“But, you didn't come here to discuss your love lives with me,” Audrey continued. “Why did you want to meet with me?”
“I need your help,” James said. He put his elbows on the table and leaned forward, looking incredibly professional. “I'd like to offer you a job.”
Audrey's eyebrows arched up. “A job?”
“I need a new secretary.”
“And you want me?” She laughed. “James, I have a newborn baby and almost no skills. Why do you want me?”
“Because you've held up your non-disclosure agreement,” James replied. “In addition, I saw what you've been doing with the child payments. You know what you're doing.”
“I should have known you'd see my investments,” Audrey said. She shifted her position and closed her shirt before pulling her daughter out from the blanket. “That still doesn't solve the problem of me being a single mother. My hours are rather limited, and I get the sense that you work twenty-four seven. Did you still want to hold her, Allie?”
I nodded, a greedy smile on my face as she carefully stood and handed me her daughter. The little girl's eyes were closed and she had a pleasant “I just ate” expression on her face. She felt right in my arms, as if I were made for holding children. I gently moved her to my shoulder and tapped gently on her back. I loved holding her so much, I thought that there was a chance that I wasn't going to give her back. Audrey handed me a burp cloth to protect my shirt.
I looked away from the baby long enough to see James smile at Audrey. It was his business, wheeling-dealing, grin. Audrey was as good as hired. She hadn't flat out said no, so now it was just the negotiation that needed to happen
. “What do you want?”
Audrey mimicked James' posture and hand placement. “I want to be hourly so I can earn overtime. And I want the ability to work from home when feasible.”
“Done.” James shrugged. “Anything else?”
“I need childcare. Either in office or at home.” She narrowed her eyes. “And if you want me at your Boston office, I want both. And moving expenses.”
“The Boston office already has a child care center and moving expenses are a given,” James replied, waving her concerns away with his hand. “As for the in-home child care, that would be on your own dime.”
“Even though you'd want me to work your hours? No deal.” She shook her head and looked over at her daughter. “If I'm working, even from home, she has someone watching her.”
James nodded thoughtfully. “Submit a billing report with child-care expenses with the hours you worked while home. I'm not paying for you to go grocery shopping.”
“Works for me,” Audrey agreed. “As for hourly wage, I want whatever your current secretary makes. If she's salary, just divide it by forty.”
“Done.” James leaned back in his chair. “Are we agreed? You'll take the job?”
Audrey reached her hand out across the table and grinned. “It's a pleasure to be working for you, Mr. Coleman.”
“Excellent.” James agreed. “You start now.”
“Okay.” Audrey leaned back in her chair. “But you're buying breakfast.”
After breakfast, we all piled into Audrey's car and headed back to the hotel. James drove with Audrey in the passenger seat, already on his phone making arrangements for what was going to happen next. I sat in the back seat with the baby.
She was asleep again, her mouth starting to work as she got hungry again. I held her tiny hand, and just sat there admiring her itty-bitty perfect fingernails. Everything was so miniature and perfect. I loved the idea that something so wonderful was growing inside of me right now.
I watched little Eva as James and Audrey worked. It was amazing how easily Audrey fell into working for James. Since she was already under a NDA, she knew James' lawyers and even some of his staff. The rest she figured out on the fly and seemed to be rocking it.
Lunch arrived via room service and Audrey came to take her daughter back into her arms. She sat on the couch in the middle of the hotel room, feeding her sweet daughter with a smile on her face.
James held up a fax and she nodded. “Well, other than continuing to answer phone calls for you, that's about all I can do for now,” Audrey said. “Would it be alright with you if I went and laid down for a little bit? I don't get much sleep at night with her wanting to eat every five seconds.”
“Sure,” James replied. “I'll watch her for you. Got to keep up that child care part of your contract.”
Audrey laughed and handed her newly fed baby over to James. “Allie here certainly has been doing a great job at it.” She grinned at me. “You'll make a great mom someday. Eva doesn't take to just everyone, but she seems to love you.”
“Thanks.” I blushed with pride. There was no way Audrey knew yet that I was halfway to being a mother already, so the compliment rang true.
She went to the attached bedroom and shut the door. I could hear her body thump onto the bed and then it went completely silent. I turned back to look at James. He was looking into Eva's eyes and smiling.