Interlude: A job offer

Ms. Lourdes' POV

As if things weren't busy enough with the school festival in two days, it seemed I wasn't getting a chance to do some actual work. If it was on the phone or at my door, people kept on stopping me from getting some actual work done.

First I got a call from Anna, telling me that she and Claire would not be in this morning because they had some errand to run. After I asked more about it, she told me it was because of yesterday evening. They had gone to a ball, and apparently, Claire had convinced the Queen to visit the school festival this Saturday. It was an understatement that that news came as a shock to me.

“The Queen is coming?! Why am I only being notified of this now?”

“Claire arranged it yesterday night. We couldn't have told you much sooner.”

She had a point, but that meant we had to double our efforts for the festival. A lot of extra work just fell into my lap, but it was nevertheless another impressive feat of Claire. She sure was doing everything she could for Elodie and Eline. Hats off.

With my mind already occupied with the queen's visit to the school, I gave them the okay to come in later. It was only after putting down the phone that I realized Anna did not really specify what that errand was. Well, Claire was there too, so I am sure it wouldn't be anything too irresponsible. Claire was a model student after all.

But that train of thoughts made me remember that wild story about voodoo she told me yesterday after the funeral.

Not wanting to get laughed at in my face, I sent Ms. Odes an e-mail to tell her to look into the matter as soon as everyone had filed their reports about the matter. Not even five minutes later my door burst open in a whirlwind, and Ms. Odes stood in front of me.

“Voodoo. Really?” She looked ecstatic. I had thought she would laugh at me in my face. Isn't that what scientists are supposed to do in these cases? “The story seems amazing. It all really happened you know. Oh, I always wanted to research stuff like this. I was such a big fan of the X-files you know. I will be Scully and I will make Mia play Mulder.”

Knowing Ms. Odes, I was pretty sure that if she was in that show, she would be one of those geeks from the lone gunmen. I sighed. “You know this is an actual research topic and not a game right?”

“Yes, yes. This is going to be fantastic. I am going to keep this a surprise to Mia.”

Ms. Odes didn't really react to outer impulses anymore. She was already babbling about voodoo to herself and researching anything she could find about the subject on her smartphone, so I gently pushed her in the direction of my door. Once we arrived there, I put her outside and closed it again.

“Finally some peace and quiet,” I said out loud.

But my words weren't cold yet or my phone was ringing. I rushed back to my desk to pick it up. “Ah, Bernadette good to get you on the line. This is Polly.” Why was the major calling me in this over-friendly manner? I was pretty sure she needed something. Her friendliness put me immediately on my guard.

She started by asking me for an update on CYA matters and asked if anything noteworthy happened since last time, so I told her about the queen visiting this Saturday.

“Why didn't you tell me sooner. I will re-arrange my schedule and make sure to be there too.” I told her I only found just found out. That Claire had arranged it yesterday evening.

“Claire again. She keeps on surprising me. That girl will get far in life. Mark my words!”

I was pretty sure Claire did not want to get further than the kitchen door, but I decided not to mention that.

After some more chitchat, the cat finally came out of the bag. The real reason for her call.

“I have an offer for you. But I need you to swear secrecy about what I'm about to reveal to you.” I agreed to hear her out. Even if I was sworn to secrecy more information was always a good thing to have after all.

“After I outed myself on TV, my party decided to promote me to European commissioner. This is all still very hush-hush, but can confide in you that they are giving me the promotion just to be rid of me on the National level.”

“I am sorry to hear that and happy for you at the same time, Polly. I thought you were a fantastic mayor.” I did not really know how to react to that news. It would be a huge step in her career. Normally only politicians with a long career on the National level were ever nominated for a function like that. She skipped quite a few steps.

“No need to be sorry. Vera and I are treating it as a huge opportunity and have been having underground talks with politicians from all over Europe to launch a new big-scale project.

We want to take the CYA to the European level and create a European branch that oversees CYA offices all over Europe. A bit like Interpol, but with a mission to Yurify the continent, just like you have been doing now but on a way bigger scale. Since one of our contacts abroad said you were already helping them to set up a CYA office, Vera reminded us of your impressive work on dealing with that fox of a Kath Lyst, and we thought to ask you to get aboard our venture.”

That must have been those emails Claire forwarded me after we were on that talk show. I had indeed replied to a few e-mails telling people how we worked and with some of those people I was still mailing back and forward, giving advice where I could. But I did not realize they were foreign politicians. I should really start to do background checks before blindly answering those emails. I hoped I did not answer too informal to those emails.

I thought Polly's explanation was rather vague so I decided to ask some more questions.

“I am sorry, but what are you exactly offering me?”

“We are offering you to become the head of the Yuripean union. The new international agency we are launching. We have already gathered support for your nomination abroad. Your friendly and helpful reputation helped us a lot.”

Then I inquired about the pay. I mean who wouldn't?

If you are worried about wages, I can guarantee you will receive payment on the same level as any top European functionary. The way things are going, all we really need is your okay.”

That would mean more than five times what I was making now. This was a superb offer, but it came at a time when I would want to spend time with Lisa, now that we finally got together. It also meant that I would need to leave the CYA in the hands of someone that would protect Claire from Kath. The only one I could think of being capable of that was Anna. Anna had shown some teeth to her mother last time to protect Claire, and she was pretty capable when she wasn't fooling around. If I stayed her boss, I was sure with a little guidance, she could get the job done.

“Are you still there.”

“Yes, sorry. I was considering things. I will need to discuss this with my partner. Can I give you my answer tomorrow?” I wasn't alone anymore. I needed to discuss this with Lisa properly. It would mean change for her too after all.

“Oh, so things finally worked out with that bar lady you were chasing for years. I am so glad to hear that.”

Have things always been so obvious, that even the mayor knew that I was after Lisa? I let out an inner sigh. I really thought I had the "we-re just friends"- thing down to a T.

“I will wait for your call tomorrow. I hope you understand I cannot wait too long for your answer. We must cast the iron while it is hot.”

“I understand. I will get back to you first thing tomorrow.”

We finished our conversation and I took a moment to overthink everything that just happened.

The idea of such a big change did appeal to me and I was enjoying all the work I did for the CYA a lot more than that stuffy old headmistress job. Maybe it was time for such a change.

A message from Lisa interrupted my thinking.

“Can you make sure those girls leave at 6 pm? You could all come together. If we leave it up to them they might miss it the way they have been working. XxXxXxxXXxXXXXX...”

I felt a little embarrassed seeing all those kisses at the end of the message, but at the same time, it made me feel happy inside. I wanted to send an answer but I received another message immediately after the first “And no telling them. I want to see Claire's face when she realizes. XxXXxX...”

“Troublesome girl...” I said to myself with a big smile on my face. I replied to her that I would do my best, and added some kisses of my own. I felt a little like a teenager sending silly messages like that.

But wait, wasn't this whole deal from Polly ideal? It would be an awesome way to get back at Lisa for that joke at the funeral and make me go along with her practical joke on Claire.

Now I had a big announcement for her tonight that she would not see coming.

Yes, it was all coming together. It was a perfect way to serve Lisa her own medicine.

Even though I thought it was universal and because someone pointed out to me that they did not understand what I was talking about:

x in a message is a kiss. xxx = three kisses. X is a big kiss, x is a small kiss (like a kiss on the cheek). I hardly ever send a message to anyone where the conversation does not end with an x. A happy birthday is always paired with xxx etc.