Chapter Six

I sat down and waited some more to be attended to. Minutes later, a portly middle-aged man approached me.

"Hello, are you Miss Eniola Fayola?"

"Good morning, sir. Yes, I am," I replied as I stood.

"I'm Mr Lanre, the human resources manager. You are welcome to Legacy Real Estate. Please follow me," he said as he turned to lead the way.

We got into one of the two elevators. There was a black one while ours was the typical, metallic grey colour. He noticed my gaze in the other direction.

"That elevator is reserved for the boss. This one is for the staff."

"Oh, I see." I nodded.

We got off at the second floor and made our way down to a spacious room which was sectioned into several office cubicles.

"The second floor is for senior and junior marketers. It also hosts the sales department along with personal assistants of heads of these departments. As a personal assistant, you are required to be on your feet quite often. You may also be needed outside of the office, state or even the country at times."

My eyes widened in delight. I would get to travel!

"Here is your office cubicle," he said as he gestured toward the third cubicle on the second row.

There was a desk which had a computer on it, a chair, file cabinets, a pencil holder, paperweights along with a pack of A4 papers and a wire-rimmed wastebasket. I was glad to have my personal space and excited that I was going to be a part of the company. I started to walk towards the cubicle when Mr Lanre stopped me.

"There is one more thing. The Chief Executive Officer would like to see you immediately, come along." He turned on his heel and strode toward the elevators while I hurried to keep up with him.

When we arrived at the topmost floor which was the fifth floor, I noticed it was designed differently from the previous ones. It was done in a sleek, yet artistic manner with many smooth gleaming metallic surfaces, wall paintings and with black marble floor. He led me to a door which had a plaque on it that read, Chief Executive Officer. 

Just as I read the words, the door suddenly burst open. We stepped back quickly to avoid a collision. A young woman about my age or slightly older ran out. She was dressed quite smartly in a pair of trousers and a wrap top. She glanced at us and averted her gaze as she discreetly wiped her eyes. She straightened her shoulders and briskly walked past us.

My gaze followed the woman as she walked down the hall and back to the elevator.

"You must be wondering who she is, right?" Mr Lanre sighed.

I nodded, too shocked to speak.

"Well, she is also one of the few people who passed the initial job interview."

“So why was she crying? Those did not look like tears of joy.”

"Well, here at Legacy, our CEO expects more than what is usually required from candidates. Our selection process does not stop at just an interview. She was accepted for the job but failed to pass the final screening which is what guarantees your employment." 

"So, I also have to pass this...final screening?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

I was not prepared for that. I had come with the impression that I would simply start work.

"Yes and that is what will take place now. Good luck Miss Fayola," he said before he walked away.

Oh, dear Lord, I was not even prepared for that. I rubbed my palms together nervously before I knocked on the polished wooden door. 

"Come in," a smooth, deep voice said. The voice held a hint of a foreign accent I could not quite identify.

I froze on the other side of the door and tried not to hyperventilate. I braced myself and pushed the door open. The man who sat before me exuded such authority and confidence that it was hard not to stare or at least quake in my shoes.

"Good morning, sir." I winced at how weird my voice sounded to my ears.

It was the man from downstairs, the one who had gone ahead of Bayo and into the reserved elevator.

"Good morning, Miss..." He trailed off and looked at me expectantly.

"Eniola Fayola."

"Have a seat." He gestured to the two chairs on the other side of his desk.

As I sat down, I noticed his indifferent gaze fixed steadily on me. I tried to keep my expression neutral and raised my chin slightly to meet his gaze head-on. Then I immediately regretted it. As our eyes met, a strong feeling of intimidation set in. His gaze was piercing, unrelenting and might I add, quite captivating.

He was even more pleasing to the eyes than I initially thought.

I clenched my jaw as I stared into light brown eyes framed by full dark eyebrows. I discreetly ran my finger over my eyebrows to compare the fullness or rather, lack of it. His glossy black hair was cropped low but there was definitely no sign of premature baldness. He was not particularly light-skinned but his brown skin had a glow that nearly made me green with envy.

Why did men get all the good looks these days?

That was when I noticed the name plaque on his desk.

Daniel Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer.