All It Takes

by Clare Dugmore

  My phone started ringing, so I picked it up and checked the caller ID. It wasn’t a familiar one, but as Kian had handed copies of my CV out, I didn’t want to risk missing an opportunity, and answered it. I hoped it wasn’t one of those PPI calls.

  “Hello, may I speak to Megan Green, please?”

  “Speaking. How can I help you?”

  “Good afternoon, Miss Green. This is Hilary Davies, from the Prescott Arms Hotel. We received your online application for the receptionist position, and would like to invite you for an interview tomorrow morning.”

  I’d applied to the Prescott Arms on a whim, but with little actual receptionist experience, I hadn’t been expecting a call back, and it took me a moment to get my head together. A job was a job, though, right?

  Should I tell them about the pregnancy? Or would that harm my chances of getting hired? Deciding I’d wait until I was actually offered the job, I said, “That’d be great.”

  “We have eleven-thirty available.”

  “Sure, that works for me. Thank you.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, Miss Green.”

  “Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

  I ended the call, my hands trembling slightly. Sure, it was only a receptionist job, but an interview was more than I’d gotten in weeks. I had to share the good news with someone, and before I realised what I was doing, I’d hit the speed dial for Kian’s number.

  “Hey. You okay?”

  “I got an interview!” I squealed at him.

  “Congratulations. That’s fantastic. Where is it?”

  I laughed. “Actually, it’s at the hotel where Stacey and Josh first hooked up.”

  On the other end of the phone, Kian laughed too. “Crazy. But cool. What position is it for?”

  “A receptionist. They didn’t have anything going in terms of waitressing, but I figured this way, I wouldn’t be on my feet all day.”

  “Good thinking. When is it?”

  “Tomorrow, at half-eleven.”

  “Good luck. I’m sure you’ll smash it.”

  “Here’s hoping! Okay, I better call Stacey and tell her.”

  “All right. Talk to you soon.”

  I ended the call, and hit the speed dial for Stacey’s number. She was just as excited as I was. We arranged to meet the following morning for coffee and a pre-interview pep talk.

  After hanging up for a second time, I opened up my wardrobe, and searched through for something suitable to wear. Thank God Mum had convinced me to buy some formal maternity wear; I pulled out a burgundy pinafore style dress and black blazer. Teamed with some kitten heel shoes, the outfit would be perfect.

  I spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing so I would be as calm as possible for my interview.

  When my alarm went off the following morning, I checked my phone and saw I had two text messages. The first was from Stacey, checking we were still meeting for coffee. I replied back that we were, and that I’d see her soon.

  The second message was from Kian.

  >>Good luck today. Call me later to let me know how it went. xxx<<

  My heart flip-flopped as I perched on the edge of the bed and re-read the message a couple of times.

  Don’t read anything into this, Meg. Focus on the interview.

  Shaking all thoughts of Kian from my mind, I got in the shower, and distracted myself by going over interview questions in my head.

  After showering, I blow dried and straightened my hair then put on some make-up before getting dressed. The pinafore dress fit perfectly, and teamed with the blazer and a little belt, looked both stylish and professional. I out my shoes on, gave them a quick polish, and then after one final look in the mirror, left the flat and went to my car.

  Thankfully, I’d missed the rush hour traffic, and made it to Belly Busters in a record ten minutes. When I entered the café, I found Stacey already waiting for me, a half empty latte on the table in front of her.

  “Hey.” She greeted me with a grin. “Wanna grab some food?”

  My stomach swished about, and I shook my head. “Nah, I’m too nervous. I’m just gonna grab a tea.”

  I went to the counter to order, and then, hot drink in hand, made my way back to Stacey and sat down opposite her.

  “Your outfit is so cute,” she said as I sipped my tea.

  “It doesn’t make me look too pregnant, does it?”

  “Meg, you’re five months gone. It’s not going to be easy to hide for much longer.”

  “I know, and I’m not trying to hide it. Well, not always. I just don’t want it being obvious in the interview. I’ve decided only to tell them if they offer me the job.”

  “Is that a good idea? Shouldn’t you be upfront about it?”

  “I was upfront about it at the uni careers fair and look where that got me. I need this job. Plus, I don’t think there’s any law saying I have to tell them.”

  “I guess. Just be careful it doesn’t come back to bite you in the ass.”

  “Well, if they offer me the job, they can’t take it back when they find out I’m pregnant. That’s discrimination.”

  Stacey grinned. “Good point. And you’ll call me as soon as you’re done?”

  I thought about Kian’s message and a dopey grin spread across my face.

  “Okay, what’s that look for? You’re not smiling like that just because of an interview. Has something happened with Kian?”

  “Yes.”

  Stacey squealed, causing everyone in the café to turn and look at us. “Oh.My.God! He kissed you, didn’t he?”

  I shook my head. “Calm down. I don’t want you getting overexcited. Nothing’s actually happened happened. But he’s changing. He came round yesterday and helped me apply for jobs then cooked us lunch. We were going to go out for a drive, he said I could have a go in the Audi before he sells it, but then I sort of freaked out and called a rain check.”

  “What do you mean, freaked out?”

  “I was this close to kissing him.” I held up my hand, pinching my thumb and forefinger together to make a very small gap.

  “You should have.”

  I laughed. “I knew you were going to say that. But I can’t. It’s too soon. He needs to know I’m not just interested in him because of who he is, like all those other girls. He needs to understand I’m serious, and I’ll support him through all the stuff going on in his head.”

  Stacey smiled. “I get it. And despite what you think I’m going to say, I agree you’re doing the right thing. Josh said the other day he’s never known Kian be serious about a girl, but he’s different with you.”

  My heart rate sped up and my mouth went dry. Taking a sip of my tea, I gave myself a moment to process what Stacey had said. If Kian’s friends had noticed a change too, that meant there was definitely something there, and I wasn’t imagining things. I just had to give him time.

  And I needed to focus on my interview. I’d never get the job if I went in there with my head filled with thoughts about Kian.

  I tried to keep my mind clear as I drove to the Prescott Arms, but passing O’Neil’s reawakened memories of the night Kian and I had met. Even after him coming home with me, I never imagined we’d still be in each other’s lives five months later. I took one hand off the steering wheel and rubbed my tummy. There were so many reasons to be glad Ella had come along, and Kian remaining in my life was one of them. I’d had two serious relationships in the past, but neither compared to how I felt for him.

  He was the only person I could imagine myself wanting to settle down with. In the last five months, my vision of the future had changed to include Ella, as I pictured the two of us travelling together, and me showing my little girl the world. In recent weeks, those dreams had expanded to feature Kian, too, and the three of us together as a family. I knew we still had a lot of work to do until we reached the ‘happily ever after’ phase, but as I pulled into the car park of the Prescott Arms, a realisation hit me. I was in love with him.

  I wanted to pull out my
phone, call Kian and tell him, but I knew it was a terrible idea. Not only because he still needed time to sort his head out, but also because I had just five minutes before my interview. Declarations of love were best made in person.

  Instead, I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart, and climbed out of the car. When I closed the door, I pushed all other thoughts out of my mind, and focused on work. If I could get this job, it’d be one less thing to worry about, and then I could put all my attention into my end of degree presentation, and getting the highest marks possible.

  ‘You’ve got this,’ I told myself, as I pushed open the hotel doors and crossed the lobby to the reception desk.

  “Hi. Megan Green here for an eleven-thirty interview with Hilary Davies.”

  The receptionist tapped some details into the computer, then looked up and met my gaze with a smile. “Conference room three, on the ground floor, please.”

  “Thanks.”

  I turned towards the laminated map of the hotel, and figured out where I was going, before making my way along the corridor and to the conference room.

  Just outside the room were two chairs set up beside the door. I dropped into the closest and waited for Hillary to be ready. A few minutes later, a young woman in a salmon coloured blouse, and wearing too much blusher, opened the conference room door and stepped out. Just a pace behind her was an older woman with the Prescott Arms logo on her blazer.

  “Thank you for your time, Allison,” Hillary said. “I’ll be in touch later today, when I’ve seen everyone else.”

  “Thanks. I look forward to speaking to you later.” Allison smiled, hitched her handbag up onto her shoulder, and then started walking in the direction of the lobby.

  Hillary turned to me with a smile. “Megan Green?”

  I nodded and climbed to my feet, then extended my hand. “Yes, that’s me. Pleased to meet you.”

  “And you, Miss Green.” Hillary returned my handshake with a firm grip, and then motioned that I should enter.

  Though the conference room was large, the majority of it had been sectioned off, so that only a small area was in use, where a table had been set up, with two chairs opposite each other. Hillary sat down in the chair on the side where she had a bottle of water and a notebook set up, and I slipped into the space facing her.

  The interview was pretty standard, with Hillary asking why I wanted to work for the Prescott Arms, what I felt I could offer the company, and what difficulties I’d faced and overcome both while studying for my degree, and while working as a waitress in the café. Nothing I hadn’t gone over in my head already.

  Finally, Hillary put down her notes, had a sip of water then asked, “And when is your baby due?”

  I felt my cheeks turning red.

  “I’m twenty-three weeks along, so just over four months until she’s due.”

  Hillary smiled. “She?”

  “Yeah, we found out at the last scan that we’re having a little girl.”

  “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks. I was going to tell you about the pregnancy. I just wanted to see if I got the job first. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all. Until you’re an employee, it’s none of my business.”

  “So this won’t affect my chances of being hired?”

  “I could have a law suit on my hands if it did.” Hillary laughed. “But no, we have many parents working for us. In fact, one of our restaurant waitresses recently announced she’s pregnant.”

  “That’s a relief, because I really need this job. I don’t want to have to rely on my parents or the baby’s dad for money. I want to provide for my little girl myself.”

  “Well, don’t worry. I’ll consider your application as fairly as I will all the others.”

  “Thanks. That’s all I wanted.”

  “Thank you for your time, Miss Green. I’ll be in touch at the end of the day, once I’ve seen the other applicants.”

  Hillary walked me to the door and opened it for me, and I stepped out into the corridor, where a guy in a smart suit was waiting to be seen.

  “Thanks for seeing me, and I look forward to your call later,” I said, before making my way back up the corridor.

  The interview had gone well, and Hillary seemed to have no problem with my pregnancy. I just hoped I’d done enough to impress her.

  As I made my way outside to my car, I pulled out my phone and called Stacey.

  “How did it go?” she asked, without so much as a ‘hello.’

  “Really well. She didn’t seem to have any problem with me being pregnant.”

  “You told her?”

  “I could hardly deny it when she outright asked when I was due. I guess I’m showing more than I thought.”

  “Little Ella is going to be a big baby.”

  I climbed into the car and turned on the ignition, but didn’t start driving. “Not too big, I hope. I still have to give birth to her.”

  “Want to do something later to celebrate?”

  “I haven’t even got the job yet.”

  “Yeah, but you will. Shall I come round with some movies and popcorn?”

  “Bring ice cream and you’ve got yourself a deal.”

  “Okay, I’ll be round about seven.”

  “Perfect. Catch you later.”

  With the motor still running, I ended the call to Stacey and hit the speed dial for Kian’s number.

  “Hey,” he said. “How did it go?”

  “Really well, thanks. Nothing she asked wasn’t expected, and when I told her about Ella, she said being pregnant wouldn’t affect my chances of being hired.”

  “That’s great. I’m proud of you.”

  “Thanks. What have you been up to?”

  “Not much. Just going through some paperwork and stuff. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about. Are you busy tonight?”

  “Stacey was going to come round for a girls’ night, but if you need me I can rearrange?”

  “No, it’s nothing that can’t wait. I’ve got to speak to my parents and Ollie about it first anyway.”

  “This sounds serious.”

  “It is, but I don’t want you worrying. It’s all good.”

  “All right. You know where I am if need me.”

  “Same goes. Call me when you hear about the job, and have fun with Stacey.”

  “Oh, I will! See ya.”

  I hung up the phone, threw it on the passenger seat, then I put car in reverse and pulled out of the car park.

  As I drove home, I wondered what Kian wanted to talk to me about. Despite his insistence it was nothing to worry about, the fact that he needed to speak to me, his parents, and his therapist told me it was something serious. I knew he was okay, though. He’d seemed so happy when he’d come round and helped me job hunt, and on the phone, nothing in his tone indicated his mood had changed since then. I just had to trust him that everything was okay, and he’d tell me soon.

  Once home, I hung up my dress and had a little nap before tidying up and getting some dinner on for Stacey and me. I put some garlic bread in the oven to go with the bolognese I was making.

  While it was cooking, I went to check my emails, in case any of the other jobs I’d applied for had gotten back to me. At the top of my inbox was one from the Prescott Arms. The fact that they hadn’t called couldn’t be a good sign. I opened the email, and was instantly proven right.

  Dear Miss Green,

  Thank you for your recent interview for the position of receptionist at the Prescott Arms Hotel.

  We regret to inform you that, at this time, your application has been unsuccessful. We had other applicants apply with more relevant experience, and have offered one of those the position.

  We will keep your CV on record for the next six months, and should another position arise, you’ll be notified.

  Best wishes with your future endeavours,

  Hillary Davis.

  Tears prickled behind my eyes. I knew I shouldn’t have told her abou
t the baby.

  Even though the email said they’d hired someone with more experience, the very fact I’d gotten a generic response, and not even a phone call, told me the real reason.

  I grabbed my phone and texted Stacey, telling her to buy some chocolate syrup to go with the ice cream. I was going to need it.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Megan’s recent struggle to find a job, and her having been given the brush-off by the hotel she’d interviewed at, had made me focus on my own future; in particular, the offer Davi had made for me to buy into the gym.

  Now I was getting my head together, I wanted to have a stable income for the future, and a way to provide for Megan and Ella. Even though Meg had insisted she didn’t need my help, I wanted an available income just in case.

  I’d probably spent more on random crap than I’d saved, but thanks to the large amounts I’d made in fight money and sponsorship deals, I had a decent lump sum of savings. I didn’t want to live on that, though. How long would I have before it was all gone and I’d have nothing to fall back on? And, like Meg, I wanted to do something with my life. The break was great; not having to focus on training or an upcoming fight had given me plenty of time to think, but I could feel the freedom slowly turning into frustration. I knew if I spent much longer with too much time on my hands, I’d start going crazy.

  Positive energy from my sessions with Ollie, seeing my life starting to change for the better, and Ella’s birth getting closer left my body buzzing, I wanted to channel it into something productive. Which brought me back to Davi’s offer.

  I hadn’t thought much about life beyond the cage, and I’d definitely never considered owning a gym; I didn’t know the first thing about running a business. But I did know about training, and getting into shape for a fight. Was that something I’d want to teach to others? Was it something I was even capable of? I wasn’t randomly going off at people anymore, but I was also keeping to myself. How would I feel when I was back in a testosterone-filled environment? How would I cope if I had to work with someone like Matthews or Bagley?