Night Dancer

Twenty Six

"Lionel Enterprises are advertising for an entry level PA," Liam said, as Alyssa came into the kitchen. She ran a hand over her forehead which was throbbing after a day spent online looking through the jobs available.

"Really? I hadn't seen that," she said and Liam nodded, passing his phone across to her. Alyssa looked across at him, a smile brightening her face for the first time since she'd started looking for work. "It's says no qualifications necessary, that I'd be trained on the job and then if I was the right person they'd pay for my schooling so that I could make progression in the company. Wow, that's like a dream, Daddy."

"You should go for it," he said, enthusiastically. "The fact that your mama worked there will probably stand you in good stead; Marissa adored Audrey."

Alyssa nodded as she remembered the family from the funeral, remembered Marissa promising to do what she could to help her out if she needed it, even promising her a job. Maybe this was a sign, a positive sign of things improving. The money for the job wasn't great, but she would be gaining valuable experience and the chance for a life long career if she was successful with this application. Nodding her head she smiled to herself. This was perhaps the opportunity she had been waiting for.

"I'll get it opened on the laptop and then I can apply," she said and Liam grinned.

"I'll email you the link," he offered and she nodded, handing him back his phone. The application wasn't complicated and she lost her nerve a little when it came time to press the send button. There were bound to be any number of folk apply for this; Lionel Enterprises was a huge firm with a chain of successful hotels and businesses. Her mother had been a very successful PA who had worked from the ground up and by the time Marissa employed her she had a wealth of experience. Alyssa had no experience, she had dropped out of university and spent the last two years working as a stripper. Her heart sank as she contemplated this and she sighed deeply. Liam heard her and came through.

"What gives?" he asked and she glanced up at him.

"Why would they employ me Daddy? I can't provide references or nothing and if they start digging into what I've been doing these last couple of years..." she broke off miserably and he sighed.

"They'll see you've been at school and you've been helping your mama who Marissa adored." Alyssa didn't like to say what was on her mind; if the Lionels adored her mother so much where had they been since she was forced to quit working? They were multi millionaires; why hadn't they helped out with the health costs for a valued employee? She was smart enough to know that when you worked for these companies you were only as valuable as the time and energy you gave to the work; to the success you brought with you and when you could no longer bring anything to the table you were pushed out and forgotten, replaced in a heartbeat. With this in mind she pressed the send button, figuring she had nothing to lose. Liam smiled.

"I reckon you'll be working for them within a few days," he said, confidently. But after a week Alyssa still hadn't heard anything and she was on the verge of giving up, her confidence plummeting as she contemplating going back on her word to Bret and putting herself back as Lollipop with Nick. At least then she would be bringing some money in instead of feeling so useless as she fired off application after application with no joy.

Her phone was in her hand ready to make the call when Josh came through with the mail. He was sifting through the envelopes out of habit, looking for bills but then he passed her a cream coloured, expensive feeling one which had the crest of the Lionels on the seal. Alyssa's eyes widened when she saw it and he grinned as she opened it and a smile spread across her face.

"I've got an interview," she said, excitedly. "It's next Tuesday at ten a.m. Oh Josh! What if I get it?"

"What do you mean if?" Josh said. "Of course you'll get it! And then you'll be set for life." He gave her an impulsive hug and she beamed at him, excitedly. The thought of job security meant more than she could say given her experiences and she found tears suddenly burning her eyes as she thought of the enormity of it; the security it could offer not just to her but to her entire family.