Page 2 of For Your Consideration

“Before we get too far, I want to remind you that I don’t have any assistant experience. I’ve never even worked in an office before.”

Maybe not the smartest thing to do, talking yourself out of a job before you were even interviewed, but I couldn’t be crushed with disappointment.

Not right now.

“You told me that when we met, and again on the phone when you called.” She smiled softly. “And honestly, I’ve told the guys many times that I don’t need an assistant, but they disagreed because my workload has been a little crazy and the calls won’t stop. With them it’s sometimes easier not to fight it. I have to pick my battles.” I assumed she meant the two guys from the restaurant, but I had no idea and she kept going so I didn’t ask to clarify. “So, I’m going to go with someone I at least like as a person. I’m not too concerned with your background.”

“I just wanted to be straightforward with you.”

“I appreciate that, but I’m willing to have someone learn. It’s not like I actually knew what I was doing when I was hired.” She leaned forward slightly. “Don’t tell anyone, but I still probably don’t.”

“What you’ve done here is incredibly impressive.”

“Thank you, but the foundation was already impressive. I’m just good at organizing people.” She waved away my compliment. “Listen, the job is yours if you want it.”

I blinked in surprise a few times before I spoke, letting her words sink in. “I… But you…you didn’t even ask me any questions.”

“I read over your resume already. Anyone who can work in the service industry as long as you have is impressive to me. I have a feeling about you, Sutton, and I know from experience that things always go more smoothly if you have people you can trust at your back. I think you’re trustworthy and that’s all I really need. Like I said, I’m operating right now without an assistant so if you can answer the phone and speak to people, which I know you can, we can figure out the rest later.”

I sat there stunned for a moment as her words settled over me. “Really?”

Was that all I could think to ask?

She smiled and nodded. “I deal with a lot of donors and most calling for me are pretty manageable. I can assure you that you’ve dealt with worse people as a server.”

I pushed down my emotions because for the first time in a long time someone was sitting there saying they believed in me and I almost lost it. I blinked a few more times to clear the tears from my eyes and shook my head.

“I don’t know what to say…”

Another smile from Quinn. “Well, if I were you, I would want to know about the salary and vacation time.” She slipped some paperwork across the desk. “If you want to take it home and review it before you sign, that won’t offend me at all.”

My hands shook a little as I grabbed the pages, and my jaw almost dropped as I scanned them. This was more than I’d ever made in a year. And it came with five weeks’ vacation and a full health plan for me and any dependents. I might finally be able to keep my head above water, maybe even have extra money at the end of each month. I was weeks away from having to get a third job to keep going and I had no idea how I was going to juggle it all.

“This is a lot of money for someone that doesn’t have any experience.” I looked up at her and bit my cheek. I should kick myself—why did I say that? My mind went blank on a way to follow up or take it back. I started to panic but then Quinn chuckled.

“I like your honesty, Sutton. We may be a charity foundation, but we’re backed by Knight Enterprises—they’re in charge of paying all employee salaries so all the money we raise can go to the causes we fund. This is what they pay assistants in their company and that is what we will pay you.”

I put the papers down and let out a breath. I had to tell her before I accepted the job.

“I have a nine-month-old daughter at home. She’s a healthy and happy baby. My neighbor watches her for me when I have to work. She’s older and retired so it works out. But some days she can’t be at home. I want you to know I’m committed, but sometimes I might have to change plans or take a day off. I feel like we have a stable routine but things could change if she got sick or something.”

Quinn’s face didn’t change like I’d expected. She didn’t look like she was about to tell me to leave.

“You started working at the restaurant three months after having her?” She’d done the math quickly. I could have stayed on employment insurance for up to a year but that unfortunately wasn’t an option when I needed to move us to a new city and not be so behind.

“I did. I don’t have much in the way of family; it’s just me and her. I did what I had to do.”

Quinn nodded, a look of compassion on her face. “What’s her name?”

I frowned a little. I wasn’t expecting that to be her next question. “Sophie.”

“I like that you both have S names.”

I’d done that because my last name had been given to me in foster care, and I wanted Sophie and me to share something unique to us. My pain-addled brain at birth decided that was a name starting with S.

“I look forward to meeting her. If you ever have an issue with childcare, you can bring her here with you. Oh!” Her eyes brightened. “We can get something set up near your desk just in case. It won’t be a problem.”

I blinked a few times, trying not to cry. “Really?”