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My breakfast is interrupted by a knock on the door. Cora answers, my sister’s chattering almost the moment the door is open, can be heard clearly. Swallowing a sigh, I finish my remaining espresso in one gulp. I know I’ll need it. Amelia here now, when I would be at work in less than an hour, tells me something is up.
“Brother dearest, I’ve got her! I’ve found the replacement for Cora! You are going to owe me so big.” Amelia lays down a resume as if she’s laying down a sheet of gold. I love my sister more than any person in my life, my love for her is genuine and complete. It’s that love that tells me she is playing me. I know my sister. Setting down my cup, I look towards the resume without picking it up. Once she knows I know she’s playing me, she’ll turn into a pigheaded mule.
“Tell me about Cora’s replacement.” I invite.
Her smile is radiant, fuck me, she’s pulling out all the stops. “Well, her name is Holly Messina, and she’s the organizer of the book club I love so much. I’ve mentioned it, and her, before. Even though all she has is an associate’s degree from a community college, it’s because she had to work while she was going. It shows the determination she’s going to need to put up with you. Her degree is in medical assisting, but the jobs were low paying, with high stress. For the last two years she’s been working for an investment firm, she got her Series 7 the first try. She placed trades, and was a secretary for two men at once, so she can balance your schedule while working under pressure.”
I pick up the resume, two doctor’s office jobs, one in Jacksonville, North Carolina for two years. The second doctor’s office here in Chicago was for just short of two years. The name of the investment firm catches my eye, they were the kind of firm that gave financial firms a bad name. Rumors were the SEC was closing in on them to shut them down, with maybe even jail time for a few. “Cutting it close, Cora’s last day is tomorrow. Okay, schedule her for today. I’ll give her fifteen minutes.”
Amelia smiles wide. “Are you sure fifteen minutes is enough? She’ll be starting tomorrow.”
Sonofabitch. “Amelia—“
“Ethan, you gave me this job to handle, it’s handled. At least two of the people I sent you were perfect for the job. Now I’m glad you refused them. You’ll be happier with her. Holly starts tomorrow, and if after six weeks you want to fire her, then fine, do it. Just know if you do, it’s on you to find her replacement.”
Before I even open my mouth, she waves with a wiggle of her fingers and is gone. Women, one of the many reasons I only have them in my bed and nowhere else in my life. No longer in the mood for breakfast, I tell Cora I’m finished. Going into my home office, I scan and email the resume to my investigator. I’ve found he’s more thorough than the investigators my firm uses. I give him a call to let him know what I want and that I need it as of yesterday. He promises he’s on it.
My phone beeps, checking it I see Amelia has scheduled Holly Messina for seven o’clock tonight. I email my guy to let him know he has until five to get me what I need. It’s more time than I thought, so I’m hoping it will help us both out.
Damn Amelia, I knew I should have given the job to my secretary, Sharon, only she had enough to do. She’s also only been working for me for four years. Sharon is fine as a legal secretary, but she doesn’t know me like Amelia does. Cora lets me know my driver is waiting.
I grab my briefcase, Cora puts her cheek out for a kiss goodbye; I comply. I’m going to miss this woman. After ten years with her, it doesn’t seem real she is leaving me for the warm climate of Arizona, where her rheumatoid arthritis won’t hurt as badly, and her grandchildren are waiting for her.
Whether I like it or not, someone has to take Cora’s place. I gave Amelia the responsibility of finding the replacement. I have to trust her decision. Even as I want to be mad at Amelia for what she’s pulled, as a lawyer there is only admiration for her play.
****
I’m on the phone, trying to convince my client to stop being emotional and take the acquisition offer before he ends up filing for bankruptcy, when my email indicator goes off. I glance at it to see it’s from my investigator. Bringing up the file, I read through it. Interesting, her father is a Master Sergeant in the Marines. Her father landed, and would ride out, his stint until retirement in Jacksonville, North Carolina, ten years ago. She started working retail jobs only a week after she turned sixteen. I’m impressed to see she graduated from high school early, at seventeen. Too bad she had to pay her way through school, it took almost four years to get an associates at a community college. Then I get to the notes on who Holly Messina really is through interviews with former coworkers.
Sonofabitch.