would he feel then?
“Earth to Spence, earth to
Spence.” His assistant said barely keeping the irritation out of her voice.
“Here’s your next interviewee. Ms. Ralston, this is Mr. Lomax.”
The following day, when
Spence rendered his decision about who to hire to replace Sharon, she appeared
horrified. “You can’t possibly be serious about hiring that Marlow woman.” She
almost spit out the words. “She doesn’t have any experience to speak of and I
don’t know if they still use the word dowdy, but she’d be right at home in the
dictionary as an example. I also still don’t understand why you have to replace
me. And, okay, I got a bit out of line on a personal basis, but I can promise
that won’t happen ever again. Let’s just stop this process and leave things as
they are.”
“Sharon, we’ve already
been through this several times. I know you’re sorry for your actions and I do
trust that you’d never make that kind of mistake with me again. The problem is
me. I feel very awkward around you now and part of that awkwardness I feel is
because I really wanted, and still want if I’m being honest, to take complete
advantage of all you offered. But I cannot and will not. And, I cannot and will
not continue to work with you feeling as uncomfortable as I do.”
Sharon sighed and said, “I
know it’s all my fault and I do appreciate the great recommendation and
severance package you’re giving me, but I did and do so love this job.”
“In that case, get ready
to share your knowledge with Ms. Marlow. I’m going to call her and tell her to
report for work on Monday. I know you think this is a mistake, but she
impressed me with her desire to be hired. She offered to work for free for a week
and if I’m not impressed and don’t want to hire her at the end, she’ll walk
away. Anyone who thinks they are that good and is willing to put themselves out
there like that deserves a chance. And, Sharon, don’t you dare try to make her
life a misery or make sure she doesn’t succeed. If you aren’t professional and
helpful, I’ll void the letter of recommendation and severance package and
simply fire you. Understood.”
Sharon acquiesced even
though it made her quite angry. If she’d had her way, she’d have done
everything possible to make the Marlow woman fail. At least that way, she’d
continue in her position for a while longer and just maybe Spence would change
his mind. Ah well she thought, maybe she’ll manage to fail on her own.
Maddie was curled up in
her favorite chair with a soft blanket, her cat and a great mystery when her
phone rang. She picked it up and said hello, expecting it to be another
nuisance call.
“Hello Ms. Marlow. This is
Spencer Lomax and I’ve called to tell you I’m accepting your offer to work for
a week for free to see if it’s possible for you to meet the job requirements.
Hello, are you there Ms. Marlow?
When Maddie realized who
was on the phone, she’d sat up so fast her blanket, book and cat tumbled to the
floor. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Yes, I’m here, just
surprised to hear from you. I know there were undoubtedly a number of
applicants much more qualified than me. When shall I report for work?”
“Be in the office at 8:00
am on Monday. Sharon, my current assistant, is expecting you and will begin the
training. There won’t be any need for a visit to Human Resources until you are
actually hired, if you are hired. We’ll deal with that then.”
“Thank you so much Mr.
Lomax. You have no idea how much I’m looking forward to showing you what I am
capable of doing. You aren’t going to be disappointed; I promise you. Goodbye.”
Maddie scooped up her
annoyed feline and danced around the room which only made the cat even more
unhappy. When she flopped back into her chair, she held and petted the cat
until he was purring. “How about that Topper? How about that? I’m going to have
a job. I know you aren’t going to like it because you’ll be here all day by
yourself, but I’m so happy. Promise I’ll give extra pets and hugs every
evening. Oh, Topper, this is so exciting.”
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