Chapter 1. The Interview

NEW YORK CITY, PRESENT

BUZZ!

I rolled over, smacking the alarm clock, pulling the covers over my head as I begin to drift off into sleep land again.

BUZZ!

Ugh, I pull the covers down peeking out at the alarm clock that will not stop beeping.  ‘I need to start sleeping with a hammer,’ I thought as I glanced at the red numbers staring back at me, 8:15.

SHIT!

I jump out of bed and run to the bathroom.  I turn the shower on and throw my clothes off.  ‘I can’t be late for this interview,’ I thought to myself as I jump in the shower and quickly wash my body and hair.  

My interview was at 9:30 across town.  I was interviewing for a position at CW Industries, a well-known financial firm here in the city.  It was not my dream job.  I had moved here to work in the magazine business.  I want more than anything to become an editor at one of the top magazine companies, like Vogue or Cosmopolitan, and maybe, eventually, own my own magazine.  That would be a dream come true.  However, I have been interviewed by almost every company here in New York and not one of them see my potential. ‘I lack spunk and personality.’ Pfft, what do they know?  I have a lot of personality.  Yeah, I may not be outgoing, or forward like a lot of columnists are, but I know how to get my job done, and I do it well.  

I can’t let their words get me down though.  I am still determined to work in the magazine business. Right now, though, I have to pay my bills.  I do not, under any circumstances, want to go back home to Florida.  So, taking this position, I will be able to stay in my place here in the city and work harder at getting into one of the magazine companies. It is only a temporary position anyway, five months, I believe is what the email said.  If I get this job, I will be working as the assistant to the CEO. 

I jump out of the shower and quickly dry off.  Rummaging through my closet, I find a white top and black pencil skirt.  After throwing it on, I dry my red hair and twist it up in a clip and apply some makeup. Feeling pleased with my appearance, I grab my bag and keys and run out the door.  

It took me twenty minutes to get across town.  I stood in the lobby of the big building. It was fancy with marble tiles and floor to ceiling windows on every wall. A beautiful fountain sat in the middle of the lobby with lily pads and those spotted black and white and gold goldfish swimming beneath the surface.  The main desk was against the wall to the left of the fountain with beautiful gold elevator doors on both sides.  A tall skinny woman with short black hair and brown eyes sat behind the desk.

I walk up to the desk and give the lady my name. "Go ahead to the 54th floor Miss. Reece. Mrs. Helms will be waiting to conduct your interview." I smile at the woman and thank her as I head to the elevator.

The ride up to the 54th floor was breathtaking. The elevator had glass walls that looked out over the city, more of the city becoming visible as you rose.  It’s amazing how you don’t realize how beautiful a place you are in every day can truly be, until you take a minute to really look and take it in.

As I reached the floor, just like the receptionist said, Mrs. Helms was waiting for me.  She was a petite woman or would be if it wasn't for the basketball she had where her stomach should be. She had long curly blonde hair that was twisted up halfway and greenish-yellow eyes.  She was young too I assume late 20s early 30s if I was to guess. Her eyes met mine and she smiled.

"Welcome Miss. Reese, nice to meet you." she reaches out her hand and I shake it, smiling back.  "It is nice to meet you too!"

"Come sit, we can begin the interview."  I follow her into a beautiful office with a beautiful view overlooking Central Park.  As I sit down, she opens a blue folder on her desk and begins. "So, I see you are a graduate of South Florida. What a fun state!"

"It had its moments I guess."

"It says here that you graduated with a degree in Journalism. Why do you want to work here at a business firm?"

I thought for a moment before answering.  "Well Mrs. Helms-"

"Oh, please call me Kate." she interrupted smiling.  I already feel comfortable with her, which is helping my nerves tremendously.  I can’t botch this interview.  My life here in New York depends on it, and I don’t want to go back to Florida.  That much I did know. 

"Okay, well Kate. I have done assistant work before, and I really enjoy it. I have a good personality, and I get along with everyone."I pause for a minute before continuing."My dream is to own my own magazine company one day. However, in the meantime I need work to support myself." 

She looked at me, her eyes meeting mine. "You do understand however, this is not a permanent position. I will be taking leave from now until the end of March. That is only five months. I do plan on coming back after my maternity leave is over.  The only reason I need a replacement now is because I need to go on bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy."

I nod at her words. That will work for me anyway. It will give me money until I can find something else.  I smile at her assumingly, "I understand."

She smiles and nods. "That doesn't necessarily mean you will be terminated when I get back, if you do well, and Mr. W. likes you, he may find another position for you."

I nod again understanding the terms.

"Okay, great! You have passed my interview, now it is time to impress the big boss. Don't worry though, he doesn't bite. He’s actually a gentleman compared to most CEOs."

She writes something down and closes the blue folder handing it to me. "Go ahead upstairs, tell him I sent you, I’ll call ahead."

I take the folder and thank Kate before heading back to the elevator to meet the CEO. 

“If you don’t mind me asking Kate, are you having a boy or a girl?” 

She smiles and looks down at her bump.  “A boy, we are naming him Aaron.” I smile at her.  “Now don’t keep the boss waiting, he hates being held up.”  

I turn to head towards the elevator.  Now I am nervous.

I ride the elevator up to the top floor and wait for the doors to open.  I step out into a beautiful lobby with the same marble tiles, and windows along the side of the walls.  On the opposite of the room from the elevator, there was huge wooden double doors with beautiful carvings etched into them.  A plaque on the wall next to the door read “N. Woods, CEO.”

I reach up, knock on the door, and wait.  I hear a deep masculine voice say, “come in.”   As I enter the room, I notice the interior first.  It is very plain.  The walls are beige, with marble flooring, like both lobbies.  His desk sat at the other end of the room in front of a huge picture window that overlooked the city.  There were no pictures on the walls, just a few bookcases with business books filling them.  I glance at the man behind the desk.  His head was turned away from me looking at a computer screen, punching away at the keyboard, his phone up to his ear.  He was beautiful to look at.  His facial structure was defined, his black hair cut short in a businesslike way.  

“Okay, thank you Kate.  She is here now.”  He hangs up the phone, still punching away at the keyboard.  “I’m sorry, I need to finish this quick and send it in, I will be two minutes.  You can go ahead and place the folder on my desk and have a seat,” he spoke as his eyes never left the screen.  I walked forward and placed the folder on the desk like he asked as I sat down.  The nerves that had dissipated during the first interview, build back up as we sit in silence. 

As I watch him punch the keys, his icy blue eyes never leaving the screen.  I feel a sense of familiarity builds up.  I have never been to New York before, but I just can’t get over the feeling that I had seen him somewhere before. He had a long muscular torso, which his black business suit fit nicely, shaping each of his curves.  His black hair was cut into a buisness cut, shorter on the sides and a little bit longer on top. Overall, he was stunning.   “And…done!” he says as he hits the last button with emphasis.  

He glances at me briefly before opening the folder I had placed on his desk.  He had the most piercing icy blue eyes I had ever seen.  “So, Miss Charlotte Reece-” he pauses when he reads my name.  A look of shock comes over his face.  As he finally looks up at me, I can see every emotion in his eyes.

“Charlie?”

Realization hit me when I heard that name.  Realization as to why he seemed so familiar.  There was only one person who ever called me that; one person I ever allowed to call me that.  

“N-nate?” 

So many emotions took over as we stared at each other.  His piercing blue eyes staring into my green eyes; it’s as if time stood still.