Chapter Text
Caitlyn
Across from Caitlyn was one of the most famous people in the world, apparently. Definitely one of the most famous athletes, but that was also why Caitlyn only had a marginal awareness of who she was. She shook the woman’s hand, surprisingly soft but strong in its grip, and Caitlyn returned an equally strong one and nodded.
“Caitlyn Kiramman,” she said.
“Vi,” Violet said. Violet - Captain of Piltover United for the last four years and considered largely responsible for the club's success, success it hadn’t had for two and half decades.
“Nice to meet you ma’am,” Caitlyn nodded, then shaking the next woman’s hand, Violet’s agent Sky, and then took her seat across the dining table. It wasn’t common to have an interview in your potential boss’s house but, given she was interviewing to be Violet’s assistant, she figured it would be one of her many offices.
“Maybe no ma’am ,” Violet said as she sat. She wore a black hoodie and black sweatpants, both massive, and sat slouched with her legs spread and hands in the jacket’s pockets. The posture of someone who didn’t want to be there, but the tone she used was one of respect. That was a good sign to Caitlyn, who wouldn’t work for someone who didn’t see her as an equal. She didn’t need this job, she had another offer, this one just sounded more interesting. She considered herself interviewing them as much as they were her.
“Of course,” Caitlyn nodded, “Just Violet then?”
“Just Vi,’ Violet said.
Caitlyn considered her a moment. None of her research had turned up Violet going by “Vi’. She studied the woman for a moment. The hood was up on Violet’s jacket, but Cait could see the start of a mural of tattoos her research had shown her Violet had creeping up the back of her neck. She noticed a small scar on Violet’s lip. Her eyes went up to Violet’s and realized they were on her. Their gaze lingered on each other a moment and Violet gave a softer smile than Caitlyn was expecting. As if to say, Please. Just Vi.
“Vi it is, then,” Cailyn nodded.
Vi smiled wider.
Sky began the interview the usual way, asking what Caitlyn’s qualifications were and Caitlyn explained them all. She was formerly a vice president at a consulting firm where her organizational skills were honed. She gave a few examples and then discussed her time after that job as executive assistant to a major CEO, the kind of name that gets people’s attention. The kind of name, Sky admitted, that was the reason she had gotten this interview.
“I must admit,” Sky said, “You’re rather impressive. But I do want to make something clear. While the title is ‘assistant’ because it helps us find candidates, this job is a bit more than that, as the posting said. It’s more of a…life manager. Violet here is a very talented, very focused woman who doesn’t have time for much else in her life. So she needs someone to tell her what she has going on and when. Everything from organizing her appointments, reminding her when important events are coming up, finding the clothes she’ll wear to those events, etc. Of course we have a network you can tap into, but you’ll be running point as it were. It’s a…unique position. You will technically be her employee but kind of her life boss as well.”
“Sounds like a good challenge,” Caitlyn said. In her research there were very few interviews with Vi that weren’t the mandated post-game ones. In watching those she had learned that her training regimen and dedication were strict and revered among her league. Many teammates talked about her intense devotion..
Sky ran Caitlyn through a few example scenarios and Caitlyn felt she nailed them. Sky was easy to read in her happiness of Caitlyn as a candidate. Vi less so, but Caitlyn did notice the way Vi looked at her. Not intensely, not menacingly, not in annoyance. More like curiosity. Caitlyn’s eyes flickered over to Vi a few times and each time she looked away quickly, willing herself not to blush.
“Any questions for us?” Sky asked, seeming like she was ready to wrap up.
“A few,” Caitlyn nodded. She asked a few basic questions about pay, days off, expected hours (though she had no problem with hard hours, she didn’t really have other places to be). Then she turned her attention to Vi.
“One more question, for you Vi,” she said, “How do you like to be communicated with?”
Vi’s head turned a little. “W-what do you mean?”
“As Sky said, this is a unique position where I will be telling you what to do and what you have upcoming. I don’t want to pester you, but it would require very frequent communication. Is there a preferred way of that for you? Perhaps through an app on your phone? A synced calendar?” Sky scoffed and Caitlyn noted Vi likely wasn’t easy to get a hold of via conventional methods and wouldn’t keep her own schedule well at all. Made sense, considering the job. “Perhaps simple texts? Or just speaking in person?”
“In person,” Vi blurted out with an oddly high volume. “Um, I mean, yeah that works. I mean, you’ll be with me right? Why not just talk it out?” She sat up, suddenly energized somehow. “Sky, do you think I could get the room with Caitlyn here for a minute?”
“I think we’re good with the interview,” Sky said, “Maybe we debrief first?”
“I just want to see how we get along really quick, alone,” Vi said, “Given we’ll be that way in work often.”
Sky looked confused and Caitlyn realized, while she definitely wasn’t the first candidate they had interviewed, this was a first for Vi. Sky nodded, gathered up her notes, and left. The house, while not massive, was a nice modern place with plenty of rooms for Sky to disappear into.
Caitlyn felt suddenly nervous being alone with Vi. Not in a threatening way. This was a different kind of nervousness that made her body tingle a bit. She kept her face solid though. Unreadable. She hadn’t been one to show many emotions for a while now.
Vi pulled her hood off and ruffled her hand through her hair, pink and bright and beautifully cut. Caitlyn let herself look over it for a moment before back to Vi who seemed to catch her looking again.
“So,” Vi said, “Are you a big PU fan?”
Caitlyn had to take a second to remember that PU stood for Piltover United.
“Why do you ask?” Caitlyn asked, “Do you need your assistant to be?”
“Life manager,” Vi said in a tone mimicking Sky’s voice and a little laugh. Caitlyn’s face stayed still. “But, um, no, not necessarily. So who are you a fan of?”
Caitlyn wondered if this would cost her the job but she told the truth. “No one. I don’t really care about football.”
Vi’s eyebrows raised. “Oh.”
“Not to say I don’t respect your talent,” Caitlyn said, “Or the sport. It has a great history and the work you put in is more than admirable. It’s just, when I watch the game…” For the first time in the interview Caitlyn faltered, trying to find the right words that didn’t sound too harsh.
“You get bored?” Vi asked.
Caitlyn sighed, feeling like the interview was falling apart. As if on cue a strand of hair came loose from her ponytail and fell into her face. She moved it and gave a small laugh. “Yes. I’m sorry.”
“Oh look at that,” Vi sat forward, forearms on the table, “She isn’t a robot.”
“What?”
“You just seemed stiff.”
“I’m organized.”
“I’m seeing that. No disrespect. And, to be fair, you did just tell me my single greatest passion in life makes you bored.”
Caitlyn winced. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“I don’t think so,” Vi said, “I like the honesty. You’re from Piltover right? You have friends who are fans? Family?”
Friends? That was laughable. “My father is a fan.”
“Big one?” Vi asked.
“Big one.”
“So,” Vi sat back, “You’re overqualified. You’re not a fan of football or the team or me. And you want this job?”
“Yes,” Caitlyn said without hesitation.
“Okay,” Vi said and Caitlyn knew exactly what the next question would be. She made fists in her lap, “Why?”
Caitlyn took a beat. The real answer was inside her but she couldn’t say it. Saying it would be like pulling out a rabid animal from inside her and laying it on the table to attack and destroy the interview. So she gave a half answer.
“Is it enough to say I just think it’s a fascinating job?” Caitlyn said, “I will enjoy it.”
“That’s it?” Vi asked.
“That’s it.”
Vi peered at her and once again Caitlyn could feel a slight warmth along her skin. It wasn’t like her to be so…typical. One of the most famous footballers in the world was staring at her and she was fighting a blush like a teenager. It wasn’t just the look, though. Vi was much nicer than Caitlyn had expected.
“Any other questions for me?” Vi asked.
Caitlyn thought for a moment, “Are you comfortable being bossed around? Because I don’t think I can do this job if you don’t listen to me.”
Vi grinned. “Okay. You’re hired.”
To be continued...