“Um…thank you, Mr. Anderson. I…Of course, I’ll take the job,” she finally stuttered, completely forgetting about his request to call him by his first name.
“That’s wonderful. Welcome to the Anderson family corporation…”
The elevator sounding her arrival snapped Amy back to the present. Do not blow this job, Amy. If it all works out, you could be completely secure within a couple years. With her final words of encouragement to herself, she took a deep breath and waited for the doors to open.
As she stepped onto the twenty-fifth floor, she was momentarily paralyzed with fear. It was the most beautiful office she’d ever seen. The doors opened up to a massive lobby, a round cherry wood desk strategically placed for easy guest access. Behind the desk was a stunning blonde who looked more efficient than Amy ever hoped to be. White marble columns flanked the entranceway, leading to where Amy assumed the offices were located. Exquisite paintings hung on the walls, adding a depth of warm color. In the corner a seating area offered soft leather furniture and an antique coffee table with a priceless chandelier acting as a centerpiece overhead. She felt increasingly frumpy and inadequate as she stepped forward in her second-hand business suit and three-year-old heels.
“Can I help you?” the woman asked.
Amy snapped out of her temporary paralysis and walked forward. “Yes, I’m Amy Harper, the new executive secretary for Mr. Anderson,” she said with as much confidence as she could rally.
The woman looked at her blankly for a moment before slowly reaching for her phone. “Mr. Anderson, I have Amy Harper here who says she’s your new executive secretary.” She paused for a few moments. “Okay…Yes, sir.”
She hung up the phone and turned back to Amy, “Mr. Anderson says he already has an executive secretary and has hired no one new. He also said that if you’re a reporter trying for another story about his family, all his answers are no comment.” The woman looked dismissively at Amy before adding, “Have a nice day, Ms. Harper.”
She didn’t give Amy another glance as she turned back to her computer. As far as she was concerned, Amy was dismissed.
“Um, excuse me,” Amy looked at the secretary’s nameplate “…Shelly, I was interviewed last week by Mr. Anderson. He told me to be in the office at eight a.m. sharp, so you may want to check again,” she said a bit more forcefully. Shelly glanced up, as if shocked that the disturbing woman was still there.
Before Shelly had a chance to reply, the elevator chimed and in walked an older woman with smiling blue eyes. “You must be Amy Harper. I’m sorry I’m late but I got stuck behind a car accident,” the woman said while walking forward. “I’m Esther Lyon and I’ll be working with you this week getting you trained for the new position. I was so happy when Joseph called to let me know he’d found my replacement,” she said, warmth seeping through her voice.
Relief flooded through Amy, knowing the job was really hers, for better or worse. “It’s so good to meet you, Esther. I was a bit nervous when Shelly said there wasn’t a job,” she said.
Esther looked over at the woman in question. “We haven’t yet announced I’m retiring, though it’s been in the works for some time. Shelly wasn’t made aware of the situation. I’m sorry about any lack of communication.
“Walk with me, and I’ll show you your new office as I talk a little about the history of this wonderful company. The original building was created a little over one hundred years ago, but in this growing city, many updates have been added since then. Joseph’s grandfather, Benjamin, started Anderson Corporation with little more than a prayer and a few dollars. As I’m sure you know, his hard work paid off. We’re now global, with offices all across the United States and the world. Joseph was the next elected CEO after Benjamin’s passing, but his son, Lucas, took over last year, and is certainly following in his relative’s footsteps. He’s a brilliant man, and I’m sure you’ll love working for him.”
“I have to be honest,” Amy said with awe. “This is all a little overwhelming. I mean, the history of this wealthy family, the amount of business to keep track of, even the building itself. I don’t know how one man keeps track of it all.”
“Oh, it takes a whole team, sweetie, believe me. Don’t let yourself get worked up over nothing. The way to keep sane in this chaotic place is simply to do one task at a time. Look at the smaller picture, and before you know it, the day is done and you’ve accomplished far more than you ever imagined,” Esther reassured her.