CHAPTER FIVE

Kelvin's P.O.V 

A man was called into the interviewing office ahead of me, and after about five minutes, he came out with tears in his eyes.

I then knew that he didn't get the job, and I could only imagine how tough the interviewer must have been. I felt a sense of fear creep over me as I thought about what I was about to face.

The next person was called in, and as he walked out, he had a disappointed look on his face and it was clear that he hadn't been successful either. 

I felt a surge of pity for everyone who got denied, the interviewer must have had extremely high standards and I needed to be ready for them all or I would have a bad look like them.

Needing a moment alone, I excused myself to go to the restroom. After asking for the restroom, I walked toward it and it was surprisingly huge, almost the size of my room. It provided a serene atmosphere, a welcome relief from the tension building up inside me.

I approached one of the stalls and took a moment to relieve myself. Afterward, I made my way to the sink and washed my hands, splashing water on my face in an attempt to calm my nerves.

It was the second interview I had attended in the past three months, and I was hoping that this time would be different. I desperately wanted to secure this job.

My first interview had been a disaster. The interviewer, a woman, had made inappropriate advances toward me, attempting to flirt her way into getting what she wanted. 

Despite her unprofessional behavior, I stayed focused and answered her questions sincerely. When she realized her advances were ineffective, she brazenly suggested that I sleep with her to secure the job.

Disgusted, I immediately left, feeling disheartened and dismayed at the thought of ever working in such an environment.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, gently patting it against my face to dry off the excess water.

Afterward, I returned to my seat and began meticulously checking my documents, making sure everything was in order. Deep down, I knew I had prepared meticulously, but the anxiety continued to gnaw at me.

Sitting for an hour straight had taken its toll on me. My backside ached, and I yearned for some movement and relief.

Just as I was growing restless, I noticed that I was next in line. My heart skipped a beat, and I straightened my posture, readying myself for the interview. 

I gathered my credentials and walked towards the office, trying to steady my breathing and calm the racing thoughts in my head.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door to the office. To my surprise, I was greeted by a lady, and a wave of relief washed over me. I silently hoped that she wouldn't proposition me like the previous interviewer had.

She kept her gaze downward, displaying signs of exhaustion. "Sit down," she said softly, still not meeting my eyes. I complied, settling into the chair and anxiously awaiting the questions that would come my way. 

As she looked up, I realized she was the same lady who had reprimanded the receptionist earlier. 

Despite her authoritative demeanor at that moment, she didn't seem as intimidating as I initially thought. I reassured myself that I would be able to handle her with ease.

However, as our eyes met, her expression suddenly froze, and she stopped blinking.

Confusion washed over me, and I turned to scan the room for any possible cause of her sudden stillness.

Finding nothing out of the ordinary, I began to wonder if she had seen something I couldn't. But it was foolish of me to entertain such thoughts; ghosts weren't real, and there was no logical explanation for her reaction.

"Hello, ma'am," I called out to her, waving my hand lightly to break her trance-like state. However, she remained frozen, unresponsive to my attempts at communication.

I contemplated whether she might be an asthmatic patient who had misplaced her inhaler, a theory that initially crossed my mind.

Yet, before I had the chance to voice my concern, she abruptly snapped out of her daze and took a deep breath, as if she had been holding it.

Relieved that she was okay, I couldn't help but notice a strange shift in my perception of her. I found myself captivated by her presence, drawn in by her beauty and grace.

I quickly dismissed such thoughts, reminding myself of past experiences with manipulative and deceitful individuals. I couldn't afford to fall for someone's charm and risk getting hurt again.

"Hello?" I prompted, trying to regain her attention after her brief moment of disconnect.

She seemed caught off guard by my question, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face. "Are you okay?" I asked again, concerned for her well-being.

"Yes, I'm fine," she replied curtly, her tone bearing traces of irritation.

"Did you need to go to the hospital?" I offered, genuinely worried about her sudden lapse.

"No, I'm okay," she responded, her voice softening slightly.

"Did you lose your inhaler?" I asked, attempting to understand the cause of her previous behavior.

She seemed momentarily taken aback by my query, and then her expression hardened. "I'm not an asthmatic patient," she clarified, a touch of frustration in her tone.

Realizing that pursuing the topic further might not be the best course of action, she decided to redirect our conversation.

"Let's get down to business," she interjected, eager to move past the awkward encounter and focus on the interview at hand.

"What's your name?" she asked, shifting the energy in the room.

"Kelvin Birtch," I replied confidently, trying to convey my competence and professionalism through my tone.

She continued with a series of questions, requesting my age and credentials, which I promptly provided. 

As she went through my documents, I couldn't help but wonder if she would evaluate me as she had the previous candidates or if she had something else in mind.

An idea seemed to occur to her, causing her to smirk slightly. I was both curious and intrigued by the sudden change in her demeanor.

"What time did you arrive here?" she inquired, undoubtedly intending to gauge my punctuality.

"8:35," he answered gently and calmly, though I couldn't help but wonder if he was truly that composed or if he was simply putting on a façade.

Anika's P.O.V

"You were five minutes late to this interview. I thought you guys were meant to arrive by eight," I said with nonchalantness.

"I'm sorry, actually I watched a movie overnight," he confessed, then quickly stopped himself, seemingly realizing the silliness of his excuse.

"Movie unh? So you prioritize a movie over this job and if you are given this job, would you be watching a movie overnight before coming to work?" I questioned, my voice laced with sarcasm.

"No, it's...," he tried to explain, but I cut him off, already having made up my mind that he wasn't the right fit for the position.

"It's okay," I said dismissively. "I'm sorry, but you're not qualified enough. I have zero tolerance for lateness and lack of responsibility," I declared, confidently making my decision.

"What time did you arrive here?" he asked me suddenly, catching me off guard.

"Two my it's pass right, why?" I reluctantly admitted. I couldn't understand the purpose of his question, nor why he seemed to be challenging me.

"Ah, you're also two minutes late," he pointed out.

"Yeah, so?" I replied with a roll of my eyes. "I'm the boss, and besides, it wasn't my intention to be late. I had some problems with the traffic."

"You should set an example for your employees, but by coming late, I guess you're also irresponsible," he stated with a smirk, which only heightened my irritation.

He had me there. I let out a sigh, realizing that there was nothing I could do at this point. I begrudgingly decided to give him the job and put the whole ordeal behind me.

"Fine, you've got the job. But don't think you've somehow manipulated me into this decision. I gave you the job because I felt like the owner of this company. Consider yourself lucky because next time you won't be," I warned him, asserting my authority.

"Ooh really? Thank you very much, I am so grateful" He said with excitement.

"Yeah,  just sign here and come as early as possible tomorrow. Your job starts then," I said, handing him a contract to sign in his new role as the assistant managing director.

He signed the papers, which I promptly collected and placed on my desk. 

"Go to the managing director's office. They will show you your new office, and you can start there," I told him, feeling the exhaustion of a long day of interviewing taking over.

"See you tomorrow," I said wearily, closing my eyes. I was so tired of this whole process.

"And you too," he replied, causing me to roll my eyes in response.

"Where's the managing director's office, miss?" he inquired.

"I don't know. Look for it yourself. I don't look like an errand person," I responded, my eyes still closed. I heard the office door shut.

And finally, he was gone.

Kelvin's P.O.V

After leaving that intriguing lady's office, I embarked on a search for the managing director's office.

Seriously, she could have at least given me some directions instead of leaving me to wander around aimlessly. The company is enormous, and I felt lost. Where could the office be?

I couldn't help but remember the moment she asked me why I was late and how I impulsively confessed to watching TVD. I really should have controlled myself; I can be quite the chatterbox. Mom was right and I shouldn't have indulged in the film.

I could have easily lost this job right then and there, but thankfully, I managed to come up with a cunning way to outsmart her.

"Excuse me, miss. Can you please show me the way to the managing director's office?" I asked a lady I came across in the hallway. She turned to me and flashed a smile, giving me a once-over.

"Sure, handsome. It's actually on the fourth floor, office number three to your left. Just take the elevator, and you'll reach your destination much quicker," she explained, her smile remaining intact.

"Thanks," I replied gratefully, about to continue on my way. However, she called me back before I could leave.

"Can I have your number? You know, I'm available and looking for a relationship," she said, twirling her hair flirtatiously.

"Maybe later. I'll be sure to get back to you," I lied, not wishing to pursue any further.

"Really?" she asked, still smiling expectantly.

"Yes," I fibbed, hoping to appease her.

"Don't keep me waiting. Get back to me as soon as possible," she urged, catching on to my deception.

"Of course. I'll see you later," I said, giving her a smile that seemed to satisfy her.

"Sure," she giggled, walking away.

I will be avoiding that area from now on.

T.B.C

Noeline.