Destiny: Not really...I agree, let's get this show on the road!!!
Jan: You know she's feeling sorry, but never fear "Fluffy's Here!"
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Chapter: 22
Meet Kyle Valenti
When Liz arrived at the office she found Jody already there and things started for the morning.
“Good morning Jody, what brings you in so early? And thank you so much for the gift certificate by the way…it was a lovely idea.” Jody was very surprised to see Liz this morning, she figured she would want to at least have a few more days with her new hubby.
“Oh Liz, you have no idea how happy I was to be invited to the wedding. It was just beautiful…Diane asked me if I would come in early until things get straightened out with this Jeremy fiasco. What a nightmare it must have been for you and the rest of the family not knowing what that fool was going to do.” Jody said with a concerned tone to her voice.
“Well, it was a little scary, but I think we managed to put it aside and enjoy the festivities. The police and the detectives were right there with us through the whole ordeal and Jeremy’s mother was a great help also. Poor thing, she had no idea he was as bad as all that. I really feel sorry for her. Did Diane leave you any special instructions as far as what you are supposed to do or are we playing it by ear?” Liz questioned, she didn’t want to do anything to upset the flow of things.
“No, she just asked me to come in early and pick up the slack so that you and she could see what needed to be done in order to bring things current. So, if you have anything I can do for you please let me know and I will be glad to help.”
“Thanks Jody. I’ll need to sort through my messages and get busy looking for Jeremy’s replacement, I believe that is what’s uppermost on the agenda. I think I will check the local newspaper before trying the Internet. Maybe we can get someone locally…that would really be great. Do you have any ideas?”
“No, not really, but Kyle Valenti just graduated from Harvard and I don’t think he has a job yet. He graduated from UNM, remember, then he went on to Harvard and made the law review. We have kept in touch over the years and he really is a nice young man.” Jody was really proud of herself that she remembered that her ‘friend’ still hadn’t made a choice as to what he wanted to do.
“Really? Is his father James Valenti?”
“Yes he is. Do you know him?”
“I have met him and he seems like a very nice person. Diane knows him quite well. Maybe you can give him a call after Diane gets in. I will discuss this with her and I am sure she will want to talk with him. Thank you so much Jody, this is really very helpful.”
After her conversation with Jody Liz went into her office and got on the Internet immediately and contacted the records office at Harvard and asked for a transcript of Kyle’s grades and any other information they may have on him. “If he is as good as Jody thinks he is then our prayers are answered. Diane is not going to believe this. Hopefully I will have all this information ready for her when she gets in this morning.” Liz thought to herself as her fingers flew over the keyboard of her computer.
Diane arrived at the office a little later than usual and Liz had some very good news for her. When Liz was sure she had settled in she buzzed her on the intercom.
“Diane, do you have a minute? I have some good news I think.”
Diane didn’t make her usual morning visit to Liz’s office today…probably because she was running so late
“Liz, come on over…I was going to pop in on you in a minute anyway, I just can’t seem to get it together this morning.”
When Liz got to Diane’s office she found Diane smiling so broadly she could hardly contain herself.
“What’s got you so happy this morning? You look like the cat that swallowed the canary.” Liz smiled at her mother-in-law.
“Oh, it’s just that Isabelle has renewed her friendship with Alex and is thinking about transferring back to the states and I am just elated over the whole situation. I hope it works out for her. I really miss her and it will be so nice to have everyone back where they belong. I know that I have no right sticking my nose into my children’s lives but a mother can wish, can’t she?” Diane was tying very hard to contain her happiness. She knew it was a bit premature but she really wanted Isabelle back in the states.
“Of course you can, and I don’t think it will come as a surprise to you but Max and I feel the same way. So I hope for all of our sakes that this works out for us.”
Liz meant every word. Isabelle was her friend and she knew how Diane felt about the possibility…Max would be so pleased to hear this news, it was great.
“Thank you Liz. Now what is your news?”
“Well, it seems that Jody is very good friends with James Valenti’s son Kyle who just graduated from Harvard. I have his transcripts right here for you to go over and I think you will be very impressed. After you have had a chance to review the folder and if you would like to meet him we can have Jody give him a call. What do you think?”
“Liz, tell Jody to make the call. You know I have all the faith in the world in you and if you are impressed I am sure I will be also.”
“I’ll tell Jody immediately…I just hope it doesn’t interfere with their duties, I have a feeling that they are more than just acquaintances.”
“We both know Jody very well and she seems to be mature enough to leave her personal life at the door. What do you think?”
“I think you’re right and I will get right on it. In the meantime I am sure that we both need to get busy with the stack of work that has piled up. Should we wait and see how the interview with Kyle goes before tackling Jeremy’s office?”
“Yes, let’s wait. If he’s as good as Harvard thinks he is we will just break him in right.”
Both women giggle at that last remark…, poor Kyle.
Liz went back to the front office and spoke to Jody…
“Jody, go ahead and give Kyle a call and see if he’s interested in coming in and talking with us. If he is tell him we would like to see him at his earliest convenience.”
Jody was elated…she was beaming from ear to ear. The Evans law firm was one of the most prestigious in the county and she knew that Kyle would want to come in.
“What time should he come in Liz?”
“As soon as possible Jody…as soon as possible.”
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Meanwhile, back at the apartment Maria heard a noise outside their window and looked out to see what was going on and found the landlord was pounding a “for rent” sign into the front lawn. She immediately went out and asked him which apartment was for rent and he told her the 2 bedroom down the hall from her and Liz. She asked him not to rent it until she called Liz and he wanted to know why.
“Did you girls have a falling out or something?”
“OH NO!!! Nothing like that! Liz got married on Saturday and she and her new husband will be wanting their own place and I think it would be great if we were neighbors. Don’t you?”
“Well, you girls might think it’s a great idea but how about the groom? What do you think he’ll have to say about it?”
“Oh, I’m sure he will think it’s great as well.” Maria spoke excitedly…
“If you say so Maria.” He couldn’t contain the urge to chuckle…
Mr. Johnston just walked away smiling and shaking his head. ‘They really are lovely young women and a pleasure to be around, I hope Liz’s husband does want the place.’ He thought to himself.
Maria ran into the house and called Liz immediately.
“Liz, you’ll never guess what Mr. Johnston was doing this morning, he has a two bedroom for rent down the hall from us. What do you think?”
Liz was as happy as a clam…
“Maria, have Max look at it when he wakes up and if he likes it then it’s ok with me.”
“Liz, don’t you want to see it too?”
“It’s ok Maria, if you and Max like it then I know I will like it as well.”
…She trusted her and Max to know whether or not it was a good deal. Maria could hardly wait for Max to wake up. She was so tempted to march around the apartment banging pots together like she used to do when her mother was asleep but then thought better of it. ‘I’ll just have to wait’ she thought…’this is so hard, I’m so excited!’ She was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement, next door was going to be great.
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Diane opened the file Liz gave her on Kyle and was very impressed with the young man’s credentials. She knew, if he presented himself well, that he definitely had the job. She called James and asked him if Kyle had found employment yet and James told her that the D.A.’s office had been trying to recruit him but he had been holding off to see if something else came along. “He really doesn’t want to work for the county.” James told Diane and Diane could understand that. She thanked Jim and told him she would talk to him later. He told her thanks and they hang up.
When she first graduated from law school she started out at the DA’s office and then she met Philip. He was working at another law firm at the time and when they started dating each other they decided to open their own law firm together. Things were tough at first but they managed to build a very reputable practice and she was very proud of their accomplishments. She started to think back to the time when she and Philip just started out and how in love they were and just as she started to feel lonely Jody buzzed her on the intercom to let her know that Kyle was there, she was a little thankful to Jody…she didn’t need to reminisce any longer. The memory was too fresh, it still made her too sad to remember. “It will get better but this waiting for it is the pits. She knew from experiencing the death of her parents that the hurt would eventually leave but the memories were there to stay and that was good.” She thought.
Diane buzzed Liz and they both met at the front office at the same time. They were met by a very good-looking young man with the cutest twinkle in his eyes, he was well groomed and very articulate. He shook both ladies hands and then they all went into Diane’s office…Kyle waiting for the ladies to enter first. This impressed both Diane and Liz.
Liz took notes as Diane interviewed and she was very happy with the way things were going…
“Kyle, what are your expectations as far as employment is concerned and what kind of salary are you looking for?” Diane asked Kyle with a smile on her face…
Kyle was very candid with Diane…
“Well Mrs. Evans…”
“Kyle, please, call me Diane.”
“Well Diane, eventually I would like to be a partner in a firm or possibly start my own but it is a little too soon to make any decisions like that. I feel I have plenty of time to get a feel for things before making any major decisions.” Kyle answered her with a smile on his face. He liked Diane…his dad had called him on his cell while he was driving over for the interview and told him he would like her and he was right.
Diane smiled and told him that she agreed with him and asked him again what salary did he feel was reasonable to start with.
“Well Diane I think you know better than I do what would be a fair starting wage. I trust you to be fair.”
Diane smiled at him and silently patted him on the back…what a ploy…he possibly could have gone way too low so now it’s up to her. Liz just giggled, she couldn’t help it, and Kyle gave her a wide knowing grin. They all knew what was going on here.
“Well Kyle, do you think sixty five thousand to start is fair?”
“Oh, I think that is more than fair.”
Diane went on to explain their benefit package and salary increase practices and Kyle was more than impressed. And soon he was on his way to Jeremy’s office where Diane told him to have a seat.
“Does this mean I have the job?”
“Absolutely.” Was her only reply.
“Well great. When do I start?”
“Right now too soon?”
“No Ma’am!!!”
Diane left Kyle alone with Liz who told him that the office had just been vacated last Tuesday and that they hadn’t had a chance to go through any of the work that was left open but if he could start to plow through it and that she and Diane as well as Jody would help him with anything that he needed. She also told him that she would get his employment papers ready for him to fill out and they were number one priority. He understood and with that Liz left him to plow through the mess as she went to her office to get a folder started on the young man. Things were really working out great for them.
After Liz got Kyle’s paperwork to him she went back to her office and started to make her way through all of the messages left from last week and Monday. It was nice to have the time off but what a way to come back to work. It shouldn’t take too long once she put things into some semblance of order. ‘I wonder what Max is doing’ she thought to herself and then she had to reprimand herself … ‘Stop it Liz, you don’t have time to daydream.’
Kyle peaked his head out of his office and winked at Jody and she was beaming from ear to ear…’it’s a shame that Jeremy had to go off the deep end but what a reward this is’ she thought as she situated herself down into her chair and got busy…’oh life is good.’ There was one happy young lady sitting at the receptionists desk at Evans and Evans Ltd.
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