progress.
“How am I doing so far?” she asked.
“You’ve only been working for a day and a half, and that isn’t enough time to make any sort of judgment on your capabilities,” LJ said with what sounded like uncaring stiffness. “But so far it seems as though you have a grasp of what is needed. Time will tell if that will warrant praise.”
Kylie couldn’t help thinking that she’d somehow offended her boss. I should have just kept my mouth shut. The last thing she wanted to do was give Dr. Evans a reason to fire her. “Thank you for the lunch.”
“It’s what you ordered, isn’t it? A roast beef wrap and a kale-and-spinach salad along with a bottle of water.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
LJ turned to leave, then spun back around. “Just give me your order for tomorrow before you leave today so I can order it when I arrive in the morning.”
“I know you’re busy, so I can do the ordering so you won’t have to,” Kylie offered.
“It comes out of my discretionary spending budget, so I must do it.”
“Okay.”
“If you want to take a break and eat outside, there are picnic tables outside the back door that I’ve seen other employees using.”
“Yes, I saw them yesterday when I went out to stretch my legs. Thank you.” Kylie watched LJ walk back to her office, then stood, picked up her bag and drink, and headed out the door. Perhaps the other museum employees could give her some insight about her boss.
†
When Kylie came to the picnic table, a short, round woman said, “Well hello there.” A woman with bleached hair who looked to be in her sixties was sitting next to her. “I’m Marie Wilkerson, and this is Corrine Barber. Marcus Dunleavy should be joining us soon.” Marie smiled warmly. “Take a seat. You must be Dr. Evans’s new worker bee.”
Kylie sat down. “I’m Kylie Wilcox, and yes, I work for Dr. Evans. How did you know?”
“Bless you,” Corrine said. “She’s had so many people come and go over the years that I’ve lost count. Nothing gets by us oldies.” She grinned. “Besides, we all received an email along with your photo saying you’d been hired. Poor Sally Johnson who worked for her last year would go home every single day crying. She finally had enough and quit. I’m glad because I thought she was going to have a nervous breakdown.”
Why is she telling me this? Kylie looked at the two women and frowned.
“The woman is a heartless bitch at the best of times,” Corrine added.
A tall, dark-haired man sat down next to Marie and smiled at Kylie. “Hi, I’m Marcus Dunleavy. You must be the new assistant in archaeology.”
Kylie smiled. “Yes.” She held out her hand. “Kylie Wilcox.”
“Pleased to meet you,” he said, shaking it. “I bet you’re all talking about the resident witch.”
Everyone but Kylie laughed.
“Do you all remember Jack Tremble? He was a really nice guy, but that woman managed to run him off in less than two months,” Marcus said.
“I heard she hates everyone and goes around at night changing displays to her liking.” A small, younger man slid into the seat next to Marcus. “Hi, I’m James O’Malley. I hope you have a thick skin.”
Kylie took a bite of her sandwich that LJ had ordered and paid for. What these people were saying about her boss didn’t compute with what she’d seen so far. Although LJ did come across as cold and had behaved inappropriately during Kylie’s interview, she certainly wasn’t heartless or dispassionate. That certainly isn’t a dispassionate bitch.
After listening to other museum gossip for about five more minutes, Kylie rewrapped the rest of the sandwich she’d taken a bite out of and put it back into the bag with her salad. “It was nice meeting you all. I need to get back to work.”
“She won’t give you more than fifteen minutes for lunch? You’re supposed to get at least a half an hour.” Corrine frowned and looked at her with expectant eyes.
“I get
“How am I doing so far?” she asked.
“You’ve only been working for a day and a half, and that isn’t enough time to make any sort of judgment on your capabilities,” LJ said with what sounded like uncaring stiffness. “But so far it seems as though you have a grasp of what is needed. Time will tell if that will warrant praise.”
Kylie couldn’t help thinking that she’d somehow offended her boss. I should have just kept my mouth shut. The last thing she wanted to do was give Dr. Evans a reason to fire her. “Thank you for the lunch.”
“It’s what you ordered, isn’t it? A roast beef wrap and a kale-and-spinach salad along with a bottle of water.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
LJ turned to leave, then spun back around. “Just give me your order for tomorrow before you leave today so I can order it when I arrive in the morning.”
“I know you’re busy, so I can do the ordering so you won’t have to,” Kylie offered.
“It comes out of my discretionary spending budget, so I must do it.”
“Okay.”
“If you want to take a break and eat outside, there are picnic tables outside the back door that I’ve seen other employees using.”
“Yes, I saw them yesterday when I went out to stretch my legs. Thank you.” Kylie watched LJ walk back to her office, then stood, picked up her bag and drink, and headed out the door. Perhaps the other museum employees could give her some insight about her boss.
†
When Kylie came to the picnic table, a short, round woman said, “Well hello there.” A woman with bleached hair who looked to be in her sixties was sitting next to her. “I’m Marie Wilkerson, and this is Corrine Barber. Marcus Dunleavy should be joining us soon.” Marie smiled warmly. “Take a seat. You must be Dr. Evans’s new worker bee.”
Kylie sat down. “I’m Kylie Wilcox, and yes, I work for Dr. Evans. How did you know?”
“Bless you,” Corrine said. “She’s had so many people come and go over the years that I’ve lost count. Nothing gets by us oldies.” She grinned. “Besides, we all received an email along with your photo saying you’d been hired. Poor Sally Johnson who worked for her last year would go home every single day crying. She finally had enough and quit. I’m glad because I thought she was going to have a nervous breakdown.”
Why is she telling me this? Kylie looked at the two women and frowned.
“The woman is a heartless bitch at the best of times,” Corrine added.
A tall, dark-haired man sat down next to Marie and smiled at Kylie. “Hi, I’m Marcus Dunleavy. You must be the new assistant in archaeology.”
Kylie smiled. “Yes.” She held out her hand. “Kylie Wilcox.”
“Pleased to meet you,” he said, shaking it. “I bet you’re all talking about the resident witch.”
Everyone but Kylie laughed.
“Do you all remember Jack Tremble? He was a really nice guy, but that woman managed to run him off in less than two months,” Marcus said.
“I heard she hates everyone and goes around at night changing displays to her liking.” A small, younger man slid into the seat next to Marcus. “Hi, I’m James O’Malley. I hope you have a thick skin.”
Kylie took a bite of her sandwich that LJ had ordered and paid for. What these people were saying about her boss didn’t compute with what she’d seen so far. Although LJ did come across as cold and had behaved inappropriately during Kylie’s interview, she certainly wasn’t heartless or dispassionate. That certainly isn’t a dispassionate bitch.
After listening to other museum gossip for about five more minutes, Kylie rewrapped the rest of the sandwich she’d taken a bite out of and put it back into the bag with her salad. “It was nice meeting you all. I need to get back to work.”
“She won’t give you more than fifteen minutes for lunch? You’re supposed to get at least a half an hour.” Corrine frowned and looked at her with expectant eyes.
“I get
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