An email from Noah pops into my inbox. I click on it, then smile slowly.
This should set things in motion.
–Me: Thanks, Noah.
–Noah: My pleasure, bro. Nobody messes with the Lasker ladies and gets away with it.
–Me: Agreed.
And I’m going to make sure that Owen not only gets fired, but he never gets another writing gig again.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Molly
On Thursday, I leave Get Jacked at eleven and take an Uber to LocalGro’s regional office, since my car refused to start this morning. I don’t know what’s wrong. Nicholas took a look, then instructed Cody to have it repaired.
“Take one of mine,” he said, gesturing at rows of gleaming vehicles in his garage, including the brand-new truck he bought to help me move, but hasn’t touched since.
“No, thank you.” There was no way I’d take a car worth as much as a house. If anything happened to it, I didn’t think selling my kidneys would be enough to compensate him.
So Nicolas drove me to the gym and said he’d come pick me up at five, even though I said not to bother. He seems to think that that’s what boyfriends do. But I can’t pull him out of his busy schedule just to ask him to take me to a job interview.
My phone pings again with another text from Owen.What isupwith him?He’s been calling and texting incessantly since yesterday. I block his number—no reason not to, and I don’t want him bugging me while I’m at the interview.
The grocery chain’s SoCal office is in a stout building with the first LocalGro to open in the state on the first floor. I sign in with security and head to the third floor. The HR person told me I’ll be speaking with Sabrina Jefferson.
The interior is colorful, with lettuce-green carpeting and bright yellow and orange walls. Framed photos of fresh produce and fish dot the sunny corridor, and everyone seems to be busy.
Although Sabrina’s the VP of accounting, her office isn’t ostentatious. It has the same green carpet as everywhere else and sports a poster of the food pyramid on one wall. Her glass-top desk is functional, with a small metal cabinet. The printer on the stand next to her desk is a plain inkjet unit, nothing fancy.
Sabrina lifts her eyes from her laptop and stands. She’s a statuesque woman with midnight skin and a welcoming smile, the kind that invites you to tell her all your secrets.
“Welcome to LocalGro! I’m so happy to finally meet you in person.” Her voice is warm and resonant.
“And you as well. Thanks for inviting me.” I smile.
We sit down and settle into the interview. “Mind if I ask why you’re leaving Get Jacked Gym?” she asks. “I hear they pay very well.”
The bluntness of the question throws me for a second, but I like it that she doesn’t try to play games and gets to the point. If this is how she manages people, I’m going to love working for her. “They do, but I’m looking for different challenges and more responsibilities so I can grow in my career. I feel like LocalGro is the place for it. It’s a bigger organization with more departments and a more complex financial structure.”
She nods. “I see you‘ve done your homework.” She verifies some of the items on my résumé and asks the standard interview questions like “What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses?” and “What’s the greatest challenge you’ve faced at Get Jacked and how did you resolve it?”
My biggest challenge is my boss’s uncontrollable love for my breasts.But, of course, I can’t say that, so I discuss some of the issues I’ve had with a couple of trainers wanting to be paid in advance.
“Finally, if you could be any animal in the world, what would you be and why?” Sabrina asks.
“A dolphin. They’re intelligent, sociable and loyal. They never leave one of their pod members behind.”
“That’s a nice answer. Do you have any questions for me?”
“When will I hear from you about your decision?”Please say, “You’re hired!” right now!
“In a week or two. There’s one more candidate we’re interviewing.”
“Okay. Well, thanks again for seeing me.” I stand, and we shake hands.
On my way back to the gym, my shoulders sag with disappointment that the company is interviewing other people for the position. But if I were them, I’d be doing the same thing. Hopefully, Sabrina picks me. If not… Well, I’ll just keep on submitting résumés until I have a firm offer.Gotta play the game to win the prize!
