interview.’
Lila hugged her aunt back, closing her eyes as she did so. She knew Shirley meant well, but this interview had suddenly taken on monumental importance. She had to get this job, had to pull in some more money, there was no two ways about it. Today mattered.
*
‘Come in, Sister Bailey, and take a seat. Sorry to keep you waiting.’ Hester gestured to the chair as Lila walked in. The wait in the staffroom had been unbearable. Self-conscious in her suit, Lila had made small talk with the other applicants, her despondency growing as she’d listened to their qualifications and experience. And not one of them looked as if they’d ever been late for anything in their lives. It was almost a relief to escape to Hester’s office.
Only almost.
Declan gave a guarded smile as she sat down. He at least had the decency to look uncomfortable as she entered, but it did nothing to disguise the spark of admiration in his eyes when he saw her.
The chair Hester had hauled into the office for the interviews was way too low and instantly Lila regretted the short skirt, flashing rather too much stocking-clad thigh as she crossed her legs at the ankles.
‘Well,’ Hester began, her gaze flickering to Lila’s legs; her lips pursed as if she were chewing on a lemon. ‘It’s always rather difficult , interviewing current staff members for a position. However, it’s not only mandatory, it’s also merited. Particularly for such a senior position. There are a couple of issues I’d like to address in a formal setting before we make our decision.’
‘Of course.’ The bright smile Lila forced belied the dive her stomach had taken.
At first Hester busied herself with the basics—salary, duties, responsibilities—but all too soon the conversation turned.
‘My main concern, Sister Bailey, is that you are an extremely popular staff member.’
Lila looked her senior directly in the eye. ‘I would have thought that would have been an advantage.’
‘In some instances, of course. However, in the position you’re applying for there will be a need to discipline staff at times. Are you going to be able to do that?’
Lila took a deep breath. She had been expecting this question. As much as she wanted the job, there was no point in lying.
‘If there’s a problem I will most certainly address it, and when necessary take the matter further.’
‘But are you prepared to treat your colleagues as colleagues and not friends?’
Lila glanced over at Declan who was watching herclosely. Almost imperceptibly he gave her a small nod of encouragement. It was the encouragement she needed.
‘I don’t see them as being exclusive of each other. I believe—strongly, in fact—that the team works better as friends.’
Lila paused, not for effect but to gather her thoughts. ‘I know you and I don’t agree on this, Hester. And I’m not saying that I’m right and you’re wrong. We have different styles of management and in my case I work better and deal with staff issues better by being friends with my colleagues.’
‘What if you caught a friend stealing?’
Heavens, Hester was such an optimist sometimes! Lila took a deep breath, physically forcing herself not to roll her eyes. ‘Then, of course, I’d address it. Firstly it would depend on what was being stolen. Obviously drugs would cause me rather more concern than a couple of sticky plasters.’
Not the right answer! She watched as Hester’s lips disappeared into her face. ‘If everyone employed in the hospital stocked up their first-aid boxes courtesy of the hospital, where would that leave the budgets?’
‘Taking anything is wrong, of course.’ Lila added hastily before she continued her answer. ‘First and foremost I’d try to find out the reasoning behind the stealing and what had driven them to do it, and on the basis of that information I’d make my decision as to the appropriate action.’
Hester looked far from mollified by her response, and Lila
Lila hugged her aunt back, closing her eyes as she did so. She knew Shirley meant well, but this interview had suddenly taken on monumental importance. She had to get this job, had to pull in some more money, there was no two ways about it. Today mattered.
*
‘Come in, Sister Bailey, and take a seat. Sorry to keep you waiting.’ Hester gestured to the chair as Lila walked in. The wait in the staffroom had been unbearable. Self-conscious in her suit, Lila had made small talk with the other applicants, her despondency growing as she’d listened to their qualifications and experience. And not one of them looked as if they’d ever been late for anything in their lives. It was almost a relief to escape to Hester’s office.
Only almost.
Declan gave a guarded smile as she sat down. He at least had the decency to look uncomfortable as she entered, but it did nothing to disguise the spark of admiration in his eyes when he saw her.
The chair Hester had hauled into the office for the interviews was way too low and instantly Lila regretted the short skirt, flashing rather too much stocking-clad thigh as she crossed her legs at the ankles.
‘Well,’ Hester began, her gaze flickering to Lila’s legs; her lips pursed as if she were chewing on a lemon. ‘It’s always rather difficult , interviewing current staff members for a position. However, it’s not only mandatory, it’s also merited. Particularly for such a senior position. There are a couple of issues I’d like to address in a formal setting before we make our decision.’
‘Of course.’ The bright smile Lila forced belied the dive her stomach had taken.
At first Hester busied herself with the basics—salary, duties, responsibilities—but all too soon the conversation turned.
‘My main concern, Sister Bailey, is that you are an extremely popular staff member.’
Lila looked her senior directly in the eye. ‘I would have thought that would have been an advantage.’
‘In some instances, of course. However, in the position you’re applying for there will be a need to discipline staff at times. Are you going to be able to do that?’
Lila took a deep breath. She had been expecting this question. As much as she wanted the job, there was no point in lying.
‘If there’s a problem I will most certainly address it, and when necessary take the matter further.’
‘But are you prepared to treat your colleagues as colleagues and not friends?’
Lila glanced over at Declan who was watching herclosely. Almost imperceptibly he gave her a small nod of encouragement. It was the encouragement she needed.
‘I don’t see them as being exclusive of each other. I believe—strongly, in fact—that the team works better as friends.’
Lila paused, not for effect but to gather her thoughts. ‘I know you and I don’t agree on this, Hester. And I’m not saying that I’m right and you’re wrong. We have different styles of management and in my case I work better and deal with staff issues better by being friends with my colleagues.’
‘What if you caught a friend stealing?’
Heavens, Hester was such an optimist sometimes! Lila took a deep breath, physically forcing herself not to roll her eyes. ‘Then, of course, I’d address it. Firstly it would depend on what was being stolen. Obviously drugs would cause me rather more concern than a couple of sticky plasters.’
Not the right answer! She watched as Hester’s lips disappeared into her face. ‘If everyone employed in the hospital stocked up their first-aid boxes courtesy of the hospital, where would that leave the budgets?’
‘Taking anything is wrong, of course.’ Lila added hastily before she continued her answer. ‘First and foremost I’d try to find out the reasoning behind the stealing and what had driven them to do it, and on the basis of that information I’d make my decision as to the appropriate action.’
Hester looked far from mollified by her response, and Lila
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