sign in and directed me to take the elevators up to the third floor.
As I walked down the long hall on the third floor to Judith’s office, heels clicking with each step, I peeked into several open rooms. There was a conference room with a long table and a projector screen for presentations, a room stacked with what looked like film crew equipment and props, and one room with several people who sat on stools at drawing desks as they beavered away with colored pencils.
I could feel the process of creation filling the air in this building, and a surge of excited tingles shot up and down my spine. People worked together in all kinds of departments—film crew, makeup, set design, casting, and more—and they were all coming together to bring stories and characters to life. I was buzzing with the thought of becoming a part of it.
Moments later, I was at the Human Resources desk, where I asked for Judith Levy. The person I’d work for if I got this job was in an unexpected business meeting he couldn’t get out of, or so the receptionist told me. Judith hurried out, ushered me back to her office, and shut the door. She was a middle-aged woman with brown hair and thick, artsy glasses.
After she gave me a curious once-over, Judith gestured for me to sit in one of the chairs facing her desk as she sat down herself. “So, Ms. Montgomery, tell me about yourself and why you think you’re a good fit for this position.”
Ugh. I hated vague questions, but luckily, I’d been on enough interviews that I had good answers ready. After ten minutes, during which I’d explained my background, my solid organizational skills, and how I loved screenwriting as well as the movie production process, Judith handed me a sheet of paper that detailed the personal assistant position I was interviewing for.
She explained the benefits and everything, but I only half heard her because my eyes stared in shock at the figures on the paper. The salary alone was way beyond anything I’d dreamed of making at an entry-level position—triple what I’d make in a week if I worked all day, every day, at the cleaning company. On top of that were four weeks of paid vacation every year, full medical insurance coverage, quarterly bonuses each year, and fully paid business trips anywhere necessary, world-wide. All I had to do was assist the company’s owner, whose name I still didn’t know, and do anything from fetching him coffee to keeping minutes at board meetings, or even helping to oversee film shoots.
My mind reeled with the prospect of such an incredible position, which was both in the exact field I wanted and had a more amazing salary, benefits, and perks than I could have ever dreamt. This position was the whole package.
“So, does all that sound good? Did you have any questions about the position or the benefits and salary?”
Judith’s voice brought me back into focus. Questions? How about ‘when can I start?’ “Um, can I put my family on the medical plan—my dad and brother?” I asked hesitantly. A family medical plan was probably just for spouses and children.
She looked over the rim of her glasses at me for a moment. “I think that could be arranged, but let me check first. I think Mr. Huntington will be out of the meeting soon. Is there anything else you’d like me to ask him?”
I blinked in surprise. I could have Dad and Sean under this top-notch medical insurance, and Dad could possibly see a top M.S. neurologist? And she was about to catch this Mr. Huntington at the end of his board meeting just to ask? I was almost speechless, but I managed, “Oh, no more questions. Thanks.”
As I waited for Judith to return, I read and re-read the offer and position details on the page in front of me, disbelief strong in my heart. It was almost too good to be true. My eyes lingered on the company’s name and logo printed at the top of the page. Huntington … Was that the name of someone I knew? I must have seen it somewhere else, maybe