As expected, the task was absolutely horrible. Patrick spend the next few days advertising the opportunity for marriage in discreet between social circles. As instructed, he derived a proper selection process, including a basic knowledge test and competency tests.
He did pre-interviews with tenths of young women, but none of them would be bearable enough for Christopher Hayden.
The deadline was fast approaching, and there was not a single woman he could confidently present to Christopher.
The challenge wasn't only the requirements set by Christopher, but also the knowledge that he had to find someone fitting for a multi-billionaire CEO of the top 10 companies in the world. Not to mention, the youngest billionaire in the world at an age barely approaching thirty.
It couldn't just be anyone of the street.
In despair, Patrick started looking through university records of the top places in the country to find candidates that would be having that ounce of intelligence that Christopher was referring to. In this case, an ounce was way beyond average intelligence.
The deadline was made to be specifically at 22:00 on a random Thursday, exactly two weeks after the day of the funeral. Christopher even went out of the way and booked most of his Friday for the final selection process. But as Thursday came, Patrick had nothing, or rather no one. At 18:00 he sat down in a pub near his apartment and had a drink, giving up on his entire career and life. He was going to be ruined. At almost 21:00, there was not a single email worth picking up on. Sluggishly he got up from the bar stool, looking as unkept as he ever would. As he was stressed out, he kept ruffling his hair throughout the entire day, making it messy. He took his tie off and undid the top button of his shirt, which was now untucked.
Dragging his feet, he stopped by the corner shop to pick up some cigarettes. He was already tipsy, a cigarette wasn't going to make anything any worse. It might make him feel a smidge better.
"Marlboro Red, please." He asked the cashier who he recognised. The man started opening a cabinet behind him to get the cigarettes.
"Good evening, Mr Cosby." A young woman named Emilia who lived two floors above him in the same apartment block smiled at him in her usual kind and charming way.
"Good evening, Miss Vincent." Patrick smiled as he started paying for his cigarettes. He partially felt ashamed that Emilia saw him in his current state.
"Rough week?" She continued as she stood behind him in the queue. Her observant eyes looked at his ruffled hair and his skewed suit.
"A bit of a hard time at work, that's all." Patrick admitted as he turned to face her.
She was gorgeous. He always was keen to see her bright smile and kind face. She was so different to all of the women he saw over the past two weeks. These women paid fortunes to try to make their features more prominent and sharp. Emilia was opposite of that image. She had soft features and a youthful look. Her big eyes were filled with wonder and excitement, showing off her energetic side. Although filled with energy when around others, she was a quiet type.
"I am so sorry to hear that. I hope that it gets better soon." Although her words were a typical cliche, she sounded genuinely concerned.
"Maybe. Or I get fired. Who knows?" Patrick shrugged as he moved out of the way, letting Emilia pay for her small basketful of groceries consisting of a bit of fruit and packets of noodles.
"That's a truly pessimistic view. Is there anything I could help with?"
"I doubt it."
Once Emilia paid for her shopping and then they both started walking down the path towards their apartment.
"Einstein once said that in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. I am sure that things will work out for you." Emilia spoke softly, her voice gently landing in his ears, soothing his broken soul. "Oh no, it's Mrs Kowalski." Emilia said quickly, trying to turn around and run from an elder woman standing by the doorway to their building.
"Miss Vincent?!" Mrs Kowalski spotted Emilia instantly.
"Good evening, Mrs Kowalski." Both of them said in unison, and both feeling an inexplicable dread at the presence of an elder.
"How was your interview? Did you get the job yet?" Mrs Kowalski asked Emilia sharply.
"Not yet, Mrs Kowalski. But I'm sure it'll come soon." Emilia responded while trying to walk past the elder quickly.
"Good girl! I'm sure you will as you're a bright young lady. I'm sure your mum is so proud of you for taking such a good care of her." Mrs Kowalski smiled at Emilia.
"Thank you for such a kind words, Mrs Kowalski. Have a good night!" Emilia hurried inside with Patrick in fear that they will be stuck with Mrs Kowalski talking for hours on end.
"I thought you had a job." Patrick said once they were up the first set of stairs and out of earshot of the elder. Patrick lived on the fourth floor and Emilia on the sixth, giving them plenty of time to talk yet. The elevator hasn't worked in the building in years.
"I was laid off last week as my company announced bankruptcy. It was a bit unexpected and I had nothing lined up. I had my third interview today but I haven't heard any positive news yet." Emilia sighed, whilst continuing to climb in front of Patrick. The narrow staircase didn't really let them walk beside each other. Patrick checked his watch. 21:07. He had 53 minutes left to find the right candidate for Christopher's wife.
"What kind of job are you looking for?" He asked, trying to remember what was his company recruiting for.
"Anything to tide me over for now. Money doesn't grow on trees, unfortunately."
"Do you have a degree?"
"Yes. That's another reason I was rejected yesterday. Apparently I am overqualified now."
Patrick continued climbing and then he looked at Emilia climbing s few steps before him. Only now he realised it.
"You might be just in luck. Both of our problems might be solved at once."
"What do you mean?" Emilia looked back at him over her shoulder.
"I am currently trying to recruit for a very interesting position for my boss."
"Is that what is making you miserable?"
"Indeed. But I think you might be a perfect candidate."
"What is it?"
"Oh, it's an easy job, really. And benefits are great! The main responsibility is to live with my boss and assist him during public events." Patrick stretched the truth. It was his last chance. Emilia was his last chance.
"Like a live-in assistant?"
"Sort of. Maybe more like a partner?" He told himself that he didn't technically lie.
"How many days?"
"365. But when not involved in public engagements, you will have time to yourself! Even better, outside of public engagements you do not have to engage with my boss at all."
"What qualifications and experience do I need?"
"Nothing besides a degree which you've said you have."
"What's the salary?"
"Beyond competitive."
"How competitive?"
"Honestly? I never saw a job with benefits this good." It was technically not a lie. Patrick kept reacting in his head.
"What benefits?"
"Spending card, full insurance cover. All benefits are fully negotiable. Whole package."
"And besides public engagements, nothing else?"
"Exactly."
"It sounds too good to be true." Emilia thought about it carefully. "Hang on, it's not a job for an escort or something?"
" God, no!"
"That's good. Probation period?"
"Not really."
"Length of the contract?"
"A year."
"When's the application deadline?"
Patrick looked down at his watch "In forty nine minutes."
"When's the interview?"
"Tomorrow."
"How bad is the application process?"
"Not too bad. It'll be a short assessment and an interview."
"Okay." They've stopped by Patrick's flat. "Okay. I mean, it doesn't hurt to try."
"Here's my email address. Send your details across and I'll get in touch about the interview with you."
"Thanks, Mr Cosby."
"Thank YOU, Miss Vincent."
Patrick bid goodbye to Emilia and sat down at his desk, waiting impatiently for an email. He kept reminding himself that he didn't lie. He never specified the exact type of the contract. It didn't really matter if it were marriage or employment contract, did it?