Starting Over – Chapter Two

Chapter 2

Interview day –time to get serious. I knew the drill. The interview would begin with one or two peers from that department, a human resources representative, and if you got that far, you would interview with the hiring executive. So my first encounter was with Ellen Reilly, assistant to Paul Mason, President of Sterling. A woman in her late thirties, she was smartly dressed, business suit, high heels, hair moussed into a stylish “do” but there was nothing sincere about her.

As Ellen spoke to me her nose was wrinkled as if there was a foul odor in the room and she managed a phony smile. “So Julie, working in the executive suite presents many challenges and stressful situations. Do you really think you can handle that?”

“Of course I can handle that you idiot, haven’t you read my resume?” my inner voice said.

My outer voice said, “Well, Ellen, as you can see by my resume, those are exactly the tasks I have been asked to handle in my previous positions. As a matter of fact, my last boss was the same level as yours so I can really relate to what you’re describing,” I answered sweetly.

Ellen turned red – her put down didn’t work – I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Next I met with Andrea Smith, Executive Vice President of Global Research and Development. When she stood up to say hello, our eyes were level. She had a full head of flowing red hair and warm brown eyes. She wore very little makeup but had a natural beauty. There was no pretense here. I liked her immediately.

Andrea seemed very energetic and creative and she liked my candor. Great, someone who likes my candor! I convinced Andrea that I understood my role as being her “right arm”, and I sincerely meant that. I knew I would enjoy helping her meet her goals.

After the interview was over, Libby, a Human Resources assistant, walked me to the lobby and told me I would hear in a few weeks the outcome of the interview. After two long weeks, I got the call and accepted the job, and shortly thereafter the offer letter came in the mail.

Wow, salary much better than I expected! I was starting to feel pumped. Now I needed to get all my stuff organized to be ready to start. Surprisingly, they asked if I could start the following Monday, January 10, 2010. Fine with me.

I would really have to hustle to get all my clothes in order so I wouldn’t be scrambling for outfits that first week. Joannie came over to help me. “Let’s go to Lord & Taylor and get you set up for your new job.”

I really hated to shop but Joannie was in her glory – this was her passion. I was glad she came with me because her taste was so much better than mine. Well, after four hours and $500 worth of purchases, two suits, some silk shells, a great dress, we were finally finished.

“What about shoes and accessories?” Joannie was in frenzy now.

“No, no, no,” I said firmly, “enough is enough.” Actually with Joannie’s shopping expertise (and her infamous Lord & Taylor coupons), we got $1000 worth of clothing for $500. I was happy.

“Julie, this job is the shot in the arm that you need. Get out there girl and start living again.”

“I will Joannie, I will.”

As I pulled up to the Sterling building on Monday, I had to drive through a security gate, pick up the phone and give security my name. They gave me the OK and I then proceeded to the parking lot. Once on board, I would have an ID card I could just swipe in. The Sterling building was beautiful – open and spacious – glass ceilings in the lobby. It was a cold, beautiful day and the sun was just bursting in – I was so excited.

I went to my desk on the second floor, the executive suite. I loved the décor, the modern paintings, the mahogany desks, the various exotic plants and trees placed throughout the floor. More of an old fashioned elegance than some of the newer offices with cubicles everywhere. My boss, Andrea Smith, greeted me warmly.

“Hi Julie, welcome aboard!”

After I got settled at my desk, another assistant, Barbara Polchek, brought me around to meet the other executives and their assistants. Barbara, a woman in her thirties, worked for the Chief Financial Officer, Mark Singh. She was more contemporary than Ellen. She wore a stylish silk blouse with black fitted slacks and a pair of Manolo Blanco heels – I guess the pay here really is very good. Barbara was so friendly.

“I guess you’ve met Ellen,” she said as her eyebrows went up. She didn’t need to say anything more.

At 10 AM, my two-day company orientation would begin. All employees are required to take this. I would learn about company policies, health plans, confidentiality, etc., and have to sign off on these. The political correctness section was really funny – although I don’t think it was meant to be. My inner voice was thinking such outrageous answers to their correctness quiz that I could barely contain myself from laughing out loud. I was so glad when it was over.

I made it to Wednesday. Now I could finally start learning about my job. First things I needed were a telephone list, a company organization chart, and a floor plan of the building. It’s always tricky learning the layout of a different building. Not one of my strong points. I would probably be getting lost for a while.

Barbara had a previous lunch date so I had lunch by myself in the cafeteria. Manny Diaz, the cafeteria manager, welcomed all new employees with a free coupon for lunch. Ellen told me he was quite the Romeo. He was in his late twenties, Latin good looks, and he talked to all women, no matter what their age, as if they were special to him. “We have the best salad bar in the area,” boasted Manny as he gave me a wink. I wonder if he realized I had a son not much younger than he. I liked Manny. We would probably become friends.

Loud laughter was coming from a table against the wall. I looked up from my salad to see the guys from engineering having lunch. Their laughter was infectious and I couldn’t help but chuckle as I tried not to stare.

I was surprised to catch someone’s eyes looking back at me. Our eyes locked for a minute but I quickly put my eyes down and made believe I was reading my book. As they left the room, my curiosity got the better of me and I had to steal a glance. I heard someone call him Tony. He was around 6’2” with a slender but muscular build that filled out his suit very well. He had a full head of brown hair and hazel eyes. He looked to be in his early 40’s. He wasn’t handsome in the pretty boy sense but in a rugged, defiant way. Probably the kind of guy your mother told you not to go out with. Judging by the way the other guys treated him, he was the “alpha.”

After lunch, I was scurrying to get back to my area when I realized I was lost. Great – late from lunch the first week. As I was circling for the second time, I felt my stomach tighten. Then cramps, many cramps. “Oh my God, I’m going to make in my pants,” I thought panicking. I didn’t know where the nearest Ladies Room was.

As I rounded the bend, I ran into Tony head on. I was desperate. He looked at me quizzically as I told him I was sick and could he please take me to the nearest bathroom. By this point I was walking on my toes in short, fast steps and begging him to get me there quickly.

I saw a sign that said Men’s Room and he pushed me through the door. “Don’t worry, I’ll stand guard.” How humiliating was this – a stranger standing guard outside the door and hearing “my business.” Chills went up my spine as I sat on the cold toilet seat in the nick of time. It must have sounded like an explosion. When I was finally done, I had to face Tony. I could barely look at him.

“Thank you so much for your help. I’m sorry I had to put you through this,” I said sheepishly. “I got sick right after eating from the salad bar.” He looked at me stone faced and said dryly, “follow me, I’ll get you back to your office.”

I hoped the cramps would subside after my bathroom ordeal but they were still strong. I could feel the color draining from my face and my arms and legs felt like rubber. I looked out the window and it was snowing quite hard, not the sunshine I had on my first day. The cars were already covered.

Why my first week? I don’t want to leave early but I’ll have to. I feel so sick and now I have to clean off my car and drive the forty five minute ride home in this horrible weather. Please God, give me the strength to make it home.

I apologized to my boss Andrea and explained the situation. She said, “feel better,” but I could see she was annoyed. She was giving an important presentation tomorrow and she needed me to edit her slides. I put on my coat and grabbed my bag and started the trek out of the building.

It seemed like I was walking forever as I neared the receptionist Maggie.

“You look like a ghost. It’s really bad out there, are you going to be able to make it?”

“I have to Maggie, there’s no knight in shining armor to come and get me. He died a few years ago.” I felt the tears starting and a wave of self pity washing over me. No! I would just have to fight it.