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“None of your business, I’d say.” Josie lifted her chin defiantly.
“We shall soon see about that, young lady, just you wait there!”
She flushed crossly. What a horribly rude man.
She picked up a magazine and peered over the top of it, surreptitiously watching him converse with the receptionist. He turned at once and gave her an appraising look under lowered brows. Turning back he took a sheath of papers from the receptionist’s hand. Josie quickly lowered her gaze to her magazine as she noticed he was walking in her direction.
“Follow me,” he ordered curtly.
“Actually, I’m here for an interview with Phillip Scott, so I’ll remain right where I am, butthank you so much for the invitation.” She was saccharine sweet to the point of insolence, adding a wide, insincere smile for good effect.
The man halted, turning to face her. “That’s not who you are seeing today,” he stated shortly. “I shall be handling your interview. Mr. Scott is away on vacation. I am Doctor Marcus Devon, please follow me.”
“Youare going to interview me?” she stuttered, shocked.
“Yes, that is correct, come along, I don’t have all day.”
Josie stared at his retreating back, her mouth slack.Hewas Dr. Devon? Oh no, she was screwed. This man wouldn’t hire her,not in a month of Sundays!
Reluctantly, gloomy with trepidation, she followed the doctor down the corridor and into his office. He waved her into a chair and sat down behind his desk, perusing the papers the receptionist had given him. Finally he shuffled them into a neat stack and set them to one side. He rested his elbows on the desk and placed his fingers together in a steeple.
“Tell me, why do you wish to work here?” he asked peremptorily.
Josie shuffled in her seat, her mind froze, she could not think of a single answer. “Um, well, I have excellent grades—”
“That is not the question. I have your grades and references right here before me.” He tapped the papers on his desk. “I asked youwhyyou wanted to work at Corbin’s Bend medical hospital.”
Josie felt herself flushing and stuttered her reply, “Er, I love children and I want to live in Corbin’s Bend. You had a vacancy and so I applied.”
“Why?”
“Look, I’m a darn good sick child nurse all right? I resent the way you are questioning me! It was obvious from the first that you didn’t like me, so what is the point of this interview continuing, other than to humiliate me? We both know that you aren’t about to offer me the position. I’m leaving, and good riddance!” Josie leapt to her feet.
“Sit your butt back down in that chair right now, young woman!”
Josie hesitated before slowly lowering herself back down into the chair.
“Right, let’s get something straight, Miss Carter. I care about this hospital and the patients who use it. I want the best staff I can find to run it and my personal judgment comes into play when I am called upon to hire new staff. I am a fair man and although our first meeting was not a good recommendation of your character, I am willing to give you a chance to convince me otherwise. If you are as childish as the patients you nurse, then I shall certainly send you on your way. Convince me, Miss Carter, that you are good at your job and I shall consider hiring you. Now, shall we start over?”
Josie swallowed, nodding. “Yes. I-I’m sorry, Doctor.”
“Apology accepted. I ask once again, why would you like to work here, Miss Carter?”
* * *
Josie walkedout of the medical unit feeling queasy. Her initial interview had been a disaster. She didn’t hold out much hope of receiving a job offer from Doctor Devon but at least she had given a good representation of herself after the first hiccup. There was nothing she could do to repair the early impression he had of her and so she shoved the whole episode to the back of her mind. She would discuss it all with Grandma over lunch, which was her next stop.
She was due at the main dome, where she had an appointment with Brent Carmichael after lunch. She just hoped the interview would go better than the one she’d given Doctor Devon. It was up to her to convince him that they would be good citizens for Corbin’s Bend.
Max had filled out the application form and submitted it a few weeks back by email. Later they’d both travelled here to visit the community. Brent himself had shown them around. She hoped to move into one of the smaller housing units and be settled in before Max’s arrival in a couple of weeks’ time. He was undergoing the usual debriefing given to servicemen and women who’d served their term. Max had already been interviewed and accepted by the Corbin’s Bend medical hospital as an anesthetist. It was a good fit for a man who had worked at a military hospital for the past ten years.
When she arrived at the Amour restaurant she found her grandmother Nicky already seated and chatting to Marie behind the bar whilst sipping a cold white wine.
“Hiya darling, how did the interview go?”
“Don’t ask, Grandma, it was the pits!”
“Why? What on earth happened?”
