Page 23 of A Pawn for Malice
“What business is it of yours?” Sylas shotback.
“There isn’t anything you can do for him, I’mafraid. There’s a lot I can do for you. Care to listen?”
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CHAPTERNINE
Jessica didn’t know what was jumping aroundinside her belly, but it certainly nauseated the heck out of her.She had nervous jitters before, but nothing like this. Her meetingswith Marcus had gone exceptionally well over the last couple ofdays. She was now officially hired, per the Senate PersonnelDirector, as she exited her office.
The building housing the members of bothhouses of the New York State Legislature was rather impressive. Shewas told the walls and floors were constructed of imported whitemarble that had been shipped in from Vermont and Georgia. As sheglided her hands along their cool surface, she knew she was goingto love working here.
As she headed toward the elevator, she triedto memorialize this moment in her mind. This was the beginning ofyet another chapter in her new life. She blew out a deep breath anddepressed the up button for the elevator on the wall in front ofher. Almost immediately, the steel doors whooshed open and sheentered, smiling at its occupants and moved to the side to pressthe button for the sixth floor.
The conversation going on behind hersurprisingly sounded familiar as two gentlemen in their earlytwenties were discussing the probability of their boss’s minimumwage bill making it out of the Labor Committee.
“The Assembly already passed theirs.” Onegentleman offered. “We’ve got a majority vote already. All we neednow is, for Hinkley to allow a floor vote and we’re golden.”
“Yah,” his companion replied, “when pigsfly.”
There was a light chuckle behind her, whichmade her think it was a sentiment frequently shared aroundhere.
The bell dinged for the sixth floor and shewas the only one exiting the elevator. She took a moment to get herbearings, noticing the sign on the wall to her right showing anarrow for room numbers 600 – 615. She took two deep cleansingbreaths to try and calm her still nervous stomach and movedforward. The corridor was a bustle with people in all shapes andsizes. Each legislative office she passed hummed with activity fromringing phones, mixed conversations, laughter, the hum of faxmachines, and more.
The door to room 612 was closed. When shereached for the door knob, it instantly swung inward, startlingher. She nearly collided with a rotund gentleman, blocking her way,who was still chatting with a young receptionist, and did notrealize Jessica was there.
Jessica’s yelp of surprise drew hisattention, and he stepped to the side allowing her to enter.
The young receptionist’s reaction seemedsomewhat perplexing, when she looked her way, and Jessica couldn’timagine why.
“Sorry. Excuse me,” Jessica sputtered, as shepassed around the man and found herself facing, a taller, statelywoman, exiting from another back room. She, too, seemeddisconcerted by Jessica’s presence, leaving Jessica to wonderwhether r being there was not welcomed.
Jessica quickly extended her hand in greetingand introduced herself.
“Good morning. I’m Jessica Wilton and; I was…”
The woman let out a breath, as though she wasgreatly relieved, glanced quickly at the receptionist and then backat Jessica.
Something clearly had just happened betweenthe two women, and Jessica couldn’t imagine what the hell it couldhave been. She didn’t have time to question their odd behavior, asthe woman quickly stepped forward and wrapped a protective armabout her shoulder.
“Welcome, welcome, Jessica to your home awayfrom home. I’m Claire Martin, Senator Gallagher’s, Office Manager.”She nodded to the cute receptionist at the front door. “Over thereis Missy Sanchez our receptionist and she backs up with secretarialsupport as well.”
Missy nodded happily and offered. “We’reexcited to have you on board, Mrs. Wilton. Please feel free to askme anything, okay? Would you like a refreshment?”
Jessica shook her head no and replied.
“Thank you for the kindness, Missy, but I’llpass. I’m sure I’ll have questions aplenty, and please, call meJessica.”
Missy smiled and then answered a line thatbegan to ring.
Claire redirected her back through thedoorway she had just exited and explained as they continuedwalking.
“The Senator was called away, but will beback in time for your meeting with him at eleven. In the meantime,let me show you around and introduce you to the rest of the staff.You can meet with them all indirectly.
Jessica placed herself in Claire’s capablehands, feeling extremely welcomed in her warm and nurturingpresence.
She was introduced to Maggie McIntyre, anattractive black woman, who was in her fifth month of pregnancy andacted as Senior Secretary, Zachary Lyons their Legislative Aide,Nicholas Holson, a State University student and Session Intern, andlastly, Connor Taylor, Acting Counsel. The support staff shared onelarge room, divided into cubicles with tall sound panels, thatafforded them some privacy. She and Connor had their own privateoffice, large enough to occupy their desk and chair, a book case,and two visitor’s chairs. Her office, shared a connecting door withBryan’s.
She spent mainly twenty minutes with Claire,Zachary, and Connor, learning the aspects of each of their jobs andhow they would interact together.
