She was a mass of jangled nerves. Sweat ran down her back under her business-like blouse. She felt sticky and dishevelled and completely unready for this interview. While the security guard checked her identification and papers, Sarah shifted restlessly from foot to foot, craning her neck to see the clock on the wall behind him.
'Fuck!' She bit her lip to keep the word in. She hated being late and had deliberately splurged on a cab to avoid the hassle of having to find parking downtown. Not that it did any good...the cab had cost her the same as a pair of three-inch heels on sale, and it sat in traffic for so long that she had run the last two blocks and was late anyway.
Receiving her pass and instructions to the 19th floor, there was no time to stop in the restroom and pull herself back together. 'Why isn't it standard practice to have a mirror in the elevator?' she thought, as the only other passenger got off on the 7th floor. She did a visual check, tucking here, tugging there, adjusting the once-crisp pink top under a good charcoal suit that decorously went to mid-knee and dragging the stockings tops up.
As the chimes sounded and the elevator doors slid open, Sarah hoped she looked marginally more collected and strode to the reception desk.
"Sarah Jones for Mr. Kerr. I had an appointment for 1:30. I'm a little late." Sarah tried to look calm. The receptionist looked up "I'm sorry, Ms. Jones, Mr. Kerr is interviewing and can't be disturbed. If you like to wait?...."
Nervously, Sarah twisted the longest strands of her shoulder-length brown hair as she assessed her options. She couldn't afford to write this interview off; she needed a job badly and had liked the sound of this one. "Yes, please," she told the receptionist. "I'll wait."
The receptionist indicated a group of chairs around a low table; Sarah turned toward them. Pausing, Sarah had a thought. She turned back and asked "May I use the washroom while I'm waiting, please?" The receptionist smiled and said 'Certainly. It's down the hall past the elevators and around to the right. Take your time," she said." The interview just started. He'll be a while."
Sarah's low heels clicked on the tile down the hall towards the restroom. She pushed open the heavy door and almost collided with a woman on her way out. Startled, Sarah pulled back and allowed a tall, cool-looking blonde in an expensive suit to sweep past her, a cloud of pricey perfume trailing in her wake. She felt a bit steamrolled as the woman stalked by without even muttering 'excuse me'.
Sarah was relieved to find the washroom empty and, pulling a comb and cosmetics from her bag, touched up her hair and makeup, washed her hands and tried to feel some of the confidence she'd had looking in the mirror at home -- when she'd been on time. "C'mon, Sarah," she told herself. "You can do this. You got top marks in your class. You've got good references from your freelance jobs. You know how to write. You just need to ace the interview." Staring into her hazel eyes, she willed herself to believe. She knew in her heart that she could do the job if she was given the chance. She was good enough.
Returning to the reception area, Sarah sat on a hard chair and flipped through some of the publications that showcased the firm's work. She tried to project an image of professional detachment, calm and poise, not to fidget and bite her nails as she longed to do. The hands on the clock crawled.
About fifteen minutes later, a petite brunette came hurriedly down the corridor, heels clacking fast on the tile floor, colour high in her cheeks. She stabbed the elevator button and shifted from foot to foot, not looking at the receptionist or Sarah. "Are you sure you won't reconsider?" asked the blonde that Sarah had bumped into as she came down the hall. "No!" said the woman waiting for the elevator. "No, thank you. I don't think this will work out at all!" The elevator arrived and the woman got on, pressing the 'door close' button quickly. The blonde smiled and shook her head. Turning to the receptionist, she said "Not a one, Daphne. We struck out."
Daphne smiled at the blonde. "Not yet, Ms. Shaw." Nodding towards Sarah, she continued, "Ms. Jones was late but she was pleased to wait in case Mr. Kerr had time to see her."
The blonde spun on her heel and walked towards Sarah, extending her hand. "Oh, he has the time! I'm glad you made it." Smiling, she looked more approachable than she had in the washroom and Sarah decided she had just been distracted.
She smiled back and shook hands. "I'm so glad. I'm sorry I was late."
"Not at all! Daphne tell Mr. Kerr that Ms. Jones is here and I'll show her to the office." She ushered Sarah down the hall and around the corner to an unmarked door, knocked sharply and opened it saying "Mr. Kerr, your last interview is here." She put a hand on Sarah's back and gently prodded her into the room, stepping back and closing the door behind her.
Sarah started, looking over her shoulder at the closed door. For some reason, she'd thought the blonde was going to be in the room too. She looked at the tall, slim man behind the desk as he stood and put out his hand. "Good afternoon," he said. "Please sit down." Noting her backwards glance, he added, "Alicia will join us in a bit. I like to meet the candidate and do the first part of the interview on my own."