Page 2 of Keeping Denver

With his phone to his ear and stone-cold expressionless stare, it doesn't surprise me in the slightest when he doesn't spare me so much as a glance as he brushes past me. It's not anything I'm not used to, though. Being overlooked is the story of my life.

Nevertheless, I continue to sit in the chair for another hour. Just as I am about to say forget it and leave, an older lady with a grey bob and a pair of reading glasses perched on her nose bustles past me with her arms loaded down with files, and abruptly stops when she notices me sitting there. The woman looks around, then back at me. "Are you waiting on someone, dear?"

I nod. "Yes. I am here for the personal assistant interview."

She looks down at her watch while trying not to drop the files. "That interview was over an hour and forty-five minutes ago. I'm afraid you've missed it."

I swallow and shake my head. "No. I was here five minutes early. The lady at the front," I point down the hall, "said to come in here and take a seat. She said someone would be with me in a few minutes."

"Lord, child. You've been waiting here all that time?"

"Yes." I take a deep breath. "I need this job. I'd still like the interview if it's at all possible. Please."

The woman sets the files down in the chair beside me and holds out her hand. "My name is Mrs. Marshall. You may call me Frances."

I shake her hand. "Hi Frances, I'm Denver Hollis."

"What a beautiful name, Denver. Why don't you come with me back to my office and we'll get you set up."

"For the interview?" I stand and go to help Frances with the files she is struggling with.

"Oh, honey, you already got the job. We need to get your paperwork squared away."

I stare blankly at her. "What do you mean I got the job? You didn't ask me any questions, and I thought I was supposed to meet with Mr. Hawk."

"Mr. Hawk has already left for court, so I am the one saying yes to you. Anyone who has the patience to sit here for almost two hours for a job they are not sure they will even get is the perfect person for the position. When it comes to Mr. Hawk, patience is something you will need a lot of if you are going to work here, dear."

"Let's just drop these off upfront with Kelly, and then we'll go talk in my office."

I'm assuming Kelly is the woman I met earlier when I arrived, and proven correct when Frances stops in front of her desk and drops the files in front of her. I do the same with what I have in my hand. Kelly hangs up from her phone call and regards Frances with a sugary sweet smile. Nothing like how she greeted me when I first arrived. "How are you today, Frances?"

"I need you to take care of these files for me before you go to lunch, Kelly. Mr. Hawk will be expecting them back on his desk when he returns."

Kelly's eyes widen, and she sputters. "But, it's fifteen minutes until I break for lunch."

"Well, I guess you better get busy. I expect Mr. Hawk back within the hour."

Kelly huffs, but Frances ignores her. And just as she is about to walk away, she turns back to Kelly. "Oh. I almost forgot. Kelly, I'd like you to meet Mr. Hawk's new personal assistant, Denver Hollis."

"What!" Kelly screeches. "Mr. Hawk hasn't finished the interview process. He still has three more applicants, including myself. My application was the first one put in when his last assistant quit."

"Yes, well, Denver here has proven to be the most qualified thus far. I see no need to continue the search. I've also been permitted by Mr. Hawk himself to hire whoever I see fit, and decided Miss Hollis will do just perfectly."

With that, Frances turns on her heel and steps away from Kelly's desk. I wordlessly follow her. And just as we are about to turn the corner, Frances stops and looks back at Kelly, who is sending me a death glare. "One last thing, Kelly; next time you fail to announce one of Mr. Hawk's appointments, he will be notified."

Following Frances, we step inside her office. As she's closing the door, I say, "I take it Kelly wanted this job badly." I sit in the chair across from Frances's desk.

"The last thing Mr. Hawk needs is an assistant looking to sink their claws into him. And that is exactly what Kelly wants to do."

"Oh," is all I can say.

Sifting through a stack of paperwork on her desk, Frances finds what she is looking for. "I have an employee packet you will need to take home and fill out. We need all the basics: Name, address, social security number. You know the drill." She hands the packet over, and I gently take it from her.

"How soon can you start, Denver?"

"I can start tomorrow."

"You don't have a current job which would require notice? When your interview was scheduled, there was no mention of current employment." She flips through the reaming papers sitting in front of her, finally producing my application form.