Alpha East: Employment Rate

Two Weeks Earlier

Los Angeles, CA

Antonia Leighton

I need this job. Please. Just this one time. Help me!

Her mantra for days, now. Student loan was a bitch. Mom's in the hospice battling cancer. The landlord had threatened to throw her out of her apartment if she failed to pay her overdue rental fees by the end of the month. Plus, she was running out of groceries. To top it off, she was running out of gas in the middle of Los Angeles traffic. What the actual fuck! 

Ain't I the luckiest woman in the world.

It was Friday, her tenth job interview before the weekend. If she didn't pass this, she will start again on Monday. She could always go back to dancing on polls at Cage Delight, lap danced on sweaty middle-aged randy bastards until the age of 30 but...fuck! The thought alone of going back made her clench hands on the stirring wheel of her beat-up beetle tightly until her knuckles turned white. Or maybe work two to three jobs to support her mother.

No! She was steadfast to give her best this time to pass this fucking interview. Her degree in Economics, graduating top of her class under full scholarship should have been enough but apparently these days one has to be well connected to be accepted in the corporate world. That's where MJ came in. Her only best friend has it covered. Though two years younger than Antonia, they connected right away after a dire incident at Uni. She grimaced at the memory. Not a good one. She made a mental note to call the unassuming princess later.

Glancing at the direction on her g****e map, she realized she was entering the Financial District of Los Angeles in South Broadway. The building she was looking for should be the tallest and newest one in the area.

EAP Real Estate Corporation. Found it. The description itself didn't do justice to the all-glass elegant beauty of the building. She could just imagine how immaculate and grand it would be inside. Her palm moistened and she licked her dry lips. She had to do this. Her other options were unfathomable.

Luckily she found a neat spot in the parking area right away. It gave her time to compose herself, check her make-up, and re-read her lines. Every answer should be perfect and to the point. Okay, it's time.

Taking a deep shaky breath, she locked her car and walked the distance to the entrance of the building. The electronic glass doors opened for her and her confident steps faltered. Taken aback by the splendor of the lobby. Damn! Get a grip, Toni. Securing her brown generic shoulder bag to her body, a portfolio on her right hand, she approached the receptionist.

The gentleman was on a call and raised his finger, a signal for Antonia to wait a couple of minutes. Understanding, she nodded with a small smile.

"Yes, sir. I will see to it right away. No problem, sir. Thank you. Bye." Then the receptionist gave Antonia his full attention with a genuine smile. "Can I help you, miss?"

Clearing her throat she responded in a shaky voice. "Yes. I am here for the interview. MJ sent me?"

Though nothing changed from the man's expression, she saw his eyes frowned. "Miss Rochette, you said?" He asked, quite hesitant. 

"Yes, sir. Mia Jane Rochette." God. She hoped her friend truly did back her up. She really trusted her. And last night, MJ assured her she would take care of it.

"I am sorry to ask this, miss. Did she send you an email or text maybe?"

"Oh, yeah. Sure. Here." She handed her smartphone to the guy and let him read MJ's messages.

His eyes brightened as he scanned her phone and he smiled once more. He handed her back the device and printed an access card for her and an ID. Odd. This was supposed to be for an interview, right? "Mr. Thompson will meet with you on the tenth floor. He is the finance head and he will discuss with you anything you want to know. Welcome to EAP, Miss Leighton."

"And the interview?" Puzzled with the turn of events, she could only utter her question in a small voice.

"No need. What Miss Rochette wants, goes." Again, he flashed his perfect white teeth. So pleased with himself like he did something extraordinary to please Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom. She couldn't believe MJ was that important.

What the fuck! Unbelievable. Nope. She would not question her luck and look at the gift horse in the mouth. 

"Mr. Thompson, you say?"

"Yes, miss. Tenth floor." He smirked. Damn, he's cute.

"Um...thank you. I'll go there now."

"Good luck." Antonia nodded, picked her new IDs on the marble counter, and hastily walked towards the elevator before the receptionist could tell her it was a prank and he was only having a grand time with her.

***

To be honest, she really didn't know what to expect when she reached the finance department. She was fidgety and nervous as hell however sheer will precede all her insecurities.

Looking around the floor's receiving area, her chestnut brown eyes fell on the nearest table to her right that says Secretary on a silver title on it. Again, a gorgeous man was sitting behind the desk and he looked up at her while she approached him.

"You must be, Miss Leighton."

"Yes. Your colleague at the lobby sent me here."

"No problem. Mr. Thompson is in a meeting but he will meet with you in a few minutes. Here, just fill this out first. I will need your resume, too. You can use my table and make yourself comfortable." 

And just like that, he eased her worry. This time her smile was gentle when she met his kind eyes. "Thank you." Lady luck was really on her side this time.

Gracefully sitting on one of the comfortable seats before the secretary's desk, she began to fill out the forms provided to her. On the third sheet, her eyes flared. An exciting question in her eyes when she looked at the man before her.

"Ah, yes. You will have a condo unit provided by the company. It's free. But if you..."

"Oh, god. I will take it." She squeaked.

He chuckled at her eagerness. "The boss, especially the CEO hates tardiness that's why he decided to provide free lodgings to all of his employees near EAP. You will like it there. It's safe and secure."

"Will you be there?" She didn't mean to sound like a flirt but maybe, just maybe, it was time for her to start dating and check her options. She was not getting any younger. The man before her was oozing great personality.

"Um...yes." Then he looked away.

Oh. She was not his type. It was okay. She could use a friend though. "I could use a new friend," she offered. Truth be told, he was attractive but she was not feeling it. 

His smile returned and he nodded eagerly. "Sure, miss."

Satisfied, she went back to her task, made sure to read and sign every page of her contract, and also omitted to make mistakes on her bank form.

Deep authoritarian voices could be heard from her back and she stiffened. She knew without a doubt one of those men was her boss. Done with the papers before her, she slowly stood, straightened her cream-colored blouse tucked in her brown pencil skirt, and faced the men walking towards them. And for the first time in her life, she was speechless. Her smile faltered and she gulped a shaky breath. Hot damn!

Three very tall men stopped and stood before her. All fucking elegantly gorgeous like they came out of an Armani fashion runway show oozing with arrogant personality. But one stood out. His gaze hard, his ruddy lips flat and he was gazing at her with hatred in his dark brown eyes. His nose pinched as if he smelled something foul.

"It's rude to stare." His deep raspy voice sent a shiver down her spine. Then what he said registered in her addled brain and she flushed deeply. Embarrassed by her actions.

She looked down right away, avoiding his displeased gaze. "I...I'm sorry," she whispered in a soft voice. Suddenly afraid of the authority dripping from his words.

"Know your place," he snarled then walked away. One of his companions left with him.

"Miss Leighton?" 

"Yes, sir?" Her chin firmed and she raised her gaze but she made sure to avoid eye contact.

"Hi. I'm Cole Thompson. I apologize if you were offended in any way by our boss's action. That was Mr. Logan East by the way. Our CEO." Fuck! And did she just jeopardize her job?

"I...I must have offended him, Mr. Thompson. I didn't mean to." She had to remember she was not working at a dingy strip club anymore and she had to act accordingly and not like a hormonal teenager. The environment here was different from the usual men she was accustomed to. And to think of it, not one of them had shown an ounce of interest in her except professionally. None even looked at her twice.

"Nah." He dismissed her apology. "Think nothing of it. But make sure to stay out of his way, okay?"

Gladly. "Yes, I will."

"So. I believe Ms. Rochette sent you here?"

"Yes. Do you have to check her recommendation?" She fumbled in her bag to look for her phone. He raised his palm to stop her.

"No need. She wanted you here. It's our pleasure to accommodate her request. Come on. Let's discuss your designation at my department in my office. This way, please." Mr. Thompson, her young boss gestured with his right hand to follow him. Nodding, she walked behind him deep in thought.

She was really imagining a distinguished-looking man in his 50's but quite the opposite. In fact, all the men she encountered so far, looked young and fit. And attractive to boot.

Especially him. The CEO. Too bad he was an asshole. Well, she will just avoid him like the plague and concentrate on her new job. 

Throwing out her thoughts of dating soon, she shrugged, she was here to work anyway.

***

"Hey, MJ."

"Hi, Toni." her friend answered cheerfully.

"I really can't thank you enough. You have done so much for me. If there's any way I can repay you..." her eyes watered. She owed her a lot. Unwavering support. Money. Everything.

"Stop! No tears." MJ hissed.

Antonia smiled shakily. "Okay."

"You have been a true friend for me. And the thought of you going back to that hellhole of a strip club does not sit well with me. I had to do something. I did this for your mom, too. So, how is she?" An olive branch. Brushed it off and change the topic smoothly. Her friend was always like after extending her help.

"She is fine. It's stage 3 now." She heard a deep huff of breath on the other line.

"If there's anything more I can do for you just tell me, okay. Anything. I mean it, Toni." She said sternly.

Antonia giggled. MJ was serious all the time. "I will. But the same goes for you. I want to visit you this weekend. You know hang-out and bust N*****x." The indoor theater inside her friend's mansion was to die for.

"Oh, we will. By the way, when will you start?" The question brought her back to the weird experience she had at EAP.

"Monday. And you really are that important." The men there practically dropped what they were doing upon hearing MJ's name. But not HIM.

"Hah. Not me. My dad." That made sense.

"Please thank your father for me."

"Will do. Now, tell me more." Eagerness coated her request and Antonia smiled.

"The company provided me a decent condo unit, for free and the salary is amazing."

"I can hear a BUT. Tell me." Bossy. She didn't mind. Knowing MJ just wanted to experience the world from her perspective since her parents were practically hiding her in a tower. Rapunzel has nothing on Mia Jane Rochette. The princess of LA. Surrounded by buff bodyguards.

"I met the CEO and he hates me." Antonia suppressed the shudder slithering down her spine, remembering his hard displeased gaze.

"Oh. You mean Logan?"

She gasped. "You knew him?" 

"Duh. He is somewhat of a distant cousin. Do you want me to talk to him?" She asked. Worried.

"Hell, no. Don't, MJ." 

"Okay. But tell me if he bothers you. I will kick his balls for you." She offered in all seriousness.

Antonia burst out laughing. She would love to see that. "I know you would."

"Let's go shopping tomorrow. My treat."

"MJ..."

"Toni..." She answered in a singsong voice.

"You are impossible." 

"I know. But you love me." MJ stated the obvious fondly.

"That's true. My sister from another mother."

What would I do without you, Mia Jane?

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