Chapter 7: Secretarial Management

“Hello. My name is Zoe. I am here for an interview for the secretarial position” Zoe informed the lady at the front desk.

The woman barely acknowledged her as she was running back and forth answering at least three different telephones, filing paperwork in the back, taking papers from the printer, and god knows what else. Her forehead had a light mist, and she was breathing heavily. Her name tag read ‘Margaret’. Despite her light sweat, she had the most beautiful brown hair and green eyes.

Zoe had always wanted green eyes. But, as luck would have it, hers were brown. Her hair was caramel brown, and compared to Margaret, she had a few more curves. Margaret was tall and thin, the epitome of female perfection, or at least Zoe thought so.

“Sorry, did you say you were here for an interview? I have been managing the desk on my own for some time, and it has been exhausting” Margaret admitted.

Zoe nodded.

“The secretarial position,” Zoe said, smiling.

Margaret’s face lit up as if she had won the lottery.

“Oh, thank goodness you are here. Right this way” Margaret said, looking relieved.

Zoe couldn’t help but giggle. Margaret was overwhelmed. But as she walked in front of Zoe, the mist on her forehead seemed to disappear.

“Am I going to meet with the CEO?” Zoe asked, hoping the answer would be yes. After all the secrecy online and in office about his identity, she was hoping to be able to meet him.

“Unfortunately he is unavailable” Margaret said, adding no further detail.

Zoe thought it was odd that the CEO of such a successful company was unavailable for an interview with her, when ultimately he would be the one paying her salary. Even if he desired privacy and wanted to avoid publicity, he should at least want to meet with his employees.

She had never come across a business where the owner was unknown and not involved in every facet of the company. Either this man had a lot of trust in his employees, or he had something to hide.

“Luckily, you will be meeting with me! I am the CEO’s secretary” Margaret responded, looking behind her towards Zoe, pulling her out of her thoughts.

As Margaret turned back around, the realization came over her that Margaret was Dylan’s ex.

Dylan had told her that he was friends with the CEO’s secretary, and Margaret was his secretary. Therefore, Dylan had dated Margaret. Zoe all of a sudden felt awkward for knowing this, but she wasn’t sure why.

As they approached a boardroom off to the right-hand side, Zoe studied Margaret.

As they entered the light-filled room, her hair displayed a brilliant shine. Her body was slim, manicured, and taken care of.

As Margaret motioned for Zoe to sit across from her, she saw Margaret’s smile.

The most beautiful smile.

She wore red lipstick, and her dark green eye-liner brought out her eyes.

Why would he ever break up with her?

“I only had a brief moment to look over your resume. I see you were referred to us by Dylan. Could you tell me about your experience in secretarial management?” Margaret asked, staring at Zoe.

Zoe could feel her throat closing in. Secretarial Management? This was a manager’s position? Dylan had not told her that, nor did she qualify for any sort of managerial position. What was she going to say?

“Most of my experience is in Sales. I was working towards a supervisor role at my previous company. I was with them for nearly five years. I was in charge of sales, managing leads, assisting new employees, and so forth” Zoe tried to say confidently.

Margaret smiled. She seemed like a genuine person from what Zoe could see. Maybe that’s why Dylan liked her. He seemed genuine, and so did she. So… why did it end?

“That sounds great. Could you tell me why you left your last position?” Margaret asked kindly.

Zoe could feel her insides shaking. Her life fell apart and she made a ridiculous choice to move away with the man who could never be faithful. She couldn’t tell Margaret that.

“I planned on moving to a different province. But, it didn’t work out” Zoe said, trying to sound as calm as possible.

Margaret arched her eyebrow and started tapping a pen on the desk.

Zoe wondered if she would ask any further questions about why she left or why she came back.

If she did she feared what she would say.

“If we hire you for this position, we are looking for at least a six-month guarantee that you won't be going anywhere. That stipulation would be part of the contract. Our last secretarial manager left with little notice, and as you can see, managing the front desk on my own is not possible” Margaret said frankly.

Zoe nodded. Six months. She would need to commit for six months. What if she hated the job?

She was technically only taking the position because she needed income now, and she had no other prospects. But what's to say a better prospect wouldn’t come around in a few weeks? Then she wouldn’t be able to take it?

“I know what you're thinking Zoe. I can see it written all over your face. You're wondering what happens if a better opportunity comes around. I am here to tell you that there will not be a better opportunity. With what we are going to pay you, and your signing bonus, you are going to want to stay” Margaret said convincingly.

Zoe couldn't believe what she was hearing. A signing bonus? She could barely get yearly bonuses out of Monroe, even when she exceeded all her targets. But this company was going to pay her money simply to sign with them?

“Alright. Six months it is. What else do you require from me?” Zoe asked.

This was one of the weirdest interviews she had ever been on, but she also had not been on many in her life.

“I will check out your references. But in the meanwhile, our CEO would like you to sign the contract and welcome you to the team. I do not suspect there will be any issues with any of the information you have provided to me today. Also, here is your signing bonus. Let me know if you have any issues whatsoever with the amount” Margaret said, swiftly moving the papers and an envelope across the desk towards Margaret.

Dylan had said he could get her an interview. He had never said she would get the job without even trying.

“I will be back in a few minutes while I attempt to reach your references. Take your time to look through everything” Margaret said, standing up and tucking in her chair behind her.

As Zoe looked upon the paperwork, it all looked appropriate. It stipulated her working hours which were nine to five, her holidays, and her sick days.

Before signing, she propped open the envelope. Inside, she found a signing bonus in the form of a check for the amount of ten thousand dollars.

TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.

Were these people crazy? How could this possibly be happening to her?

Zoe pinched her arm in an attempt to get herself to wake up from whatever dream she was having, but nothing worked. This was real.

Zoe quickly signed off on the working agreement.

She would need to find a way to thank Dylan, and it would have to involve a lot more than just dinner.