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“Because I’m working my notice in the evenings for the next two weeks, you won’t see me on the bus home,” I said, chancing a peek up at him. Shay nodded, though he did look disappointed. “Finding free time is going to be tough because I still want to attend my literacy classes, too, but I’ll figure something out.” I paused and squeezed his arm. “I want to be able to see you. The morning bus isn’t enough.”
There was more I wanted to say, but I was too nervous. I wanted to suggest he stay the night at my place because if I couldn’t see him for two weeks, then sleeping together would be nice. Then I remembered his dad’s cautious warnings and wondered if Eugene would be concerned about Shay spending nights at my flat. He was obviously protective over his son, and given Shay’s mutism, I understood his need to protect him. I just wished he knew there was no way I would ever willingly hurt him.
The bus came, and we boarded. Too soon, we arrived at our stop, and we alighted. Shay pulled me close, hugging me tight before he released me, turning in the direction of the hotel. It was only as I was walking toward the office my phone buzzed with a text.
Shay: You look beautiful this morning. Good luck with your first day. x
My heart skipped a beat when I finished reading because I felt tired and worn out and not beautiful at all. It gave me a little boost as I headed down the street, many of the houses and businesses donned with Christmas decorations. The twinkle lights cast a magical glow over the gloomy, chilly morning.
I was surprised when I reached Jonathan Oaks’ office and found the man himself in the reception area waiting for me. His firm was called Treeline Investments, announced by a fancy gold plaque by the entrance.
“Hello,” I greeted and was instantly waved inside.
“Follow me. I’ll show you to your new office,” Jonathan said without preamble. There was a small, middle-aged woman at his side with a light brown bob and a smart dress sense. “This is my executive assistant, Therese. She’ll be conducting your training this week.”
“Hello, Therese,” I said, smiling at the woman. “I’m Maggie.”
“Nice to meet you, Maggie,” she replied before shaking my hand.
Jonathan led us into a small office with a desk and several filing cabinets. It wasn’t much to look at, but it was mine, and I felt a swell of pride. I had a job with my own office, and in two weeks, I might never have to clean someone else’s toilet ever again.
“Right, well, this is where you’ll be working most of the time,” Jonathan said. “There’s a phone and a computer, and I’ve left a list of items that need attending to on your desk. Therese will fill you in on the rest of it.”
I stilled, nerves suddenly flooding my system. When I took this job, I hadn’t anticipated how computer based it would be, and using a computer meant a lot of reading and writing. I’d come a long way since starting my literacy classes, and reading Shay’s messages gave me good practice, but I was still slow. And now I had to be trained by a shrewd looking woman who was probably going to figure out my deficiencies fast.
I glanced at Jonathan, and a lump lodged firmly in my throat. “Would it be okay to speak with you privately for a moment?”
He studied me, then nodded before looking to Therese. “Give us a minute.”
She left, and I turned back to Jonathan. “I’m not sure I can accept this job after all,” I blurted, and his eyes flashed with both annoyance and disbelief.
“Pardon?”
I wrung my hands, a lingering shame settling in. I was embarrassed having to tell a successful, professional businessperson like Jonathan about my learning difficulties. I knew it was wrong to feel that way, and I had nothing to be ashamed of, but I couldn’t shake the feeling. I also couldn’t shake the disappointment I was probably going to lose the opportunity before it even began.
Clearing my throat, I told him, “I would’ve disclosed this sooner, but because of the unconventional way I was offered the job, it never came up. And I just didn’t anticipate the work would involve using a computer quite so much.”
“Get to the point, Maggie,” he said, impatient.
“Well, I have dyslexia, you see. I attend literacy classes in the evenings, and I’ve been improving a lot, but I’m slow. I’m afraid I won’t get tasks done quick enough. Therese will probably become frustrated while training me, and I feel bad about putting her through that when she also has her job as your assistant to do on top of it all.”
Knowing what I knew of Mr Oaks and what a tyrant he was with his employees, or at least that was the rumour, I expected him to lose his temper. But that didn’t happen. Instead, his eyes softened. They were almost empathetic.
