No Names After Midnight

Chapter two - The offer

It's been a week since my interview, and I haven't heard a single thing.

No phone call.

No email.

Nothing.

Not that I'm surprised.

I still can't believe how badly I screwed it up.

I need the money.

Out of everything I could have said to Alex Underwood, that was what came out of my mouth.

Brilliant, Alice.

Absolutely brilliant.

Since then, I've done nothing except go to work and try not to think about it. Which would be a lot easier if there weren't a hundred other things constantly fighting for space inside my head.

My rent is becoming impossible to afford now that my parents' insurance money is running out. Between my jobs, I earn enough to scrape by, but barely. I haven't had the energy to see my friends, and lately, even my dream of owning my own business has started to feel ridiculous.

Maybe dreams are only realistic when you can actually afford them.

I'm supposed to be meeting Crystal for drinks tonight, but honestly, I'm not feeling it.

I'll come up with some pathetic excuse after my shift.

For now, though, I have tables to serve.

I walk towards a young couple sitting near the window and force the biggest smile I can manage onto my face.

"What can I get for you today?"

The man barely glances at the menu.

"I'll have the chef's special. And one for my date too, please."

My eyebrows lift before I can stop them.

The chef's special?

It's one of the most expensive things on the menu, and hardly anybody ever orders it.

I quickly rearrange my expression into something resembling professionalism.

"Of course. I'll get that put through for you."

He gives me a small nod before turning his attention back to his date.

I make my way into the kitchen.

"Justin, two chef's specials."

Justin looks up from the counter and gives me a surprised smile.

"Two?"

"Apparently."

He chuckles and nods before getting to work.

I glance at the clock hanging above the kitchen door.

Nine o'clock.

Finally.

My shift is officially over.

I let the waiter taking over from me know where the chef's specials are going, grab my bag and jacket, and head outside.

The cool evening air hits my face.

Then I remember.

"Oh, shit."

Crystal.

I was supposed to message her.

We're meant to meet in thirty minutes, and she doesn't exactly live around the corner. She's probably already on her way into town.

I pull my phone from my bag, but before I can type anything, it starts ringing.

Crystal.

Of course.

I answer immediately.

"Hey."

"Hey, Alice. I have bad news."

There's something in her voice that instantly wipes away my guilt.

"What happened?"

"My dad's not feeling well, so I'm going to stay with him tonight. Do you mind if we reschedule for next week?"

I can hear the worry in her voice.

"Of course not. Don't worry about me. I hope your dad feels better."

"Yeah, I'm sure he will. Thanks, Alice. I'll talk to you later."

"Bye, b***h. Talk soon."

She laughs quietly before hanging up.

I lower my phone.

Well.

That worked out almost suspiciously well.

A second later, it vibrates in my hand.

A text.

Unknown number.

I frown and unlock my screen.

Hello, Miss Richmond. Following your recent interview, we have considered your application for the assistant position at Star Industries.

My stomach drops.

I stop walking.

No.

There's no way.

I continue reading.

We are pleased to offer you the position. Your first two weeks will serve as a probationary period to assess your suitability for the role. Please report to Star Industries on Monday at 7:00 a.m. sharp. Further information will be provided upon arrival.

Star Industries

I stare at the screen.

Then read it again.

And again.

"Oh my God."

A woman walking past me gives me a strange look.

I don't care.

"Oh my God."

They accepted me.

They actually accepted me.

For a moment, I'm convinced it has to be a joke.

Maybe someone somehow found out about my interview and decided this would be hilarious.

Because why would they hire me?

I practically admitted that the biggest reason I wanted the job was because I was broke.

Who does that in an interview?

Apparently me.

But the number looks legitimate.

The message looks legitimate.

And slowly, disbelief gives way to something else.

Excitement.

A huge, overwhelming rush of it.

I got the job.

I actually got the job.

A laugh escapes me, and for the first time in a week, it feels like I can breathe properly.

Monday.

Seven in the morning.

That gives me the weekend to prepare.

Clothes. Bag. Notebook. Schedule.

Everything.

Then another thought hits me.

The petrol station, my second job.

I need to quit.

I practically run towards my car.

The entire drive home, my mind jumps from one thought to another.

What am I going to wear?

Should I take a notebook?

Do assistants carry planners?

Obviously they carry planners.

Do I even own a planner?

By the time I pull up outside my apartment, I've mentally planned at least five outfits and convinced myself I need to buy half a stationery shop.

I hurry inside and drop my bag onto the sofa.

Laptop.

Notice.

I open it immediately and begin typing an email to Rob, my manager at the petrol station.

I've worked there since I was seventeen.

Four years.

It was my first proper job, and despite complaining about it more times than I can count, there's something strange about leaving.

It's familiar.

Safe.

Predictable.

Star Industries is none of those things.

Once I finish the email, I hover over the send button.

I feel guilty.

Rob knew I was applying for other jobs, but giving him this little notice still feels awful.

I take a breath.

Come on, Alice.

Bigger and better things.

I click send.

Done.

By ten-thirty, I'm lying in bed with my phone beside me, struggling to keep my eyes open.

It rings.

I groan and reach for it, fully prepared to ignore whoever is calling.

Then I see the name.

Rob.

Of course.

I answer.

"Hi, Rob. I'm guessing you got my email."

"Yes, I did."

His voice is quieter than usual.

"I guess you got yourself another job, then?"

"Yeah."

"Well..." He pauses. "I'll be sad to see you go."

There's something strange in his voice that I can't quite place.

"Thank you. And I'm sorry I couldn't give you more notice. Everything happened really quickly."

"It's fine. I knew you were looking."

"Yeah. I think this new job will be good for me."

I glance at the time.

I really don't want this conversation to turn into a forty-minute discussion about shift cover.

"Anyway, it's getting late, and—"

"Actually, Alice?"

I stop.

"Yeah?"

"There's something I wanted to ask you."

Something about his tone makes me sit up slightly.

"Okay..."

"I know we've never really spoken much outside of work, but now that you're leaving..." He pauses. "Would you maybe want to go out with me sometime?"

Silence.

Complete silence.

I stare at the wall.

Did Rob just ask me on a date?

Rob?

My forty-year-old manager, Rob?

I have absolutely no idea what to say.

I've worked with him for four years, and not once have I ever thought about him romantically.

Not even slightly.

The idea feels so unexpected that my entire body tenses.

The silence stretches.

Too long.

Say something, Alice.

Anything.

"I—I, um..." I swallow. "Rob, I really appreciate you asking, but I don't think—"

"Hey, it's okay," he interrupts quickly. "No pressure. I just thought I'd take a chance now that you're not going to be working for me anymore."

Relief washes over me.

"Oh."

"I get it," he continues. "Really. No hard feelings. I hope the new job goes well, and if you ever need anything, you know where I am."

I'm slightly taken aback by how easily he accepts it.

"Thank you, Rob. Really. I appreciate everything you've done for me over the years."

"Take care, Alice."

"You too."

The call ends.

I stare at my phone.

Well.

That was unexpected.

I place it face-down on my bedside table and sink back against my pillow.

Of course.

Of course my life couldn't just give me one normal day.

I get a job working for one of the richest men in New York, quit the place I've worked at since I was seventeen, and then my forty-year-old manager asks me on a date.

Why would anything ever be simple?

Still...

I smile into my pillow.

I got the job.

Monday morning, I'm going to walk into Star Industries as Alex Underwood's new assistant.

Whatever happens after that—

I'll deal with it.

My eyes close.

For the first time all week, sleep comes easily.