Page 117 of Playing Mr. Perfect

“Yes, you do.” He chuckles. “I’ll be in my office. Let me know if you want me to meet with Clare or the other candidate after you’re done interviewing them.”

I thumb out a message to Clay as I head for my office.

Me: I see the sign fairy has struck again.

Clay: I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Me: Too bad. I had some sexy thank-yous in mind for him.

Me: I guess I’ll have to give them to the guys who are putting up the sign for me instead.

An angry emoji pops up.

Me: Is that an admission?

An angel emoji pops up, followed by a gift emoji and a red heart.

Me: You are too much! I love the sign! It’s beautiful. Thank you! I add a smiling emoji surrounded by hearts.

Clay: I’m glad you like it. Good luck with the interviews today.

Me: Thanks! Have fun with Ben and his friends. I’m going to stay late to catch up from this morning.

Clay: Sounds good. There are about a dozen guys meeting us at the field. Take your time and text when you’re done. We’ll celebrate your pitch.

It makes him so happy working with those boys, I can only imagine how good a father he’ll be one day. I sit down behind my desk and dive into my work, counting down the minutes until I’ll see him again.

After a not-so-great interview with an applicant from the ad who asked if she would have opportunities to meet “Mr. Perfect,” Clare shows up ten minutes early for our interview. Dressed in gray slacks, a cream sweater, and heels, she looks professional and nervous.

“Hi, Clare. It’s nice to see you.”

“It’s nice to see you, too. It’s always a little strange seeing customers outside the café. I feel like I should have brought you a latte.”

“There’s no need for that.” I smile. “Let’s go to my office and chat.”

In my office, I hang up her coat, and in an effort to make her more comfortable, we sit at the table instead of across from each other at my desk.

“I brought you a résumé.” She opens her purse and pulls out an envelope, which she hands to me. “I haven’t applied for a job in a long time. I hope that looks okay.”

“This is perfect.” I scan the details of her work history. “You have a lot of office experience. Can you tell me about it?”

“Sure. I started working for Mr. Park, the owner of the café, as a waitress seven years ago. He also owns a convenience store and a night club, and he has an office in each establishment. From the beginning, when he needed help with any of the business offices, I would fill in answering phones and handling general office duties. His wife handled the bookkeeping, payroll, and inventory, but she trained me to do them a few months before she left him. That was three years ago.”

“Sounds like it was a sticky situation.”

“That’s putting it mildly. Their divorce was messy, and that’s when things started going downhill. Mr. Park has never been very organized. He had four people running the offices, and now he only has me and one other person. Unfortunately, he doesn’t pay enough to keep waitstaff at the café, either, which is why I’m there a lot, as you know.”

“Almost daily, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Yes, but some of that is for extra hours. I also work in the evenings in the offices sometimes to catch up.” She tells me about the software she uses, the hours she works, and how much she enjoys the work she does, both in the café and in the offices. And then she tells me how much she earns, which isn’t much above minimum wage. “I get tips, too, at the café, but they’re never much.”

I’m in awe of her resilience and her loyalty. “That’s a lot to handle while raising your family.”

“It is, but I’d do anything for my kids.”

“From what I know, it sounds like at least Ben would do anything for you, too.”

Her expression warms. “Benny is an amazing person. I hate needing to rely on him to help make ends meet, but we haven’t had much of a choice. I had big plans when I was young. I wanted to become a nurse, but then I got pregnant with Ben and followed his father here. I had Ben when I was eighteen. His father left town with another girl six months later. In many ways, Ben and I grew up together. We had a lot of tough years, but we made it, and then I met Sammy and Trina’s dad and thought things were going to get easier. But after Sammy was born, their father started drinking and never stopped. I had to ask him to leave.”