I’m distracted by her eyes, but I think I do a good job of playing it off, as though I’m just thinking. Finally, I say, “I’m sure someone will try to snatch you up. You’re a real find. I won’t formalize this with a contract, but I want your word that you’ll give me six months, before you take a job with anyone else.”
She smiles and says, “I don’t think anyone in my life has ever said anything like that. I’ve always just gone along with the flow.” She has a wistful kind of expression, but her smile is almost wondrous. I can’t believe how beautiful this girl is. “I agree.”
“Then welcome aboard,” I say. I stand and she stands as well. “We’ll get your paperwork together tomorrow morning and you can start Monday.”
“Sounds great,” she responds.
I walk her out of my office. Nancy smiles and I say, “This is Charlotte. She’ll be filling out her starting paperwork tomorrow morning.”
Nancy takes a folder from her desk drawer and says, “This paperwork? The paperwork I’ve already put together?”
I turn to Charlotte and say, “And people get the idea I run this place.”
She smiles as Nancy stands, takes her hand, and leads her into the conference room to get started. I can’t believe how much I’m fixating on her already and I especially can’t believe how desperately I find myself hoping she’ll be interested in a relationship. It’s stupid, of course. I’m not interested in a relationship, at the moment. At least, I don’t think I am.