Interesting Offer - Mel and Hope
Feb. 4th, 2025 01:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsMel returns and Hope has an interesting offer to make.
"It is good to see you, Mel. Please, have a seat." Hope gestured to the settee across the table. "Did you have a safe trip home?"
“Good to see ya too, ma’am.” Mel settled into the chair opposite Hope somewhat nervously, tugging off her coat. “It was alright, jus’ a long drive. Ended up spending the night in Winchester.”
"I am glad you took the break." Hope leaned over a little, gesturing at coffee cups on the table. Next to it were two leather folders "I assume you could use some caffeine, especially since you just arrived. How was Kentucky?"
The mutant accepted the drink with gratitude. It sort of felt like her eyes were shut even though they were wide open, she was so drained. “It were nice to be home an’ help out. But, it’s… good t’be back.”
The air felt lighter here, even as she came back with her tail tucked between her legs. “You been alright? S’been awhile. I apologize fer not keeping up.”
"It has been busy." Hope allowed. "A lot of interesting new challenges to deal with, some business decisions to make. It is actually one of the reasons I asked you to return to the mansion."
Mel nodded, relaxing slightly as they neared towards the actual reason for the meeting. "Yeah. What kinda thing did ya wanna discuss?"
"I spoke to your previous employer. He mentioned that your frequent absences were the reason he had to let you go, but that otherwise the quality of your work was more than sufficient." Hope shifted a little. "Tell me, Melody, what do you know about my company?"
She flushed red at the mention. “Ah, yeah. There was a lot of… stuff that happened last year. I reckon it was deserved.” Between various kidnappings and family crises she’d been out more often than not. “Umm, yer like, PR fer some rich folks, right? And event planning?” The latter was how she got the florist gig in the first place.
Hope gave Mel an understanding smile. "I have lived in this mansion for over a decade. I know what life tends to throw at you here. Better than your employer did, probably." Leaning forward a little, Hope continued: "Sometimes I like to describe what my company does as reputation management. It includes public relations as well as event planning, but also etiquette training and image coaching. Business has been going well and over the past few months I have been working to restructure some things. Personally, I will be moving away from direct hands-on event planning, etiquette training and image coaching since I have increased demands on my time as well. Staff will be increasing as well, for one. Frankly, I need an assistant. While I do have an admin and a bookkeeper, I believe that will not be sufficient for long. And they are unaware of the unique challenges of mansion life."
“An assistant?” Mel asked, somewhat surprised.
"An assistant, yes." Hope nodded. "I was wondering if you might be interested in the job. I believe you mentioned you have at least a little administrative experience, you are not afraid of hard work and you are aware of the unique challenges of mansion life."
Again, she flushed, but this time it was a flattered shade of pink. “I’m mighty honored that you thought of me. Generally, what kinda things would it entail?”
"The exact division of labor still needs to be figured out, depending how things take shape. And I need to talk to my current admin, see what her thoughts are. She works remotely most of the time, but she has been mentioning that she hopes to advance." Hope admitted. "But it will entail things like managing my calendar and correspondence, note taking, liaising with some people. Receiving appointments probably. An occasional personal errand if things go crazy."
“Ah, okay.” Mel could do that. She was pretty sure of it. Something nagged at the back of her mind however. “An’ um, it don’t matter that I ain’t been to college?” Sure, Jay worked for Warren as an assistant just fine, but Hope seemed a bit more.. proper than him.
"That is actually the second part of my offer." Hope removed a slim leather folder from the table and withdrew a shiny folder. "I would like you to seriously consider this."
Melody read the writing emblazoned across the top. Salem Community College Office Management Career Certificate. Flipping through it briefly, she noted the length and cost. It didn’t seem too bad at all.
She’d never really considered higher education at any length though, and the thought of going into it at nearly 22 felt daunting. “This would help me learn things I’d need to know fer the position?”
"I believe it would be beneficial for both this job and any possible future jobs, yes." Hope explained. "Basic office skills never hurt. And if working as my assistant gives you idea's for event planning or image coaching, we will see about getting you some training in that area as well if you wish."
“I’ll, um, research it further some then. I appreciate ya findin’ all this out fer me.” While she’d briefly looked at nearby trade schools, something like this hadn’t really crossed her mind.
"I have some other documents to look over for you as well. All details for the offer, including some financing for your education. A non-disclosure agreement is one of them as well. It will not be the case for all clients, but for many confidentiality is of the utmost importance." Hope gently cautioned.
Mel nodded again. "Makes sense. I figure the kinda folks y'all work with would value that sorta thing." Eyeing the other folder, she thought she'd have to have Sam help her look over it- he was good at that kind of thing. Not that she didn't trust Hope, but it was a habit ingrained in her. "I can go through those and get back to ya in a few days? I reckon I need a full nights' sleep first."
"I had not expected anything else. Take some time, look over the offer and if you wish, you can reach out to the school as well. You might want to consider the online options for example." Hope smiled. "And in the meantime, I will have some conversations within my business as well."
"It is good to see you, Mel. Please, have a seat." Hope gestured to the settee across the table. "Did you have a safe trip home?"
“Good to see ya too, ma’am.” Mel settled into the chair opposite Hope somewhat nervously, tugging off her coat. “It was alright, jus’ a long drive. Ended up spending the night in Winchester.”
"I am glad you took the break." Hope leaned over a little, gesturing at coffee cups on the table. Next to it were two leather folders "I assume you could use some caffeine, especially since you just arrived. How was Kentucky?"
The mutant accepted the drink with gratitude. It sort of felt like her eyes were shut even though they were wide open, she was so drained. “It were nice to be home an’ help out. But, it’s… good t’be back.”
The air felt lighter here, even as she came back with her tail tucked between her legs. “You been alright? S’been awhile. I apologize fer not keeping up.”
"It has been busy." Hope allowed. "A lot of interesting new challenges to deal with, some business decisions to make. It is actually one of the reasons I asked you to return to the mansion."
Mel nodded, relaxing slightly as they neared towards the actual reason for the meeting. "Yeah. What kinda thing did ya wanna discuss?"
"I spoke to your previous employer. He mentioned that your frequent absences were the reason he had to let you go, but that otherwise the quality of your work was more than sufficient." Hope shifted a little. "Tell me, Melody, what do you know about my company?"
She flushed red at the mention. “Ah, yeah. There was a lot of… stuff that happened last year. I reckon it was deserved.” Between various kidnappings and family crises she’d been out more often than not. “Umm, yer like, PR fer some rich folks, right? And event planning?” The latter was how she got the florist gig in the first place.
Hope gave Mel an understanding smile. "I have lived in this mansion for over a decade. I know what life tends to throw at you here. Better than your employer did, probably." Leaning forward a little, Hope continued: "Sometimes I like to describe what my company does as reputation management. It includes public relations as well as event planning, but also etiquette training and image coaching. Business has been going well and over the past few months I have been working to restructure some things. Personally, I will be moving away from direct hands-on event planning, etiquette training and image coaching since I have increased demands on my time as well. Staff will be increasing as well, for one. Frankly, I need an assistant. While I do have an admin and a bookkeeper, I believe that will not be sufficient for long. And they are unaware of the unique challenges of mansion life."
“An assistant?” Mel asked, somewhat surprised.
"An assistant, yes." Hope nodded. "I was wondering if you might be interested in the job. I believe you mentioned you have at least a little administrative experience, you are not afraid of hard work and you are aware of the unique challenges of mansion life."
Again, she flushed, but this time it was a flattered shade of pink. “I’m mighty honored that you thought of me. Generally, what kinda things would it entail?”
"The exact division of labor still needs to be figured out, depending how things take shape. And I need to talk to my current admin, see what her thoughts are. She works remotely most of the time, but she has been mentioning that she hopes to advance." Hope admitted. "But it will entail things like managing my calendar and correspondence, note taking, liaising with some people. Receiving appointments probably. An occasional personal errand if things go crazy."
“Ah, okay.” Mel could do that. She was pretty sure of it. Something nagged at the back of her mind however. “An’ um, it don’t matter that I ain’t been to college?” Sure, Jay worked for Warren as an assistant just fine, but Hope seemed a bit more.. proper than him.
"That is actually the second part of my offer." Hope removed a slim leather folder from the table and withdrew a shiny folder. "I would like you to seriously consider this."
Melody read the writing emblazoned across the top. Salem Community College Office Management Career Certificate. Flipping through it briefly, she noted the length and cost. It didn’t seem too bad at all.
She’d never really considered higher education at any length though, and the thought of going into it at nearly 22 felt daunting. “This would help me learn things I’d need to know fer the position?”
"I believe it would be beneficial for both this job and any possible future jobs, yes." Hope explained. "Basic office skills never hurt. And if working as my assistant gives you idea's for event planning or image coaching, we will see about getting you some training in that area as well if you wish."
“I’ll, um, research it further some then. I appreciate ya findin’ all this out fer me.” While she’d briefly looked at nearby trade schools, something like this hadn’t really crossed her mind.
"I have some other documents to look over for you as well. All details for the offer, including some financing for your education. A non-disclosure agreement is one of them as well. It will not be the case for all clients, but for many confidentiality is of the utmost importance." Hope gently cautioned.
Mel nodded again. "Makes sense. I figure the kinda folks y'all work with would value that sorta thing." Eyeing the other folder, she thought she'd have to have Sam help her look over it- he was good at that kind of thing. Not that she didn't trust Hope, but it was a habit ingrained in her. "I can go through those and get back to ya in a few days? I reckon I need a full nights' sleep first."
"I had not expected anything else. Take some time, look over the offer and if you wish, you can reach out to the school as well. You might want to consider the online options for example." Hope smiled. "And in the meantime, I will have some conversations within my business as well."
