“This is so fucking cool,” Marilyn said, grabbing Ashley around the waist and smiling for the camera.   

Spencer stood frozen as the two posed, but soon recovered enough to snap a quick photo.

Marilyn wasted no time grabbing the camera from Spencer to look at the picture on the digital camera’s viewing screen.  “OMG! This is perfect.” 

Suddenly, Spencer felt herself caught up in a hug.  It ended before she’d even registered what was happening. Marilyn gave Ashley the same treatment.

“You seriously don’t know how much this means to me,” Marilyn exclaimed, holding onto Ashley’s arms.

“Well, I aim to please,” Ashley forced a smiled, pulling herself out of Marilyn’s grip.  “I think we’ve had enough excitement for the day, though.”  She led Marilyn to the office door.  “We’ll call if we have any more questions.”

“Oh, yeah…” Marilyn said, her excitement ebbing. “You can call me anytime.  It’s just – I won’t be able to take the job.”

Both Ashley and Spencer stared at the girl amazed.

“It’s not that I don’t want to,” Marilyn explained apologetically. “My parents won’t let me.  I have to work for my dad’s law firm until I figure out where to go to college.  I’m sorry if you guys are disappointed.  I kinda applied on a whim.  I never thought I’d actually get picked.”

“Well, that’s too bad,” Ashley said, ushering the girl out the door more firmly.  “I see a bright future ahead of you.”

“Do you really?” Marilyn exclaimed, stopping in her tracks.

“Uh, yeah.” Ashley turned to Spencer.  “Why don’t you show Ms. Reynolds out and see if the next candidate is here.”

After one final excited ‘thank you’ from Marilyn, Spencer firmly led her back out to the elevators.

“Were you really going to give her the job?” Spencer asked, as she walked back into the office. The other candidate hadn’t yet arrived.  Ashley was sitting at her desk, typing on her laptop.

“Why? Didn’t you think she’d be a great fit?” Ashley grinned. Then added, “Of course, I wasn’t going to hire her.  Did you see how she was dressed?  I’m rock music, but I’m not into that dark stuff.  Spooky.”