Chapter 2: The Interview

Avery

Avery pushed her body away from him, her pulse racing. She pinned few strands of hair behind her ear, avoiding his searing gaze.

She smoothed her gray skirt and adjusted her tucked-in white shirt. Peering down at her wristwatch, she exclaimed. "Goodness! I'm late!"

Hurriedly, Avery collected her personal effect tucked between her and the stranger and jumped out of the taxi. Rounding the cab, she ventured toward the swinging French double doors leading to the glass skyscraper.

The stranger alighted the vehicle and headed in Avery's direction, a deep-seated frown on his face.

"Who's gonna pay me?" The cab driver's question halted the hurrying duo. He shifted his gaze from Avery to the stranger, peeping from the passenger side. "I gat no time, fellas. Customers are lining up for Big Sam, you know."

"He's paying/She's paying," they said simultaneously.

Goodness knew the cabby had never been more worked up. If he had the opportunity, he'd rewind time and steer clear of Summerfield boulevard that morning.

Avery spoke first. "You heard when he claimed the ride was his, right? He should pay up. Besides, no man in his right senses would expect a lady to pay for a ride they both shared."

The stranger glared daggers at Avery, but she returned his venom with a poison of her own, pouting.

"Pay up, man." The driver turned to the stranger.

If looks could kill, Avery would be six feet under. The man fished out his wallet from his suit pocket and slapped a bill into the driver's waiting palm.

Avery darted into the reception breathless, the heel of her shoes jabbing the tiled floor. She ambled to the reception desk. "Excuse me," she managed a courteous smile. "I'm here for the interview. Can you put me in the right direction?"

The slender brunette didn't spare Avery a glance. She had her pointed nose buried deep in the monitor in front of her. The top of her breasts spilled from the top of her tight shirt, unable to hold the top buttons close.

"Fifth floor, second office to your left."

Avery wheezed a thank you and dashed toward the elevator. She tapped the elevator button and took a step back, muttering quick prayers under her breath.

Three more minutes. Darn it!

Just as the elevator door was about to slide shut, the stranger stepped into the reception hall, his cold eyes drilling malicious holes on Avery, making her swallow nervously.

The receptionist sprang to her feet at once, beaming with enthusiasm. It was as if his presence turned a dead bone alive inside her. "Good morning, Mr. King," she beamed, flaunting her boobs in his face. He paid her no heed, heading straight for the adjacent elevator.

Wait a minute. Did she just address him as Mr. King?

He cannot be him, right?

It's impossible. Michael King donned a beard, but the stranger was clean-shaven. He looked like him, no doubt, but it can't be him.

She hit the '5' button on the control and gripped the banister attached to the elevator wall. Elevators made her head spin.

The elevator door opened into a busy floor, thronged with people, computers, and tall paperwork. Short on time, she was too busy to memorize the office layout.

"Second office to the left," she recalled the direction from the unwelcoming receptionist. She knocked lightly on the glass door, quivering with suspense.

"Come in." A gruff voice responded from inside.

She stepped into the office, forcing a smile. "I'm here for the interview."

The overweight, bald man behind the desk tilted his glasses below his nose. Avery shifted on her feet as the man eye-balled her from hair to shoe, wetting his dark lips.

"You're a minute late." He said, his eyes not leaving her prominent front.

"I- I'm sorry, sir," she stuttered. "I was met with a-"

"Hand me your folder," he cut her off, looking away for modesty sake.

Avery took out her résumé and credentials from the folder and passed them to his waiting hand. She pushed back one of the visitors' chairs, about to claim it.

"Did I ask you to sit?" he scowled.

"I'm sorry, sir," she returned to her standing posture and hugged her purse to her chest, grinning weirdly.

His expression softened. "I'll let it pass because you're a beautiful girl. Don't do it again, understood? What you're taking with kid gloves is what other people are dying for out there. Survival in Empire City is not for the weak."

She promised to keep it in mind. "I'll be more careful next time, sir."

"You can have your seat now," he said. Avery slipped into the seat, as the pot-bellied baldie skimmed through her resumé, nodding his head like an agama on the prowl for a mate. "It's written here that you topped your class as a valedictorian."

"Yes, sir."

"You even graduated with honors. That's good."

Embarrassment washed over her. "Yes, sir."

He returned the papers to his desk and stared long at her. "That's what the paper says. I need to test you on what you have up there," he said, tapping his temple with his index finger.

"I'm ready, sir," Avery replied, crossing her fingers on her lap, hiding her shaky fingers.

"In what year was the Great Wall of China completed, and how many years did it take to finish the project? Also, what are the names of the builders that contributed to the building of the wall?"

Avery was dumbfounded. She was expecting him to ask her questions about the company, not some irrelevant history. She knew when the wall was completed and the number of years it took to be completed. But how the hell would she know the names of the builders?

"Excuse me?!" She furrowed. "What does the Great Wall of China have to do with the job I'm here to do? This is a fashion house for Christ sake. I was expecting questions in that regard." Her temper was getting in the way.

"I know your type. Because you have nothing upstairs, you sell your bodies for favors. How can I trust your credentials if you don't know the answer to a very simple question. I've had my share of fraudsters like you."

Heat rose to her face. She'd had enough. Banging her fist on his desk, she sprang to her feet, her nostrils flaring. "I'll not sit hear and allow you insult my personality, Mr...whatever. I came here in search of a job, not to be drilled for a quiz." She snatched her papers from his desk. "You have no right to talk to me in that manner."

Avery stormed to the door in a fit of rage. Her hand was on the handle when he called her back. "Alright, girl. Take a chill pill. It's all part of the test." He grinned, exposing a set of teeth browned by chocolate.

She turned on her heels, glaring at the man, before making her way back to the chair.

"I'm Mr. Brown, by the way," he said, pushing his chair backward, rising to his feet. "It's all a show to test out candidates. You see, this great establishment rose to the top because of the diligence of every person here." He rounded the desk to where Avery sat, sitting on the edge of the desk.

"I'm not lazy, Mr Brown. I have the good of the company at heart. All I ask is a chance to prove my worth," she surmised.

In a low tone, Mr Brown said, "You look like someone with a lot of problems. I can help you solve them. I can even work your way to the top in a couple of weeks. Play with me, and you'll kiss your old life of nothing goodbye forever."

"Let's cut to the chase, I'm all ears." Avery was aware of his gimmicks, but she played along, stroking his ego. "What's the catch?"

"Ms Sallow, right?" Avery nodded. ''You're not a kid anymore. In this life, you give what you have to get what you want."

"I don't quite follow, sir."

"Mr. Brown would do just fine, Avery. I can call you by your first name, right?"

"Whatever turns you on," she smiled, enjoying the act.

He laughed in a creepy manner that made Avery's skin crawl. "I know you were playing games with me. I'll cut to the chase, as you said." In hushed tones, he continued, "I can arrange a night in a hotel for the both of us. No one has to know. We'll have a good time toge-'

Wham!

Avery sent a resounding slap across his face and bounded out of his office without a word, snatching her purse and folders from his table, leaving him dazed.

Good riddance!

"Say goodbye to this job, Ms. Sallow!" he raved. "I'll make sure you never step foot anywhere near this floor!"

Avery was out of earshot and her only hope of saving her ailing mother.