Page 10 of Collin: Episodes 1-3
Collin drew in a ragged breath and dried his face. “Understood.”
“Perhaps. For clarity, my standards include signaling to the world out there that working for my lady means competency. And while competency as a college student may include wearing a twenty-year-old T-shirt, army castoffs from the Vietnam War, and shoes that started squeaking five years ago, you are no longer a college student, at least not here. You are a personal assistant to the president of a successful investment firm. Competency in this role requires uniforms like that.” Ellisandre inclined their head toward the clothes. “You will find there are a great number of uniforms you will learn to wear. When you’re fluent, I may even let you start choosing your own.”
Saturday morning, Ellisandre handed Collin a smartphone and two battery packs. “Today you’re on your own. Take the top three locations you’ve highlighted in your research and go visit. You know what questions to ask, what pictures to take. See to it.”
“Is there a uniform for this?”
Ellisandre raised an eyebrow. “Consider this a test.” Then they swept off to the back of the office.
Collin grimaced and looked down at his outfit. His first location was just off the Red Line, in the Uptown neighborhood. His normal clothes wouldn’t be anything unusual there, but his second location was in Lakeview. Fortunately, he had shopping bags left over from Ellisandre’s shopping trips for him. He’d change in a coffee shop somewhere along the way.
It was an hour past time for him to clock out by the time he made it back to the office. His feet hurt and his brain ached from tracking details, but he was smiling to himself as he pushed his way through the office door. Seeing the city from the perspective of possibility was different, exciting. Talking to people about their needs and wants, and, in some cases, dreams, was rewarding.
He sank down into his chair besides Ellisandre’s workstation and plugged in the phone. He’d gone through both battery packs, and it was still at only ten percent. He’d just charge it up enough while transferring the pictures and then head home to study. Ten minutes. That’s all he needed.
His eyes slid shut. The silence of the office was bliss.
A handkerchief ghosting across his lip woke him. He sat up with a start, eyes opening and staring straight into the visage of Mr. Reevesworth.
Collin stood so fast his chair spun away from under him and hit the cabinet behind. “Sir!”
“Collin.”
“I-I’m sorry, sir.”
“For what, exactly?”
“For sleeping, sir. I know this is a workplace.”
“It’s also after hours.” Mr. Reevesworth folded his handkerchief and put it away in his suit jacket pocket. “I take it you were waiting to transfer the photos?”
Collin looked down at the phone. It was almost fully charged, and the transfer was completed.
“Yes, sir.”
“I think we’re a little early in this relationship for you to be using ‘sir’ this often though, I must admit, I like the sound of the title on your lips, Collin.” Mr. Reevesworth smiled a little. “Have you eaten?”
“Not yet, sir, I mean… No, I haven’t eaten. And I will, I mean, as soon as I get home. Which I should do, sir. I mean…” Collin closed his eyes and hung his head, hands going down on the desk. “I don’t think I’m at my best right now, sir. May I please go?”
“Where are you going?”
“To the bar, where I work, sir. My shift starts in…” Collin blinked at the phone. “It starts in an hour, and I should study before I start.”
“When is your shift over?”
Collin stared at the phone. When was his shift over? “Um…three. It’s over at three.”
“Well, then.” Mr. Reevesworth tapped the desk. “Get your things. It just so happens I’m going mostly that way. Are you walking?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then we can walk, and you can tell me what you observed today.”
It was difficult to think with Mr. Reevesworth watching his every move, but somehow Collin packed everything away. He was still in his good office clothes Ellisandre had given him, but if anything, that would make his boss at the bar happy. If he opened up the collar by a button or two, he’d pass for stylish.
They took the elevator down in silence. It wasn’t until they were on the sidewalk that Mr. Reevesworth asked his first question. It was simple and direct enough, and even in a fog, all it required Collin to do was spit out data. What was the population density? How far from a school, university, or major office building? What competition was nearby? What were the people walking around like? And so on. Collin’s mind focused in on the location and the data, and they were outside the bar in what felt like the space between one breath and the next.
“I’ll have to get the rest from you next week.” Mr. Reevesworth inclined his head at the door. “Good work.”
