Chapter Three.

“Your resume?”

His hard lips parted once more to ask and as if she was just freed from a grave curse, Bloom fumbled to present and open her folder friskily. She was beginning to fidget and it wasn’t a good sign. Bloom was soon a mess as her shaky fingers let the documents in the folder slip and fell from her grip. She gasped and the CEO only signed, relaxing back in his seat to watch her make more fun of herself.

‘Why is this happening?’ She was at the brink of tears at this moment as she gathered her documents together. But something startled her after she picked up a document that was lying on her foot. This made her scream in a loud voice, jerking to her feet but…she bumped the back of her head beneath the protruded edge of the table and winced greatly.

“Ow…”

Bloom lost her balance, knees slamming back against the floor. With eyes shut and a hand massaging the hurting area, Bloom threw her free arm over the table to find a hold to lift herself up but…she accidentally let her arm swipe across the table top. This action of hers was accompanied by the loud crash of things falling onto the floor.

“What the hell!”

She had gotten the boss angry and her heart was galloping out of control. Fear gripped her tightly and she lifted her head up to look over the top of his table. And her eyes widened in horror at the scale of damage she had caused. She swung to her feet and approached the angrily puffing man who was beyond furious at her mistake.

“I…I’m so-sorry…”

The fear was choking her and she couldn’t think her following actions properly before executing them. That was why she was still moving closer to him instead of attending to the mess on the floor. The secretary had arrived at the scene and gasped. She was trying to pick up the things that weren’t broken, unlike the over panicking Bloom.

“What are you doing Miss Santiago! Look at the mess you caused!”

His voice debouched on her and she shivered from the ice daggers that cut through her from the intense fury blazing in his vocals.

“I…” There was nothing else she could say as the tears she had been battling with chose that epic moment to cascade down her already paling face.

“Enough! Just get out!” He yelled at her and she jumped, moving away from the enraged monster. But she was the one who caused all this.

It was her fault he was so furious and blaring this way.

But, Bloom couldn’t leave just yet. ‘What would brother say if I tell him I got kicked out without even trying?’ No, there was no way she was going to let that happen.

So that shaken up woman braced herself and looked up into the dark angry orbs of the giant in front of her. It was now she was seeing him up close like that. He was tall, way taller than she imagined. His hulking frame easily covered hers and that realization caused her to shiver again, her patched up resolve crumbling into dust.

Now she wanted to run, far away from this monster she had awakened by accident. She promised she would never bother to apply for such golden jobs again and would even go back to Mr. Griffo and beg him to take her back.

There was just no way she could stand up to this giant before her.

Bloom was aware of all this and yet, why was she on the floor and holding his leg as she cried and pleaded that he forgave her and gave her another chance?

Bloom was sure she was beyond petrification just a moment ago but now? She couldn’t understand why her body was again, acting on its own without seeking her permission. She gulped painfully, balls of sweat gliding down her temples in torrents as she held on.

“P-please…do-don’t send me away…I b-beg you. Even if…even if i-it’s t-the j-job of a c-cl-cleaner…I’ll d-do it. S-so please….”

She was shivering as if she was dipped into cold water. The CEO scrubbed his fingers through his hair and moved his grotesque expression to speak when suddenly, the door was forced open and a woman rushed in in a powerful gait.

“Hayes baby! Please don’t do this…I beg you!”

She threw herself over his body, knocking Bloom away in her fit. The woman was in tears which was busy tarnishing the caked make up on her glimmering face as she wailed, fisting the boss's suit jacket in her fists. He remained still, hooded penetrating eyes fixed onto the sobbing woman. He slid his hands into his pockets and looked away from her for a moment to nod at his secretary who nodded back hesitantly.

Bloom was clueless to that silent communication and only stared between the two. That was until the same doors came open and two burly men dressed in black suits and black shades walked in. The woman had stopped wailing and glanced behind her and back to the CEO in front of her.

“No…I promise…it wasn’t me. Your mother-

“Drag her out, now. And I mustn’t see her face within this building ever again. Go”.

His orders were rigid as he watched with indifference as the struggling and pleading woman was dragged off her feet and carried away by the men and out of the office.

With that dramatic episode over, the CEO shrugged his shoulders and adjusted his suit while Bloom watched with mouth agape.

She knew who that woman was. That was Selena Brown, a top fashion model in Chicago who was often seen on the front covers of every magazine. Bloom had even circled some photos of hers with dreamy promises to purchase those clothes in the future maybe. Such a highly esteemed woman was…begging this man not to breakup with her?

Her thoughts were trashed when his glacial attention zeroed down on her and she couldn’t even breathe. Not until he would permit her to.

She could feel his tossed-aside infuriation for her returning and she held herself, wishing the floor would open for her to shamelessly sink in. Not only did that not happen, but he stepped closer to her and even squatted before her.

Bloom was struck speechless, she was tongue-tied at his proximity as his eyes assessed her with what? She was befuddled and unable to move a muscle. She was in an involuntary shutdown and every inch of her body stung from her immobility.

“You’re hired”.

She was sure he only expelled air against her face but when she saw his secretary nodding at him, she was confused since she didn’t get what he said.

“We are a little shorthanded on our cleaning staff so you’re hired”.

Bloom was sure she would have been kicked out- No, thrown out of that office if that woman hadn’t stolen the spotlight and saved her life.

As she sped out of the building and back into the bustling street, she heaved a sigh that was short-lived when the honking of a car drifted into her ears.

“Hey sis!”

It was Stefano and her brother. Even little Mario was in the van with them. She remained rooted to her spot and watched them all alight from the van and approach her.

“Mommy!”

Mario immediately sped towards her and she bent down to receive his hugs and kisses while also delivering hers.

“So, how did it go?” The men were eager to hear the tale of her failure and she sighed, letting the little boy return to Stefano who carried him.

“I flunked it…”

Was her desolate reply and she felt a hand clamp onto her shoulder and giving it a reassuring gentle squeeze. She looked to her side to see Benjamin giving her a soft smile filled with his understanding and comfort. She felt grateful and continued on.

“…but I landed a cleaner’s job” She concluded, making the men halt in their tracks.