Page 13 of Forged in Dusk
“Awesome, after lunch, I’ll show you around and introduce you to your supervisor.”
“Okay.”
“Talk to you later,” Nancy says, smiling walks out of the room, closing the door.
I inhale deeply, closing my eyes, releasing my breath, slowly causing my lips to flutter. I start filling out the paperwork and t watch the video. The time passes quickly, and I push off to go in search of the restrooms before I take my lunch break.
I take out my cell phone to look at my text messages.
Marie, ~ Hope your first day is awesome.
Kitty ~ I’m so proud of you. You got this.
I can’t help smiling, feeling the special warm feeling every time I see that they care.
Someone in this world cares.
I return to Human Resources to report with Ms. Jones; she’s taking me to meet my supervisor. I run my fingers through my locks, trying to comb my hair. I usually don’t leave my hair down, and the nerves mess with my cool look.
“Claudette, are you ready,” Nancy says, walking up to me, clasping her hands, smiling a small smile.
“Yes, ready,” I say, nodding, straightening my back, squaring my shoulders, raising my chin.
I’m determined to do my best and portray confidence.
“Excellent, follow me,” Nancy says, walking out of the Human Resources department, making a right turn down the long hallway.
Yes, the place looks like any other workplace, the industrial carpet, white walls with a few frame images. She walks into another area, walking down a long hallway. She walks into the office, stopping at the front of the desk.
“David, your new writer, is ready to start,” Nancy says, turning her lips up in a smug smile.
Yeah, she’s original, that’s for sure. I wonder why she’s smiling like she fucking has a secrete.
Whatever.
I look at my boss David; he’s a peculiar individual, that’s for sure. I look at his brown eyes hiding behind his black-rimmed, thick eyeglasses. His nose is a little big, and he has a thin lip with a round face. The man is chunky; his dark hair appears to be thinning. The man turns to look at me, running his eyes from my head to my shoes.
“Right. Hello, Claudette, it’s good to have you on board. Please have a seat,” David says, nodding, waving his hand to the chair in front of the desk.
“Thanks,” I say, sliding onto the chair crossing my legs.
“Okay, I need to get back,” Nancy says, smiling a smug smile, waving her hand.
Nancy walks out of the office, and I’m left staring at the man that looks at me. He leans back into his chair, crossing his arms on his stomach as he looks at me.
“Claudette, you don’t have any experience,” David says, raising his eyebrow.
I smile, shifting in my chair, squaring my shoulders.
“Sir, I don’t have work experience, but I have done several papers for the school newspaper, a couple of articles for a magazine. I would love the opportunity to write investigations,” I say, wide-eyed, smiling a small smile.
Of course, I also have my degree and all of the articles I wrote in my journal practicing. Yeah, but he wouldn’t care about those.
“Claudette, you need to prove yourself because, in order for me to give you the opportunity to write an investigative story, I need to see your work. I mean real work, not schoolwork. I need to know that you have a clear understanding of what important local issues are and have a multi-platform mindset to deliver must-read stories to the readers.
What I do know is that you bring a fresh writing style, and you’re sharp and collective.
You have a long way to go because you need to network, work collaboratively aggressively, and be confident and comfortable with the fast-paced, constantly evolving job demands. Do I make myself clear,” David asks, raising his right eyebrow?
