Tales of a Single Girl....

Chapter five: In It To Win It

The next day at work was, thankfully, Friday. The weekend loomed ahead and all I could think about was Kate's news, as well as who would be filling the role of the executive assistant.

I thought back to Shelley Carter, the pretty girl who had applied for the position. She seemed really good and unlike the others, looked as if she were well qualified for the position. I wouldn't actually mind working with her and I was sure she would be good for the role. I just felt sorry for the fact that she would have to work for a drop kick like Archibald, which, to be perfectly honest, would be the most horrendous thing in the world.

Sure enough, at the end of the day, Archibald sent everyone an email which stated the following:

Dear All,

I am pleased to announce that an exciting new position has been created, which will play an integral role in our organisation. The position is for the executive assistant to the general manager. Though the position will be mainly to assist me, the role will also allow the person to become a key player within Adult Knowledge's structure, maintaining the excellent standards that have thus far put us at the forefront of the various means of knowledge acquisition and training excellence. After a thorough search, a worthy candidate has been selected for the role, one with the poise, the professionalism and panache to carry through with this demanding role. Her name is Shelley Carter. Her background includes working at the Lester Bank for three years, in the role of financial supervisor, to co-ordinator of publications at Bubescu University in Budapest for five years. She speaks a variety of languages, including French, Japanese and Mandarin, and is accomplished in literary studies, having edited three major works of the famous writer, Benedict Cubbins. Though her impressive credentials may seem intimidating, she is a bright, personable young woman and very approachable. I have just given her the good news and she relayed that she cannot wait to join our dynamic team. It will be a pleasure for all of us to work with her, as well as a privilege. I cannot emphasize enough just what an important addition she will be to us. She is due to start on Monday. Please make sure to make her feel welcome. There will be a morning tea held for her at 10am in the board room and I will expect you all to be there. Thank you.

Have a good weekend.

Yours in words,

Euegene Archibald,

General Manager

Adult Knowledge.

"Did you see that email?" Judy asked, racing over to my desk, almost tripping over herself in her haste to get to me. "Did that make you puke or not?"

Kate was already at my desk and we sat there giggling at it hysterically. It was too much. "'I cannot emphasize enough just what an important addition she will be to us,'" Kate giggled, giving an affectation of Archibald's pomposity. "What a dumb arse! I mean, seriously." We started to giggle again.

"If she's so great and has all this experience, why is she going to be an EA?" Judy asked. "No offence, but that's nothing more than a glorified secretary."

"Who's Benedict Cubbins, anyway?" asked Kate. "Are we supposed to care about him?"

"He wrote some obscure book on existentialism," I said. "I don't think anyone ever read it."

"Wow, sounds like a ripping yarn," Judy said. "How the hell did you know about it?"

I rolled my eyes. "We were forced to read it for a philosophy course that I was doing at university, but I don't think I made it past the first chapter."

"Well she's one smart cookie, isn't she?" Judy said, just a tad sarcastically, I thought. "Personally, I'd like to get to know her and actually work with her before developing any kind of an opinion on her."