CHAPTER TWO

Kelvin’s P.O.V

I let out a groan as the blaring sound of my alarm pulled me out of my peaceful sleep. 

Rubbing my eyes, I fumbled to find my phone and stop the endless noise. But as soon as my eyes landed on the time, they widened with panic.

Shit. I was running late for my interview.

Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I sprung out of bed, racing to the bathroom. I quickly showered, dressed, and gathered all the necessary items in my office bag. 

With one last glance at the mirror to make sure my appearance was presentable I rushed out of my bedroom and into the living room.

"What the fuck!" The exclamation burst from my lips as I clutched my chest in shock. 

Someone stood in my living room, catching me completely off guard.

"Well, good morning to you too, son. You're finally awake," my mom greeted cheerfully, going about stocking up my fridge with fresh groceries while disposing of the old ones.

"Mom, you scared the crap out of me. How did you get in here?" I asked once I had composed myself.

"I arrived this morning. I thought I'd fill your fridge with some food and groceries since I know you'll need them," she explained with a hint of mischief in her eyes. I almost rolled my eyes.

She had started again.

"Mom, I've told you not to do this anymore. I'm a grown man, I can take care of myself," I protested, walking over to the counter where she stood.

"I know, but I'm still your mother. It won't hurt to lend a helping hand now and then, right?" she replied, offering an innocent smile. She only made that face when she wanted me to agree with something that I usually wouldn't.

It could be annoying at times, but I couldn't help but give in. After all, she was still my mom. She had raised me all on her own at a young age, so I understood why she always felt the need to care for me.

The perks of being the only child to a single mother.

"I understand, but please inform me in advance next time you're coming over. What if I had a girl here and we were... occupied?" I tried to reason, only to be met with her laughter.

"What?"

"Come on, let's face it. You don't have much of a love life. So, I don't have to worry about you having any girls over because I know it's highly unlikely. Let me help you with the food, or else you'll end up starving," she continued, nonchalantly going about her task.

"I... You... Ugh!" I sighed, giving up.

It was useless to argue with her. No matter what I said, she always seemed to have a valid point. I indeed lacked a love life due to the demands of my work, and on top of that, she was right.

Mom chuckled. "I have to go now. I'm running late. Take care of yourself, and please let this be the last time I do this for you," I said, planting a quick kiss on her cheek.

"You know that's impossible," I heard her voice trail off as I made my way out.

~*~

"Shit!" I cursed as another car collided with mine from behind, causing my vehicle to jolt forward.

I let out a deep sigh. This was going to be trouble. It was my fault that someone had collided with my car. I hoped the person would be understanding so we could settle the matter amicably and I could proceed to work without any further delay.

Taking a deep breath, I exited my car and made my way to the other driver's vehicle.

"Excuse me," I called out, knocking lightly on the window. The person inside was a woman. She rolled down the glass in response to my gesture.

I was immediately taken aback by her beauty. She was stunningly beautiful and looked oddly familiar. I racked my brain, trying to recall where I had seen her before, but I soon gave up when I noticed that her expression was far from pleasant.

I swiftly apologized and handed her my contact information card, offering to cover any expenses incurred as a result of the accident. However, she seemed unwilling to accept it. Let's just say that the conversation didn't end on a positive note for either of us.

By the time I arrived at the company, I was close to being late. Approaching the receptionist, I greeted her politely. "Good morning, I'm Kelvin Anderson, here for the interview. I hope I'm not too late?"

"You're right on time, Mr. Anderson. The interviews are being held on the sixth floor. The elevator is just to the left," she informed me, gesturing in the appropriate direction.

"Thank you," I replied, making my way toward the elevator. Stepping inside, I pressed the button for the sixth floor, anticipation bubbling within me. 

Once the elevator doors opened, I stepped out and followed the signs leading me to the area where the other interviewees were waiting.

A woman approached us, explaining the interviewing process. Just as she was about to leave, she was stopped by another staff member. After a quick exchange of words, she turned back to address us.

"I've just been informed that the current CEO will be among those conducting the interviews. Best of luck to all of you," she announced before making her exit.

I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions at this revelation. The ladies seated next to me began whispering in hushed tones, gossiping about the CEO.

"I heard the new CEO is an absolute nightmare," one of them whispered.

"How so?" the other lady inquired.

"She introduced herself to some of the staff this morning, and let me tell you, she's anything but pleasant. Rumor has it that she's notorious for firing people over the smallest mistakes when she worked at her previous company."

My heart skipped a beat upon hearing their conversation. Nervousness began to creep in, but I pushed it aside, determined to give my best during the interview.

Rising from my seat, I approached the secretary stationed on that floor. "Excuse me, when will the interviews begin?" I questioned, hoping to have a clearer picture of the situation.

"They'll commence in the next twenty minutes," he replied, a hint of anticipation evident in his voice.

I thanked the receptionist and entered the elevator that would take me back to the first floor. 

As the doors closed, I realized that I had forgotten to bring the small note containing key points from my rehearsed speech. I had wanted to review it one more time just to ensure I hadn't missed anything important. Now, with the company owner leading the interviews, I couldn't afford to take any chances.

The elevator came to a halt, and the doors opened once again as someone stepped inside. Glancing up from the paper I was studying, I noticed a pair of well-toned legs standing inches away from me. It was clear that the person was a woman.

She positioned herself in front of me, pressing a button to select her desired floor. The doors closed, and the elevator began its ascent. I didn't speak up, assuming that she, too, was heading to the same floor as me.

My gaze shifted from the paper to observe the woman's face. She wore a black suit that accentuated her slim figure, but half of her face was obscured by a pair of black sunglasses. Despite this, I could tell she was in her mid-twenties.

"Hi, I'm Kelvin Anderson," I introduced myself, taking a step forward. I thought striking up a conversation with her would help distract me from the impending intensity of the interview I was about to face in the next ten minutes. Perhaps we could even become friends.

Instead of responding, she kept her gaze focused straight ahead. It was clear she was purposefully ignoring me, but I refused to give up so easily.

"Are you also here for the interview? If so, you're quite late. You should make sure to be better prepared next time," I remarked, hoping to elicit a response. Once again, she remained silent.

"I think you might need some good luck. I've heard rumors that the new CEO, who will be conducting the interviews, is a tough nut to crack," I added, hoping to strike a chord with her.

This time, she turned to look at me, although her sunglasses still concealed her expression. Suddenly, a smile appeared on her lips.

“Really?” she asked, her voice sounding calm and curious.

"Yes, I am sure. From the rumors circulating about her behavior, it seems like she might be one of those women in her late thirties who prefers solitude in a grand mansion surrounded by numerous cats since she has no friends. It's absurd that she's leading this interview, and I doubt she knows much about the role. I'm certain the board of directors had no choice but to turn the company over to her because she's the heiress," I vented, my words flowing out due to nervousness. However, something about her demeanor made me feel like I could trust her because she carried herself with elegance and discretion

"Hmm," she mumbled under her breath, turning her attention back to the front of the elevator.

"I can picture her being Lucifer's wife," I chuckled, attempting to make a playful joke. However, her reaction surprised me as her jaw hardened.

"Lucifer's wife?" she asked intriguingly.

"Yes, it's just a fanciful name I came up with. Don't you think it suits her?" I nodded, hoping she would join in the lightheartedness of the conversation. 

She responded with a slow nod before swiftly exiting the elevator as soon as the doors opened.

I followed behind her, diverting my gaze momentarily. But when I looked back up, she had vanished without a trace. I scanned the other candidates, but she was nowhere to be found. Thoughts raced through my mind. If she wasn't here for the interview, then who was she?

Deciding it was futile to look for her, I focused on preparing myself mentally for the upcoming interview. Making my way to my designated seat, I took a deep breath before the interview commenced.

"Lucy Folsom, you may now proceed to your interview," the first candidate was called, their nervousness evident as they fumbled with their inhaler before entering the room. Minutes later, they exited without giving away their emotions.

Three more individuals followed suit, and then it was my turn. Gathering my confidence, I adjusted my suit and confidently walked toward the conference hall where the interview was to be conducted.

A mix of anticipation and anxiety coursed through me as I ran my fingers through my hair, exhaling deeply upon reaching the conference hall. Putting on a confident smile, I pushed open the glass door and stepped inside.

My eyes immediately locked on the only female interviewer among the two males seated. Horror washed over me as I realized who she was - the woman from the elevator, her outfit and presence giving her away.

"Good day, Mr. Anderson," she greeted me with a sly smile, removing her black glasses. My heart sank even further as I recognized her as the lady from this morning.

'Oh no, what have I gotten myself into?' I thought, panic flooding my mind.

"Trouble, Mr. Anderson. And you've landed yourself in even more trouble for letting out that cuss word earlier," she smirked, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

"I apologize, I didn't mean for it to slip out," I stammered, quickly taking my seat in front of the woman I had referred to as Lucifer's wife. Her expression indicated that she had no intention of making this interview easy for me.

Taking a deep breath, I reminded myself that it was better to give it my all and fail than to not try at all so I wore a mask of confidence and answered each question professionally.

"So, Mr. Anderson, tell me why we should hire you?" She leaned back, resting her chin on her palm as she awaited my response.

"Because I possess ambition, strong work ethic, competitiveness, and..." I began, only to be interrupted by her disinterested cuts.

"What else?" she interjected, bored with my generic answers.

"I also hold an exceptional academic record..." I tried to continue, but she quickly dismissed my words.

"So do the rest of the candidates," she retorted sharply, her impatience showing.

"Allow me to share something unique about myself. Despite the thousands of applicants, I managed to rise to the top five. I bring not only the qualities you seek but also a distinct approach and outstanding adaptability. I believe I possess the ability to think quickly on my feet, make decisive choices, and..." I trailed off, hoping that my answer would impress her.

"Tell me something the last candidate didn't say. With such stiff competition and your success in making it to this stage, I expected something different and spectacular from you. Frankly, I'm not impressed in the slightest," she declared coldly.

I was screwed. The interview continued, and with each passing minute, I could feel my hopes dwindling. Nonetheless, I refused to succumb to defeat. I would give it my all, regardless of the outcome.

T.B.C 

Noeline.