Chapter 4: The Call

Vanessa

It's been one week since I met Brent, and I can't stop thinking about him. Honestly, thinking about him is my great escape from my current situation.

The rent is due in three weeks.

My last check covered the utilities and Grandma Suzy-May's medication.

Now, I sit at home completing applications online, hoping Benson and Brash can give me a job.

I sit at the kitchen table with multiple medicine bottles around me. I'm separating Grandpa Delta's medicines into his weekly medicine container.

As soon as I finish, I'll separate Grandma Suzy-May's medication. She prefers her medications placed in a monthly container.

I've been researching the legal secretary job description. From what I read, I like it. Most attorneys prefer to have a legal secretary than a paralegal.

From my understanding, a legal secretary can do more than a paralegal. However, I don't know the different tasks because I haven’t researched the paralegal job description.

Isley's a paralegal. I should ask him.

I'm getting so excited about working at Benson and Brash. In California, the poverty level is about fifty-six thousand dollars. Benson and Brash pay their legal secretaries way more than that.

For the first time in my life, I'd have a job that pays enough so I can save for college, go on vacation, and—I don't know—buy new clothes.

****

I grab Grandma Suzy-May's insulin pen, dialing it to the correct long-lasting dosage. She's watching her stories in her bedroom. All I have to do is make sure she takes it, then grab the laundry from the dryer.

The dryer is on the apartment complex's first floor.

Isley's been a godsend.

He's so supportive and still watches my grandparents at night. I get to sleep.

I'm not sure how to repay him. Maybe if I get the job at Benson and Brash, I can start paying him. I bite my bottom lip as I think about the hours.

Isley says the firm gives its employees flexibility. So, they can work a hybrid schedule. I wonder if Brent would let me work late or do most of the work from home.

I tap on the bedroom door and smile.

Yeah, I bet Brent's a fantastic employer. He's probably laidback and cool.

"Grandma," I say, "it's time to take your long-lasting medicine."

Grandma Suzy-May opens the door and takes the insulin pen.

My phone rings.

It's in the living room. I race to get it.

Isley called.

Did I get the job?

Isley said he'd call as soon as he talked to the hiring manager.

"Vanessa," Grandma Suzy-May asks, "where's that dang meter?"

I frown.

Grandma's not taking her short-acting insulin. So she doesn't need to eat first or check her blood sugar.

My phone rings again.

However, I grab Grandma Suzy-May's meter and an alcohol swab from the living room table. I'm halfway to her bedroom when Grandpa Delta meets me and takes the metal and alcohol swab.

He returns to the bedroom.

I return to the living room. My phone rings again.

"Hey, Isley," I answer on the first ring.

"Vanessa," Isley sounds odd.

"What's wrong?"

Isley pauses. "Brent's a good guy. I've talked to him plenty of times."

I giggle. "Mr. Halladay is a good guy."

"Well, he picked someone else to be his legal secretary."

My shoulders slump.

Dreams about living above the poverty level disappear. Fantasies about working and living along with Brent also went poof.

"Okay, Isley, thanks for calling." I sigh. "It's not like I had a great interview with him. I said some stupid things and..."

"Don't worry, okay," Isley sounds confident, "you will find something."

I throw my phone on the couch.

"Vanessa," Grandpa Delta urgently calls me from his bedroom.

I quickly walk to my grandparents' bedroom.

Grandpa Delta hands me the meter.

Grandma Suzy-May's glucose no longer registers on the meter. That means it is more than five hundred.

"Let's go," I say, ready to go to the hospital.

Grandma Suzy-May agrees.

****

I sit in the hospital's family waiting room, waiting for an update on Grandma Suzy-May from Grandpa Delta. Unfortunately, only one visitor is allowed in her hospital room at a time.

My phone rings.

I ignore it.

Isley texts me:

Mr. Halladay wanted your number. So I gave it to him. Thank's for the update on Suzy-May—she's a trooper.

As soon as I click off Isley's message, my phone rings again.

This time I feel a fluttery sensation in my stomach as I picture Brent sitting at his desk, leaning back and cradling the telephone receiver between his shoulder and ear.

I quickly answer it before it stops ringing.

"May I speak with Vanessa," Brent's deep, sexy voice rumbles in my ear.

Suddenly, I'm short of breath as a sexual thrill runs through my body. Although I try to think of something funny or engaging to say, I tell Brent, "Hi, Mr. Halladay."

He chuckles. "Vanessa, please call me Brent.

Silence.

Brent clears his throat. "Do you have time today or tomorrow to meet at my office?"

"Meet?" I ask, "with you? Isley told you hired someone."

There's a small silence.

My shoulders slump as I mentally kick myself for saying that. Maybe Brent didn't hire anyone. But, oh, I sound so stupid.

"Do you have time today?" Brent asks.

I look at the door. Medical staff walks past, chatting.

Grandma Suzy-May's in the hospital, and I am sitting here doing nothing.

Why not meet Brent?

At best, he could offer me a job.

At worst, he could…

I bite my bottom lip. At worst, Brent can ask me out on a date, which wouldn't be bad at all.