That night I receive a call from Father Kain informing me that the job is still available, and that an interview has been set tomorrow morning at 9am. He tells me to request to see Mr. Stone when I get there and promises to send me the address the minute he hangs up. After saying goodbye to Father Kain I sprint to my parent's room knocking things over in the process and burst in to find my dad in his boxers but that doesn't stop me from screaming in excitement and hugging my mom. By the time I hug my dad he's managed to wear his pajama pants and I'm relieved. No matter how excited I am I'm never hugging my dad when he's in only his boxers. Gross.
The next morning I wake up feeling on top of the world. After taking a bath, I go through my closet looking for something appropriate to wear to this interview. I haven't been to an interview in years and back then I was only an intern. Not that I cared if I got the the intern job or not cause even then I knew I wanted to be an actress. I only went to college because my parents wanted me to. Now ask me about auditions and I'll tell you what to do and what not. All you got to do channel a character and act the part. But it's different with real job interviews. It'll be a challenge to be myself just to impress My Boss. Would it be wrong to get into character and pose as someone else. Probably. I'm thinking too much I know. Oh man I'm so nervous.
I can do this. I can be real. I can be myself. No pretense.
Actress problems.
When I'm done showering I get to curling my burngady hair. I should remember to hit the salon on weekend to get my hair dyed again cause my blonde hair is starting to grow on the roots. Don't want to end up looking like her. No thanks. I'm tired of being compared to anybody thank you very much.
I tie my hair in a messy bun on top of my head. When it's messy enough for the office I start on my makeup. I go through my closet in search of something to wear. I don't have much formal wear in my wardrobe. I'll have to go shopping when I get paid if I get the job. No scratch that, when I get the job. I choose a bubblegum pink dress and heels. I like wearing heels because they make me look like the grown up I am. I look myself in the mirror. I look like a sweet sweet secretary in pink.
I call an Uber and I arrive at the company building written STONE HOLDINGS in bold letters and it looks exactly as I thought it would, nice big building. It's a granite skyscraper (I suppose) and could have about 30 or 50 storeys who knows but I guess I'll find out soon enough.
I go through the glass door and enter the building. It's cool inside and so silent and the only thing that can be head are my heels clicking on the nicely decorated stone flooring as I make my way to the reception. There's a girl sitting behind the counter talking on the phone, her eyes glued to the computer screen in front of her while occasionally clicking on the mouse and typing away. The first thing that catches my attention about her is her exposed cleavage which seems to to wiggle a lot when she moves. I bet the men working here enjoy the view a lot. On her left breast is a name tag pinned on her too tight shirt written Tiara. Her black hair is tied in a neat professional pony tail, her face caked with too much make up, long eye-lashes, pink eye-shadows that match her lipstick and she has zebra striped acrylic nails on and don't even get me started on how her thighs are on display because of her too short skirt. Everything about her is just over the top and fake.
"Hater" that's my subconscious.
Okay I am not about to argue with my subconscious right now. Maybe later. I'll be scolding her for taking Miss Plastic's side.
I wait patiently for Tiara to be done with whatever she's doing, not that I have a choice anyway. Finally after what feels like a century, she puts the receiver back on the holder and looks up at me.
"Can I help you?" she asks in a snobbish tone.
"Yes please. I'm here to see Mr. Stone" I answer as polite as I can.
"Do you have an appointment?" she sounds bored as she goes through one of the shelves next to her and comes up with a pack of mints then shoves one into her mouth then pushes her cleavage up exposing it even more, I think her breasts might spill.
I feel sorry for her breasts. They look like they're suffocating.
"I believe I do" I hope Father Kain took care of setting up an appointment on my behalf.
"Look here, it's either you have an appointment or you don't. So which one is it?" she rolls her eyes. So unprofessional.
I sigh then say "How about you check with Mr. Stone to confirm" I'm slowly losing my patience right now.
I know she's doing her job but this conversion is going nowhere fast. I don't want to be late for my interview because of her. I feel the need to slap her but it wouldn't make the situation any better.
At that moment a tall man in a suit who looks to be in his late-forties enters the building. The first thing that comes to my mind is Goodness this man to die for. Sigh. He's got muscles in all the right places a sign that he constantly hits the gym. If only he was younger...
What would you have done Claire. Throw yourself at Him?
Of course I wouldn't. I'm a lady but a little flirting wouldn't have hurt.
He comes to a halt next to me and his manly cologne fills the air hypnotising me. I resist the urge to close my eyes and inhale his muscular scent.
"Morning Mr. Stone" Tiara greets the man in a flirty tone while she smiles at him like a fool.
Oh so this is Him. Impressive.
Like I'm screaming in my head and my mind is all over the place. How am I supposed to work with this man and not make a fool of myself.
I watch as his pink lips move as he talks and I wish I could taste the-
"Hellooo" Tiara waves her hand in front of my face snapping me out of my daze.
I'm so embarrassed at the fact that I was caught drooling. I'm screwed.
"Oh sorry, what did you say?" I'm trying my best not to look back at Mr. Stone whose who seems oblivious to my presence as he browses through some file.
"What did you say your name was?" she asks her brow raised.
I want to tell her that I didn't tell her my name because she never asked in the first place but instead I say "Claire Miller"
She goes to type on the keyboard then looks up and says "Sir your next appointment is in 5 minutes, an interview with a Claire Miller who is the lady standing next to you. Would you like to interview her right now or would you like to settle in your office first?"
"I'll interview her right now thanks Tiara. Please follow me Ms. Miller" he says without looking at me and I do as I'm told as we head to the elevator.
***
When we get to his office I stand there gawking at him while he puts down his briefcase and settles in his office chair.
"Take a se-" he starts to say but pauses his eyes bulging almost out of their sockets and his face turns white as if he's seen a ghost.
Do I look ugly or something or did I maybe die on the way here and he only just realized it.
"Mr Stone. Are you okay?" I ask with concern.
I hope he's not about to have a heart attack or anything like that cause that'll surely traumatize me. After loosening his tie, dabbing his forehead with a hanky, getting himself a bottle of still water from the fridge, drinking half the contents in on go and checking to see if I'm still there he finally says,
" Uh..." he opens his mouth and closes it then clears his throat "I mean take a seat Miss Miller"
I do as he says. I sigh in relief when color returns to his face. I don't know what I'd have done if he'd fainted on me.
The interview goes really well and I almost think I imagined his reaction when he looked at my face for the first time earlier. He informs me I'll be on probation for two months starting tomorrow and if I do my job right then he'll hire me permanantly. I assure him he won't regret adding me to his payroll. This might not be my dream job but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to impress Mr. Stone because this job means everything to me. It's a ticket to a better life for me and my parents.
The pay while still on probation is good but when he tells me what I'll be earning once I become an official employee I almost fall off the chair. He says I'll be given a company car and a clothing allowance each month for office wear because I'll be traveling with him on business trips around the world. Apparently he doesn't want his secretary to be seen by his business colleagues and clients wearing cheap clothing. I'm a bit offended at the fact that he is indirectly calling me poor but the thought of going shopping with someone else's money gets me exited and all the negative thoughts on my mind hit the trash can.
He gives me a mobile phone which he says I should answer at all times be it midnight, dawn or weekends. He asks me if I have a problem with this condition and I tell him that I'm up for the challenge. Besides it's not as if I'll have boyfriend drama to deal with when the boss calls at odd hours. I'm a single lady after all.
It will be a bonus to see my handsome boss after working hours. Like I couldn't take my eyes off his oh so manly face, and his eyes oh my word. He's got this lazy look in his eyes, sort of like he wants to sleep when he doesn't. I couldn't stop staring at them which made my knees go week.
Hold up just a minute. Jeez get it together Claire.
What in the world am I doing thinking about my boss that way. I mentaly slap myself. I mean he's probably married though I didn't see a wedding band on his finger and and for crying out loud the man is old enough to be my dad.
Oh but it won't hurt fantasizing, right.