Page 2 of Hooked on Dallas
“Wonderful. I’ll keep that day booked for now.”
I hang up and lean back in my chair. Moments like this remind me why I love my job. The obstacles that seeminsurmountable at first are now falling into place, allowing the case to move forward. While the life of a legal assistant isn’t always glamorous, I take deep satisfaction. The impact of our cases stretches far beyond the office walls, helping clients in ways both big and small.
Sandra calls back with confirmation, and I solidify the plans. The deposition is on. I add the details to the calendar, smiling as I did so. Challenge overcome. Mission accomplished.
I continue to smile as I pack up my things and head out of the office for the day. It has been another successful day full of challenges and victories, both big and small. But they all add up to progress - for my career, for the cases we are working on, for the clients we are serving.
As I walk down the street, contentment settles over me. I have found my adventure, my growth, my impact in the unlikeliest of places.
My work might not make headlines, but in my small way, I am changing lives. As the subway train rattles down into the tunnel to take me home, I smile, knowing I have found my calling. We can find adventure every day, and I won’t trade the joy for anything.
2
Laura
The morning sun hits my face before I walk into the law firm. As soon as I walk in, the strange atmosphere seems off. Everyone is talking in hushed whispers. What is going on? I look around before placing my handbag on my desk. My heart beats faster. Why is everyone whispering amongst themselves? This isn’t high school.
I sit down and log into my computer, and the announcement is already there. Mr. Curran, my grumpy and strict boss, has proclaimed his retirement and I’ll be going under Mr. De La Cruz. I can’t believe it. His wife has been pressuring him to retire for the last couple of years, but I never thought he would do it. The man doesn’t know how to relax and is all work, all the time. I have never gotten along with him, but from the gossip around the office, Mr. De La Cruz is even worse. How am I going to handle another tough boss? Guess I’ll just have to pull up my big girl panties.
“Did you see?” Jennifer says, taking a seat on the edge of my desk, her feet dangling. “I mean, I knew his wife was pressuring him, but I never thought he would do it. Aren’t you over the moon?”
I peer at her. “Okay, so I have been waiting for this day since my first week, but they are assigning me to Mr. Office Grump. Why would they do that to me?”
She laughs, leaning toward me so the others around can’t hear. “At least he won’t make you work twelve-hour shifts. Just brush him off when he’s being over the top and just do your job. No one here can say you aren’t good at what you do.”
She has a point. I might complain to Jennifer because she is my best friend, but Mr. Curran pays me well. Rent in this city is a fortune and a necessary evil. As awful as he is, at least he has given me a substantial raise every year. “We will see how this goes.”
“Are you ready to move? I still can’t believe you're leaving me.”
Jennifer met the love of her life right here in this very office, and now he has convinced her to move back closer to his hometown of Amesbury. For someone who always planned to live in a big city, love changed her.
“You act like I’m going to move away and never see you again! Don’t get all crazy.”
It’s her last week here and I’m going to miss the heck out of her.
I try to stay focused throughout the rest of the day with the gazillion emails that have come in over the weekend, but my mind keeps going back to De La Cruz. He is notorious for firing his assistants. I don’t need that drama. After two more cups of nasty coffee, I’m in a groove and it’s already seven. Mr. Curran wastes no time working late again. By nine, he allows me to go home and to be back bright and early in the morning. The man doesn’t know how to take a break.
“Goodnight, see you in the morning.”
I grab my purse and take the elevator to the ground floor. My heels click against the pavement as I come to the Subway steps.On the way to board, my mind keeps going back to De La Cruz. What if he is as bad of a boss as everyone says? I can’t afford to lose my job, especially with Jennifer moving out and leaving me with the full amount of the rent. I’m already feeling the pressure and stress of the changes, and I don’t know if I have the energy to handle another difficult boss.
Once home and after my bath, I spend the night tossing and turning, unable to find a moment of rest. The worry about my future is at the forefront of my mind and what if I can’t keep up with the demands of the job?
The next morning, I get ready for work after not sleeping a wink, trying to put on a brave face and not let my worries show.
“Laura, can you come to my office, please?” Mr. Curran says as I set my coffee down on my desk.
“Yes, sir. What can I do?” I stop right outside the door, realizing it’s not Mr. Curran.
I have heard plenty of office gossip, so I’m interested to see if he really is the big bad wolf.
When I enter his office, I am surprised to find a semi-friendly face and not the stern one I am used to on Mr. Curran.
“Good morning, you must be Laura. I’m De La Cruz. Have a seat.”
I didn’t expect him to take over Mr. Curran’s office, but with him just wrapping up paperwork, he can do that from home without even coming to the office if he wants. “Nice to meet you, sir.”
“So, let’s get right down to the business. I have heard about you from Mr. Curran, and I think we will work well together. He tells me you are okay with staying late and that’s a must for me. With the amount of clients I have, sometimes I am here until ten. Are you going to do that?”
