Aurora is a determined woman. She has value for loyalty, efficiency, and quality. Nothing more until she met the CEO of her new company, Mr. Scott. Mr. Scott, the young CEO, who is also tall, dark, and handsome and is about to give Aurora a run for her money and her heart.
Lihat lebih banyakThere are three things you should know about me.
One. My name is Aurora, Ro for short. You can call me Aurora.
Two. I've recently finished my degree, but I've been in the workforce since I was sixteen.
Three. I'm about to nail this job interview.
Waiting has never been my strong suit. It builds up unnecessary anticipation and makes you nervous.
My competition today consists of women dressed in pencil skirts and men in tailored suits, the common denominator being that they all sit straight. It's logical. The interview we're going for is a rare opportunity and one of us will be choLopez as the assistant of the CEO's secretary.
So, tell me, out of all these respected professionals, why I had to sit next to the only person in the room hunched over and frantically bouncing her knee.
I clasp my hands together atop of my knees and turn to her, placing a crisp smile on my lips, "Are you nervous?"
"Oh!", The woman gasps, she was in her head. She softly laughs, "Yes. Very."
I decide not to answer, only eye her up and down. She's dressed the part, her only downfalls being that her heels are slightly too small, a thread is loose on her skirt, and her hair is styled messily, but everything else is on par. Flicking my eyes back to her, I share another sly smile, "Why?"
She stares at me for a moment, disoriented by my judgement. Her eyes grow teary, "U-Uh-", she stutters.
"Don't be.", and with that, I turn away from where I started before.
An hour passes and we're all still waiting. No candidates have entered the interview room yet, and a few of us in the waiting room seem to be disheartened. Some slumping over and starting to chat.
I remain sitting straight. Any moment now.
Another hour passes and half have fully relaxed into their chairs, two people leave.
I remain straight. Any moment now, they will call my name.
Yet another hour passes and three more leave. Is this job not worth a measly three hour wait for them?I blink and look up, readying myself to stretch, when instead I catch the eye of the assistant. Then it clicks. I'm a smart woman, I take pride in it, and yet this took me three hours to figure out. They're weeding out the ones that don't value the job enough to wait.
I, however, do value the job enough to wait.
I catch her hidden smile out of my peripheral vision as I straighten up again and stare at the wall.
Hours pass again and what once was eight A.M. becomes three P.M. More people leave and soon there are only four others in the room. One is slouched and talking to the person beside them, one sits as perfectly straight as I do, and one is still bouncing her leg.
The only movements I make are perfecting my hair, refreshing my makeup, and swallowing a mint, other than that I am still and waiting.
When there are only three left, I know that one of us is to leave.I, along with the quiet woman across from me, have figured out that this is a test. I can see it in her eyes. They're calculating. Intelligent.
The third woman, the bouncer-girl, is still here surprisingly. Probably out of desperation. She is still nervous but has sat straighter.She doesn't belong here.
I meet eyes with the other woman and know we are thinking the Evae thing.
Like she is made of dandelions, the woman gracefully rises and takes a seat beside bouncer-girl.
She places a hand on the bouncer-girl's wrist, "I can see that you're nervous. What's your name?", she asks. Her voice is laced with a foreign accent. I can see something in her other hand. A pill.
She has come prepared. My skin tingles.
"My name is Angela,", bouncer-girl replies, swiping a lock of her messy hair behind her ear.
"Like an angel?", The woman asks, lining up the pill for bouncer-girl's drink. I look away. I don't want to know what it is. My gut twists.
Bouncer-girl giggles, "Yea, I guess so."
"Well,", the mysterious woman starts, slyly dropping the pill in, "Maybe you should have a drink, it might help settle your nerves."
Angela smiles at the woman as she walks back to her seat.
She doesn't drink right away, she tries to make conversation, but the woman subtly shuts her down each time. She waits for her to drink.
I close my eyes.I hear Angela pop the lip open and I clench my jaw to not say anything.
I will be a fantastic, highly Scottued employee. I will be the best they've ever had. I'm smart. I'm determined. I'm-I sigh.
I'm not that awful.
Before Angela drinks, I tap her leg making her look to me. She's antsy around me, I make her uncomfortable.
I'm about to sabotage my win for nothing! I'm so close!
Quickly, I flick my eyes to her drink and then to the mysterious woman.
I'm so close to winning, to securing the best opportunity I've had in years, to start anew.Angela catches what I'm trying to say and lowers her drink.
I'm always close. So close, and then my morality kicks in and stumbles me.And just like that, Angela screws the lid back on and I'm still stuck in the game.
Another hour passes, it's four. Another, it's five. The receptionist sits perfectly and watches us. Waiting for the last person to leave.
It won't be me.
Angela keeps yawning and I close my eyes every time she starts. That's not professional. The mysterious woman has caught on that I protected Angela and now sits silent and seething.
Finally, I stand up and walk to the receptionist, like many had done before me. I play dumb, but I know the receptionist can't sit there all night.
"Hi, is anyone in with Mr. Bailey?"
The receptionist smiles at me, "I apologise for the wait. Hopefully he'll be just a moment.
Her comment is useless, but I hesitate. I squint at her. There's something about her eyes. Something in her smile that's telling me I'm so close to something, that I'm missing something by the hairs on my head-
Oh.
Oh of course. There is no Mr. Bailey.
She's Mr. Bailey.
I smirk.
"Hello Mr. Bailey.", I proudly state, trying to hide my smugness.
Ms. Bailey smirks.
"I'll see you here at eight tomorrow."
It's the day before my wedding. It's been a month since I last spoke to my dad and though thinking of the situation brews conflicted thoughts, I'm enjoying what's around me and making sure to start each day with a bang."No Ms. Jones.", I huff, placing my hands on my hips, "You have to catch up. You're supposed to be the best of the best, there's three mistakes in this document."She stammers for an excuse, but I silently stare at her then the corrected papers on her desk."Y- No, Bailey said that those were minor adjustments,", She says, gathering her ground, "That it's not necessary to perfect those numbers."My face flattens as I deadpan her. Lazily, as she continues furthering her excuse, I drape my eyes up and down her figure. Her words falter and eventually I look back up. I sigh and gather my hands behind my back, "... Ms. Jones, tell me,", I hold her eye, "Do I look like Ms. Bailey?"[] [] []At lunch, I'm called to Kevin's office.I push my way through the big doors, our lunc
Today's the day. It's uncle Will's demise, and what I previously would have dreamed to happen, I'm now dreading. I glance to my phone. I'm bound to get a call today, either from Kevin to say that all went well, which it will, or a call from dad saying it all went wrong, which is also what's going to happen. I sigh and stare back at my fingers. The girls are due over in half an hour, at noon, and they're coming with food and movies and hopefully a hug or two.To be honest, I'm annoyed. I'm frustrated at my dad, at my mum, at the whole situation, and I'm angry because they're not calling! They're making me wait, and I hate waiting. I roll my eyes and cross my arms. "Stupid unnecessary anticipation.", I grumble to myself.When the girls arrive, I'm hounded in a group hug, my chin resting on Daisy's shoulder."Girl, honestly. When did you get the nerve to look so damn good?", Eva snaps, taking a step back.I frown, "... What- ""And seriously Aurora,", Helly interrupts, placing her hands
Today, I'm booked. Eight to nine, I'm making sure this work week gets off on a good foot.I clap twice as I visit the accounting office, "You guys are behind.", I call to the room, watching as some hide a little below their desks, "Get on with it please... And you, fix your posture.", I impatiently command.Nine to ten, I've got my first dress fitting.All the girls gasp at the sight of my dress. It's practically a piece of fabric held up by pins and string, but with the concept drawing beside it, it's potential is obvious and striking.Eva covers her mouth as she stares with stars in her eyes, Helly's eyes drape up and down it and she shakes her head with a big smile, Daisy, expectedly, bursts into tears and blubbers about how beautiful I'll look.Ten to eleven, I'm sitting in a meeting with Kevin. Eleven to twelve, I'm buzzing around the office, and twelve to one, I'm visiting a cake tasting event with Kevin and our wedding planner."Thankyou, Jeremy.", The woman says to a waiter as
Kevin, in a not-so-subtle attempt to help me relax, has organized a dress fitting appointment for me. He's done well too, there's not a single price tag in the store, I'm guessing he knows I'll choose the cheapest. I chuckle and roll my eyes, before I sigh. This has all got an agenda. He's going to such great lengths because today is Friday. Today is the day that they deliver the first lot of bad news to Uncle Will and I'm peaking out as is.But for the sake of shallow encouragement, I stick my head in the sand and follow through with the days plan. I've never intricately imagined what my wedding would be like, but I most certainly didn't expect to have a dress be designed from scratch specifically for me."Okay, my girl!", The bubbly designer chants, clapping her hands, "Let's see what we're working with."The designer, upon seeing my shape, starts to rough out some designs she believes will work well with me. With the first glance, they show to be average wedding dresses. Every desi
Monday morning after an extremely stressful nights rest, I dazedly stroll to my office and spot a flat box about the size of an a6 envelope sitting square in the middle of my desk.My eyes well up.I slowly pick up the box and swallow, "Aw, Kevin.", I wistfully chuckle. For such an awful Sunday, who would've thought Monday would start so well.I smile and undo the ribbon, gently placing it down before lifting the lid.A girlish giddiness vibrates my chest as I run my fingers over the beautiful pearl necklace sitting atop a plush cushion. Kevin is out for the morning, he's scheduled with external meetings until an hour past noon. One of those meetings likely mentioning my uncle's demise.I close my eyes.I don't know what to do. Uncle Will deserves to be put away. Dysfunctional people need to be reproved until they're functional. Discipline is necessary, and in his case? Very well deserved. I rub my forehead. But my dad... I glance to my manicured fingertips.This would destroy him. Th
"The third venue is the best Ro.", Eva says over the call, her hands uncharacteristically direct to the picture on her screen."You're kidding. No. The second is the best. Look at the lighting! Imagine the pictures you could get!", Helly argues, Eva's words apparently offensive.Daisy's staring away from the call to her TV with a bucket of buttery popcorn in one hand, her third energy drink in the other. Her eyes are glued to some random cartoon, and I frown. How is she even alive?I sigh and glance back to the girls who are bickering, "And the first?", I ask.Eva slightly tilts her head as she flicks to the other venue I sent her, "I mean... It's okay... Do you like it?"I don't have much of an opinion on that one, I can't decide, so I shimmy my hand in response.Eva nods, like that was what she thought as well.Helly leans over her phone camera with a hand on her chin, "Which one is Mr. Scott's favourite?", She cheekily asks.Despite not wanting to, I blush and shake my head with a
"Okay... So, guess who my uncle is working for."Kevin snaps to attention, pausing his kiss on my palm. It's Friday morning and we're together in his office."Who?", he asks, his breath tickling my hand.Quickly, I yank to retrieve it, but he's latched on and shakes his head with a smirk. He runs a lazy finger over my palm to tickle it further.I struggle to close my hand as Kevin jams it open."Stop that!", I hiss, climbing off his lap to pull my hand away."You get back here.", He laughs, reaching for me."No.", I say, finally freeing my hand. I whip to him from a distance and hold a finger out, "You have to listen to me."He rolls his eyes and silences to listen."Okay, so. My uncle can't help himself, he's a questionable man... You know who else is questionable?", I ask, pausing for effect as I retrieve my laptop.At my pause, Kevin chuckles, "Who?""Mr. Menni.", I say with a big, dangerous smile creeping up my face. Kevin's face falls slightly, "Now, let me tell you. My uncle, wh
I've got my high heels on, I've got my favourite leather bag, and I'm clacking into Beetle Ports Co early Wednesday morning.I've got my pass in hand, and I'm hoping it still works on the elevators.I skip the public line and stride into Kevin's private elevator, catching some glances as I do. I stare back until they drop their gazes. When the card scanner turns green, I know I'm in and start to shoot straight up to the top floor. It's been three and a half weeks since Kevin and I have even looked at each other and whether he wants to or not, I'm restarting the cycle. I must tell him what I've found. When I arrive at the top story, I strut down the hall to his front door and straighten up before I knock.He calls out for me to come in, obviously thinking I'm someone else. My eyes shut momentarily at the sound of his voice and my resolve falters. I hold my heart. He's in there... What am I doing-Go.I open the door and walk in without a word, and he doesn't lift his eyes off his paper
Mr. Menni is going down.... After I get Kevin to listen.I'm shielded by the door, not listening to him as he beckons me over like a siren."No. Listen.", I chuckle, pointing a firm finger at him. This is a new Monday and I'm going to start it correctly.He laughs and leans back on his arms. He's flexing."It's not working, sorry.", I flatly say with a click of my tongue, and I turn to my laptop as he laughs, "Okay, so let's discuss- ""I'm not discussing anything until you come over here.", Kevin purrs.I glare at him. My plan was to slide in the information slowly, eventually rounding around to my involvement with the Menni case.But I guess that's not working."Let me help with Mr. Menni.", I deadpan.Kevin's easy-going smile dissipates, and he holds my eye."Finally.", I sigh, taking a step closer to him now that he's on edge. It needed to be done, "Look,", I start, placing my computer in front of him, "These are Mr. Menni's associates.", I gesture to a list, and his eyes flick o
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