Tempted by the Temp

"I really don't have time for this today." James said gruffly into the phone. "You don't have to take that tone with me you know. I'm only trying to help," sniffed the indignant female voice on the other end of the line. "You can help by letting it go Mother. I will not be coming to supper tonight," James answered firmly, an exasperated frown lining his handsome face. "If only you'd find a nice girl and settle down I'd leave you alone," came the response. "Why do you assume I'm not seeing anyone?" James heard himself snap. Shit. He instantly regretted it when he heard his mother's excited gasp. "Jimmy Banscroft!! Why didn't you tell me!?" "Because I knew you would overreact." "Nonsense! Why haven't you brought her around yet? What's her name? Do we know her family? Is she respectable? You must bring her to brunch on Sunday. I won't take no for an answer." Dammit. James felt his jaw clench. The only relationship he'd had in months was with the company and he really had no desire at the moment to change that. "We'll see," he responded briskly. "We WILL see BOTH of you on Sunday," and the line went dead. James sighed and hung up the phone. He leaned back in his chair and stared up at the ceiling of his office. "Well now what?" he muttered. 

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Skylar shoved the last bite of her everything bagel into her mouth as she reached for the office door of the temp agency where she had been working for the past year. She had hoped this job would be a marked improvement over waitressing in crappy diners, but so far her placements had been in small boring offices. The most recent was at an accounting firm whos CEO unfortunately had a penchant for petite dark haired girls. Skylar had found herself either bored to tears, or threatening to report the CEO if he didn't keep his crude remarks to himself and focus his beady eyes higher than her chest. At least the creepy guys at the diners had left her tips. Maybe her chest had at least gained her a glowing report from the firm. Good reviews from placements meant better placements down the road and this temp agency had contracts with some big players. Skylar threw a quick wave to Rita the receptionist as she headed for the elevator. Rita offered back a curt nod and turned a focussed gaze back down to her computer screen. As Skylar stepped into the first open elevator and turned she peeked over at Rita's screen. Solitaire. Skylar chuckled as the elevator door closed and she pressed her floor number. She hoped she would be spared any assignments for a little while. She didn't think she could bear another 4-6 week stretch in another boring mildewy office. 

The elevator doors opened and Skylar was yanked out by a very excited looking young blonde. Tina's green eyes were wide and her chin length curls bounced as she pulled Skylar to the side of the wall of elevators. 

"What the hell Tina," Skylar said grinning. Tina clearly had hot gossip judging by her eager expression and grip on Skylar's arm. Tina looked around quickly and back to Skylar. "Did you hear what placement came up today?" She hissed, leaning in close to Skylar. "No, why? And why are you whispering? If it's posted everyone here already knows," Skylar gestured to the cubicles filling the 4th floor and the other employees with her free arm that wasn't being crushed by Tina's gossip grip. Tina paused for a moment, but then continued whispering, choosing to ignore Skylar, "Everybody's going to be after this one though. It's for one of their biggest clients, I can't remember the name of the company but it doesnt really matter because their CEO made the most eligible bachelors list this year and Sky, holy shit, I don't know how anyone at that office gets anything done." Tina released Skylar's arm with one hand and fanned herself dramatically. Skylar rolled her eyes. Tina's only consideration when applying for a placement was how hot her supervisor would be. Most of the time she had no idea what the actual placement even was. Skylar had to admit though, she was intrigued by the placement. She would have to take a look as soon as she got to her cubicle. Getting your foot in the door at one of the big companies could sometimes lead to a full-time offer if you played your cards right. She was willing to try anything to get off of the merry-go-round of hell hole placements she'd been riding. "And? What's the job placement Tina?" Skylar turned to head towards her cubicle and Tina bounced after her. She waved her hand dismissively, "Who cares! Didn't you hear what I said?" Skylar rolled her eyes again and exaggerated Tina's wave back at her, "Yah and who cares?" She smirked and stepped into her cubicle. Tina pushed her bottom lip out in a pout, crossing her arms over her chest as she paused in the opening to Skylar's cubicle and watched as Skylar sat down and wiggled the mouse to wake her computer screen. 

Skylar ignored Tina's pout and opened the available placements memo from that morning. Mostly more accounting firms, law offices, and a couple big companies looking for mailroom temps. Skylar stopped scrolling and clicked on one of the placements. She knew it must be the one Tina was talking about because she heard an excited squeak behind her. 

Banscroft Empires. Looking for a temp placement for CEO James Banscroft's personal secretary. Skylar quickly clicked apply and said a quick prayer to the temp angels. This was the break she needed.