Chapter 01: I Got Hired?

Aurelie finds herself standing alone in front of a tall building that was mostly made up of tinted glass windows. She noticed the big sign at the top of the building and it had the letters M, B, and S. She didn't know what she was doing in that place after random people she didn't know had picked her up at the amusement park where she works as a mascot.

Yes. Being a mascot became Aurelie’s job because she had to work to keep her and her mother alive. That's why she didn't go to college as well, but she did graduate from high school. She was not ashamed of the outcome of her life, especially that she is not doing anything wrong.

She looked back and noticed how wide the area was where the building stood. There is a round center green field where two palm trees are planted on the sides of it. Following the circular court is a concrete roadway through which the company's private vehicles pass. For sure, the businessmen that own the whole place are not just millionaires, they could be billionaires.

“Ms. Aurelie Mistal?” Her attention was immediately caught when she heard her name being called. She looked at the entrance door of the main building and there was a woman approaching her who looked like the secretary of the company owner.

Aurelie gulped nervously. “Yes, I’m Aurelie Mistal.”

“Thank you for coming. Please come with me,” the woman invited her kindly.

She hesitated to enter at first, but since she could do nothing about it, she just followed the woman. As they walked down the lobby hallway, she gradually realized why the building seemed familiar to her as well. Until she noticed a familiar face in one of the posters on the walls.

She couldn’t help but cover her mouth as she gasped in realization.

Since Aurelie gasped quite loudly, the woman in front of her overheard her epic reaction. She immediately changed to a calmer reaction even though deep inside she was panicking and excited about what would happen next.

“Is this your first time here?” Aurelie glanced at the woman. “By the way, I’m Veronica.”

Aurelie removed her hands from covering her mouth. “It’s nice to meet you, Veronica. To answer your question, yes. It is my first time.”

“You are very lucky then,” Veronica said. "This is the first time we have let a less important person enter the company."

Aurelie could not speak because of what Veronica had said. It also made her wonder why she was there if she wasn't even that important? Suddenly, she heard Veronica's weak laugh so she looked at her again.

"I'm just kidding. You suddenly became serious,” Veronica told her.

Aurelie just thought of doing a fake laugh before not hesitating to ask the secretary.

"Well, what is the real reason I'm here?"

"You will know the answer to that question once you talk to the person who invited you to be here," Veronica replied to her.

Aurelie remained silent until they used the elevator going to the 10th floor of the building. She noticed that their elevator did not stop on any floor, especially there's nine more floors it passed through. She also had a thought that the elevator might just be exclusive for the superiors and guests of the company owner so as not to crowd out other people working at the company.

When they got to the 10th floor, the whole floor was very quiet and only rooms with Authorities A-D labels were affixed near the doors of the rooms. She and Veronica went to the room that has the MBS President label above its door.

Veronica stopped quietly and so Aurelie, before the secretary gently knocked twice on the door. "Sir, I have arrived with Ms. Mistal."

It was so quiet in the area that Aurelie could hear the response clearly even when the person behind the door spoke in a normal voice volume.

"Come in."

Veronica carefully and quietly opened the office door and she asked for Aurelie to go inside first before she followed behind.

Aurelie was dumbfounded as she couldn't help but admire the purity of the office. It is white as if it was bleached very neatly and the smell… goodness. The smell is lavender and rosemary. They are very relaxing and pleasant to the nose.

Veronica guided Aurelie to take a seat as she remained standing beside her. 

"Thank you for safely bringing her here, Veronica." 

Aurelie glanced shyly and nervously at the man speaking behind the desk. If she would describe him, he looked so fierce and strong. As if he fits more as a private bodyguard instead of being the company president.

"You must be very overwhelmed to be here in my company." Aurelie's eyes widened after she found herself staring absentmindedly at the man in front of her.

She immediately turned her head down in shame and felt her cheeks burning. She could also hear Veronica and the president's weak laugh.

"How are you feeling, Ms. Aurelie?" Veronica asked her as a comfort.

Aurelie shook her head while it's still turned down. "I'm sorry for looking stupid earlier. I'm just… I don't understand what's happening right now."

After hearing what she said, Veronica glanced at the president and he nodded at her. That's when the secretary gently pat Aurelie's shoulder before taking a few steps out of the office door.

When Aurelie noticed and heard Veronica's footsteps, she turned her head up to look at her and all she saw was the door closing. Now, she knows she's alone with the intimidating company president that almost scared her more than seeing a ghost.

"So, Aurelie Mistal. Is that right?" She glanced at the president who was looking at her with a calm facial expression.

She nodded at him. "But, please call me Aurie."

"Is that your nickname?"

"Yes. I'm not used to being called by my first name because that's how my mother calls me when I do something she doesn't like," Aurelie explained to him.

He couldn't help but smile based on what he heard. "You must be dearly loved by your mother."

"Yes. We only have each other," she said in a serious tone.

"Hm…" 

Aurelie noticed the president's sudden change of reaction. "Is there something wrong?"

It took long enough before he answered her question since he was already looking at a portfolio. Could it be Aurelie's portfolio? But, if it is, where did he find it?

"It's very unusual to hear the surname Mistal," he answered her.

"Do you think so?" Aurelie asked him. "I mean, I think it's a rare surname that's why you could have that thought."

He turned up his gaze to her while his head was still turned down. "Do you have any idea who I am?"

Aurelie suddenly wondered why the president could ask such a question, so she chose to remain silent...

"My name is Hero Kismet," he introduced. "You can see my name right in front of you."

She noticed a desk name plate above the president's table as he pointed at it. She couldn't help but laugh internally after realizing how stupid she was… for the second time in a day.

"I thought you should know," Hero added.

"I'm sorry," she replied shyly.

Hero remained smiling before looking back at Aurelie's portfolio. "Can you tell me more about you?"

They looked at each other before she began talking about herself. "I've been working for the past 11 years of my life with a single job."

"And that is?"

"Being a cast member in an amusement park," Aurelie replied.

"What does a cast member do?" Hero continued asking her.

"The management assigned a character based on my height and features. My job is to portray that character throughout my time working at the amusement park," she explained.

"And how many hours are you spending on that job?" 

"8 hours everyday. With a one hour lunch break," she said.

"That one sounds very tiring, but creative and challenging at the same time." Hero looked at the portfolio again. "If I hire you to work for this company, will you accept it?"

The words that the president just said were unbelievable to Aurelie's ears. Is he really asking her that? The fact he knows that she didn't attend college and never earned enough experience aside from being an entertainer for kids will not make it believable.

"Honestly, I'm not sure how to give you an answer because I don't have any idea what will be my main job when it comes to this field." Aurelie managed to give him a head start.

Hero closed the portfolio he's reading and placed it above his table. Then, he took another piece of paper next to it which he later on handed over to Aurelie.

"Can you please take a few minutes reading this?" Aurelie kindly and carefully took the paper he's reaching out to her. "Thank you."

It was a brochure where the company is looking for an eligible person to hire as one of the new staff. It says:

MBS Asia Inc. For Hire!!!

Job Position: Assistant

Requirements:

> Age bracket should be 18-30 years old.

> Good communication skills.

> Must have a conversational level in the English language.

> Knowledge in other languages such as Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Thai, and Russian is a plus although it is for optional only.

> Strong management and PR skills.

> A high degree of maturity, commitment, and patience.

> Strong organizational skills.

> Ability to solve problems and work around delays.

> Strong people skills as well as decision-making abilities.

> Good sense and understanding of the business.

> Ability to liaise with prospective clients.

> 24/7 availability.

> An understanding of the industry and how it works.

In every considered bullet sentence, Aurelie continued getting surprised and confused at the same time. Hero couldn't help but watch her in complete amazement, mostly the way she expresses her facial reaction.

"T-This is too much," Aurelie stammered as she glanced at him. "I-I mean… the requirements."

"It could be too much for you or for someone else, but as I observe you during our short conversation slash interview, you are capable of doing the job as one of the assistants in my company," Hero explained to her as he interlaced his fingers before putting it above the table.

Aurelie glanced at the paper again, then to Hero. "However, I don't have the understanding about the industry and how it works."

"But, can you assure me you have a few more spaces to learn?" he asked her.

The only thing that crossed Aurelie's mind was her and her mother's situation. They’re just poor and sometimes there are days when they don’t eat completely in a day. Sometimes there is no lunch or dinner. She would never want to experience that again especially when her mother was getting older.

"Yes. I am eager to learn everyday because I want to continue to support my mother," she explained. "She's getting older and older each day. I'm worried that she might leave this world without experiencing the greatest of a good and comfortable life."

Hero could barely speak after listening to the words that came out of the young woman's mouth. Only now has he encountered a person with this mindset every time he interviews applicants. He's already impressed.

He sighed which made Aurelie nervous. She was thinking if she had said something wrong.

"Of all the applicants I've interviewed before you, you're the only one that shows outstanding response. I can see you're not selfish. You are working not only for yourself, but you have someone as an inspiration that makes you strive harder in life everyday," Hero told her.

Aurelie nodded at him happily. They're finally on the same page now and she seemed to be very comfortable with him for a sudden moment.

"I may have hired you as an assistant, but I just want to let you know that I still see something greater in you. Something much more useful for my company for which you could be an asset," he added.

Aurelie couldn't help but smile awkwardly. "I'm not sure what you mean by that, but as of now I'm thankful enough for your job offer. Also, I didn't apply for it, you're the one who scouted me. That's why I don't want to abuse your kindness, sir."

"Alright. I understand what you are saying. I would consider the fact that you might be overwhelmed by this job offer already, so I'm putting aside the greater offer."

She nodded at him, convinced.

"However, there is room for improvement and I wanted to see you in that room soon, got it?" he continued.

"I will try my best, sir." She smiled at him.

Hero took a last few seconds of staring at her before he got up from his seat to approach her. Aurelie immediately got up from hers exactly when he got closer towards her.

The president reached out his right hand in front of her. "Welcome to MBS Asia Inc. Ms. Aurelie Mistal."

Aurelie accepted his handshake. "Thank you, sir."