Broken laws

April Vaughan

Wednesday morning looks like any other in our house, my mother getting ready for the day of work and me in my PJs drinking a cup of tea and eating toast with strawberry jam that I have to hide in the back of the refrigerator, so she won't know I've had sugar, again. I sat in the corner chair of my mother's kitchen nook, looking through the wanted pages, I wasn't really looking, simply putting on a farce for my mother. She likes to glace over and observe my job-hunting skills every few minutes and then ask how it was going, in a tone that made mee feel decidedly unloved. Her constant nagging at the wasted potential of my life seemed to drone on in the background, like an endless loop of incoherent noise that made up the static of my life.

Id finished up with the last of my studies and was job hunting for a something in the legal sector I'd gotten my Batchelor of Laws the end of last year and while I was struggling to commit to the role, my mother had not. I still couldn't decide if I wanted to get my postgrad or if I even wanted to spend my life doing a job that I felt was purely for my mother's benefit. However, 3 months in I was still not any closer to fining anything that my mother deemed acceptable regardless of my multiple failed interviews, potentially sabotaged was a better way to phrase them though I'd never tell her that.

For the third time this week, she had given me the newspaper with the wanted section full of circled ads. For the fifth time the same position had been highlighted in bold red, I looked over at her "mom what Is this why the persistence with this Richards and Associates, I thought you wanted me to put my degree to good use this is a simple Secretary position and has nothing to do with my degree or even practicing law. I'd be getting coffee or handling some old dudes' calendar, making sure his wife and his mistress are on separate rotations." I chuckled to myself at the last cliche statement.

Moms harsh reply came quickly "April, as you are well aware we haven't seen a good job in the law sector in weeks and the last interview you did, let's be honest we both know, you blew it. So how about showing some appreciation for the fact that I'm helping you find a goddamn job." The harsh tone she used always made me feel like a child being scolded. I hadn't seen the need to push the subject as this was all she ever had ever wanted. For as long as I could remember we had been preparing for law school getting good grades avoiding all temptation that leaned to a normal life, my mother, though I loved her was a hard woman, and pleasing her was difficult to say the least. It had always just been us two when I was old enough to ask about my father. I only got the chance to ask once, the look of both disgust and hatred that my mother gave me that day had haunted me, finally understanding the reason she was so hard on me having a child with someone you despised do much couldn't of been easy plus the lecture that followed my innocent question went on for what seemed like days and that was the only reminder I would ever need to know that some questions are better left unanswered.

I knew better than to ask again even though the question still bothered me, apart from the obvious childlike longing for a second parental figure and a deep need to understand myself. There were more obvious differences that caused more issues as I got older the largest problem was my looks; I hit puberty and the slim figure I'd always gotten compliments on from my mother changed in what felt like no time at all. My hips ballooned almost as much as my breasts and my body got unpleasantly soft no matter how much we dieted, I saw almost no similarities between my mother's hard beautiful features and my softer simple ones. My mother was all cut glass and sharp angles and sort of heroin chic she looked like she came straight out of a magazine from the 90s even as she aged, she seemed to grow more regal and only now that she was reaching 55 did she start to look a little worn out like leather shoes roughing around the edges, her bad habits of smoking and drinking showing that it wouldn't be a bad idea if she started taking care of herself. But she still had beautiful features green eyes that would make you look twice and hair so blond you'd swear she dyed it every week things she said you needed to catch a man, compared to my mousey brown hair and dull eyes I could see the disappointment she had in my appearance as a failure to erase my father's obviously stronger genetics.

Accepting defeat, I folded the newspaper in half with the application on top, whipping out my laptop. I started typing the web address and clicked enter. I filled in the long somewhat repetitious information the company required then added my resume to the attachments tab at the bottom wondering, not for the first time if they even bothered to look at my resume as it was word for word a copy of all the information I was asked to provide. I looked up at my mom as she drank her cup of coffee and took a drag of her cigarette in front of me. She looked satisfied that I'd done what she asked but still managed to look unhappy that I was not immediately hounded down by the company to start the job.

She tapped her cigarette into the sink and said "Remember to wear the white shirt I bought you two weeks ago. It sends the right message". As she turned away and left me to finish my tea. 'Easy' that's the message that shirt sent with a neckline that looked like it was meant to button up but the fabric had been cut and sewn in a way to make that impossible. It's like she picked it out specifically to show off the one thing she deemed an asset and a hinderance, my rather large chest. Getting a job simply because I looked easy didn't seem like a job I should be happy to get, plus my job at the convenience store was like home even if it wasn't always the easiest.

I loved my job and the people I got to work with every day, I wasn't going to lie working with eddy and the guys felt like the only thing in my life truly mine. I'd gotten the job 4 years ago I had been near begging on my knees by the time my mother caved into the request to allow me to get a casual job to buy myself a few luxuries and not have to ask for every penny to do things, money was one of the ways mom had control over my life.

But after the reluctance, she had shown in allowing me to get a job she had driven me to every shift and had been there to pick me up making sure I was aware of the fact that I still needed her. She had only in the last year let me walk to and from the train station as she was working more shifts at the hospital to help keep on top of bills. The reason I loved my job was because of the few friends I had managed to make throughout my short life most had been in this convenience store my best friend Archie and his boyfriend Josh were the closest thing to family I had ever experienced. They loved me and I loved them.

Not that it had started that easily my mother had been appalled the first time I'd asked if Archie could come over, thinking that I was getting involved with a boy nearly made her lose it, but when I'd calmed her down and Archie had arrived outside she had seen josh lean over and kiss him all anger had dissipated in her face and she seemed content for me and Archie to spend as many hours as I wanted, together. Not that it was all sunshine and roses, Archie and I had gotten into it a few times over what he called the dragons' behavior thinking my mother was as unfriendly and as unloving as a serpent, and I have to admit the more he pointed it out the more noticeable it became.

I finished my tea remembering and laughing at what Archie would always say about her control over my life "why?" his normal response to my life "why? can't you just keep working at the clutch", his cute nickname for the store, "it's nice and quiet, people love you, and you love the people!" I giggled again " why? you don't need the money I've never seen you spend a cent, and I know you got sponsored for most of your degree, so you have enough saved I'm sure to buy a house outright or close enough!" I giggled again surprisingly he never let me answer the questions he asked knowing all the answers instinctively and the reply he knew made no sense "because we want this" or "because we've worked so hard, not to do better" the one time I answered more to myself than anything, he had heard " because she won't let me do anything else" we'd had a fight over that one he was perplexed at my inability to cut my mother out and follow my own path, never understanding that she was all I had and her happiness always came before my own.

I continued scanning the newspaper content that I wouldn't have to apply for any more jobs now that she had left the kitchen. Hopefully, I was one of hundreds of interested candidates and they wouldn't even get around to sending the "unfortunately" email that I was so used to getting. Just as I was about to close my laptop when a notification came through "crap" I muttered to myself as I opened the email tab in my browser and there it was from a Rose Thornton, a name given with little thought of the poor child's life of teasing.

Miss Vaughan

We are pleased to inform you that a first interview has been approved and scheduled for tomorrow at 1:10 p.m. please be prompt to bring a copy of your ID and your resume.

The rest of the email went on to give the location as well as a few generic bits of information regarding dress code and a quick note on no possible rescheduling. This was the kind of job you made time for not the other way around clearly they had heaps of interest and they didn't need you, you needed them, maybe mom was right, maybe this was exactly the way in that would make her feel like I had started on the right path.

The rest of the afternoon was a bit of a blur I'd told my mom I'd gotten an interview and it was for tomorrow afternoon she had asked if I could reschedule the moment I'd told her it was at 13:10 she had work until 15:00 and she knew right then she had no control over my appearance and attendance to the interview, she couldn't afford to give up the overtime shift that tomorrow would be, with bills due next week and stubborn pride that wouldn't allow me to help, she needed the money and wasn't prepared to stay home to dress me and doll me to her liking. She looked me over "I'll lay out your clothes before I leave and I'll get you from the train station when you get home, remember to look decent this time.

The next morning I woke up To my alarm at 9 o'clock. The day was slightly cold but as it wasn't yet autumn I probably wouldn't need that sweater I was going to wear To cover up the monstrosity of a shirt my mother was making me wear. I hopped in the shower and did my make up. I went a little easy on the eyes and put a dark red lipstick on. I wasn't going to let my mother see me this way. To be honest, I was simply going to add more makeup after the interview, that way when she picked me up from the train station, she would approve of my look.

I considered again wearing my sweater, I didn't feel comfortable going out with so much cleavage exposed but in my haste to get out the door I decided I'd just wear it maybe with any luck it would be the reason I didn't get the job, who could honestly think this was appropriate for work. I took the three-minute walk to the train station and the first train that arrived was carrying the lunch crowd. I didn't think squeezing in with all those people was a good idea I looked up at the timer and realised the next train will arrive in four minutes this might be cutting it a bit close but as I decided this was probably the easiest way and I wasn't gonna risk wrinkling my outfit, I simply sat down on the nearest chair and waited for the next train.6 minutes later I checked my watch "When will this crappy train arrive?" I thought to myself, never a dull moment with the people that busied themselves constantly checking their watches equally annoyed at the lateness of the train "it's only 2 minutes, it's fine I've got time "crap why hadn't I taken the earlier train I know it was full but I was sorely regretting not pushing myself up against the nearest stranger and just hoping my butt wouldn't get caught in the doors. I've never been a fan of public transport simply because I dislike people. I preferred my own space, sharing didn't come naturally to me and I immensely disliked being ogled more often than not by middle-aged men with receding hairlines and beer bellies.

To be honest, it wasn't all men, some men I enjoyed being looked at by. I wasn't unattractive per se, just plain would be a good way to describe myself but sometimes even that felt a bit of a stretch. My mother had always known how to point out my flaws and compared to her regal beauty I could see how I paled in comparison. 2 minutes later "Finally" I huffed as the train pulled in. With any luck I will be there by 1 o'clock, I held my breath as I realised that would be almost a jog from the train station I would have to power walk like the wind it's amazing how a simple 4-minute delay had changed a simple walk into a full-blown marathon in heels I couldn't afford to miss this interview.

The door dinged and I stepped off the train I realised there's no way I'm gonna make it to that interview, how was I going to get there. I could call an Uber but I have a feeling I have to wait the 10 minutes It would take to just walk the distance and save the $15. I got to walking, with any luck I would only two minutes late for the interview.

I knew being late would set a bad first example so I set off at a near jog. Fifteen minutes later the building came into view I came to the elevator and realised I didn't remember the floor I whipped out my phone and clicked on the email the 33rd floor, wait that was the top floor maybe this interview was more important then I'd realised. I got in the elevator and pushed the button, the doors closed and I was off. I hadn't had time to realise how nervous I was my last interview was probably six weeks ago but even though I've been to more than 20 interviews they all made me nervous maybe it was my mother's stern gaze in the background that made it feel more important like she'd be disappointed if I didn't get this job.

I straightened my skirt to make sure my collar was down and stepped off the elevator. There was no one there except the Secretary. My heart sank. The interviews hadn't run late. I was 4 minutes late heaven be this was going to be hard to explain. I looked at the elderly Secretary and smiled. I walked over and kindly explained that my train was running late. She looked at me kind of dissatisfied with my answer.

"Young lady it is simply not good enough to be late Mr Richards has completed his interviews for the day he has a very busy schedule and no time to squeeze you in now the time of your interview was 13:10" I put my most sincere smile on and said. "Please I didn't mean to be late, I tried to be here on time the train ran two minutes late and then there was no time to catch an Uber I had to walk from the train station, I know that's not a good excuse and I know I'm late but if Mr Richards wouldn't mind I'd love an opportunity to do the interview"

She got up and said "give me a moment I'll see if he will see you"She returned "he simply won't do it, sweetheart. It's been a very long day with so many interviews he has had a very busy morning and he will have a full afternoon and doesn't want to bother with the interview any more"

From her tone, I could tell this was not the first time she'd turned down a late interview I looked at it one more time and said "I'm sorry if there is anything you could do I really need this interview ? " I looked up at her pleading. She smiled at me sweetly and said "just hold on a minute" I waited patiently at her desk as she got up a second time and went back into the office.

Christopher Richards

I sat in my office tapping my long fingers repeatedly on the keyboard not typing anything but enjoying the soft clicking the keys made as they bounced up to meet my fingers again and again. I'm not in the mood for this, after 8 years my Secretary has decided to retire. She was nearly 70 though so it was probably time, she had been my father's Secretary for nearly 40 years and it was bound to happen eventually, but why did I have to endure endless interviews.

8 this morning already and every one of them a carbon copy, all roughly the same age all with as much experience as needed but all bland. I just wanted it over and thankfully it almost was one more for today then I could finish but she was late so I was done and now I could just pick one, maybe from a hat, did it matter? I chuckled to myself at the thought.

The interviews done my secretary Rose put her head around the corner and asked what I wanted for lunch but disappeared again as I heard the elevator ding, about a minute later after what sounded like firm disapproval of someone's timekeeping she walked up to my desk and said there is one more explaining her train ran late! I shook my head "no, no I'm done for today I can't be bothered just say I'm sorry but no" she turned and walked out.

Another minute passed and Rose walked back in my patience wearing thin now I looked up at her as she entered "Rose? " she looked down then back at me "I'm leaving in 3 days and you still haven't managed to find a decent replacement. She seems nice and it's only 10 minutes of your time" She looked at me sternly. "Oh, fine Rose" I caved. I didn't want to upset her right before she left. I let out one long sigh and said. "Send her in"

I quickly scanned the resume in front of me one more time. I realise she was quite young but she also didn't fit the bill, she got her undergrad and was now wanting to become a Secretary. I wondered again what kind of woman wouldn't be getting her postgrad. I admit I was a world-renowned lawyer and I took over my father's practice eight years ago but this position had no possible step up or learning atmosphere. How could she think getting my coffee or my laundry would help with her becoming a lawyer.

Just then she walked in I looked up from my paperwork and time seemed to slow, she was the most beautiful creature I've ever seen. She wasn't thin she was soft, even to look at, quite voluptuous around the bottom half, She had put her breasts on display and they were not something to smirk at they were beautiful and round and they looked like they fit perfectly in my hands even though I had quite big hands.

Her long wavy dark hair hung past her waist I wondered for a second what it would feel like to run my fingers through her hair and then I got to her face, it was perfect she wore a dark red lipstick that made her full lips seem delectable I couldn't picture a woman so beautiful but she stood in front of me and then I saw her eyes she was looking at me with the most stunning soft brown eyes I've ever seen she made my heart stop I smiled and gestured for her to sit. It took a moment for me to compose myself. I adjusted in my seat and noticed the hint of an erection forming. I'd spent too much time on her body and her looks and those lips... no I needed to concentrate on forming words. If I didn't speak soon this would be awkward I looked down at her resume and pretended to check something.

"Miss Vaughn " I looked at her name April oh how I longed to drop the informalities. "I see you're a bit overqualified for the position. What makes you want to join my team?" She looked a bit puzzled then opened her mouth and said "I'm hoping to get some real-world experiences before I complete my degree as I'm still undecided as to what specialty I'd like to go into"

A rehearsed answer I could tell she had been to many interviews and the answer was textbook for some reason, though her answer was compelling it didn't match her delivery as if she was sabotaging the interview without even knowing it. "Miss Vaughn," I asked "what is it that you currently do ?" she tilted her head to the side as if the question had never been asked of her before "I work in a convenience store." I smiled and pressed for more "and this convenience store, you like working there?"Well yes, I do actually." She answered promptly with a smile that finally reached her eyes."So why the change is maybe a better question?" She looked at me again and the light I thought I'd seen a second ago was gone. "Mr Richards honestly I feel like I could learn a lot about myself and this is where I'd like to learn it." I accepted her answer as much as I could. There was more to this girl and I wanted to figure it out. She adjusted in her seat and smiled at me "is there anything you would like to know about the position Miss Vaughn?" her smile was captivating even if it didn't seem all too genuine.

"Uhm yes, I was interested in finding out if the position required a 24hour availability ?". This was beguiling, was there something that she wanted her free time for was she dating someone, I obviously couldn't ask so I simply said " I do believe it is around the clock position, except Sundays unless we are required to travel but these instances are far and few between and you will be given sufficient notice to take care of any personal matters" I liked how in her mind the question was formed as if she already had the job no mention of salary or benefits just how much of her time would I be taking. The rest of the interview was standard I asked about where she had studied and if she could commit to the full-time position and my round the clock requirements I again got the inclination that she had completed many interviews after 5 more minutes of questioning I said "Well Miss Vaughn thank you for coming in you will be hearing from Mrs Thornton in the next two days"

She smiled at me one more time bent forward to pick up her bag and I had to keep focused not to ogle her chest. I smiled at her and she stood up and left. I'd like to think I gave them all a fair shot but the moment April stepped into my office nobody else could have gotten the job. Secretly I'd hoped that her almost undetectable resentment to some of my questions was more based on her having to leave her current job and not on the job she was being offered and as my Secretary she would be second only to my partners with full access and full disclosure on all my cases. She needed to understand the circumstances of working here; there were many documents and legal disclosure agreements she would have to sign when she started to work here.

I'd already decided she would get the job but Rose would see right through my choice. I picked her because she was beautiful. The other ladies that had shown up today were all a little older with far more experience but none had captured my attention has April had. I realised id called her April in my head almost instantly I would quickly have to learn the habit of calling her Miss Vaughn as simply calling her April right off the bat would be unprofessional, I secretly deep down knew I didn't want a professional relationship with the woman I wanted her.

I'd wait until just before I left to let Rose know my choice. Maybe so it would seem as if I deliberated on who the best candidate was. I shuffled my paperwork and pretended to be looking through the applicants' answers to the online questions as Rose walked back into the office "ready for that lunch now? " she asked I looked up and smiled "yes please, caesar salad if you could and maybe a danish from that pastry shop on Hay street if you wouldn't mind" she looked at me as said, "not a problem it might take me a few minutes to get the danish though they never answer my calls right away!".

10 minutes passed and Rose came back with my food I was still pretending to go over the interviews and she simply said: "you can stop pretending I know you picked the pretty one thats what I would have done, but just remember you need to be focusing on your clients, not your Secretaries "assets" she put her hands up and signalled the parentheses with her hands. She hadn't even given me the benefit of the doubt she saw right through my faked reviewing of candidates. She laughed out loud at my feigned shocked expression and walked back to her desk, just then I heard the elevator ding again.

"Oh, Crap" I huffed as I realized someone would be coming into my office. Would I not get lunch today? Then I heard his voice "don't worry Rose I'm just popping in to grab a file." Darren King my partner or more accurately my father's long term partner was a bit of a hard man but he and my father had been fast firm friends for the better part of 30 years and as much as I thought I could do this job on my own he was a reliable constant mentor and father figure that I often looked to for advice. His own son Jeffery was currently taking a gap year, or 6 before he took over his father's side of the partnership as both men had arranged for their sons to take over the company when we were in high school together. I loved having Darren around but the few times Jeffery had made an appearance I had taken an instant dislike to the man he had become, crude and volatile came to mind, his father had endless patience with him and I couldn't understand why.

Darren walked in "Hello my boy. How are the interviews going? Having any luck? I've just come to pick up the Watly case file for one of my classes." I pointed at my file cabinet and said: "would you like me to get it out ?" He smiled "no-no my boy eat your lunch I'll Have a little rummage " he walked over to the cabinet and opened the T-Z cabinet drawer. He found what he was looking for relatively quickly as I was starting on my salad. "You wouldn't have the redacted version laying around here anywhere?" He asked with a smile. Ühm no but Rose can make a copy and redact it for you before the day is up if that's ok?"

"Perfect, I'll miss Rose when she leaves on Friday I can't believe she finally retired it will take a lot of getting used to first your father now Rose I know to you it seems like a long time but it feels like just yesterday I joined your father and I am so used to seeing her sweet face when I come up here." The look of nostalgia on his face was evident. He missed my father. He missed how things used to be but a second after I caught the sadness on his face it was gone. "It's all good out with the old and in with the new I say." he laughed at his little joke.

"Well, thank you this is going to help with explaining how a guilty and a not guilty plea affect the outcome of a case." he walked out of my office and I heard him ask Rose for the redacted case file, say goodbye and head out. I enjoyed the rest of my lunch in peace I heard Rose answer a few calls and arrange for me to call them back or try again in an hour she was good that way always making sure I had the lunch hour I needed to clear my head, a trick she had learned from taking care of my father for so many years.

I was going to miss her. I hate to think the amount of training that April would have to do, even if I did enjoy staring at her from behind it would take months to get her up to Roses level. Well so be it, someone would need to be trained, why not her? She could learn to do things the way I'd like them done and I could revel in her beauty. I did a lap around my office while I thought of how best to handle the new training, maybe Rose could leave some notes. Or a spreadsheet of her weekly responsibilities. Just a rough draft, I wouldn't want April to know I'd told a little white lie about the commitment requirements for the job. Rose was available but I'd set the whole system up so that after 6 at night I was able to access my entire network without her assistance.

As well as avoiding Rose between 6 pm to 6 am I had not taken her on any business trips thinking the plane rides that were sometimes 9 hours long would be excessive and unnecessary, even abroad where time differences have become an issue. I did look forward to having a younger Secretary in that regard. Someone I would feel less Guilty of waking at 2 a.m.

The rest of the day continued as normal. Business, as usual, as some weeks I wouldn't even leave my office. Just before I left for my regular gym session at 4:45 I stopped outside my office and closed the door. I didn't normally do this. I'd normally just leave the door slightly ajar. This got Roses' attention "Yes, Mr Richards" I smiled at her "Yes Rose, I realised even though you were joking earlier I have decided to hire Miss Vaughn, would you be able to type up an email with all the specifics and maybe arrange for a day of shadowing you so that she can get a feel for the job?". Then she smiled "Would you believe I sent the email at 14:00 already I simply had a feeling you liked her".

She did know exactly what I wanted. I was going to miss that.

April

My phone pinged before I'd even made back it to the train station, I'd stopped by a small pastry shop that I'd seen on my jog to the interview that smelled delicious and I'd decided to purchase a few bite-sized danishes and 2 larger pain au chocolates for my mother and me, it took a while to get to the check out as the store was more than a little busy with customers everywhere and a phone that didn't stop ringing, just after I had left the store my phone alerted me to an email, surely it was a generic "thank you but we're looking for someone else".

I pulled my phone out of the pocket of my handbag and opened my emails. I was shaken, to be honest, I'd never expected what I saw: "We're happy to inform you that the position of Secretary with Richards and Associates has been accepted please see attachments for details." I had thought for sure the man who had interviewed me could not possibly have liked me. He was curt and to the point and the whole interview felt like it had taken less time than it would for me to make a packet of 2-minute noodles.

I'd made so many mistakes, not to mention how I couldn't stop looking at his chiselled jawline, the hard set of his mouth even though his lips seemed soft and inviting. And his deep blue eyes that contrasted with his pitch-black hair. He was fucking sexy I didn't know how else to explain it. I'd only seen him sitting down but he looked like a big man with broad shoulders and strong arms. He was wearing an extremely well-tailored suit that hugged his arms in all the right places. I could tell even through the layers that beneath the suit was a spectacularly well-defined specimen of a man. My mouth was watering and I couldn't work out if it was the smell of pastries or the memory of Mr Richards.

As I walked towards the train station with my pastries clutched in one hand I imagined what working for him was going to be like, how can you work for someone who you are constantly undressing with your eyes? This was not going to be easy. Hopefully, his unwavering glare would be enough to make me dislike him. He seemed like a hard man and I could not afford to fantasise about my boss.

Then I realised with an almost audible heartbreak I'm going to have to quit the Clutch, I wasn't permanent, I wasn't even part-time I'd only ever been hired as a casual and my shifts were normally only 3 times a week so I didn't have to give much notice but the last 4 years of happy memories came flooding in and a sense of sadness overtook the last 5 minutes of my walk. By the time I reached the train station, all sadness was gone by the thought that at least my mother would be happy, and then I remembered I'd better run into the bathroom I'd packed extra makeup and a blue bra in my handbag, best I change before the train so she doesn't catch me looking so unappealing.

I thought about my next shift as I was applying gaudy eye makeup it was tomorrow, I'd let Eddy know and apologise about the late notice as my first walkthrough with Rose as per the email was on Thursday before I started fresh Monday morning maybe I would still do the Saturday shift if Eddy couldn't find a replacement in time, no doubt Josh would be asked to work the shift as Archie was already full time. I didn't feel sadness at starting a new job especially since Mr Richards was for lack of a better word delectable, but I did feel sad about the thought of not seeing my guys every weekend. We loved our Saturday shift and breaking it to Archie was probably going to get my ear chewed off.

After the train ride home and thinking about ways to break it to my best friend I found a seat next to the exit as it wasn't even 3 yet and I knew I was in for a half-hour wait for my mother. I could just walk the 3 minutes home. This, however, gave me time to layer the makeup the way I know she would have liked. I'd just go slightly lighter so she would think this was my best attempt; she wouldn't be happy unless she got to critique something.

Half an hour later I was googling Mr Richards so engrossed in my phone, who was this man I was going to be working for. I didn't find many pages, a few news reports about who he was representing in court and a few articles about the company and how he had taken over from his father. The legacy continues, was a prominent feature in most of the early ones but for the last few years more and more about his personal life or at least an attempt to uncover it. There seemed to be a few beautiful women at elegant parties and for most of the last 2 years the same extravagantly beautiful woman, I wondered if they were together a fit of sudden jealousy overtook me, goodness I didnt know the man why was I jealous over who he was with, probably just the normal kind of jealousy like when you see who a superstar is married to.

I continued to look through the google images of Mr Richards and according to the caption a Miss Duke, when I heard the horn, my mom in her usual spot already frustrated that I hadn't seen her the second she had pulled up. I walked up to the car smiling and said "Hi mom" as soon as I sat down she didn't extend the greeting simply started rapid-firing questions about the interview. "So did it go well? Did you arrive on time? Did you do it the way we practised? We're there questions they asked that we didn't cover?" "Mom!! Take a breath for goodness sake!" She stopped and waited for my response, I'd upset her more I could tell from the scowl forming "It went perfect. I got the job officially Monday but I have a day walkthrough with the current Secretary on Thursday.

I waited while her face seemed to relax and she seemed content with my answer "ok" she said to be honest I'd expected a bit more considering how much she had pushed for this. But she seemed to have something else on her mind and for once she hadn't complained about my appearance at all. I settled into my seat and remembered the pastries, "mom, I got us some pastries from this cute bakery close to my new job". "Don't go getting fatter on pastries now that they are in walking distance you don't need to add any more to that" she gestured at my body. I knew I shouldn't have said anything but I swallowed the tears I could feel coming on and shook my head in agreement.

The rest of the ride was silent I got home and headed to the kitchen to start dinner it was my turn to cook, I got to do the delightfully annoying chore 4 nights of the week, with takeout on Fridays and we sort of foraged for ourselves on Saturday with mom always cooking a decent dinner on Sunday. She seemed to love cooking it was one of my favourite things to be part of as she always smiled and enjoyed the process but lately she didn't even want me in the kitchen on Sundays and she was now making less and less interesting food with whole salads and only meat for the last 5 weeks an attempt to reduce my calorie intake as it uses to be my only cheat day.

We ate dinner with no more talk of the job or interview, I was positive she was thinking about it though. She kept looking at me and then back at her dinner plate. After dinner mom helped me wash up and as I was packing away the dishes she looked at me with a frown "you know I have work all this week but I don't want you to get an opportunity to embarrass us in front of your new boss" I turned to look at her waiting for the list of offensive things she thought I'd be doing to embarrass her. She turned back to the sink to wash the pots and said "I went through your cupboards you don't really have anything decent to wear and I don't have the time or the money to get you a whole new wardrobe, we will go that donation store next week and pick out a few pieces till you get your first pay." She seemed to consider this for a moment then said "I don't even have anything that fits you, and we've been on this diet for weeks and it doesn't look like you've lost any weight.

I cocked my head to the side and then went back to drying the last of the dishes, since when were we on a diet. This explains the lacklustre dinners we've been having but she never mentioned anything about a diet to me directly. I definitely didn't see a point in asking though I'd learned that starting fights about my appearance was just a hill I couldn't bare to climb anymore, not worth the effort or the tears so I merely looked at the dishes that needed packing away and waited for her to continue. She turned and looked once more at me and appeared to start a sentence then closed her mouth and then after she turned her back to me once more said " I'll help when I can but I'm expecting you to be able to make it work until we fix the situation. With that she put the last pot in the drying rack and walked out.

I spent most of that night looking up my new boss, my new company and anything else that could help me get a better foothold on what my new responsibilities would look like I also made some casual notes on the ensembles that we're in the business photos as well as the website, seeing that knee length pencil skirts and button up blouses in light colours seemed to be the preferred dress code amongst the woman with a well-fitting pantsuit or two thrown in. At least I knew my own relatively conservative approach to work attire was the approved look, my own personal preference when it comes to clothes is what most people would call rather provocative, I loved the way my body looked much to my mom's dissatisfaction but I had the guys to thank for that. They hyped me up every opportunity they got and it did my ego wonders over the years. My Facebook was evidence of that so much so that I even blocked my mother from seeing it just in case she lost her marbles. Just telling her offhand one day that I was taking a break from social media.

I got into bed at around midnight,after a boiling shower, knowing I would have the day relatively to myself with few commitments and little responsibilities even my mother had work so I didn't even have to pretend to get up and be busy I could completely unwind. I got into my double bed which had a pink floral quilt cover and about 20 throw pillows, technically taking them off and putting them on in my mind was assessed to be a full upper body workout yet another thing I could refrain from participating in for the sake of the endless facade of my life. Mom would leave shortly after me and I could enjoy my second last day at the Clutch followed by whatever fun the boys would want to do, contemplating again if they would be upset at the news of my departure. But then Mom wouldn't be home until the early hours of Thursday morning giving me yet another free pass with my work attire for the walk-through.

Maybe I could get their advice on some outfits before we inevitably had dinner like we did most times after Archie worked the late shift, they always gave the best advice. With that happy thought, I laid back down all worry and distraction about my new job forgotten.