30-Jul-2000
Category: Friendship, Humor
Rating: PG
Pairings: 4+3
Spoilers: none.
Warnings: Just salty language.
Feedback: C&C
Notes: Well Mel is back with Bill in tow. More or less a follow-up to 'Unforgotten Friends'. Let me know what you think good or bad.
Standard key:
'--denotes thoughts--'
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters belongs to Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu Agency and are only being used for non profit entertainment purposes.
"Millicent, I realize you are in charge of Personnel, but I would like to conduct this interview if you don't mind," Quatre said with a quick smile.
"But Mr. Winner--;" Millicent started, before finally deciding to surrender. 'Well, he is the boss. Why do bosses always think they can do my job better than I can?' "Yes, sir."
"Arigato, Millicent. Now when are they coming in?" he asked relieved that he didn't need to fight her on this request.
"They?" Millicent was confused. "Are you going to conduct all the interviews?" She picked up her list of appointments and glanced down at them.
Quatre looked at her list also. "These two people will be interviewed together, but I see you scheduled their interviews a half hour apart. We'll just combine that into one interview."
"I don't understand, Mr. Winner. It's only one position..." Millicent remarked flustered, 'What aren't I being told about NOW?'
"Don't you worry about it, Millicent," Quatre said solicitously, "Just let me know when they arrive."
"But if their interviews are at different times what makes you think--;"
"Oh, they'll arrive together. Don't you worry."
Outside of the Winner Enterprises building, two people were approaching. One seemed to be a young woman teetering around in heels that weren't very high, yet she walked like a person who had never worn heels. The other was an older gentleman who seemed to be propping up the inexperienced heel walker, pretending like it was just another day.
"Mel, what possessed you to doll up? You haven't worn a dress since you were six. And what's with the heels?" Bill asked, flustered.
"Don't you go giving me grief, Bill! I read somewhere that folks with tits should dress up for job interviews!"
"Mel, folks with tits are called women. And despite what you think, you are a woman. But I still don't know why you couldn't find a nice suit, since we both know the idea of a dress gives you the hives," Bill said smiling.
"How the hell do woman walk in these things? I keep thinking I'm going to break my ankle at any moment. Maybe this was a bad idea coming here. Why did we agree to this?"
"Because Trowa asked us to," Bill sighed as this was the fifth time today he had to remind her of that fact.
"Who the hell would want to hire us? Especially at a swank company like this one? I can see it now ... You and me stuck in cubicles, making inane chit chat about the weather. Let's blow this off and go get a drink."
"No, Mel!" Bill retorted a little miffed. "We both need the work. I've got mouths to feed, you have a ship you're going to have to maintain somehow. Quit being so stubborn. Dammit, you're worse than your Pappy."
Mel shut up, but she was steaming. It was a low blow on Bill's part bringing up her father. He knew nothing riled her faster than being compared to him. 'Oh, he'll pay later for that little remark,' she thought as her face formed the makings of an evil smile.
Bill glanced over at Mel and thought, 'Damn, I'm toast.'
This running commentary brought the pair into the building, up the elevators and into the Personnel Director's office.
Millicent who normally wouldn't be sitting at the receptionist's desk was there because she needed to get a form from the desk. She looked up and blinked at the bickering pair who appeared at the desk.
"Hi, I believe I have a two o'clock appointment with the director for a job. I'm Mel Tierney. This is Bill O'Shea, he's your two thirty appointment," Mel said with an air of almost professionalism. She could see Bill snickering next to her, so she gave him a quick elbow to the ribs.
"I see," Millicent said, pretending not to notice the flying elbow. If you'll excuse me for a moment. Please be seated." She then went into her office to call Quatre.
Mel hobbled over to the couch and flopped down unceremoniously. Bill sat next to her and pushed her knees together. "Sit like a lady, Mel."
"You see. This is why I hate dresses!" she retorted as she pulled the offending article down to cover her knees. "And don't EVEN get me started on pantyhose."
"Whine, whine, whine," Bill sighed.
"Ok pally, next time you wear this lot."
"I think I would be better at it than you," Bill smiled.
"Yeah, and you'd look sexier in it I'm sure!" Mel laughed.
Millicent came out of her office and said, "The director wishes to interview you both together if you don't mind. This way please."
The pair looked at each other, shrugged and followed. "We must not have a snowball's chance in Hell if they are taking us together," Mel whispered to Bill.
"I think you're right," he whispered back.
The director's office was rather spacious. Of course it could just look that way because one wall was mirrored. Bill supporting Mel's elbow got her seated before seating himself and waiting for the director to appear.
Mel was surprised when she recognized the soft voice behind them that said, "Miss Tierney, Mr. O'Shea, I'm sorry I'm so late. I had other matters to attend to."
Mel jumped up from her chair and swung around so fast she nearly fell off her heels. Bill looked up at her like she was nuts, a look he had given her often over the years.
"Quatre! What the hell are you doing here? You work here!?!" she said losing all decorum and her shoes as she hopped out of them and gave the blonde man a big hug.
Quatre wanted to laugh, but decided to maintain professional appearances because he wasn't sure Millicent had closed the door yet. She hadn't. She sat there with her mouth opened, amazed at the display.
"Hello, Mel." He gave a quick glance to the door and said, "That will be all, Millicent."
"Yes, sir!" she replied embarrassed as she quickly shut the door.
"Quatre?" Bill asked.
"Dammit Bill, I swear you never listen to me. Quatre is Trowa's sweetheart."
"Hello Bill, I'm Quatre Raberba Winner. I know we've never met, but I feel like I know you already."
Mel looked puzzled. "Winner? What are you, a nephew or something?"
Bill laughed, "Dammit woman, don't you ever read anything worthwhile? He owns the company."
Mel paled, "You do? Oh shit, sorry."
Quatre allowed a smile, "No need to apologize. Sit down and let me tell you about the job."
Bill sat patiently waiting, but Mel didn't sit. She looked agitated.
"I don't take charity. Let's go Bill!" she said as she gathered her shoes in her hands.
Bill stared at her, "What the hell are you on about now, Mel?"
"Trowa put him up to this. I'm sorry, Quatre. I know your heart's in the right place but I can't do this. Where's Trowa? I'll say a quick hello and we'll be going."
"What the hell is up with this 'we' business, Mel? Let's hear what the man has to say before you go running off half-cocked as usual."
"Bill, don't fight me on this."
"Mel, if you don't sit your skinny ass down now, I will make you sit down, STUART!"
The whole time Quatre was watching this display with wide-eyed shock. 'Trowa was right not to be here. I wish he would have warned me though!' This had not gone the way he had hoped. He wanted this all to be calm and friendly, not a brawl. But he was a little stunned to see Mel sit quietly. 'Who is Stuart?'
Mel sat and stared at Bill for a minute. "Bill, that was two. Remember that."
Bill cringed slightly before focusing his eyes back to Quatre. "Go ahead young man, and make it quick. My life is going to be shortened soon enough."
Quatre puzzled over that statement but said nothing. "Okay, in the past Winner Enterprises has been building satellites for various colonies. Colonies that had the natural resources were easy jobs, but other colonies lacked those resources. We would contract the shipping of those resources through various companies on various colonies. Sometimes it went without a hitch and other times the results were disastrous. The board of directors and I came to the conclusion that maybe it was time we handled the shipping of those resources on our own rather than to rely on other companies. We need someone to head up that division."
Mel blinked. "What in the sam hill made you think me or Bill are even qualified for that? We ran a garbage barge."
"You know about various colonies and parts of space. You probably have experience dealing with various personality types in those areas," Quatre replied.
Bill snickered. "Oh yeah. I don't know if you would want to unleash Mel here on the likes of those personality types."
Quatre laughed. "I hadn't thought of that."
"But it's a desk job, ain't it? We wouldn't be able to fly would we?" Mel asked.
"I think we could accommodate you on that. You wouldn't partake in every shipment because we are contracted to build hundreds of satellites all over the place. It doesn't have to be a complete desk job."
"But this sounds like a lot of job for one person to handle," Mel challenged.
"I know, that's why I think you and Bill would head the division up as a team," Quatre said.
Bill and Mel looked at each other and smiled.
"It would be interesting to see if we could do this," Mel conceded.
Quatre wrote a figure on a piece of paper, "And this is what the annual salary will be." He slid the paper over to the pair.
They both blinked at it.
"You mean, this is the salary divided by two. Bill and I split it, right?"
"No, that would be what you would get individually," Quatre smiled.
"Well fuck Bill, you and Margaret can go about popping some more kids in the world for that amount!" Mel laughed. Bill glared, before smiling. Quatre sat there blushing. "Sorry, Quatre. You know me and my mouth," she said apologetically.
"When do we start," Bill asked.
"How does two weeks sound?" Quatre asked.
"Works for me. Mel?" Bill said looking at his cohort.
Mel sat for a minute. She knew if she let her pride take over they should refuse this job. It's a made-up job done out of charity. But Bill was her friend and he did have a family to support.
"Two weeks? Yeah, I guess I can do it."
Quatre smiled, "Wonderful! I'll get the paperwork in motion."
"So where's Trowa?" Mel asked.
"I wanted him to be here, but he declined. I'm sure he's at home. How about we all go out to dinner tonight to celebrate. Bill, by all means, bring the entire family," Quatre said.
"Sounds great," said Mel, "But you don't know what you're getting into if you invite the entire O'Shea brood."
"Mel!" Bill glared.
"Oh come on Bill, admit it! Your children are demon-spawn!" Mel laughed.
"That's one, Mel!"
"Oh I'm so scared, Billy-boy." They to got up to leave. Quatre walked them to the elevator, when Mel noticed she left her shoes behind. "Hang on a sec, Quatre. I left something behind. Be right back."
She rushed back in the office and gathered her shoes. Then she stopped for a moment and walked up to the mirrored wall. She put her hand to the glass and said, "Trowa, if you're back there, thank you."
Trowa jumped back for a second. 'How did she know I was here?' But he placed his hand where her hand was still pressed and said, "You're welcome, Mel."
~OWARI
(:./babaca/resurrect3)
