She was a different creature on campus. She was quiet and barely spoke to others even when spoken to. I had seen her a few times around campus, every time with a different professor from a different department, negotiating with them with her firm voice. Her skills were immaculate, and she knew how precious she was. She didn't play with them, just gave them her demands straight and these professors conceded to her. Such was the glorious power of Evie Lewis.
I met her unexpectedly later. I had been in need of a translator and was too preoccupied with more important work to do it myself. I had called Dr. Singh to get me someone who he knew would be good. My mind had not gone to the elusive Evie Lewis then, but when I got her text message explaining herself, her familiar number flashing on my mobile screen, I was certainly pleased. By a twist of fate, she had been brought in front of me at a point in time when I required her services. It was up for negotiation if I believed in divine intervention or not but this was an opportunity I wished to use to my fullest degree.
When Alec led her into the house, I peered at their conversation in the CCTV. I could hear her clear, confident voice coming from downstairs and leaned back against the staircase to listen in. Their conversation went well and she didn't suspect that I had sent someone else. It was disappointing that she hadn't known how I looked or done the research before coming to meet me, my face was plastered all over our university site because it was so appealing to new, prospective students.
As she silently translated the document, Alec came upstairs briefly telling me how he thought the girl extremely pretty and competent. She was apparently eloquent and well versed in what she did. That was good to hear.
Even though most of it was a test, I would have liked if my documents were translated in their right spirit. It was for my book, after all.
"There you go," she said, I could hear the closing of the file before she handed it over.
"Done already?" Alec said, shocked by her speed. Of course, her brain worked fast, it had to be so; I couldn't have judged her wrong.
"I will look over the contents and let you know if you are hired." I knew she would be hired. She had to be. "If that is the case, I will send over a contract. Is that okay?" There was a silence following it. I grew panicked as I wondered if she had figured it out.
In reality I had tricked Alec into thinking that I wouldn't want to see her face when she is hired and therefore wanted him to go as me, I had taught him how to brew tea and left my shoes out, hoping she would catch on it and comment, but so far she had said nothing of the sort.
"I can assure you that you got the job, though," I heard him chuckle. It was something I was familiar with. Alec had a habit of laughing like this when he wanted to fornicate with someone of the opposite sex.
I wrinkled my nose in distaste as he amused her with his petty tricks, hoping that she wouldn't be one to be charmed by them.
"Shouldn't you ask Mr. Butler before assuring me?" There was silence. I found myself guffawing at that, finally at ease.
She had picked up on my signs.
"I'm sorry?" Alec replied, dumbfounded. I think he realized that he had no chance with this woman and that he had been caught redhanded.
"He should be on that floor, right?" I took a step back, wondering if she had seen my shadow from where she sat, but it was impossible for her to know I was here, then had she made a wild guess to see if she was correct?
"I knew there was someone else living here because of the shoes in the rack—" Check. "—but didn't linger on it for long until I entered the room. The shelves consist of non-fiction books, mainly about psychology, law, crime, and social theory, but there was a magazine on the countertop with the pots of tea, which you later started reading." Intuitive. "You can definitely not brew tea and have little effort towards detailed work—" She was also right in that aspect. "—as you kept mixing up the process and the lids." Did he mess up the lids? Now I would have to relocate them. What was the use of teaching him the technique for so long if he had to butcher it with his incapability? "Moreover, the file you handed me was definitely not yours because you had no clue that the pictures were inside." There were pictures inside?
"You were just relaying what Mr. Butler had asked you to."
"…So, he would have to have clipped nails so that the gloves don't tear, but you have longer nails that would definitely be a problem." Brilliant. Taking into consideration so many unplanned constituencies, she had passed with flying colors.
But Alec took it to another level. It was an interesting question, making her guess what his occupation was.
"You have a creative streak, but you run a business." The magazine he was reading was an economic one, he must have picked that up. But her guess was wild, true but wild if it weren't for that.
"You use the computer a lot. So you run a business that needs creativity and innovation." He worked as a graphic designer in his spare time but was actually the CEO of his own company.
"I can't pinpoint the exact job, though." I sighed in relief. This meant that she had a natural progression of logical thought which led her to those conclusions.
She was observant and unafraid to voice her opinions. Very valuable qualities.
Then she went onto explain her thought process and I was amazed. For someone as greatly talented as her, she could easily overtake people who had been studying the art for years.
"People who type on computers and laptops usually have harder darkened skin on the underside of the wrist where the skin rests against the surface of the desk or laptop. You have those. The intensity of the darkness and roughness of the spot is a testament to how much work on the computer you do every day and if it is for professional purposes."
I peeked out of the staircase to see her face for once, but she was already coming my way. I walked away quickly to avoid meeting her. As she passed, I saw a bewildering smile on her face. I was confused.
She couldn't have known I was there. But I had clearly seen her throwing glances in my general direction.
When she had left, Alec came to me and gushed about how pretty and competent she was, like he had not done it once before.
"She's going to be my assistant, not yours. Wipe your drool from your chin," I scoffed. "Pathetic, thinking that my employee is his for the taking."
"Assistant? Employee? She is hired?" he asked, excited.
"Yes," I confirmed. "But you need to leave immediately. You have outstayed your welcome." I flipped my book open and began reading, leading him to protest and grumble, not giving him the time of my day.
He had served his purpose. It wouldn't be good to bring him around Evie after that meeting. [Author's Note: And that is why you don't see Alec. He is not permitted to visit when Evie is around.]
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