CHAPTER 6

Nathan’s POV

I sat on my bed for a few minutes after I woke up, needing to recollect all the energy I lost the previous day and then lose it all today again. That’s how my life has been lately, and today, being the day of the job interview, I already predicted what the future of stress had in store for me.

I painted my room dark gray to ease tensions for mornings like this. When I wake up, I don't seem to remember who I am. They calm me and remind me of my purpose, making me feel better. 

“That shouldn't be what's on my mind now,” I muttered to myself as I struggled to stand up and picked up my laptop to check for any new mail that I might have gotten the previous day. “Argh, I have an interview to host too.” I lamented inwardly and undressed before walking into the en-suite bathroom.

I went into the bathroom, did all the necessary preparations, got into my car, and drove off. Stopping in front of my office has always given me stress and anxiety attacks, but it was different today. The anxiety was fresh and more severe. I knew it was because I had to pace myself for the interview that I agreed to host. It was my company, and we needed workers, so it should be my duty to host it, right? 

“Good morning, Mr. Nathan." An employee briskly walked up to me. I ignored her greetings and just walked on. Answering her will take up a lot of energy, so I should conserve every bit of energy I have. 

I was offered a cup of coffee. “What flavor is this?” I asked her out of real curiosity, because I think some of the workers are out to poison me. Most of them think I'm not good for the job. 

“Cappuccino, sir,"  was the answer she gave me without any hesitation.

“Cappuccino? I hate cappuccino; how do you not know that?” I almost yelled at her.

Moments like this give me more than enough reasons why, truly, I needed a PA. "Man, I miss John already.”

John is my assistant; he is very hardworking and smart, but he had to resign two days ago due to an emergency. 

“I'm sorry, sir.” Her hands were stretched out to my cup to take it from me. “Do you need a new one?” she asked in a trembling voice.

“What I need is a new assistant,” I spat at her, and I headed for my office.

The plan was to take the cappuccino that way as I continued the short journey to my office. I sat in my office and took a sip of the cappuccino. It gave me this choky feeling, and I knew I could not drink it.

“I need to get a new one, a latte this time. '' I muttered to myself and headed to the coffee maker. I stood up in anger, and it was at that moment that I needed my coffee the most. 

“All applicants, wait in the conference room; Mr. Nathan will be open for the interview by ten o'clock,” I hear the receptionist say in a loud and clear voice. The happiness of getting the cup of coffee I wanted disappeared, followed by the realization that dawned on me—I had less than five minutes to take my coffee. I wouldn’t even be able to savor the taste properly.

I can swear I never mentioned interviewing them at ten o'clock. “Why wouldn't I be told that the interview was by ten? This is yet another reason why I need an assistant.”

I heard the elevator ding, and I knew it was one of the applicants that I had to interview.

On my way to get the coffee, I bumped into someone. She had her face buried in the ground. She hurriedly got off the elevator. I pushed her off me so angrily that she almost lost her balance. She stared at me, and I didn't help the situation any better as it got weird and I held that gaze.

Scrutinizing her critically, I realized she is a very beautiful woman with a pretty face and a killer shape. 

I knew I'd met her somewhere, but where? That was what I was trying to figure out before her voice brought me back to reality. 

"Ma'am," I said, noticing how familiar her face looked. Finally, I remembered where I had seen her, and my countenance changed from an angry look to a friendly one. “I am sorry,” I said, not only for the bumping but also for the memory I used in remembering her. 

“Don't apologize; it is my fault." She said it to me in a very gentle tone. I don't think she had any idea who I was, but then, why did she stare at me that way? 

The pressure I was feeling at that moment was not something I could bury and forget. The woman in front of me was from my past, which I had tried so much to bury. She is the same woman that caused me so much anguish.

After exerting so much effort to calm myself down, I managed to help her with her files and quickly continued on my way to get the coffee and avoid becoming agitated. With the way my leg felt, I knew I left that part of the room at a different pace than I used to bump into her.

All the enthusiasm I felt for the coffee was lost instantly, but I still got it, so my journey and efforts down there wouldn’t be wasted. “Ohhh, latte, where are you?” I said, scanning the area for latte. I know her, but somehow she does not seem to reciprocate that thought. Maybe I'm mistaken.”

I found the latte, went back into my office, and then went to the conference, which was now used to interview strangers, who were mostly women. 

After taking a break from the last few interviews, to be candid, I was not impressed at all. They were all lovely ladies, but none of them fit in for the role, and that started becoming very disturbing. 

“Can today get any worse?” I muttered to myself with my hands on my face, extremely exhausted and disappointed. 

“Good morning,"  I said as I watched a young lady walk into my office to be interviewed. She was the same person I bumped into at the hall. I had no idea she came for the interview. Now that I recollected her face completely, I just needed to confirm if she was really the one. 

Unlike the other applicants, I was oddly nice to her and got into a conversation that didn't correspond to an interview question.

Yes, after asking her a few questions for confirmation, I realized she was the one. I had hurt her three years ago when I was still stupid and not wary of the consequences of my actions. 

She thought it was weird that she got the job, but I also had this feeling that she would do well by my side as my personal assistant. At least, this is the only way I can appease myself for the grave sin I committed.

It is so soothing that she doesn’t recognize me. She didn't seem to know that her would-be boss was the one who gave her an unpleasant memory, and I was bent on making it up to her. This was my secret, and it had to be protected if I wanted her close to me.