A new life

Chapter two

Five years later.........Melbourne Australia.

"Getting a job after college is so difficult" I said adjusting the collar of my blouse.

"Hurry up or you will be late, you haven't even had breakfast yet" Leah said leaning towards the door of my room.

I quickly checked time, it was 30 minutes before the interview. I grabbed my purse and file containing my documents.

"Don't forget your jacket, it's cold outside" She said as I rushed downstairs.

I took my jacket from the rack close to the door on my way out. I flagged down the first taxi I saw, luckily it was free.

"The Bryon company at Little Collin Street" I said to the driver as I got in.

Not long enough we got stuck in traffic which was greaaatt! Because I had just 15 minutes to get to my interview.

After a while the traffic started moving. "Drive faster please!"

I said to him.

I really need to get a car

"Finally," I said as he pulled up on the driveway of the company. I

Came down immediately after I had paid the driver then I rushed to the

reception and I met a lady whom I assumed was the receptionist. She was at the other side of the counter and she was writing something, probably records.

"Good morning, I'm here for the interview" I said.

"The interview just begun and the applicants have been numbered". She said.

"just show me the room please" I pleaded with her.

"I will only give you the directions, everything done here is strictly followed to order"she said.

"I'm so sorry for the inconveniences"

"The room is on the fourth floor, third room by your right" she said continuing with what she was writing.

"Thanks" I said faking a smile.

I walked to the elevator and I pressed the button beside the door waiting for it to open. It took a while before it opened. Great! What other bad luck should I expect? Maybe the elevator getting stuck halfway up. The elevator stopped few minutes after I got in and the doors opened immediately. I could see that there were a lot of people on the hall way, it was overly busy and I just stood there watching. Documents were moved here and there, I forgot I was still in the elevator till the doors were almost to closed.

"No!no!"

I kept pressing the button to stop it from closing but it didn't work and the doors shut right in my face. It started going down , so much for getting to my interview on time I muttered. The elevator didn't get to the ground floor and it started going up again. Thank you whoever it is up there. When it finally stopped and the doors were opened

to a pair of gray eyes which met with mine. I scanned through his perfect body which was before me, his cologne was mild but intoxicating, I could feel my face heating up. He just walked into the elevator wearing a plain face and I walked out immediately snapping out from my fantasy world. I'm sure he noticed me blushing, I pray I never meet him again and even if I do I will make sure I ignore him. I'm glad the company is big plus he probably won't even remember me. I walked to my right as I was directed and I saw a queue of ladies, all were seated waiting on their turn. I walked towards

them and took a seat beside the last person.

"Are you here for the interview?" she asked in a surprised tone.

"Yea" I said starring at the cute brunette in front of me.

"But...."

"You guys were numbered; the company is strict" I completed.

"Yea" she said in a surprised tone.

"Well there is no harm in trying" I said.

"Lauren" she said with a smile.

"Paige" I said returning the smile.

Classy name for a pretty classy lady I thought. She seemed way out of class for this job, if I had seen her on my way before getting to this place I would have assumed she was the manager or something better.

It was like the interview was paused because I noticed the queue hadn't moved since I got here.

"Why isn't the queue moving?" I asked Lauren.

"The boss stepped out".

" Did he tell you guys were he was going?"

"There he is! He is coming" she whispered in a loud tone.

I turned to see him, it was the guy I met at the elevator. I looked away immediately so he wouldn't notice me.

"He is the boss?" I asked as soon as he walked past us.

"Yea.. I know what your thinking."

You do?

"He is damn hot but he is a lot of trouble" she said with the typical black American accent.

I smacked my head and rolled my eyes after hearing this. Yes he is hot but who is talking about that? I was late first, I didn't have an interview number,the guy i met at the elevator is the boss! I really can't wait for him to use all this points against me during the interview.

"Next!" I heard him yell from the room, he sounded very mean.

The lady who was inside walked out with a gloomy face, it wasn't too

late to go back, I could hear my subconscious say. I don't quit I

said to it, I just sat down there waiting on my turn and the worst that

could happen.

After hours of waiting, it finally got to Lauren's turn. She wasn't yet in the room when he yelled.

"Number 30, the last person on the list. Please don't waste

my time, just get on with what ever you have to say, why do you need

this job? Convince me, say something"

I muttered a short prayer as the interview was still on, if he could speak that way to her then what about me? The odds were already against me. It wasn't long

before he told her to stop speaking, he went through her documents.

"You've successfully wasted my time, you may take your leave". He said giving her back the documents.

She walked out of the office and gave me a faint smile then she walked away probably looking for somewhere to cry out her guts. She really put in a lot for this interview I could tell.

I took a deep breath as I walked to towards his office. I gave the door a faint knock then I walked in waiting for the worse to happen.

"What do you want?" He said.

"Uhm, I'm here for the interview" I said almost stuttering.

"Name?".

"Paige Ryan "I said.

He checked the log book where the names of all the applicants were compiled.

"There is no such name on my register" He said.

"I got stuck in traffic, I was a little bit late... or maybe pretty much late"

"Nothing can be done because the rules of the.........."

"Company states that, everything is followed strictly to order". I said before he could complete his statement.

After that he didn't say a word for a while. That was when I thought I had screwed up. What's the big deal, not like we purposely get ourselves stuck up in traffic. I waited for him to talk about the elevator episode or further press on the issue of me being late but he didn't. He just stood there gazing at me, I felt my legs getting all sweaty and shaky as it begged for support. His looks were killing me! Why was he doing this? He should just ask me to leave because this was torture. He stood up from his seat and sat down in front of his table.

"Your documents" He said stretching out his hands to collect them, which I handed over without hesitation.

With crossed fingers I waited for his judgement

"Impressive!" He exclaimed.

Wait what?

"Does that mean I'm getting the job?" I asked

"Yes!" He said.

This was easier than I expected.

"Finally, I've found the perfect person for the job".

"What job, I'm going to be the secretary right?"

"Yes. But, you majored in business strategy in school, so I'm guessing you can market products"

"Yea" I said in a confused tone.

"Long story cut short, I'm the next CEO to this company and I know nothing about marketing, but I couldn't turn down the offer as the acting CEO while my dad is away and unfortunately we will be having external visitors in few weeks' time and I'm expected to convince them to buy our products which I have no idea on what to do".

"so, that's why you are giving me the job after turning down 30 worthy applicants?". I asked in a confused tone.

"Yes, you are hired. Be here first thing tomorrow morning or you are fired" He said giving me back my documents.

"Thank you" I said and walked out of the office.

I was happy and confused at the same time because I didn't have to sweat for that, it was like taking candy from a baby. I felt my stomach rumble as I stepped out of the company, that was when I remembered I hadn't eaten anything since morning.

"Taxi" I called out waving my hands to the taxi near bye.

I got home on time because the traffic wasn't congested. I walked in smiling, Leah was already done with preparing lunch. She really is my guardian angel, it's been 5 years, although I was stubborn she still accommodated me.

"did you get the job?" she asked

"Yes" I said

"Tell me about it, we'll talk over lunch" she said dishing the food.

I narrated everything that happened starting from the traffic problems, to the receptionist that didn't want to lose her job, to the applicants and then the lazy CEO"

"Rich kids are so unbelievable" she muttered.

"But I got the job" I said with a grin.

"Nonsense! Kids of this generation are so lazy, they just sit down doing nothing and pray to have rich parents they would inherit their properties without working" she said.

" It would have been my fate too if what happened hadn't, I wouldn't have to go to work for any reason" I said putting the dishes into the dish washer.

"I'm happy you got the job; the bills were getting bigger than my weekly sales at the restaurant" she said walking upstairs as I trailed behind.

When I got to my room, I turned on the light to find the most beautiful pair cooperate wears lined up on my bed. I unconsciously dropped my handbag on the floor and rushed to my bed, I fell to my knees a I picked the clothes one after the other.

I felt tears down my cheek, I really didn't expect these. What if I didn't get the job?

"You save them till you get a job" I heard Leah say.

I turned to see her arm crossed leaning on my door. I rushed to where she was immediately abandoning the clothes and I attacked her with a hug.

She said she hated hugs and the sound of girls awwning, it made her sick she would say but deep down she was really the sweetest person I had met aside my parents. She always looked out for me no matter what, I could remember when I was still in college she did extra jobs to pay my fees before she got her restaurant.

"Thanks Leah" .

She didn't say anything ,she just parted my back gently.