the wrong kind of loe #21

Chapter 21

Mandy arrived at the K & G Headquarters and stood outside it, just staring at it from top to bottom. Nerves hit her and not because she was about to be interviewed, but because she knew she was bound to bump into Brian. She took a sharp intake of breath and slowly exhaled as she entered the building. She confidently walked inside to the reception desk with her head held high and it suddenly hit her. She didn’t know who to ask for. Feeling slightly panicky, she looked away, starting to feel the beads of sweat forming on her forehead. At first she toyed with the idea of calling Brian, but she soon stopped herself. He didn’t want to talk to her anymore anyway and she did not feel comfortable ringing him. She sighed and shook her head.
“Can I help you Madam?” came the voice from behind the counter.
Mandy quickly looked at her and licked her lips.
“Er, yeah. Sorry. I have a job interview!” she nervously explained, tugging nervously at her collar on her elegant white blouse.
“Ok. Who is the interview with?” she asked.
Mandy just stared at her and blinked, “Erm, I am not really sure!” she admitted, letting out a nervous laughter. Feeling rather foolish, she closed her eyes and shook her head.
“I’m sorry?” questioned the receptionist surprised.
“I am not really sure who my interviewer is!” she blushed heavily. God, she must have sounded like a crazed lunatic, she thought to herself.
“This is some sort of joke, right?” laughed the receptionist.
Mandy just stared at her and sighed, which made her stop laughing.
“OH, so it isn’t a joke!” she mumbled.
“Am I laughing?” snapped Mandy with embarrassment. At this point she cursed Brian for never mentioning the name of his boss.
“I am sorry Madam. But I just find it really odd that you are going for a job interview and you don’t know who with. That never happens!” she chuckled.
Mandy blushed even deeper, “Well, it has happened to me!” she growled.
“Ok, very well then. Let’s see if I can help. Who did you apply for?” she asked.
“I did not apply!” she growled through gritted teeth, aware of how ridiculous she must have sounded.
The receptionist just stared at her, “Well, if you did not apply. Then how come you have an interview?”
Mandy sighed and shook her head, not believing this was happening to her.
“Look. If this is your idea of a joke, it is not funny and you are just wasting my time!” she moaned.
Mandy sighed, “Once again I will ask, do you see me laughing?”
She looked at her for a while before she rolled her eyes, “Ok. Listen. I have a friend who set me up for the interview. I dunno where his department is. I am sure he has told me but I just cannot remember. But that is where my interview is!” she sighed, hoping this information helped.
“Ah ok. Now we are getting somewhere. Who is your friend?” she asked.
“Well, he is not my friend anymore!” she mumbled.
The receptionist stared at her, “What’s his name?” she sighed.
“Oh, sorry!” sighed Mandy, squeezing her eyes shut and shaking her head quickly, “his name is Brian McFadden!”
The receptionist smiled as she tapped into the computer. She then looked up and Mandy and grinned, “OK, he is in advertising. 4th floor. Good luck!”
Mandy thanked her and rushed off. She was already 5 minutes late, and panicking about that. What kind of an impression would that make, being 5 minutes late for her interview. How on Earth was she going to explain this to the interviewer without sounding like a right nutter? She opted against going up by lift, as it was taking ages to get down and she figured it would be quicker walking. Bad idea, as she was completely out of breath by the time she got up, and bathed in sweat. She grabbed a tissue and wiped her forehead before looking around. Just her luck, the air conditioning was not working. Breathing deeply, she walked to the first corridor she saw and waited there. She then looked around, feeling lost. All of a sudden, she saw Brian sat on his desk, chuckling with his friend. His friend looked really familiar and she couldn’t work out where she had seen him before. She quickly shook her head.
“Focus, Mandy!” she scolded herself. She swallowed hard, feeling all those butterflies in her stomach.
“Erm, hi!” she managed to utter.
Brian looked at her briefly and then looked away. His friend stared at her.
“Brian!” she sighed. He just ignored her.
“I just need to ask you something!” she mumbled weakly.
He just got up and walked away. His friend stayed looking at her, “I am sorry about him. Can I help you?”
Mandy looked at him, “Well, I have an interview with your boss today!”
He smiled and got up, “Sure. Just follow me!”
Mandy smiled and followed him around the brightly lit corridor. She felt uncomfortable with the silence and needed conversation. She finally worked out where she knew him from. The club Brian took her to the other night.
“So, it’s Freddie, right?” she smiled.
He looked at her and grinned, “Oh please. Don’t you start. Just call me Mark. I hate the whole Freddie thing!”
Mandy smiled and nodded, “I thought you worked at that club?”
He just grinned at her, showing her his dimpled deeply etched on his cheeks, “Yeah, that’s my 2nd job. I have a wife and 2 kids, a mortgage and dancing lessons for my eldest daughter. Every little bit helps!”
Mandy smiled and nodded. Mark stopped outside a door and knocked on it.
“Come!” she heard a deep voice say. Mark opened the door and went in as Mandy waited outside nervously. 2 seconds later, she saw the door opening. She felt like her heart was going to explode with nerves. Mark smiled at her and nudged his head for her to go on.
“One question!” she whispered, “What’s his name?”
Mark laughed softly, “It’s Simon Cowell!” he winked before Mandy went in, “Good luck. He is in a good mood, lucky you!”
Mandy smiled and heard the door closing as she walked in. Simon looked at her, with a serious look on his face, “Please sit down!”
She smiled and sat on the big black leather chair, hitching up her long black skirt slightly. She delicately sat on it, crossing one leg daintily over the other.
“Good morning!” she smiled nervously, “Sorry I am so late, but I got held up and…” she stopped and closed her eyes, knowing this guy would sooner or later find out that the reason she was late was because she was held up in reception. She sighed and shook her head, “Actually, do you know what really happened?”
Simon opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again when he heard Mandy speaking again. He looked at her in bewilderment. He put his hands together, closer to his mouth in a business like fashion, and just stared at her, taking in everything she had to say. This just made her feel more uneasy ad made her waffle on even more.
“Funny story really!” she laughed fakely, “I arrived downstairs, and I had no idea what your name was. Brian never said, you see? So I had no idea who to ask for in reception. The lady downstairs thought I was joking around and even told me off for wasting her time. That’s when I explained that Brian McFadden, one of your employees had arranged the interview and that’s when she told me where to come!” she rambled, taking a deep breath again. Now she felt really, really stupid. He just continued staring at her, which just made her want to talk even more.
“I just want you to know that I am never late for anything. I am very strict with myself with punctuality and that I am always on time. And if you do take me on for the job and if on any occasion I am late, I am willing to stay behind for that extra time that I missed…If I get the job!” she added.
Now she just felt paranoid and looked at herself, when he continued staring at her.
“Ok, are you finished?” he finally asked, without changing his expression.
Mandy swallowed quickly and nodded.
“Ok, first of all, my name is Simon Cowell. Secondly, you were only 10 minutes late…hardly punishable. And thirdly, I specifically told the receptionist downstairs to send a Mandy Byrne upstairs!”
Mandy swallowed hard, “I never gave her my name!” she sheepishly answered.
Simon widened his eyes, “Didn’t she ask you for it?” he gasped.
Mandy slowly shook her head, not wanting to get anyone into trouble.
“Damn these stupid newbies. You train them and train them and it just don’t stick to their heads. God, where do we get them from?” he moaned.
Mandy almost laughed, but instead she just smiled.
“Ok Mrs Byrne. Let’s just start ok? You have had some experience with this company in London. Am I correct?” he asked.
Mandy nodded, “That’s right. I worked in the accountancy department over there, which is where I met my husband, who works here in accounts aswell!” shje closed her eyes. She could kick herself. Why would this guy want to know anything about her husband?
He just stared at her. Feeling intimidated, she looked away, but remembered the interviewing rule, always look at the interviewer in the eye. She coughed nervously and looked into his brown eyes.
“So how come you want to work at customer services? Aren’t you a bit too over qualified for that?” he questioned.
Mandy shrugged, “Mr Cowell…” she started.
“Simon!” he interrupted.
Mandy looked at him cautiously, “Erm, ok. Simon, at the moment I would take anything that’s on offer. Would even take a cleaning job if it means getting away from the house for a while!” she explained.
“So tell me. What have you got to offer us? I mean, you tell me why I should take you on?” he asked, folding his arms and pouting softly.
Mandy hated this part. She hated looking for her good qualities. She was always far too modest for that. She coughed, took a deep breath and chewed on her lips.
“Well, I am a hard worker and very determined. I enjoy working as a team and as an individual. I use my initiative at all times and I work well under pressure. Having worked in this company before, I know more or less the basics already, and as I said, I am always on time. I have a good phone manner and I go by the rule of, keep the customer satisfied at all times!” she smiled. She had practiced this speech all night in bed. She tried to think if she had missed anything out, but she couldn’t think of anything.
Simon let out his first smile, “Well, that sounds good.!”
After some more questioning, Simon got up and ushered her to the door.
“Well, Mrs Byrne. Thank you very much. I will let you know within the next 2 days ok?” he smiled, shaking her hand.
Mandy smiled and shook his hand too, “Thank you very much for seeing me at such short notice, Mr Cowell!” she smiled.
“Simon!” he interrupted, rolling his eyes and smiling.
Mandy grinned and walked out of the office. When the door was closed, she let out a small victory jump and walked away, feeling a lot more relaxed than she did when she walked in.