CHAPTER FOUR: Tension

Elias’s POV

I've been searching for this very lady everywhere ever since our last unfortunate meeting, it wasn't the best of me and I needed to apologize to her. Striding into the company my heart skips a beat as my eyes spots her familiar face admist the crowd, a mixture of shock and gratitude surging through me, how could I forget those eyes, that dark wavy long hair and there she was, the very person I've been looking all over for. My breath catches and my pulse quickens but an invisible barrier holds me back, I maintain my composure as I walk pass her careful not to make eye contact, holding in my smirk as i see the obvious shock on her face. Uncertainty knots my stomach as a flood of memories and emotions washes over me. I walk into my office thinking of that very day and how sorry I felt as i am a silent spectator to the reunion l’m not quite ready to face. It was a rough day for me and I wasn't in my right state of mind, nonetheless I'll have to make it up to her. My secretary walks into my office and hands me the details of the candidates she's to interview and the moment I see her name, Selene Agraval written boldly on it, I finally realize why she's here. I decide to do the interview myself just to get a chance to apologize. I never interview candidates for a job but I'll have to if I want any chance of speaking to her without unnecessary suspicions. 

I interview over seven candidates and rush through it just to get to Selene and finally it was her turn. The door swings open, the room seems to hold it's collective breath as she steps in with an air of effortless confidence, her presence instantly commanding attention. I watch her carefully as she walks into the conference room, her gaze sweeping through the room, sharp yet inviting. She moved with a grace that seemed almost otherworldly, her gesture and subtle nod exuding a quiet strength and charisma that left me in awe. I go ahead with the interview drilling her just to be sure she's perfect for the job and finally I decide to ask her the question I've asked everyother candidate. As usual I was expecting to hear the normal response everyone gives but to my greatest shock, she throws me off balance with her response. What sort of being is this girl, never afraid to say what's on her mind, the company will sure do well with her. She's the most qualified of all candidates so far and she seems really good at what she does. I can't help but go closer to her, immersing myself in her scent unsure how to tell her that it's me, the rude guy from before and how to apologize for my behavior. As I whisper the words to her, I can feel her tense from underneath me and I'm not so sure why. 

Just in that moment, the door swings open and I quickly stand up straight trying to adjust myself, looking up I see Amelia stride carelessly into the room, her fingers clenched around her handbag as a forced uneasy smile played around her lips. Somehow, unconsciously my countenance is altered. “Hi bun bun,” she calls out all smiles. Haven't I told you countless times not to call me that and why would you even walk in here like you own the place I'm in the middle of an important meeting. I reply her with obvious disapproval. “It didn't seem like an important meeting to me,” she retorts back sending me an uncomfortable wink, and yes I do own the place or at least i soon will… I keep a straight face signaling for her to leave as I walk back to my chair. She scoffs and drops an envelope on the desk in front of me as she turns and walks away sending Selene a death glare. I softly sigh in exhaustion, noticing how Selene has been staring at the both of us, confusion written all over her face. 

“Miss Agraval” I call out to her trying to get her attention. I had spent way too much time here already, I needed to meet up with another meeting. I can't continue the conversation with her anymore not with Amelia's prying eyes right outside the door so I might have to leave it for later. “Thank you very much for your time we'll keep you updated,” i say to her as I hurriedly stand to leave the room thoughts of why she had pretended to not know me still lingering on my mind. 

Right outside the door, I find Amelia chattering away with my secretary as she throws me a suspicious look. I pretend to not notice her and keep walking, half way through the hall, I hear Selene's voice from afar urging me to hold on. I slowly turn and crash into her moments of our first meeting flickering through my mind. She rubs her forehead sheepishly in a cute manner as I struggle to hold in my smile. “I need to know,” she whispers, her voice trembling with a mix of hope and fear, “am I going to be judged for this interview based on our previous encounter?” I take a minute to get over the shock of her question, she must really have a bad impression of me.

I reach for her hand, squeezing it slightly, as i try to intensify my gaze “I wish I could answer that,” I reply my voice raw with emotion. “But right now, I have to go.” At that moment my phone buzzes and a message from my personal assistant comes in: “your father is here and he's moments away from closing the deal we've spent months negotiating.” I become tense instantly, rage coursing through my veins. My heart begins to race frantically as I bolt out of the office ignoring the screams from Amelia asking me to slow down. I have to get to the meeting, I must secure that contract before it slips right through my fingers. I rush into the elevator and as the door slid shut my phone buzzes once again with a text from an anonymous number: “You're too late, it's over.”