Chapter 10: The Learning Curve

It was Angel's second day on the job as Jordan's receptionist. She was about to pull her hair out because it seemed the phone in his office rang off the hook and she had no idea how to assist the callers. Connie, who did the billing and kept Jordan's books attempted to help Angel learn her new job, as did his nurse Meredith, but they were busy and didn't have a lot of patience or time to spend teaching her.

Jordan's office was one of the busiest offices in town. One of Angel's problems was that she had never learned how to use a computer because it wasn't allowed. She didn't have the first clue about how to book appointments or look up appointments in the computer. She was extremely frustrated and the program Jordan used for the scheduling was difficult for Angel to understand. Finally, she did what she always did when she reached her limit, she threw her hands in the air and intended to get out while the getting was still good, "I can't do this. I'm getting out of here," She said, and abruptly stood up and headed for the door.

Jordan was grateful he was not with a patient at that moment. He headed her off before she reached the door, "Wait a minute Angel," he said and grabbed her arm. She tried to wiggle away from him, but he had a firm grip on her, "What's the matter?"

Angel thought she might kill him for asking her that question, "What's the matter?" She repeated, "I can't do this Jordan, that's what the matter is."

"Yes you can," Jordan said firmly and everyone within earshot was listening and watching intently, so he led her to the privacy of his office and shut the door.

"People call here and want appointments and want to talk to you and I don't know what to do with them," She said in frustration. "I don't know how to book new appointments or use that fucking computer and I ask Connie and Meredith for help, and they are good to help me, but I can tell they are sick of me asking stupid questions."

Jordan had to admit he thought Angel would have fared better than she was faring. He had no idea how handicapped she was from her life of seclusion, "OK, so what happens if you walk out the door right now?" he asked, even though he had no intention of letting her leave, "Where would you go and what would you do?"

Angel looked down in frustration, "I don't know," she said.

"Any job you get is going to be difficult for you Angel, you'll have to be patient with yourself and let yourself learn how to do this job," He said softly and he pulled her into his arms and held her to him, "I know you can do it."

She buried her face against his chest, "I should just go back to Reno, I'm useless in the real world."

Jordan didn't appreciate her suggestion and he breathed a heavy sigh, "You are not useless," he said sternly "and you're not ever going back to Reno."

She looked up at him warily, "You're not going to spank me again are you?"

"As a matter of fact," Jordan smiled tilting her chin up towards him, "If you don't get your bottom out there and give it another try I just might," but in reality he didn't have the heart to spank her at that moment, he felt sorry for her because he could see what a struggle she was having.

Tears filled her eyes, "I don't know if I can do this," she said and the words caught in her throat.

Jordan led her to the couch, "Sit down for a minute and relax," he instructed, "I'll be right back."

She was nervous he was going to spank her when he led her to the couch, but she did as he said and sat on the couch and curled her legs beneath her in frustration, wishing things would be easier.

Jordan left her alone in his office and went out and spoke with Connie and Meredith privately in a room recently vacated by a patient. "I know Angel is a mess and she's having trouble catching on," he began, "But I would appreciate it if you would be extra patient with her."

Connie rolled her eyes, "No offense Jordan but I have work to do, I'm way behind with the accounts because it took you so long for you to hire someone to answer the phones. It's not a difficult job. We've had several people here from the temp agency that could do it without any problem."

Meredith could see that Jordan was serious about keeping Angel, "Why do you want her to do it Jordan?"

"She could use a break," Jordan said, "She really needs this job."

In the end Meredith and Connie agreed to be more patient and understanding with Angel, even though both of them resented it, and Jordan told them he would give both of them a bonus for being so understanding.

Jordan led Angel out to the desk and personally took time in between each patient to mentor her. It was a very long Friday morning, but Angel slowly improved with repetition and time.

Frank delivered Angel's car sometime after lunch. He walked into the clinic and handed her the keys, "I got it running again," he smiled.

Angel had almost forgotten about her car, "Thanks Frank."

"So you're working for Parker now," he said, and the edge in his voice was still there when he said the name "Parker."

"Yeah," she said softly. It was the first time she had seen Frank since Tuesday morning when Martin had ordered her to leave his house.

"Can we talk outside for a minute?" Frank asked since the people in the office were staring at them.

Angel was grateful Jordan was with a patient and wasn't there to confront Frank. She slowly stood up and asked Connie to cover the phones for her for a few minutes while she went out to talk to Frank. Connie and Meredith exchanged glances; they wondered if working with Angel was going to consist of nonstop visitors and all sorts of unexpected events.

When they got outside, Frank turned around and hugged Angel. She wasn't sure what to think and she hugged him back. "I'm sorry Angel," Frank said quietly, "I wasn't sure how to act the other day when I found out you were a, well uh..." he couldn't even say it.

"It's OK Frank," Angel encouraged, "I was a prostitute."

Frank had been struggling since he found out about it. He was doing better now but he wasn't quite there yet. "I know you must have had your reasons for doing it," he said.

"I did," Angel agreed.

"I am trying not to judge you," Frank said and it was obvious to Angel that Frank didn't want to talk anymore about it. He led her to the car and opened the door, "Give it a try," he suggested.

Angel put the key in the ignition and her car started right up, "Thanks for fixing it Frank," she smiled with appreciation.

Frank winked at her, "No problem."

She turned the engine off and got out of the car, "Listen Frank—"

"Angel," Frank cut her off, "I'm sorry I took you to see Ma the other day."

Angel lit a cigarette, "It's no big deal," she said nervously, "It was destined to happen that way I think. I'm just not welcome there anymore and now more than ever I realize it," and she lowered her eyes to the ground.

"Is Parker treating you OK?" Frank asked, "You can come back and stay with me if you want."

"I bet Pop would love it if I moved back in with you," she said sarcastically, "It's OK Frank. Parker has been very good to me," she said, "I don't know why he has been so good to me, but he lets me stay with him and he gave me this job and bought me some new clothes," and she whirled around and showed off her new outfit to Frank as she continued smoking her cigarette.

The bitterness Frank felt for Jordan Parker was slowly dissipating, even though he wasn't sure he was ready to let it go. Frank didn't want to tell Angel Mia had tried to find her the other night. He thought it was best to keep that information to himself, "Listen I need to get back to work," Frank said, "I'll call you later."

Angel nodded, "OK Frank," and she watched him drive off in his truck. If not for Jordan she would be lost and as if right on cue Jordan walked out of the clinic to find out where she had gone.

"What's going on?" Jordan asked as he approached her, "Did you walk out again in frustration?"

"Frank brought my car back," Angel said.

Jordan looked at the old Ford Mustang and then over Angel, "This car's pretty beat up," and he was thinking that Angel and her car were pretty much in the same state, "Maybe you should have it restored."

"That's what I'm hoping to do," Angel grinned.

"Let's go back inside," Jordan said and he grabbed her cigarette and tossed it away, "your break is over."

"Aww, c'mon," Angel complained as she followed him back inside, but she was glad he was conscious of her whereabouts, it made her feel safe.

In celebration of Angel making it through her first day of work, Jordan uncorked a bottle of expensive wine and grilled two steaks and served them with baked potatoes and a tossed green salad. "I knew you could do it," Jordan smiled at her, "I'm glad you stayed and finished out the day."

"It got better I guess," Angel admitted.

After dinner Jordan leaned back in his chair and sipped his wine, "Are you ever going to tell me about Reno?" he asked, fully expecting her to refuse, "Or do I need to ply you with more wine or better yet spank it out of you?"

Angel laughed, but she realized Jordan had done a lot for her over the past week, perhaps more than any man had ever done for her, "What do you want to know?"