FILTHY LITTLE ASSISTANT

The door opened again.

A different man walked in. He looked young, maybe thirty, with dark hair and expensive glasses. He wore a nice suit and walked like he owned everything.

This had to be the real boss.

Behind him came the naked man. Now fully dressed in a different suit, dark blue this time. He didn't look at me. Just walked to the side of the room and leaned against the wall, arms crossed.

My stomach dropped.

He was going to watch. He was going to sit there and watch me interview while he knew what happened between us.

"Jolene." The man sat down behind a desk I hadn't seen before. "I'm Marco Marchetti. Sit."

I sat. My hands were shaking so I folded them in my lap.

Marco opened a folder. My resume, probably. He looked at it for a while without saying anything.

The silence was killing me.

"You're from Texas." He didn't look up.

"Yes, sir."

"No experience as a personal assistant."

"No, sir, but I'm a fast learner"

"No references from previous employers."

My mouth went dry. "I...I worked at a diner back home, but it closed down. I can try to find"

"Why Italy?" He looked at me. His eyes were cold. "Why this job?"

I glanced at the naked man. He was watching me with that same amused expression.

"I needed a change," I said. "A fresh start."

"Running from something?"

"No, I just"

"Financial troubles? Legal issues? Failed relationships?"

"No, nothing like that, I just wanted"

"You just wanted what, Jolene?" He leaned back. "To come to another country with nothing and expect someone to give you a job?"

Each word hurts.

"I'm willing to work hard," I said quietly. "I'll do whatever you need."

"Whatever I need." He repeated it like it was funny. "That's what they all say."

The naked man shifted. I could feel him watching me.

"Tell me, Jolene, why should I hire you?"

I wasn't. We both knew it.

"I'm... I'm organized. I pay attention to details. I follow instructions well."

"Do you?" Marco's eyebrow went up. "You couldn't even find the right waiting room earlier."

My face got hot. He knew. Of course he knew.

"I'm sorry about that, I was"

"Lost?" He cut me off. "Confused? Can't even follow simple directions?"

I couldn't speak. My throat felt tight.

"This job needs someone who can handle pressure, make decisions, and be professional." He closed the folder. "I don't think that's you."

The words hurt. I knew this was a long shot, but hearing him say it made it real.

"Please," I heard myself say. "Just give me a chance. One chance to prove myself."

"A chance." He stood up. "You've already had a chance, Jolene. You wasted it the moment you walked into the wrong room."

He walked toward the door.

The interview was over. Just like that.

I sat there, frozen. This couldn't be it. I'd come all this way. I had nothing to go back to.

"Mr. Marchetti, please"

"Enzo will show you out." He gestured to the naked man.

Enzo. So that was his name.

Marco left without another word.

I stood up. My legs felt weak. Enzo got off the wall and walked over.

"Come on," he said quietly.

"I messed up." My voice cracked. "I really messed up."

"You did."

"Is there any way I can talk to him again? Explain?"

"No." He opened the door. "He's made his decision."

I followed him into the hallway. My eyes were getting blurry. I wasn't going to cry. Not in front of him.

"I have nowhere to go," I said. "I used all my money to get here."

Enzo stopped walking. He turned to look at me.

"That's not my problem."

"I know. I just said " My voice broke. "I just needed you to know."

He looked at me for a second. Something changed in his face, but it was gone fast.

"The car will take you back to the airport." He started walking again. "Your flight leaves in three hours."

That was it. Three hours and I'd be back in Texas with nothing. No job. No money. No future.

We reached the front door. The same security guard from earlier was there. He didn't look at me. He just handed me my suitcase.

"Wait here," Enzo said. "The driver will come get you."

He turned to leave.

"Thank you," I said. I don't know why. Maybe because he was the last person I'd see before everything fell apart.

He paused. "For what?"

"For not telling him. About earlier."

Enzo's mouth curved into that smile. Not nice, but not cruel either.

"Who says I didn't?"

Then he was gone.

I stood there in the entrance of this big house, alone. The security guard ignored me. Everything was quiet except my heart breaking.

I'd failed. Totally failed.

A black car pulled up outside.

Time to go home to nothing.