Chapter 3 Joining the Office

“You didn’t have to move with me; you know?” Amanda says to Chelsea. Admiration on her face towards her best friend. How she could just move to a new city when her life in Bay’s Beach was just starting, away from her parents. “Jamie is in Peninsula more than he is at Bay’s Beach. It was the only decision to make” Chelsea says, heading to the closet. “Now for the perfect interview outfit for you. Something that screams hire me.” “It’s just an administration assistant’s job. The job description says we will be compiling reports for marketing and management” Amanda informs her. “And hoping you meet the gorgeous CEO you had in your arms a few days ago” Chelsea mocks as Amanda’s face turns a nice shade of pink. “I doubt he comes out of his office to interview a mere admin assistant” Amanda whispers, shaking her auburn hair. “But he will be in the same building” Chelsea smiles. Amanda had thought of this and hoped she will at least catch a glimpse of him; but she didn’t dare tell Chelsea her thoughts. Although Chels knows her better than she knows herself. She woke up around 4am after her and Toby’s encounter. She was moving the same day and decided she didn’t want to complicate their lives by staying. She applied for the position of administration assistant a few weeks before she left Bay’s Beach; not expecting an interview, due to her lack of experience. “Here; this will do it” Chelsea says, handing Amanda her navy slacks with a pale blue blouse. “I have outfits of my own” Amanda fumes at her. “I know; but this outfit screams; take me, I’m yours” Chelsea giggles and Amanda rolls her eyes before heading into the bathroom to shower and change. “What time is the interview?” “9.30” Amanda calls back, double checking her watch before getting under the spray of the shower. “You better get a move on. I’ve booked the Uber for 30 minutes. It will be easier than trying to find your way around the city. You don’t want to be late for your destiny” Chelsea calls out and Amanda comes out of the bathroom 10 minutes later. After applying her makeup; Amanda looks at Chelsea. “Wish me luck?” she says. “Luck? You don’t need it. You have this in the bag” Chelsea replies, giving her a hug as Amanda walks out the door to the waiting Uber. It took the driver 15 minutes to get to the Sommerville Shopping Malls Inc office building and Amanda smiles at him, before climbing out of the car. “Don’t forget to rate me, 5 stars” the driver calls out the window as he takes off up the street. Amanda stands there looking up at the 12-story building. “You can do this” she whispers to herself and walks in through the main doors and heads to the reception desk. The blonde lady; Karen by the name tag on her chest, sits there staring at her. “I’m Amanda. I’m here for an interview with Miranda” Amanda informs her. Karen narrows her eyes at Amanda and picks up her phone to talk with someone. “You can take a seat over there” she huffs, pointing to a plush grey sofa. “Ok; that was a bit rude” she mutters and goes to sit next to the dark-haired lady on the sofa. “Hi; I’m Belinda. You must be the other administration interviewee. Miranda said she will be interviewing both of us together. Apparently, the CEO decided he needs two of us and we were narrowed down” Belinda; a darked haired lady, with tanned skin in her early 20’s says to Amanda. “How do you know?” Amanda asks her. “Miranda, when she called me for my interview. She informed me they will be interviewing for two, not one job as advertised” she says, smiling. “I wonder if she will be a good boss” Amanda says. Before Belinda could respond, a brown-haired lady comes over and introduces herself. “I’m Miranda. It’s good to meet you Belinda and you must be Amanda” Miranda says, extending her hand to Amanda and Belinda. Both ladies shake Miranda’s hand; “the interview will be in the boardroom on the 4th floor. Follow me.” They trio head up the elevator and down the hall. “Mr Sommerville is waiting for us” Miranda smiles and Amanda’s heart skips a beat as she looks to the corner of the boardroom to see Toby sitting in a chair, looking through paperwork. “You must be our new recruits” Toby says, smiling at Belinda and Amanda. “Please take a seat.” “Mr Sommerville; we are only here…” “Shh” Belinda says, stopping Amanda for voicing this is an interview and Toby narrows his eyes at her. “I’m well aware; this is an interview Miss Frost” Toby frowns at her and Amanda’s heart sinks further to the pit of her stomach. “What made you choose Sommerville Shopping Malls as a career?” “Umm; I was moving here from Bay’s Beach, four hours away. I saw the online application and followed up by looking into what you do. I may not have experience of the inner workings of a shopping mall and this is a weakness of mine; but I do like to challenge myself and feel this will be an opportunity I can’t pass up. Turn my weakness into a strength” Amanda replies the rehearsed lines she did with Chelsea. She wanted to also say, she applied for the position before our rendezvous; however, she kept that to herself. Toby smirks at her before turning his attention to Belinda; “And what about you, Miss Spence. Why did you decided to choose a career with Sommerville Shopping Malls Inc?” ‘God his gorgeous. I wish I could just take him on the table’; “Miss Frost?” Toby interrupts her thoughts, smirking at her as Amanda brings herself back to the room, blushing. “Sorry?” Amanda says to them and looks down at the contract that was placed in front of her. ‘Holy Crap; is he for real? He wants to pay me $80,000 a year for an administration assistant. This can’t be right;’ Amanda thinks and she was about to voice her concerns when Toby interrupts her. “Miranda; can you please show Miss Spence around the office? I have a few more questions for Miss Frost before we are done” Toby asks and Miranda ushers Belinda out of the boardroom; shutting the door behind her. “Mr Sommer…” Amanda was about to say, when Toby moves by her quickly. She can smell the spicey scent of his aftershave. The same scent she hoped to smell again. “Sweet Pea; why did you leave without saying goodbye?” he asks her and her face turns a new shade of red. “I um; I was leaving for Peninsula and I didn’t want to complicate our lives” Amanda whispers, looking around her and realising how her life just went to a whole new level of complication. “Complicating my life; what do you call this?” Toby fumes at her. “I applied for the job; two weeks before we met at Dave’s. How was I supposed to know you were the CEO of Sommerville Shopping Malls?” Amanda answers Toby’s question; raising her voice slightly. “Ahh; my name is Sommerville and raising your voice at your new boss; not a good first impression” Toby smirks at her and Amanda gets up to leave. “I’m sorry; I have taken up too much of your time, Mr Sommerville” Amanda finishes; her heart breaking into a million pieces as she heads for the door. “I didn’t say you can go” Toby fumes, grabbing Amanda’s arm. “You are not leaving here; you are mine; Sweet Pea and I want you. I will ask Miranda to show you around the office.” Amanda was left dumbfounded as Toby leaves the boardroom. ‘What just happened?’ she asks herself as Miranda comes into the boardroom. “Follow me. You and Belinda will be sharing a cubicle. Please sign the contract and drop it off at HR. You will start immediately according to your contract and will be on probation for three months. Belinda had to tie up some loose ends and she will start 9am tomorrow morning” Miranda finishes, looking at Amanda. The two ladies head to the small cubicle area and Amanda sits down to read the contract. “You want me to do what, exactly?” Amanda finally asks. The contract doesn’t outline her role as much as she thought it would. “You and Belinda will share the responsibility. Both of you will write up the reports for marketing and management. Your password for your computer is 1234ABC; in capitals. We recommend you change it as soon as possible as this is the default password for all the computers. Make yourself at home” Miranda responds; leaving her alone in the cubicle. ‘Regardless Toby is here; I’m not going to find a job that pays this well. I will just have to remain professional’ Amanda says to herself and signs the last page of the contract and heads out the door. “Where do I find HR?” she asks a man near the elevators. “Third floor; I’ll take you” he responds. “Henry” he says, offering his hand to Amanda. “Amanda” she answers, shaking Henry’s hand and looking at him, before gasping as she realises, she had seen him before at Dave’s Bar and starts to shift on the balls of her feet. “I’m the Finance manager here, 2 IC and Toby’s best friend” Henry grins, finally breaking the silence as they both step onto the elevator. “Right” Amanda says, trying to hide her face with the contract. She doesn’t want to give away she is uncomfortable, even though he hasn’t done anything to make her feel uncomfortable; except knowing her and Toby had a passionate night together. “Here we are; I will leave you in Fred’s capable hands” Henry says, smirking at Amanda as she walks into the HR office. By the time Amanda finished the paperwork for HR and he printed the contract in triplicate; giving Amanda a copy. It was almost lunchtime. “Where do we go for lunch around here?” Amanda asks Fredrick. “Lunch is normally at 12.30;” Fredrick answers her, smiling as he looks at his watch. “Head up to your office for the next 45 minutes. Most of us normally head to Café Latte for lunch which is on the ground floor. I may see you there.” Nodding her head; Amanda heads to her joint cubicle and sits down; “now for the password change” Amanda whispers to herself and she turns on her computer. She finally changes the password to her usual; Mand!2000 and opens up her emails, shock plastered on her face, to see an email from Toby. ‘My office; now’ is the only thing it states. She looks at the time stamp. It was sent two minutes ago; ‘is he keeping tabs on me?’ Amanda thought fuming and pulls out the map Fredrick gave her to see where Toby’s office is and heads back to the elevator.