07 - Laura 02 - The Interview
The Interview.
It was indeed, Tuesday, and Laura found herself staring at the entrance to the Nest street Women’s Shelter.
She still didn’t know what to think. The confusing conversation with her parole officer the day before still ran through her head… was she even still her parole officer? Was she even on parole?!
But through it all, she knew one thing - the only place she would get answers, was here, in the back room office with the frosted glass, and the strange woman with the white streaked red hair.
There was something completely wrong about the whole situation. But she couldn’t walk away. She was too stubborn for that. Heck, she’d gotten in trouble with the law for being too stubborn to just walk away.
She pulled her hood up over her hair, shoved her hands into her hoodie pockets, and walked up the stairs.
No one seemed to notice her as she crossed over the floor. No one demanded her attention, or required her ti perform do my e task right away for the sheltered women… she was free to make it to the door with the frosted glass. She pulled her hand from her pocket to knock, and as she formed the fist, the door cracked open on its own, avoiding her rap. Shaking her head, she pushed it further, and stepped inside, carefully, and on her own accord, locking the door behind her before turning to the desk.
She was sitting there, elbows on the desk, fingers crossed under her chin, an elaborate pen woven between two fingers, a smile gracing her face.
“I take it…” the woman said with a smile… “that you believe me now? My good faith is shown?”
“I’ve… got questions.” Laura said defiantly. “Mostly about what the fuck happened? My parole officer acted like I don’t even have a record!”
“Because you do not.” The woman said. “Locally, anyway. Within the boundaries of the cities jurisdiction, you have no criminal record anymore. No court dates, no parole, no time served. You are free. Outside the city, well, my influence does not spread as far as I would like at the moment…. But, I am satisfied. Because that is both what we will discuss today, as well as being… insurance.”
“Insurance for wha-?”
The older woman tapped the click on her pen and all became silent in the office as the sound echoed.
“I will be forthwith. I am going to interview you for a position, should you desire it. If we end up being amenable, and you answer my questions satisfactorily, then you will effectively become my right hand. I will demand many things from you, both mundane and some quite… unsavoury, but let me assure you, it will be nothing that I would not be willing to do myself if needed, I am just pressed for time recently and feel that you may be.., suitable.”
“I’m not anyone skilled. There’s bound to be any number of girls out there who would be a better secretary.”
The woman stood slowly, And came around the desk. She looked deeply into Laura’s eyes as she leaned in close.
“None of them have blood on their hands as you do. I read your file, I know what you did. Abs I also know, that you do not regret it. That, that is useful to me.”
Laura tore her eyes from the smiling woman, flushing and finding it hard to breathe in her presence. She wanted to turn, to run, but only her head seemed to move, the rest was rooted to the spot until the woman stepped back.
“What’s… in it for me?”
“Oh, I will pay handsomely. You would be on retainer with my corporation, and receive a generous salary and remuneration.” She redoubled her smile. “And I will show you things like you have never imagined. That would be part of your job, after all. In return, I expect diligence and honesty, and in the lack of those, silence. Do you understand?”
“I think so.” Laura added slowly. “Unsavoury though.” “Oh, I assure you, I am quite a monster of an employer. And I require those who go in my name to keep that in mind.”
The woman, hearing no objection, returned behind the table and pulled out a long tube. And a scroll from that.., a scroll. Who uses a scroll?!
“Your Full Given Name?” She asked. And Laura replied. “Laura Mason Sinde.”
“Now, Laura.” She woman’s pen scratched the scroll, she looked up. “You prefer ‘Elle’, do you not? We shall go with that. Refer to yourself as ‘Elle’ officially with me and those I associate you with from Hereon.” The pen scratched. “Twenty Six, birthdate noted.”
She looked up. “Are you a Virgin, Elle?” Laura couldn’t believe the question was even asked, and just stared back, not answering. “Hmm.” The woman shrugged, “probably for the best. Less temping that way.” The pen scratched some more. “Do you live alone?” “No, I have a couch I crash on with a friend.. I kinda lost my place after the whole incident.” “Understandable. We shall do something about that.” She scratched again. Abs then looked straight at Laura. “Tell me, Elle. Do you believe in fairy tales?”
“What kind of a dumb ass question is that?!” Laura asked incredulously… seriously? Fairy tales?
The woman, Lady K, seemed to harden her eyes but for a moment. “Believe it or not, but it is a question of utmost importance. So give me honesty, or give me silence.”
“No. No I do not. No, I don’t think I ever have. Seriously, fairy tales? There’s a lot of weird shit in the works for sure, but I’ve never believed in fairies or witches or anything dumb like that.”
There was a silence, a long, cool, heartfelt silence.
“I see. Very well then.” Lady K stood, and went to a cabinet on the side of the office. She took but a moment to pull out an old Polaroid camera. She blew gently to get the dust off the lenses, checked it, and then turned. “Close your eyes.” “What?” “Close. Your eyes. It is important that you do as I say without question, if we are to have a fruitful relationship.” Laura sighed. And complied. There was the click and whirr of the old camera, abs when she opened her eyes, the lady was blowing on the photograph… No… not blowing… whispering, whispering gently to it. She shook it twice, then handed it to Laura. It was little more than an ugly mug shot, really - made worse by the fact her eyes were closed. She looked up at the lady. Who pointed at it. “Keep this on you at all times. Find a special place near you. Do not lose it.”
“I don’t get-“
“I have decided to hire you, provisionally. Your internship starts now while you learn your position. First matters will be visiting a friend of mine.” She took a moment, regarding the young woman in her jeans and hoodie. “No, first matters will have you dressing for the occasion.” She went back to the cabinet. As she placed the camera away, concealed by the camera door, Laura could hear the click of a safe being opened then closed.
The lady stepped over and handed her a mind boggling wad of cash. “You will be back here at 6pm tonight. You will be dressed formally for a cocktail lounge party. Spare no expense, I want you to look your best for my friend. If we are to garnish her approval of you.” “And if we don’t get it?” “That would be… regrettable.”
It was indeed, Tuesday, and Laura found herself staring at the entrance to the Nest street Women’s Shelter.
She still didn’t know what to think. The confusing conversation with her parole officer the day before still ran through her head… was she even still her parole officer? Was she even on parole?!
But through it all, she knew one thing - the only place she would get answers, was here, in the back room office with the frosted glass, and the strange woman with the white streaked red hair.
There was something completely wrong about the whole situation. But she couldn’t walk away. She was too stubborn for that. Heck, she’d gotten in trouble with the law for being too stubborn to just walk away.
She pulled her hood up over her hair, shoved her hands into her hoodie pockets, and walked up the stairs.
No one seemed to notice her as she crossed over the floor. No one demanded her attention, or required her ti perform do my e task right away for the sheltered women… she was free to make it to the door with the frosted glass. She pulled her hand from her pocket to knock, and as she formed the fist, the door cracked open on its own, avoiding her rap. Shaking her head, she pushed it further, and stepped inside, carefully, and on her own accord, locking the door behind her before turning to the desk.
She was sitting there, elbows on the desk, fingers crossed under her chin, an elaborate pen woven between two fingers, a smile gracing her face.
“I take it…” the woman said with a smile… “that you believe me now? My good faith is shown?”
“I’ve… got questions.” Laura said defiantly. “Mostly about what the fuck happened? My parole officer acted like I don’t even have a record!”
“Because you do not.” The woman said. “Locally, anyway. Within the boundaries of the cities jurisdiction, you have no criminal record anymore. No court dates, no parole, no time served. You are free. Outside the city, well, my influence does not spread as far as I would like at the moment…. But, I am satisfied. Because that is both what we will discuss today, as well as being… insurance.”
“Insurance for wha-?”
The older woman tapped the click on her pen and all became silent in the office as the sound echoed.
“I will be forthwith. I am going to interview you for a position, should you desire it. If we end up being amenable, and you answer my questions satisfactorily, then you will effectively become my right hand. I will demand many things from you, both mundane and some quite… unsavoury, but let me assure you, it will be nothing that I would not be willing to do myself if needed, I am just pressed for time recently and feel that you may be.., suitable.”
“I’m not anyone skilled. There’s bound to be any number of girls out there who would be a better secretary.”
The woman stood slowly, And came around the desk. She looked deeply into Laura’s eyes as she leaned in close.
“None of them have blood on their hands as you do. I read your file, I know what you did. Abs I also know, that you do not regret it. That, that is useful to me.”
Laura tore her eyes from the smiling woman, flushing and finding it hard to breathe in her presence. She wanted to turn, to run, but only her head seemed to move, the rest was rooted to the spot until the woman stepped back.
“What’s… in it for me?”
“Oh, I will pay handsomely. You would be on retainer with my corporation, and receive a generous salary and remuneration.” She redoubled her smile. “And I will show you things like you have never imagined. That would be part of your job, after all. In return, I expect diligence and honesty, and in the lack of those, silence. Do you understand?”
“I think so.” Laura added slowly. “Unsavoury though.” “Oh, I assure you, I am quite a monster of an employer. And I require those who go in my name to keep that in mind.”
The woman, hearing no objection, returned behind the table and pulled out a long tube. And a scroll from that.., a scroll. Who uses a scroll?!
“Your Full Given Name?” She asked. And Laura replied. “Laura Mason Sinde.”
“Now, Laura.” She woman’s pen scratched the scroll, she looked up. “You prefer ‘Elle’, do you not? We shall go with that. Refer to yourself as ‘Elle’ officially with me and those I associate you with from Hereon.” The pen scratched. “Twenty Six, birthdate noted.”
She looked up. “Are you a Virgin, Elle?” Laura couldn’t believe the question was even asked, and just stared back, not answering. “Hmm.” The woman shrugged, “probably for the best. Less temping that way.” The pen scratched some more. “Do you live alone?” “No, I have a couch I crash on with a friend.. I kinda lost my place after the whole incident.” “Understandable. We shall do something about that.” She scratched again. Abs then looked straight at Laura. “Tell me, Elle. Do you believe in fairy tales?”
“What kind of a dumb ass question is that?!” Laura asked incredulously… seriously? Fairy tales?
The woman, Lady K, seemed to harden her eyes but for a moment. “Believe it or not, but it is a question of utmost importance. So give me honesty, or give me silence.”
“No. No I do not. No, I don’t think I ever have. Seriously, fairy tales? There’s a lot of weird shit in the works for sure, but I’ve never believed in fairies or witches or anything dumb like that.”
There was a silence, a long, cool, heartfelt silence.
“I see. Very well then.” Lady K stood, and went to a cabinet on the side of the office. She took but a moment to pull out an old Polaroid camera. She blew gently to get the dust off the lenses, checked it, and then turned. “Close your eyes.” “What?” “Close. Your eyes. It is important that you do as I say without question, if we are to have a fruitful relationship.” Laura sighed. And complied. There was the click and whirr of the old camera, abs when she opened her eyes, the lady was blowing on the photograph… No… not blowing… whispering, whispering gently to it. She shook it twice, then handed it to Laura. It was little more than an ugly mug shot, really - made worse by the fact her eyes were closed. She looked up at the lady. Who pointed at it. “Keep this on you at all times. Find a special place near you. Do not lose it.”
“I don’t get-“
“I have decided to hire you, provisionally. Your internship starts now while you learn your position. First matters will be visiting a friend of mine.” She took a moment, regarding the young woman in her jeans and hoodie. “No, first matters will have you dressing for the occasion.” She went back to the cabinet. As she placed the camera away, concealed by the camera door, Laura could hear the click of a safe being opened then closed.
The lady stepped over and handed her a mind boggling wad of cash. “You will be back here at 6pm tonight. You will be dressed formally for a cocktail lounge party. Spare no expense, I want you to look your best for my friend. If we are to garnish her approval of you.” “And if we don’t get it?” “That would be… regrettable.”
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