Once they made it towards the exit, Amber hiked up her foot and kicked Renee out of the door. She stumbled forward, causing her to fall into the trash can the city had placed on the sidewalk.
Amber dusted off her hands before turning and facing me. The smile she had on her face faltered, and her shoulders sank.
“I am so sorry, Ms. Natalie. I promise I am not rude and disrespectful, but that woman was out of line. She had no right to say those things.”
I lifted my hand and shook my head. “Girl, please. You did everything that I would’ve. Thank you for standing up for what is right. So, can you start tomorrow?”
Her eyes lit up with excitement. “Really?”
I laughed. “Hell yes. I could use a good bouncer.”
Taking Amber towards the reading area, we talked some more until she filled out her new hire paperwork. I liked her and wouldn’t mind spending the Spring Festival in a busy store with her. Besides, if somebody else was in here talking crazy, I knew Amber would stick up for me, especially if I wasn’t present.
After Amber left, I checked my watch and realized my next interviewee was due to arrive soon. I still had two more interviews to get through, and I was feeling optimistic. I didn’t enjoy having to go through the hiring process, but I knew it was critical if I wanted the Spring Festival to be successful. I hoped that none of this came back to bite me in the ass.
.
Dexter
“Let me get this straight.You want me to work the graveyard shift during the week on a ten dollar an hour wage?” I asked, staring at the man in front of me.
I was on my fourth interview of the day, and I was over it. I was currently interviewing for a security position at H.T.L Tech. The company was great, and when I finished my game prototype, I considered selling it to them. I figured if I got my foot in the door, then I’d be able to network.
When I found out the shift was overnight, I wasn’t going to bother accepting the interview. The reason I came was that I could use the downtime at night to keep working on my game.Especially since the graveyard shifts were normally quiet. The only problem was I’d have to figure out what to do with myself during the day. I for damn sure wasn’t about to get a hotel to sleep at every day to stay hidden from my parents’ eyes. I guess it didn’t matter because what the manager of security was asking me right now was ridiculous.
“Well, you have a four-year employment gap and hardly any experience,” he said, folding his arms across his chest. “I mean, look, you haven’t worked anywhere after being a cashier at some retail store.”
I swallowed down the anger that was trying to boil over and plastered on a smile. “That is true, sir,” I replied, “but as I mentioned before, I was in college and focused on that.”
The Hispanic man’s top lip twitched before he huffed out a scoff.
“Yes, I understand that, which is why I am offering the position at ten dollars. Usually, the starting rate is $9.25, so I am being generous. Honestly, I have another candidate who would be grateful to accept the position at that rate instead of questioning it.”
I opened my mouth but quickly shut it. Fuck this.
“Thank you for your time, but I’d like to withdraw my application.”
With that, I stood from my seat and headed towards the door. I wasn’t about to argue or negotiate pay for a man who had no respect. Getting into my car, I loosened my tie and drove away. After about ten minutes, I saw a diner in a shopping center parking lot and decided to pull over. It was after two in the afternoon, and I was getting hungry. Who knew going to multiple interviews could work up an appetite?
I rested my head on my seat and exhaled. It had been a long day, and I honestly didn’t expect finding a part-time job to be this difficult. The first two jobs were too close to Green Tech, andI didn’t want to risk running into my parents or anybody who worked at the company. The third job was decent, but the hours were damn near full-time. I wasn’t the type to complain about a job because I would be grateful to have one, but that wasn’t what I was looking for. There would hardly be enough time for me to work on my passion.
I exhaled a long breath and rested my head on the back of my seat. Briefly closing my eyes, I racked my brain on what to do next because I was out of ideas. On one hand, I could work at my parents’ company, but then I’d have no time for completing my gaming software prototype. Hell, as soon as my folks saw me in the building, they’d probably have me sit in on board meetings and learn the ins and outs of the business. Yeah, I could do it part-time, but they’d make it their goal to prepare me to take over, and I didn’t have the heart to tell them no.
“Hello?” I heard a deep voice call. “Yes, this is he.”
Peeking one eye open, I noticed an espresso-skinned man was a few feet away. He was probably no taller than five feet four inches and had black, wavy hair. Glancing over at him, he wore a blue button-down shirt and black slacks and had a manila envelope in his hand. I could only assume that he was on his way to an interview.
“Really? That’s amazing! Yes, I can start tomorrow.” The man continued on the phone.
Whoever he was on the phone with must’ve offered him a job. I didn’t know the man, but I was happy for the guy. I will always applaud others' successes, no matter my own circumstances. The man’s face suddenly fell as he looked down at the folder in his hand and at the few buildings ahead of us.
“I had a prior appointment at two-thirty, but I can head that way now. Can you give me twenty minutes? Great!”
With that, he hung up the phone, but soon after had the phone back against his ear. I heard the excitement in his voiceas he explained to whoever was on the other line how he got the job at a marketing firm downtown. He then said he felt bad for standing up his next interview at the bookstore, but he got his dream job. I briefly sat up in my seat as the man strolled away. I wasn’t trying to be nosy, but listening to him talk hella loud gave me an idea.
Jumping out of the car, I made my way across the street towards the body butter and bookstore. If the owner was still expecting someone to interview, then I’d be that guy. It’s not like they would know who was really coming. I prayed that this would work because this store was perfect for me. Not only was it nowhere near my parents’ business, but also I didn’t know too many people who were on this side of town. So, when customers came into the shop, I’d be a stranger. My mom was into stuff like this, but it was on the other side of town. She wouldn’t drive forty-five minutes out of her way for some body butter or a book that she could get closer to her house.
As I approached the brick building, I noticed that a coffee shop and a flower boutique snugly tucked between them. Soft white lights and airy decorations around the awning instantly gave off a warm charm. Hints of pastel greenery curled around the corners, accenting the grand front window with floral decals. To the far left, a small arrangement of bright potted tulips sat. In the center of the window, they neatly displayed stacks of books. Examining from the sidewalk, I could tell they ranged from romance to nonfiction titles, their covers catching the afternoon light. Above the black-painted door, a pink sign reading Body Butter & Books hung proudly, welcoming passersby inside.
