Page 56 of Brave
“Here’s what you want to write for previous work history.” He flipped over his business card, providing the club’s address.
She turned the page and copied it down precisely.
“This isn’t just for practice,” he said, watching her write. “Keep the information with you and use it on any other jobs you apply for. From here on, I expect you ten minutes early on the days you work. You and I are going to repeat this interview until you’ve got it down. As soon as I think you can make it, I will boot your baby bird butt out of this nest. It’s up to you whether you decide to fall or fly, so don’t get comfortable. Also, don’t forget the W-2.”
Finished, she handed the clipboard back and then sat frozen where she was, at a loss for what to say or do. She ought to thank him, but she couldn’t stop thinking this had to be a trick. Any minute now, he was going to start laughing.
Staring back at her, Spencer finally checked his watch. “Your shift started five minutes ago. If you’re still sitting here ten seconds from now, this is going to go down in Black Light history as the fastest hire-to-fire employment on record. Ten… nine…”
Jumping up, she yanked the door open and quickly squeezed out. Menagerie girls didn’t run, but the only reason she didn’t was because her unsteady legs couldn’t take it.
Carlson was still sitting at the bar, watching and waiting for her. He grinned as soon as he saw her. “How did it go?”
Hands clutched over her chest, she hesitated, waiting for the panic to hit her. Maybe it would hit faster if she said it out loud. “He hired me.”
His eyebrows shot up.
“I… I have to stock the bar.” Worrying her hands, she looked from him to Klara.
“Ha, ha,” Klara smirked at Carlson, and then to her said, “Right this way, hun. I’ll show you where to get started.”
* * *
“You’ve got this,” Carlson called, as Klara led Puppy through the door behind the bar and into the back. “I’m proud of you!”
He kept himself glued to his barstool, the curiosity positively killing him until he was sure she wasn’t going to come charging back, her anxieties at full gallop. Once he heard the clatter of glasses as Klara set her on her first task, however, he was off the stool and down the hall. He didn’t bother knocking before throwing open Spencer’s office door.
“You hired her?”
Slipping papers into the bottom file drawer, the dungeon master slammed it shut and swiveled his chair around to face Carlson. “Just come on in. Closed doors don’t mean privacy or I’m busy or anything, not at all. By the way, let me just take this moment to tell you how much I love the fact that I’m your boss and you’re giving me assignments.”
Squeezing into the tiny office, Carlson quickly shut the door so they wouldn’t be overheard. “I wanted you to interview her. She’s trying to get a job at the library. Why would you hire her?”
“It’s going to take more than one fake interview to straighten that mess out.”
“She’s not a mess,” he said, trying not to be offended.
Spencer gave him a knowing glare.
“Yeah, all right,” Carlson said. “She’s a bit of a mess, but she’s my mess and it’s a work in progress.”
“Only now I’m also involved. So that makes it partly my mess too. FYI, I slapped her hand and you owe me a box of Band-Aids.”
That got his attention. “You slapped her hand?”
Annoyed, Spencer measured a scant half inch between two fingers. “I came this close to busting her ass when she threw her fit.”
“She threw a fit?”
“Hit me with a Band-Aid. I had to use my last one on her. Like I said, you owe me a box.”
“She hit you?” His jaw dropped.
“With a Band-Aid,” Spencer said dryly. “You’re a lot less annoying when you don’t echo everything I say.”
“I am so proud of her,” Carlson breathed. “I really need to tell her so.”
“Of for fuck’s sa—what you need to do is get to work!” Spencer yelled as Carlson whipped open the door and squeezed back out of the small office. “You’re late!”
