Chapter 2

“Excuse me sir” his thoughts were interrupted by her angelic voice. After asking some business related questions for around 15 minutes, he was satisfied with all of her answers. He stood up, walked around the table and extended his hand while congratulating her,

 “Congratulations Miss. Jonas, you can join in from tomorrow. I know it’s a short notice but our CEO really need an assistant immediately . I hope you don’t mind.”

 She stood up and took his hand, giving it a firm handshake,

“Thank you and it’s no problem I can join tomorrow. You can call me Ariana” she said with a small smile on her beautiful face.

“The pleasure is ours Ms.Jonas I mean Ms. Ariana” they both drew their hands back at the same time.

“Just Ariana sir.”

“No sir just Carl” she nodded and walked towards the door. Carl told her to get the appointment letter from Ms. Mary Steele on her way out. She nodded and left the cabin.

 He really wanted to make Ariana his own P.A, but he can’t help because of two reasons one he already had a P.A, second this interview is for selecting an assistant for CEO, but the thought working together with Ariana and could see her often made him happy.

When she came out from the cabin she walked past those two people who were waiting for her interview result. They called her as “Hey girl” but she didn’t mind them nor replied. She kept walking toward the lift area, suddenly a hand grabbed her arms “Are you dumb? We called you so many times why don’t you reply?”

She spoke after a heavy sigh “What you want?”

“Where are you going now?”

“To get my appointment letter”

“What ? “ “What ?” those two screamed in unison.

Door to the lift opened when she is going to get in again same hand grabbed her arm “Leave me, have you people gone insane”

“What’s happening here?” they startled by the voice. “Why she got selected to this job but not us.”

“Are you guys insane, what kind of question is this. Company has all the rights to select and reject the candidates. Nor company or me answerable to you. Get out of this place right now before I call the security guards.”

“This is unfair we were waiting for three hours , we need a proper answer for our questions Ms. Whatever.”

The lady got irritated she is in verge of losing her patience but still she replied in a professional tone “Didn’t i made myself clear I am not answerable to you Miss. Whatever.”

“Miss. Ariana please follow me” she spoke in a kind tone to Ariana. She did as told she followed her in silence.

Ms. Steele walked like a swan but not before giving a death glare to other two. They both glared at Ariana but she didn’t mind them she followed MISS. Steele to lift area to reach HR department which is on 7th floor.

Ms. Steele gave her appointment letter “ Have you got your passport size photo?”

“Yes ma’am I have one” She opened her backpack to get her wallet. She gave her passport size photo to Ms. Steele.

“I should call you as ma’am from now on you please Call me Mary. Once you reached tomorrow morning come and get your ID card from the HR department . She nodded and turned to go back home.

There she saw her new friend Selene instantly she waved her hand and made her way to Ariana,

“Ariana how is your interview?”

 Selene asked eagerly

 “I got selected, what about yours?” she replied with a sweet smile.

 “congratulations Ariana, and about mine I passed the 2nd round, out of fifteen now only three people left including me for the last round and out of three only one person will get the opportunity to work in ‘HUDSON Group of companies’ I wish and I hope it could be me.”

She tried to be bold but Ariana could feel her nervousness she held her hand “MS.DAMON it’s nothing you are going to rock this interview calm down” she encouraged Selene. “Oh come on dear why are you calling my name so formally we are friends and future colleagues, aren’t we? So call me just Selene” Ariana nodded her head with a grin.

 “By the way your interview is over right what are you doing on the 7th floor?” Selene asked Ariana while walking towards the HR department “I am here for my appointment letter” while they were just chit chatting Selene’s name called for final round she immediately bid bye to Ariana and walked towards the interview place not before exchanging the contacts.

She came out of the building and started walking towards the Café which she noticed on morning. She reached the Café after 7 minutes walk. She liked the pleasant ambience . She went near the food counter, she ordered a chicken sandwich and cappuccino. She walked with the food tray on her hand suddenly she felt dizzy immediately she sat in a chair which is near her but she failed notice the man sitting next to her.

“Are you okay miss?” that man asked with concern, she couldn’t think properly because of her dizziness.

“I am fine I just feel dizzy I think it’s because I forgot my pills” she spoke like whispering but he heard her.

“Do you have your pills now? , if you want I can help you to take your pills. Is it in your backpack?” she nodded slightly.

He opened her backpack and saw the appointment letter of Hudson group of companies , he stared it for a few seconds and kept it inside her bag. On the second zipper he found her medicine, he gave her the pill box and her water bottle. She thanked him and ate the pills.

“Rest your head on the table you will feel better” she nodded and did as told. After few minutes she felt the emptiness she raised her head searched for the man who helped her but no one is there. She ate her food and went near the cashier to pay the bill but the cashier informed that the man paid her bill who sat next to her.

“Do you know him?” she asked the cashier but he shook his head. She is thankful to his help but she didn’t like to eat in stranger’s money so she gave the bill amount to the cashier as tips. She walked to the bus stop and hopped in a bus to return to her home. She reached home by the lunch time but she is not hungry as she ate earlier at the Café, so she went straight to her bedroom and hit the bed, with some random thoughts she drifted into a deep slumber.

Two hours later

Ringggg….. Ring….. Ring…..

Ariana searched her mobile phone without opening her eyes but she couldn’t find it then she remembered her phone is still inside her backpack she lazily got down from her bed and opened her backpack which is hanging on the back of her bedroom door. Before she could answer she missed the call. She unlocked her phone screen and checked the number it was Selene. She kept the phone on her side table, connected the charger and went inside the bathroom to refresh herself. She came back in half an hour after a cold shower. She picked her phone and dialed Selene’s number.

“Hey Selene, I saw your missed calls, anything urgent?” she asked, “No dear I called you to inform you that we are not only friends but also colleagues from now on, I am so excited to work with you.”

Ariana can sense her happiness through her voice “Congratulations Selene, I am so happy for you. Let’s meet for breakfast tomorrow morning in the Café which is nearest to our company to celebrate.” Ariana is also very happy to work with Selene.

 “Sure dear, see you tomorrow, bye”.

Ariana doesn’t like to make friends after what happened to her in her past. Ariana was a bold, happy and active girl but everything changed after those six terrible months.

She woke up on time, she doesn’t want to spend for taxi. She got ready in red choker top paired with white jeans and white sneaker. She looked like an angel. After having her Indian tea and a piece of bread immediately she had her medicines because she doesn’t want yesterday’s incident to be repeated .

“Sweetie eat more it isn’t enough” Eva protested. “No mumma my friend is waiting for me at the Café, we planned to have breakfast together.”

Eva was shocked but happy too because she didn’t have a single soul as her friend. Ariana doesn’t allow anyone to be close nor she like to be close to anyone than her parents.

Eva turned to look at Colin paralelly Colin turned to Eva at the same time, Colin noticed thin layer of tears in her eyes, instantly he got up from the chair and pulled Eva inside the kitchen. He hugged her instantly after reaching the kitchen and spoke in a whispering voice,

“Love , I can feel your emotions but please don’t cry infront of Ariana if she saw your tears she won’t be happy neither I, and she will blame herself, do you want that?” he said and kissed her for head lovingly.

“If you didn’t stop crying now I will continue to kiss you” saying that he kissed her cheeks and pecked her lips, they broke their hug suddenly when they heard a throat clearing sound.

 “Excuse me love birds if you are done with your romance can you see me off” Ariana said in a teasing tone. Ariana came near her parents and kissed their cheeks and hugged them.

After all done at home she bid bye to her parents and started to walk towards the bus stop. She reached her company after 40 minutes, she reached earlier than she expected because of less traffic or else it would take at least 1.5 hrs from her place to her working place. She lives in outskirts because of low rent.

 Ariana met Selene at the Cafe and had their breakfast together. After having their breakfast they both walked to the company.

They went to front desk and gave their appointment order. Receptionist told Selene to go to the HR department on 7th floor and for 40th floor to Ariana where the CEO’s office is. Receptionist reminded her to get the ID card from the HR department before going to her cabin. They both nodded and turned to walk to the lift area then receptionist called her back and gave her a lift card and said,

“Ms.Jonas this is a card for CEO’s lift keep this card safe. You can’t reach 40th floor through employee’s lift only with this card you can reach CEO’s office”.

Ariana thanked her with a beautiful smile. They both walked to lift Area and went to the 7th floor. Selene bid bye to Ariana and went to meet her superior. Ariana got her ID card and walked towards the CEO’s lift.

Ariana doesn’t know how to use the lift card she tried in many ways but she have no idea how to use it. When she was in a thought to take the stairs She was startled with the sudden male voice “May I help you with that Miss. Ariana” Instantly she turned around to meet those almond eyes with gold rimmed glass. ‘Mr. Carl’ she thought.