Page 2 of The Naughty List
I follow her down a hallway covered in massive black and white photos of wild animals. Prairie dogs. Gray wolves. Leopards. Sea otters.
The photography is incredible and I can’t help but wonder who took the pictures.
“Right this way,” she says, indicating an open door to a large conference room.
Following her inside, I’m struck silent by the view of the city and the water. The entire back wall of the conference room is glass.
“Would you like something to drink? Water? Coffee?” She offers as I take a seat directly across the table from where she stands.
“No, thank you. I’m fine.”
I don’t know why I said that. It’s a knee-jerk response I regret immediately. My mouth is dry and my throat is parched and water would be wonderful. I’m about to be answering important questions. Croaking out my words won’t help.
“I’m sorry,” I say, just as she’s lowered herself into her seat. “Actually, a water would be great. I’m nervous,” I admit.
She frowns, sighing loudly and moving to stand back up.
I jump out of my seat quickly. “Please, let me. I should’ve answered correctly the first time you asked.”
I stumble on my way to the table of refreshments. Thankfully I steady myself before sprawling onto the floor, but she definitely noticed. By the time I get back to my seat, eco-friendly bottle of water in hand, Elaine Irving is looking at her phone.
I wait, sipping my water, trying not to disrupt the silence. But of course I fail and the bottle makes a loud crinkling sound every time I so much as touch it.
When her gaze finally returns to me, I’ve almost emptied the entire bottle.
She tilts her head. I can feel bad news coming. “I’m sorry, Ms. Rossi. I’ve actually just been informed that the receptionist position has been filled. Interviewing you won’t be necessary after all.”
My mouth drops open. “But…we haven’t even started and—”
“Like I said,” she interrupts, standing with her phone in her hand. “Terribly sorry. You can get your parking validated downstairs.”
I want to cry.
Also, I have to pee.
“Um, okay. Is there a ladies room I could use?”
She gives me a sympathetic smile. “Down the hall, second door on the left. We have some complimentary items in the reception area as well. Feel free to help yourself.”
With that, she leaves me alone to mourn the loss of a job I never had. I pull myself together and use the lavish ladies room. One my way back to the elevators, I glance around at the reception desk that was almost was mine. Well, maybe not almost. But whatever.
I run my fingers over the massive marble desk, then check out the exotic looking reclaimed wood end tables. My feet are so sore I sit for just a second in a plush beige chair that’s even more comfortable than it looks.
Sighing, I stand and mentally prepare myself for the excruciating walk to the parking garage. Just as I turn to go, I see several bowls full of the items Elaine mentioned.
Leashes, chew toys, magnets. A small stuffed sea otter plushie wearing a hoodie. All with the WDA logo and their tagline, “Love your local wildlife” on them.
I don’t personally have any pets but my mom has a Yorkie named Olivia and Mikey and Addi just rescued a Terrier of some kind from the shelter, so I grab them each a leash and a chew toy. Might as well get something to commemorate my time here. I palm a magnet, too.
I’m just about to put them in my purse when the door at the end of the hall opens and a man’s voice startles me.
“Thank God, you’re finally here.”
I stare at him openly, unable to get my brain to signal my mouth to speak.
Jonah X stands in all his masculine glory, looking like a GQ cover in crisp navy dress pants and a matching tie with a white button down shirt. His sleeves are rolled up so I can see the swirls of ink licking up his thick, vascular forearms. The small charcoal-colored puppy he’s holding wriggles excitedly against his broad chest.
“Um.” I glance around. Is he talking to me? Surely not. Why would he be glad I was here? I didn’t even get the job.
