Job Interview

“I just hired Tricia this morning.” Becca informs you, Lizzie, and Viv.

The three of you agreed to meet with Becca at the restaurant after finishing your day with Dana to discuss your suggestion that Lizzie apply for the additional assistant she needs in order to lessen Paige’s workload.

“Fuck!” Viv reacts in disappointment, and Becca can’t help raise her eyebrow at the intensity of Viv’s reaction.

“May I ask why there’s a sudden need for Lizzie to become Paige’s assistant?” Becca asks.

“Oh, it’s nothing, Ms. Hoffman. It’s no big deal. It was just something Chef and Mr. Craig suggested this morning.” Lizzie tells her, not answering Becca’s question. “I’m going to go now. Thank you for your time.” Lizzie quickly adds, before immediately turning around for the door. Before she could head for an exit, you block her path with your arm, causing Lizzie to accidentally bump into it.

“Let’s not be hasty, Lizzie. This could still work out.” You assure her.

“With the amount of influence you have in the room, Lizzie; whatever your reason for suddenly applying may still be salvageable.” Becca also tells her, causing Lizzie to quickly turn around to look at Becca with a hopeful look. “However, I need an answer to my question. What’s the reason for this sudden need?” Becca repeats her question.

“Her mom’s been pressuring her to—” Viv starts to answer Becca’s question for Lizzie, but Becca just raises her hand towards Viv to stop her from continuing.

“I want to hear it from Lizzie.” Becca tells Viv. “If she has trouble answering my questions and following orders, then hiring her to be another assistant would be a terrible decision on my part.” Becca adds, causing Viv to take a step back and gesture that she’s zipping her lips.

“Um~... it’s sort of a… personal reason.” Lizzie prefaces, but Becca seems to take it as another non-answer from Lizzie, and interrupts her from continuing.

“Not personal enough that you asked your boss and my significant other for aid.” Becca points out.

“She didn’t ask us for aid, Becca. We offered to—” You chime in, but stop yourself from continuing after receiving a glare from Becca that this is between her and Lizzie.

“The little I know of why this meeting came about is that Lizzie is applying for a job to work for me. I’m well aware the two of you are advocating for her. That alone is more than enough to make me consider it as an option. However, the two of you are not the ones who are applying to work for me, so it is neither of your explanations that I would like to hear.” Becca tells you and Viv authoritatively. “Lizzie, I need an answer to my question. Whether you think the reason is personal or not.” Becca addresses Lizzie again.

“Right. Sorry.” Lizzie apologizes on behalf of you and Viv. “Well, I’m having a bit of trouble with my mom. Okay, I’m having a bit of trouble with everything, if I’m being perfectly honest.” Lizzie gives the general reason for what prompted this whole thing. Becca nods to show Lizzie she’s listening, after Lizzie pauses to find the right words to explain her situation.

“Not that I don’t appreciate the pay and tips that I receive for working here, but rent prices are crazy in this city and I’m barely able to keep up with the bills and necessary expenses.” Lizzie continues. “When my mom visited me a couple of weeks ago, she sorta blew a gasket when she saw how I was living. ~It’s not the best looking place, I’ll admit that; but it’s all I can afford. After speaking with Mr. Craig, I’m kinda seeing her point of view now why she’s worried…” Lizzie adds for more context, before taking a pause to take a deep breath.

“But the fact that she wants me to move back home and telling me that my dreams to be a theater actress is never going to happen and that I should just stop trying and get a ‘real’ job is infuriating! I may not have much, but it’s no longer any of her business how I live my life! The whole reason why I didn’t want her to visit my place was because I knew that that would be her reaction, but one unannounced visit later, she won’t stop pestering me about it. Constant calls and messages and demanding me to leave my place and come home. The fact that she tried to cause a scene here just to get me to quit and have her way was way over the line!” Lizzie rants out in one breath, before realizing her heightened emotions and calming herself down with another deep breath.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to get emotional.” Lizzie immediately apologizes to Becca.

“Continue.” Becca says, dismissing Lizzie’s apology as unnecessary.

“Right, well, it was because of that scene she caused that I went to Chef Nguyen to tell her I’m going to quit just to end this whole saga with my mom. She told me she couldn’t just let me go, and maybe speak to my mom some more and try to appease her by telling her I was doing alright. She also said to drop by her place any time I need help, and that’s why I was there when Mr. Craig offered to help by suggesting I apply for an assistant job with you.” Lizzie finally finishes her explanation.

“I see.” Becca says with a nod, before placing her knuckles on her chin in deep thought. You, Viv, and Lizzie stand silently in front of Becca, waiting on her decision. It takes a couple of minutes before Becca makes her next move. Becca opens her phone and apparently makes a call.

“Good evening, Paige. Please meet me at the office of Pho Hoa.” Becca instructs Paige. “Bring Tricia with you.” She adds, before putting her phone down again. “While we wait for them, I have additional questions about Lizzie’s situation.” Becca then addresses the three of you again.

“First, thank you for being direct and honest with your answer. I see why you prefaced it as a highly personal situation, and your decision to inform me of it in detail is appreciated.” Becca tells Lizzie. “However, there’s a hiccup with this suggestion that my boyfriend proposed.” Becca adds ominously.

“If you work as my assistant, it is not part-time in nature, and the hours would be more demanding than what they are right now. How do you suggest continuing pursuing your dream when I expect you to be on call everyday, even on weekends? When will you have the time to go to auditions? Will you constantly ask me for permission to not be available when a possibly fruitful audition comes up?” Becca asks Lizzie, who lowers her head after being stumped by the question.

“Secondly, working for me means you’ll also have to stop working for Chef Nguyen or any other waitressing job you might have currently. In effect, you will basically have to do what your mom asked of you and quit on your dreams in order to get a ‘real’ job just to appease her. Granted, it may be enough for her to stop pestering you to stay with her and leave your own place, but are you truly willing to compromise your dreams just for that result? In that situation, wouldn’t going home and living with your mom be the more logical option?” Becca asks again, and it’s this line of questioning that makes you lower your head now. You didn’t take all those things into consideration before suggesting to Lizzie this job, and now you’re feeling you gave her false hope.

“No.” Lizzie surprisingly answers. “I’d rather continue living modestly than live in comfort but indebted to my mom.” Lizzie adds, and you notice the corner of Becca’s lips crack a smile after hearing Lizzie’s answer.

“You mentioned you hired someone just for the summer, right? You’ll need to replace her after the summer’s over. I can take it then. I just need her off my back for now, and the prospect that I have a job directly working for you lined up would probably be enough leverage for me to get her to back off. I also know that possibly working as your assistant isn’t forever, and that would mean I’m just postponing pursuing my dreams and not giving up on them entirely” Lizzie continues with conviction.

After hearing all that, Becca just nods continuously, seemingly out of approval.

“Very well.” Becca finally says. “I’m glad to know you can suggest solutions of your own, and you’re more than willing to sacrifice in order to get what you desire.” Becca adds.

“As you’ve shared something personal with me, I’ll return the favor and share something of my own.” Becca prefaces with a kind smile and warm eyes. “I know where you’re coming from, and relate to your situation more than you know. Especially after recent events. You want to prove yourself to people that don’t believe in you and your capabilities, and that is something we both share.” Becca tells Lizzie, getting a smile out of her.

“I’ve already thought of a possible solution where we all get what we want.” Becca then adds, and Lizzie’s eyes light up in hope, as do yours and Viv’s.

“First, we’ll need to meet with my current assistants to see if they’re amenable to my suggestion.”