14 Days

The day I fell in love with my boss had been a normal Monday morning. I had been on my way to a job interview and was almost out of time. After being out a a job for so long, I wondered if I still knew how to be a secretary. I had been working as a secretary in a small publishing company until I hit the roughest patch in life. By the time I got back to work, not so long after, the company went bankrupt and was bought by a new one which let go of the old workers. I was unable to get a job of that calibre again and did different odd jobs just to make ends meet.

I waited tables, I worked at a grocery store and even walked dogs.

I went from one job interview tomorrow another to no avail. I just about gave up on ever using my degree again when I came across an ad on a job website. I knew the name of the company because there is no way you'd work in a publishing company and not hear of HarperRussell Books... and also because that was the company that bought my old company. HarperRussell Books is actually one of the subsidiaries of the HarperRussell company chain. They were also involved in pharmaceuticals, technological production, food production, and even made my favorite cereal. So when I saw that ad, I didn't even care what the position was. Within me, I concluded that even if it was a cleaning job, I'd take it because I knew it would pay better than all the jobs I did combined.

I was insanely happy when I clicked on the link which redirected me to their official website and found out that the job was not for a cleaning job but a secretary. I quickly applied and crossed my fingers with the hope that I'd get a response and an invite to the interview. After a week of getting no response, I lost hope of ever getting a response until that bright Friday evening. I was taking out the trash after work when my phone vibrated. I sighed and wiped my hands on my jeans before pulling it out of my pocket. I mindlessly went through the phone in order to check the source of the notification.

I began yawning until I saw HarperRussell Books and it cut the yawn short and my fingers trembled with trepidation. I didn't have much hope but I feared being rejected because I really really needed that job and it was my last hope.

Subject: Invitation to Interview

Dear Iyanna Garvey,

As a result of your application for the position of a Secretary, I would like to invite you to attend an interview on June 30, at 9 AM at our office in Quincy, MA.

You will have an interview with the department manager, Edie Wilson and myself. The interview will last about 30 minutes. Please bring three references as well as a copy of your driver's license (if any) to the interview.

If the date or time of the interview is inconvenient, please contact me by phone (***-***-****) or email (mikey@harperrussell.com) to arrange another appointment. We look forward to seeing you.

Best regards,

Micheal Banks

_______

Micheal Banks

Administrative Director

HarperRussell

101 Earth Street

Quincy, MA 02169

***-***-***

mikey@harperrussell.com

I dropped my phone and pressed my fist against my mouth to prevent myself from screaming like I wanted to. I smiled so hard my cheeks began hurting. I knew it was just an interview and not that I'd gotten the job but the fact that they invited me for an interview was enough reason to bring tears to my eyes. Out of probably hundreds, I was one of those invited for the interview. I picked my phone back up and was happy to find out the screen wasn't broken or anything. I quickly sent a reply.

I dialled my mom's number immediately I sent the reply. "Mom I got invited to the job interview!!" I whisper screamed because I was still at work and didn't want anyone knowing that I applied for work in a big shot company while waiting tables just in case I ended up not getting the job. I shook my head and mentally slapped myself.

'Stop it Iyana. Don't be pessimistic right now.' I said to myself and smiled when I heard my mother scream from the other end of the phone. "Oh my God. That's a great news baby. I know it doesn't mean you've gotten the job yet but it's such a big step in the right direction. Yes!"

"I just saw my boss walking out the back for a smoke. Don't want to be called a slacker. Kiss my baby for me. See you when I get back. Love you!" and at that, I disconnected just as my boss screamed my name as I expected.

"Iyana why the fuck are you slacking on the job?" I was not a slacker but he was my boss, so his words were always right.

"Sorry Sir. Just taking out the trash." and at that, I slipped back into the kitchen just as he lit a cigarette.

'God please let me get that job.'

*****

I hurried down the pedestrian walkway as fast as I could with the hope that I'd be in the office for the interview at least 30 minutes before 9am. Everyone was in a hurry. It was rush-hour at 8:23am as people still hurried off to their different places of work. I lost focus when I looked down to adjust my watch in order to check the time only to run into the guy before me.

"Watch it Lady." he snapped and I quickly apologized. He stepped around something like everyone else did and I looked down to know why and saw a husky puppy whimpering probably from being kicked a number of times. Her eyes were beautiful. One was blue and the other brown. I honestly don't know why I concluded she was female. It was probably a dog walker thing.....no it wasn't. I was just guessing.

"Ohhh. You poor thing." I muttered without thinking as I bent down to pet it before picking it up when she nuzzled my palm.

'Yes Iyana. Pick up every strange dog you see by the road why don't you?' My mind said to me and I realized I had actually just picked up a strange dog 30 minutes before my job interview.

'Stupid Stupid Stupid little girl. This is why bad things happen to you. Because you're a stupid little girl' a mocking voice whispered in my head and I shook it away and focused on what I had on my hands at that moment.

'She has a leash on, that means she has an owner.' I thought before reaching to check the collar around her neck with the hope of finding details of her owner.

"A-ha!" I said out loud when I saw the inscription on her collar. 'I'm Bubbles. In case you ever find me without my hooman, call ***-***-****.'

I dialled the number real fast as I walked down towards the coffee shop not far from the HarperRussell office complex.

"Yes?!" a guy snapped. He sounded out of breath, like he was running. Everyone was just snapping like no man's business that morning.

"Good morning. I found Bubbles."

"Oh my God. Thank God. Where are you? I've been looking for her."

"A coffee shop not far from Earth Street. Don't know if you know the HarperRussell..."

"Yes. I'll be there soon." he cut me off before disconnecting. I checked the time again. 8:37am. The puppy in my arms closed her beautiful eyes and I hoped against all hopes that I wouldn't smell like a dog when I got to the office for the interview.

'When? Don't you mean if you get to the interview. You picked up a dog!

I had to help! God knows how many persons already kicked her instead of helping. I argued back.

You don't help everything you see on the road. It's just a dog.

Maybe if we helped each other this much in the world, it will be a better place. Every little thing counts.'

And just then, I looked up and saw a man wearing joggers, a sweatshirt and sneakers. When he saw Bubbles, he hurried up and I checked the time again. 8:42am. When he got closer, I stroked Bubbles and she opened her eyes and yawned. She barked when she saw her human and all but leapt out of my arms and ran towards the man with a bark and I felt goosebumps rise on my skin when he laughed as he caught her.

I pulled out my hanky to brush off the fur on my jacket and looked up when he said hi. His skin looked so fair and baby smooth and he was taller than me but his most striking feature were his eyes. One blue, one hazel. Just like his dog. Beautiful. He was beautiful. Tall, skinny, really adorable freckles on his nose and beautiful black locks you'd be tempted to run your fingers through.

"Hello. Good morning."

"Good morning. Thank you for calling me. I had to go in to get a bagel from that other coffee shop." he pointed towards the place he came from."but they have a no pets allowed thing going on. So I had to leave her out. I didn't expect her to walk this far. Thank you once again."

I nodded and my eyes flicked to my watch again. 8:50am. "Oh my God. Excuse me. It was nice meeting you. Bye Bubbles."

"Thank you!" he called out and I waved and practically ran to the office. I made it just in time but I was the last to arrive. I was lucky to have the opportunity to cool down in the elevator and so when I sat down, I didn't pant so much.

'So out of shape. Sheesh.' I thought as I sat down. At least I wasn't sweating.

They ended up not starting by 9am and they apologized. Apparently the boss wanted to be present during the interview but was a bit late. I closed my eyes and waited for my turn and prepared myself for whatever questions they'd ask even though I knew it wasn't really necessary as the questions could be very unpredictable.

"You may go in now." I was told and I went in and my eyes bulged out when I saw familiar heterochromic eyes, only this time he was putting on a well cut blue suit and he definitely wasn't smiling as he had been when he saw Bubbles. It felt like the longest thirty minutes of my life. Finally, it was over. I answered the questions as much as I could and when I stood to leave, he stopped me.

"Well it's good to have a name for the nice person. I believe you have made a friend for life because I think Bubbles is in love with you." he said with a smile as the other man relaxed a bit.

"Thank you Mr Banks. Bubbles is a good girl."

"Oh I'm not Mr Banks. He's Mr Banks." he said as he pointed at the other man that relaxed earlier on and was going through the contents of a file. I ohh-ed. If he wasn't Mr Banks who was he? Part of the interviewing team I believe. Probably Mr Wilson.

"I apologize. I thought you sent the email." I replied and nodded towards the desk name plate that had Micheal Banks. Administrative Director engraved on it.

"That is understandable. Well, it is nice meeting you again Bubbles' saviour. I'm Leo Harper. This isn't my department, it's Mikey's over here but because my secretary is almost like my PA, I decided to partake in today's interview to ensure that I'm satisfied with whoever will end up getting the position. When can you start?"

I frowned in confusion I didn't get him. "I am sorry. I don't understand. When can I start what?"

"You got the job."

"What?" I gasped not just at the fact that he said I got the job but also because it finally sank in that he said he was Leo Harper. He had to be kidding. Harper? Leo Harper? As in HarperRussell's Harper? What the fuck?! Small world.

"Yes."

"Just like that?"

"I like the fact that you had enough empathy to call the owner of a puppy and wait for the owner to pick her up. But I had to know if you were efficient because business is business and you can't run it well with just empathy. You seem efficient. I like that. I like you Miss Iyana. I'll make sure to bring Bubbles next time." he replied with a smile as he stood up and put out his hand for a handshake. I looked at the contrast of my brown skin against his fair one.

'My Heart. A smile has never looked so good. Well Iyana. You got the job and you have a tiny puppy love crush on your boss. Atta girl.' I thought sarcastically while returning his small smile as he shook my hand. I knew I was in for a ride.