Seductive Chaos (Bad Rep #3) by A. Meredith Walters Read Free Book Online Page B

this job lasted longer than the others.
    I desperately needed to get my act together. I couldn’t expect my parents to give me money for the rest of my life. Even if mooching came naturally, I’d still like to have something to show for the four years I spent at college. Believe it or not, I did have some pride.
    I walked through the large, oak doors and stood in the middle of the grand foyer, trying to figure out where I was supposed to go. One entire wall was made of glass and overlooked the river. A baby grand piano stood off in the corner. A wide staircase led to the second floor balcony.
    A door opened and shut and I turned to see a petite woman with beautifully coiffed grey hair walking toward me. I recognized her from my second interview as Marion Vandy, the Director of Events and Programs for The Claremont Center.
    “Vivian! Hello!” she said, holding out her hand for me to shake. Her palm was warm and dry and she gave me a calm and collected smile. She needed to share some of that composure because I was starting to quake in my fantastic pumps.
    “Nice to see you! And five minutes early as well! Great start!” she complimented, releasing my hand and gesturing toward the hallway she had come from. I didn’t feel the need to explain that I had broken several traffic laws in getting here.
    “I like to make a good first impression,” I said demurely, hiding my trembling hands behind my back and trying to choke the fluttering butterflies in my stomach.
    “Impression is everything,” Marion said with a nod, leading me into a spacious office. “Have a seat.” She indicated a comfortable looking chair as she took her place behind a massive desk made from dark, shiny wood.
    “There’s a lot to go over. Normally you’d have at least a week to settle into your position. There’s orientation and paperwork. However, some extenuating circumstances are going to change the course of your probationary period.”
    “Extenuating circumstances?” I asked, not liking the sound of that at all.
    Marion gave me a pained smile. “I’m going to be throwing you into the deep end I’m afraid. We are horribly short staffed right now so unfortunately you’re going to be getting your hands-on training a lot faster than normal.” God, did she have to sound so ominous about it?
    Marion folded her hands and leaned back in her chair. “I know from looking over your resume that you have some event planning experience. But I’m sure nothing to this scale.” She didn’t say it condescendingly. It was just the facts. And the truth. I nodded in agreement.
    “I planned most of my sorority’s functions and I was involved in event planning at the country club back home in high school. But no, nothing like this. Though I’m a quick learner and I’m more than ready to jump in with both feet,” I told her with more confidence than I actually felt. The team player cliché seemed to do the trick.
    Marion gave me a smile full of relief.
    “I’m so glad to hear that. Our last Event Coordinator left us in a bit of a lurch. She decided running off with her boyfriend to Europe was more important than giving notice at her job. I am pretty easygoing, Vivian. But I don’t tolerate unprofessional behavior and lack of courtesy. And most of all I expect respect and consideration,” she stated firmly, sizing me up.
    I found myself nodding again. “Absolutely. These things are essential. It’s important not to burn bridges,” I babbled. I was going to be responsible. I was going to be competent. I was going to nail this job if it killed me!
    Vivian reached across the great expanse of her desk and patted the top of my hand like a kindly grandmother. “You and I are going to get along just fine.” My relief made me sag.
    Marion passed me a folder of paperwork to fill out before taking me on a tour of the center.
    She showed me the beautiful concert hall decorated in red velvet and dark wood. The acoustics were amazing and I wanted to yell