by Bella Baird
Uncertainty
Volume 1
Bella Baird
All Rights Reserved
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. The author, Bella Baird, holds exclusive rights to this work.
Copyright © 2014 by Bella Baird
All rights reserved
You can now borrow volume two for free with your Kindle Unlimited membership at the following link:
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 1
Certainty about one thing can mean the world when everything else is tentative. It makes great efforts seem worth all the sacrifice and discomfort. It allows one to sleep more easily at night, knowing that upon waking, something will hold constant to act as an anchor against the churning tides. The lack of certainty can drown someone under waves of anxiety, dragging them away from a once secure shore that eroded beneath them. This was a feeling to which Alice Reed would become accustomed.
It had been four months since she graduated from her graphic design program, and she had yet to find a job within her field. She did some freelance work here and there, but she wanted something more stable and structured. Alice always worked better under a strict timeline and some sort of direction. Not to say that she wasn’t self-motivated or driven when working directly for clients. She was the most passionate person she knew when it came to bettering her life. Alice came from a less fortunate family, and her parents couldn’t afford to put her through college, so she did it herself through a combination of scholarships, loans, and part-time work. Now that she’d graduated, she was able to work full-time at her college job as a data entry clerk. The couple of raises she received on top of her somewhat infrequent design contracts made it possible for her to support herself in a very small apartment in New York. At least she had that to rely on.
Even so, she couldn’t help but feel some trepidation about her career choice. She wondered if she would ever be able to find a great job that allowed her to release her creativity. Alice had moments when she panicked about choosing a different career path. Maybe if she’d gone into Biology, she would’ve had an easier time finding a dependable job. Though as intelligent as she was, her mind was better suited for artistic endeavors. Her mother, however, disagreed.
Karen was usually unwilling to support any decision Alice made. At first, Karen told her that school was a waste of time and money. She preferred that Alice start working full-time right after high school. Alice, on the other hand, saw herself in a career in which she enjoyed the work and challenged herself daily. Karen changed her attitude after a couple of years. At that point, she expressed her wish that Alice had gone into accounting, law, or the medical field. Unfortunately, Alice’s confidence took a beating from all of this. She had a hard time coping with Karen’s comments when she almost didn’t make it into the design program. Of course, she never shared that information with her mother. It would have only elicited unwanted questions and statements.
Alice dreamed of the day when she could put her mother in her place, but she knew that day was far off or might never come at all. Her confrontation style was to shut down and let the comments and insults wash over her. Later on, she would go home and unleash her emotions alone. The result was that she visited and called her mom less frequently. Alice had enough to deal with. She didn’t need any more stress than she dealt with during her job search.
Alice went through all of this again on her way home from her most recent interview. She didn’t feel as if she made a great impression, and she knew there was no way she would get this job. Her mind reviewed the clear signs she’d come to recognize when an employer had no intention of hiring.
Alice lost a large portion of confidence as soon as she’d stepped into Steve Slagle’s office earlier. She was very put off by the interviewer’s stoic disposition. It even seemed like he was talking down to her at one point. One thing was definite: he verbally tore apart her portfolio. After all of her art school experience, she knew the difference between constructive criticism and bullying. He’d chosen to call her work “boring” and “amateurish.” Yet he stated no reason for his opinions, nor did he tell her what could be improved about her compositions and design work. At the end of the interview, he said they’d be in touch if they found her to be the best candidate for the job. Alice walked out of the building with her blood boiling and her eyes ready to tear up.
In the car, she calmed herself down and stopped her tears from falling. She wouldn’t waste any more emotions on this interview. There will be other interviews. I shouldn’t let all the previous ones get to me. Getting a hold of her emotions typically took longer, but in this case she believed what she was thinking. Alice decided that she was glad Steve Slagle didn’t hire her. Her mother’s attitude could never compare to that man’s abrasiveness. Alice really had hope this time, even though today held a great loss. She already completed the hardest part of her career. Dealing with sleepless nights, work and design-filled days, brutal critiques, and last-minute improvements to designs geared her for what she went through today. All Alice needed now was to reap the rewards of her hard work. While it was a very competitive market, there would be someone to appreciate what she had to offer.
That thought reminded her of the special someone that she cherished for sticking by her side the last few months. Alice told her phone to call Daniel.
“Hey, babe!” Daniel greeted her on the line.
“Hey, cutie,” Alice said with a wide grin. She instantly felt relieved.
“So…” he said with anticipation evident in his voice. “How did the interview at UniCorp go?”
“It…didn’t go well,” her voice dropped as she broke the news to Daniel.
“Oh, no. What happened?” He sounded genuinely upset for her.
“Well, the interview started with him berating me for not being able to set up the appointment until 3 because of my other job,” she stated matter-of-factly. “Then it ended with him telling me how boring and ‘not good’ my work is.”
“He really said that?” he asked.
“Those were snippets of his exact words, yeah.”
“He’s obviously shit at critiquing art,” Daniel said with unmistakable venom in his tone. “I can’t believe someone with no background in graphic design has the gall to insult your work as though he knows anything. Just…just, what a turd! I mean, re…”
“All right, it’s okay!” she interrupted him, almost crying from laughter. “Don’t get all distressed over me! I’ve got this handled.”
“I’m sorry. It just bugs me to see you so worried about this.” He paused for a few seconds. “What would you say to dinner tonight? How would you feel about that Ethiopian place near me?”
“Dinner, yes, though I’m not feeling too adventurous tonight. Can we go to the Mediterranean restaurant near you instead?” Alice suggested.
Daniel chuckled and said, “That sounds great. Does 7 o’clock give you enough time to get ready?”
“Is 6 all right with you? I’m already dressed up. I just have some errands to run before we meet up,” she said.
“Great! I’ll start getting ready soon. See you at 6, babe! Bye,” Daniel responded.
“Bye!” she sang before the call ended.
Alice knew that calling Daniel would put her in better spirits, as it always did. He was a great guy with lots of kindness and lots of intensity as well. She met him during the last semester of college, but they hadn’t started dating until a couple of months ago. He really made her happier than she’d been i
n a while. Things were clicking into place for the two of them. Now if only the rest of my life can follow suit, Alice thought as she pulled into the grocery store parking lot. She needed to pick up some things and drop them at her place before dinner. It would be so great to see Daniel face-to-face and put the whole day behind her.
Alice brimmed with excitement as she walked up to Cagliari. She’d never been to this restaurant, and she had not seen Daniel in almost a week. They both had tight schedules, which were hard to work around. She genuinely missed his company when they couldn’t see each other for a few days. Looking through the large front window, she could tell this place had style and class. The atmosphere was dark and cozy. Hanging lights dimly illuminated the dining room, and each table had its own set of candles. She scanned the restaurant to see if Daniel had gotten there before her when she saw him sitting in a booth near the back. She stood there for a moment while studying him from afar. He’d done his hair tonight, parting it on the side and swooping the rest of his usually wild sandy blonde locks over. He became quite handsome when he cleaned himself up, but he always had an understated sort of charm from day to day. It didn’t take him long to notice her at the window. When Daniel saw Alice standing in front of restaurant, his face instantly brightened. He flashed that adorable crooked smile in her direction, and Alice could have melted on the spot. She had to keep herself from bursting through the door and running to the table to meet him; instead she took her time walking over. He stood up and gave her a tight squeeze before they kissed each other slowly.
With disbelief on his face, Daniel pulled away and said, “Wow, you look absolutely beautiful! How did you not get hired today? You’ve got amazing designs and amazing beauty.”
It was true. Alice appeared quite stunning tonight. She looked professional and stylish at once in a slightly conservative outfit that fit well enough to accent her natural curves. Alice’s chestnut hair fell in loose waves down one shoulder, her red lips and green eyes getting second and third glances from some of the other diners.
“How sweet of you! You’re looking pretty handsome, yourself,” she responded shyly.
They slid into the booth and were shortly greeted by their server. Once they got their waters and gave their order, Daniel looked at Alice seriously.
“How are you really feeling?” he asked.
“I’m fine now that you’re here,” she replied with honesty.
“You mean it?” he asked with his eyebrows raised. “You’re really doing all right?”
“Yeah. I’m getting used to the fact that there’s a lot of competition in this field. Not everyone is going to like my portfolio, but I have a decent number of skills. I’ll make it somewhere eventually.”
“I know you will. I just hate to see you working so hard and not getting anywhere.”
“It’ll all be worth it when I find the right place. Plus I already have an okay job, even though it’s extremely boring and doesn’t pay as well as I want.” She thought for a couple of seconds and smiled, “Not to mention that I have you.”
“It’s funny you say that,” Daniel said, a smirk across his face.
“Uh, oh. What’s that mean?” she asked with some confusion and trepidation.
“I have a surprise for you. Now before I tell you what it is, I want to stress that you shouldn’t get your hopes too high,” he told her carefully.
“But…” Her growing smile exuded eagerness.
“After we got off the phone earlier, I asked a few of my design friends if they knew of any opportunities around here. It turns out that my friend, Devin, has an aunt that works at the headquarters for Jitter,” Daniel spoke suggestively.
“Oh, my God! That’s the newest social media site, right?” Alice asked with a voice that rose in anticipation.
“Yep, and it’s gotten so popular recently that the company is growing exponentially. Devin talked to his aunt, who said they have a few design jobs opening up,” he told her elatedly.
“This is amazing! I have to apply for this tonight!” She couldn’t keep her excitement contained.
“That’s not even the best part. She said she could get you an interview. This is her contact info.” He took a piece of paper out of his pocket and slid it toward her. “She wants you to call her at the office to set up a meeting! You’ll just have to bring your portfolio and résumé.”
Alice started to get a little emotional. She quickly wiped some tears away from her eyes. “You’re just…you’re the best! Thank you!”
“Oh, it was nothing,” Daniel said as he reached across the table to hold her hands.
“I feel a bit like I’m cheating though. Like I’m skipping necessary steps that everyone else has to go through,” she sighed.
“Hey, it’s all about networking. How many of my friends do you think got jobs because of a family member or someone else they know?”
“Uh, one?” Alice guessed.
“Nope! Six. Networking is just another tool. It’s not cheating at all. Employers usually want to hire someone they have a connection to. People are there to supplement things like a good portfolio and résumé.”
“You’re right. I’m trying to over-analyze a good situation,” Alice said as she shook her head. “Okay, enough work talk! Let’s enjoy our nice dinner. If I’m lucky, this will end up being more of a celebratory dinner than a consolation.”
She squeezed his hand tighter and smiled, feeling a weight lifting off of her. It’s possible that this was her big break. For now, she rested on cloud nine. She relaxed and enjoyed Daniel’s company while they ate dinner. Everything was so delicious that they switched plates a couple of times to eat each other’s food. Alice didn’t want to take all the attention, so she managed to coax Daniel into talking about how his week had gone.
He was fortunate enough to be working as a curator for an art gallery a few blocks from his apartment. The gallery was becoming quite trendy in the local art scene. All the talented upcoming artists clamored to be shown there, which meant that Daniel had a lot of work on his hands. Additionally, his frequent walks to work and weight lifting had lost him two more pounds in the last week. Alice would never tell him, but his improved physique turned her on more and more, though she had a massive crush on him even in school when he was a little rounder.
They frequented similar circles of friends before and after graduating, and they eventually hit it off one night while seeing a movie. The movie was a gory horror film. Alice wasn’t too affected by horror movies, but she embellished a bit on each jump scare. In a bold move, Daniel put his hand on hers for comfort toward the end. After leaving the theater, they exchanged numbers and texted each other until they fell asleep. Before that night, she’d never imagined he was as interested in her as she had been in him. Apparently, he harbored the same crush in school that she had.
It hadn’t taken her many dates to realize what a great catch he was. Daniel was a very passionate and talented illustrator with a drive that kept him always working on multiple projects. He’d shown and sold a lot of his work at the gallery already. Alice was surprised with how humble he remained despite selling over 20 of his life-like drawings and helping to put together some of the most successful art shows in the area. Daniel never bragged to anyone about his recent accomplishments. In addition, she valued the fact that he was very considerate. He always talked to her about his thoughts and made sure that she was comfortable wherever they went. Daniel even let her pick the radio station in his car, which really blew her away for some reason.
“All of this food was so awesome! Thanks for suggesting this place instead of the Ethiopian restaurant. I have to admit that I have no idea what Ethiopian cuisine consists of,” said Daniel.
“I’m totally willing to try it blindly if you are,” Alice told him.
“That will be our next date then.”
“I can’t wait. Do you want to head out now? Maybe we can go back to your place. I brought a change of clothes just in case,” sh
e stated suggestively.
“Oh, you can certainly come back to my place. We can watch a movie and cuddle. Then we can try that thing I told you about,” Daniel’s mouth turned into a wolfish grin.
“What thing?” Alice responded with wide eyes.
“You know. The thing with the hair and one leg up high?” he said as he made provocative gestures with his hands and body.
She let out a belly laugh and whispered, “You absolute perv!”
Daniel took care of the bill before they both walked out to their cars and headed to his apartment. On her way there, Alice felt more relaxed than she had been in while. Somehow she believed that things would work out, and she’d eventually have nothing to worry about.
The previous night was exactly what Alice needed to get her out of the funk she’d been in lately. She drove to work with an unusual light attitude about everything. Her typical mood at work wasn’t poor or pessimistic, but she didn’t often arrive as giddy as she felt today. After an hour or so of typing in documents, her giddiness was replaced by an anxious feeling. Work seemed to move extra slowly, and her lunch break seemed so far away. That was when she would call Devin’s aunt to set up the big interview. Each minute, each hour crawled by excruciatingly. Alice focused harder on her work so that she wouldn’t make any mistakes, but she felt like she could burst any second. Eleven o’clock finally came, and she rushed to the break room so she could make the call. Luckily, she had the room to herself for now. She pulled out the card and dialed the number on it. Instantly, her heart raced while the dial tones emanated from her phone. I hope I can manage to sound professional while being this nervous.
At last a woman spoke on the line.
“Hello, may I speak with Veronica Chatwin?” asked Alice.
