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"You have your Series Six, Series Eighty-Six, and Series Eighty-Seven licenses," he read. "No Sixty-Three?"
Jewell bit back a snappy response. "No. I haven't decided in what state I want to take the test. I’ve lived in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts.”
Mr. Roth read the whole sheet and handed it back to her. "What position are you interviewing for?"
"Administrative support for Mr. Burke."
He shook his head and waved his hand in argument. "You are overqualified."
Jewell conceded with a nod. "Perhaps."
LaTrisha waddled across the space to them, slightly out of breath with one hand resting on her near-ready-to-burst pregnant belly, and touched Jewell's arm. "Ms. Kincaid? Mr. Burke is just about ready to see you now."
"Thank you."
She glanced toward April and smiled. "It was nice to meet you," she said and made eye contact again with Mr. Roth.
His direct stare unnerved her, but she managed a smile and nod in farewell. Jewell followed LaTrisha back to Mr. Burke's office but swore she felt Mr. Roth's stare burning into her back. Just before passing through the office door, Jewell glanced back and confirmed her suspicion. Mr. Roth stood where she'd left him, one hand curled in a relaxed fist against his hip while the other braced against the edge of April's desk. He wasn't smiling, nor was he frowning, and the only acknowledgment she got that he still saw her was the slight lifting of a single brow. Jewel forced herself to look away and focus on the man she hoped would soon be her new boss.
Kevin Burke, a not-quite-middle-aged man with light brown hair and a thick but not heavy build, met her at the door with a smile and ushered her into his office. They sat and talked for the next forty-five minutes about the responsibilities involved in the position. Jewell realized Mr. Roth had been right. This was strictly an administrative position, and with her experience and education, she was severely overqualified. Most likely, she would be bored out of her mind within a week.
But even as administrative support, the position offered $10,000 more a year than her current job at Safeguard Fiduciary. Right now, her concern was money, not job satisfaction. Since her sister had moved in to attend college in the city, her budget had tightened considerably. The whole purpose of Ruby moving in was to save her parents the expense of room and board, and Jewell refused to take any money from them to help. Another ten grand a year would be just the cushion her budget needed. And the benefits were impressive. Jewell resolved the drop in responsibilities would be worth it in the end. Of course, it didn't have to be forever.
As she left the imposing building sometime after one o'clock, Jewell decided she felt good about the entire interview process. She knew she had made a good impression, and felt confident the offer would come. Unless, of course, her impulse to call Mr. Roth to task ended up taking her out of the running.
Jewell shook off her thoughts as she returned to her car in a nearby parking garage. She had enough time to go home and change, maybe get something to eat, before she headed back out to pick up Ruby from the Northeastern University campus. Tonight was family dinner night at the Kincaid house, and Jewell looked forward to getting out of the city for a while.
* * *
Jewell's cell phone twittered inside her bag just as she finished dinner at her parents'. She excused herself to the hall and dug it out, wincing as someone banged around pots and pans in the kitchen. A glance at the screen told her it was a number within Bulwark Mutual Funds. Taking a quick, fortifying breath, Jewell answered.
"Hello," she said, hoping she disguised her nervousness.
"Hello, Jewell. This is Travis Traynor at Bulwark. Have I called too late in the evening?"
"Not at all, Mr. Traynor."
"Good. I tend to work late and forget the rest of the world actually has a life," he said with a chuckle. "As you can guess, I'm calling about your interview today."
"Yes?"
Mr. Traynor seemed to struggle for words and Jewell had the sinking feeling this was a different kind of call than she expected. Apparently the interview hadn't gone as well as she thought. Of course, giving attitude to one of their top fund managers before she ever managed to get hired might have been the nail in the coffin. Then again, not many companies bothered to call if you didn't get the job.
"There has been a change in staffing needs. That is to say, we no longer need to fill the administrative position. Another individual internally will be taking it."
She dropped her shoulders, but carefully covered up her sigh. "I understand, Mr. Traynor."
"So we were wondering if you would consider a different position at Bulwark."
Jewell stood straighter. "What position?"
"Instead of an administrative position, we would like to offer you one in executive support. It's the next level up and would pay an additional $15,000 a year, with quarterly bonuses and a possible raise after six months."
Jewell's jaw dropped. Another $15,000 a year would give her $25,000 more a year than she made right now.
"Do I need to come in for another interview, or is it for Mr. Burke as well?"
"No, you don't need to come in. It's not for Kevin, but the fund manager you will be working with seemed comfortable with your qualifications. Based on your interview today we've already initiated the background check, but I have no concerns. When can you start?"
