1
Archie
“High praise indeed,” Valerie Marchant, the woman who’s interviewing me, says.
She's reading the letter of recommendation from my current—soon-to-be ex-boss. Her green eyes narrow, and she pinches her lips together as she stares at me. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what she's thinking, but I wait for her to voice her query out loud.
“If you’re really this good a PA, why are they letting you go?”
"It says in my CV." I gesture towards the document, which is lying on the desk in front of Valerie. "It was a temporary post, covering a twelve-month maternity leave."
The muscles around Valerie’s eyes relax a little. She hums thoughtfully. This time, it’s harder to guess what she’s thinking.
I've sent my CV to several firms, but I'm hoping that a recruitment agency will get me a new job faster. I know my brothers will have my back if I'm out of work for a few weeks, but I'd rather not burden them. Between raising his daughter, Lexi, and doing his qualifying year as a teacher, Corey has enough to worry about. Blake…well…he'd forget his damn head if it wasn't screwed on. I love him to bits, but he's the scattiest person I've ever known. Scattiestperson. Period.
We’re triplets. Growing up, everyone nicknamed us the ABC triplets, thanks to the less than imaginative names our parents gave us.
Valerie puts the letter down and thatches her fingers. “Tell me what makes you a good personal assistant.”
Phew. An easy question to warm up with.
“I’m well organised.”
At home, I put up a whiteboard, segmented by day and time, with a slot for all four of us. It’s partly so we know where we’re all meant to be. Not that Blake is very good at filling his columns inorpaying attention to it. The one thing he never forgets to do is pick Lexi up from school if he’s been put down for it. If he did, I think Corey would kill him.
“I’m very detail orientated. I’ve got experience in planning events, and I know shorthand for taking minutes.”
Valerie arches an eyebrow. “Not many people learn shorthand anymore. Dictaphones make it less important.”
“It seemed like a good skill to have. A Dictaphone can break, run out of battery, or just not record. I do use one, but I write shorthand as a backup.”
She purses her lips as she makes a note on my CV.
“I’ve got good interpersonal skills.” I give her a winning smile to prove my likeable personality. “I can keep calm, and I’m always polite. I’m discreet, trustworthy, and reliable. I can work towards multiple deadlines at once, managing my own time while organising the time of whomever I’m working for. Finally, I’m resourceful. I will do my best to find a solution to any problem.”
ThePaw Patrolcatchphrase rings through my head. It’s my niece’s favourite cartoon, right now anyway, about a bunch of puppies who save the day in Adventure Bay. I manage not to sing the theme tune out loud.Thatwould be embarrassing. The joys of living with a five-year-old.
“What sort of company do you see yourself working for?”
Okay, that’s an odd question. I bite down the urge to say,any company that will hire me. “I’m open to working for any company, big or small.” Is that a lame answer? Probably, but I need a job, so keeping my options open seems like the best plan.
“How would you feel about working for an individual?”
I raise my eyebrows. “Sounds interesting.” I attempt to cover up my surprise with a smile.
“Have you heard of Hamish Cameron?”
Have I heard of Hamish Cameron? Who hasn’t bloody heard of Hamish Cameron?
"The mystery author?" I try to sound casual like I'm not some huge fanboy.
Valerie's lips curl into a smile. "That's right. He hires his PAs through us. It would mean working in his home, which isn't too far from here. Normal office hours. You'd be managing his calendar, arranging social events at his house, making sure he meets deadlines and attends social engagements and book signings. Does that sound like something you'd be interested in doing?"
Would I be interested in working for one of my absolute favourite authors? Was the Pope Catholic?
“It sounds like a rewarding position.” Is my voice higher than it was a moment before? Fuck. I’ve got to stay calm and professional. I don’t want Valerie to think I’m weird.
Valerie’s smile deepens. I can almost imagine her chuckling to herself. “I must warn you. He’s not an easy man to work for. He goes through PAs faster than I go through bottles of wine.”
