Chapter 113 Write it down
Chapter 113 Write it down
“Great. I should get back to the desk.”
“Not yet.”
Mom looked between us. “The front desk is too easy for you.”
I frowned. “It’s not.”
“You’ve been there two hours.”
“That’s not enough time.”
Dad folded his arms. “What have you struggled with?”
“I’ve had to ask Diana questions.”
“How many?”
I hesitated. “That’s not the point.”
Mom stood. “How many?”
“One or two.”
The conference room door opened. Diana poked her head in. “Two.”
I turned. “You counted?”
She shrugged. “I was curious.”
Dad asked, “How is she doing?”
Diana stepped in. “Very well.”
“Diana,” I warned.
“She learned the phone system in twenty minutes.”
“Diana—”
“She memorized the department list.”
“I’m holding the list.”
“You haven’t looked at it in almost an hour.”
Mom smiled. Dad’s interest sharpened.
Diana continued, “She caught a double-booked conference room.”
“That was obvious.”
“Not to the one who booked it. She’s reorganized the message system. And she’s remembered every visitor’s name.”
“I remember faces.”
“She improved the organization.”
I froze. “I changed your system?”
“I like yours better.”
Mom looked at Dad. “Front desk?”
He shook his head. “Probably not.”
I stared. “Can everyone stop deciding where I belong while I’m here?”
Dad said, “You’re handling the desk well. Too well.”
“That’s not a problem.”
“It can be.”
“How?”
He stepped closer. “Because being able to do a job doesn’t mean it’s the one you’re meant to do.”
I frowned. “I just started.”
“I know.”
“I like it.”
“You’ve been there two hours.”
“You keep saying that.”
“It proves my point.”
Mom moved beside him. “You created a partnership before work.”
“I made a call.”
“You saw what the daycare needed,” Dad said. “You saw what Marrow could offer. You found where both sides benefited. You negotiated, clarified, closed the deal.”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
Dad tilted his head. “That’s not just answering phones.”
“I was trying to help Xavier.”
“I know. That’s why you’re good at it.”
I looked at Mom. She smiled. “The desk is fine.”
“I’m handling it. I know how to transfer calls. I’ve only asked Diana—”
“Three,” Diana said.
“What was the third?”
“You asked where the restroom was.”
“That doesn’t count.”
“It’s still a question.”
“Whose side are you on?”
Diana smiled. “Marrow Industries.”
Dad covered his mouth, but I saw the smile. Traitors.
“I am perfectly capable of this job.”
“No one said you weren’t,” Dad replied.
“Then what are you saying?”
He and Mom exchanged a look. My stomach dipped.
“We’re saying you might be capable of more.”
I shook my head. “No.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I haven’t even proposed anything.”
“Your face did.”
Mom laughed. Dad ignored her. “You’re coming upstairs.”
“What?”
“With me.”
“Right now?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t leave Diana alone.”
Diana waved. “I worked here alone for years.”
“I thought I was replacing someone.”
“You are. They’re retiring. Friday.”
“So you don’t need me today?”
“I didn’t say that.”
Dad opened the door. “Ellie.”
I looked at him. “Come upstairs.”
“Why?”
His look was proud, amused, and just dangerous enough to make me nervous. “Because I want to see what you can do when the job is actually difficult.”
Mom linked her arm through mine, steering me toward the elevator. “You’ll be fine.”
“That’s what people say before something terrible happens.”
Dad pressed the call button. “You negotiated a corporate childcare deal before seven-thirty. I think you can survive a meeting.”
The elevator opened. He gestured for us to step inside.
“What meeting?”
He smiled. “You’ll see.”
I looked at Mom. She grinned too.
That was much worse.
Two hours ago, I just hoped to answer phones without screwing up. Now, apparently, I’d done too well for that.
The elevator doors slid open onto the executive floor of Marrow Industries, and the world changed. Everything was quieter here, no phones ringing off the hook, no clients wandering the halls, no delivery drivers with squeaky carts. The thick carpeting muffled every footstep, and glass walls enclosed sleek conference rooms where people in suits hunched over blueprints and spreadsheets.
Dad strode forward with his usual confidence. Mom stayed close to me, her eyes twinkling with secret amusement at my obvious discomfort. We stopped outside a door marked:
Executive Benefits & Human Resources
Dad opened it. Inside, a woman in her early forties stood by a table scattered with thick binders, laptops, and color-coded folders. She wore a sharp charcoal pantsuit and wire-rimmed glasses, her dark hair pulled into a perfect bun.
She glanced up and smiled. “You must be Ellie.”
I hesitated. “You know who I am?”
Rebecca’s smile widened. “I’ve heard quite a bit about you this morning.”
I shot Dad a look. He suddenly found the artwork on the wall fascinating. Traitor.
He cleared his throat. “Ellie, this is Rebecca Sloan. Our employee benefits consultant.”
Rebecca stepped forward, hand outstretched. “It’s nice to finally meet the woman who negotiated a childcare partnership before her first coffee break.”
I shook her hand, managing a smile. “It was after my first coffee.”
Rebecca laughed. “I like her already.”
Dad sighed. “Please don’t encourage her.”
Rebecca grinned. “No promises.” Mom looked entirely too satisfied with herself.
Rebecca picked up a leather portfolio. “I have a meeting in about three minutes.” She turned to me. “I’d like you to sit in.”
I blinked. “Me?”
Dad nodded. “Good experience.”
“I don’t know anything about employee benefits.”
Rebecca smiled. “You don’t have to.” She motioned for me to follow her into the hallway while my parents stayed behind, deep in quiet conversation.
Rebecca lowered her voice. “One piece of advice?”
“Please.”
“When you go in, don’t try to impress anyone.”
I almost laughed. “Wasn’t planning on it.”
“Good. Listen. Watch. If you think of something... ” She handed me a yellow legal pad and pen. “...write it down. If you have a question, write that down too. You’re here to observe. Nothing more.”
I nodded, gripping the pad. “I can do that.”
Rebecca’s knowing smile made me think she believed me capable of a lot more. “I have a feeling you can.”