The doors of his exquisite elevator opened revealing a private hallway. They where on the fifteenth floor and the highest floor on this building that consisted of only a meeting room and Grey's office.
The blonde petit receptionist got up as soon as she saw them walk in. She adjusted her tight blouse smilling brightly. "Good morning sir"
Grey looked at her with a scowl on his face. "Cancel all my schedule for today" he stated with a small nod as he strolled away from her desk.
"Yes sir" she said bowing purposely too low. He was the most sort after bachelor anyway.
"And Katrina?" He said looking back at her. "If you wear something like that to my office again don't bother coming back"
"O-oh yes sir" she said turning bright red from embarrassment while Evan snickered.
Grey ignored them walking towards the board room. He turned back towards Evan who was still holding his bag in his hand. "Call my father and tell him that I don't care what he thinks he should stop cutting down the budget for my PR team"
"I-should tell him that?" Evan sputtered. He didn't want to anger his boss, but he also didn't want to make the owner of J &C enterprise Angry.
"Do that or go home" he boomed making Evan nod hesitantly. "Yes sir"
The security guard gave a small bow as Grey got the the door. "There are three investors inside sir" he reported as Grey had always instructed him to do.
Grey nodded going though the folder in his hand as the man opened the door for him to pass through. Hewalked in studying their old faces. What exactly did had father take him for sending such people to him?
He took their hands his grip firm as he shook each of them in turn exchanging pleasantries. He looked them each in the eye studying them. Satisfied, he went towards his own sit and sat down.
They looked scared. Good.
The meeting started, and he flipped through the folder Evan had given him, he'd found a week spot– they had just cleared up a scandal involving a staff in their company, and he was going to use that to his full advantage. He met their eyes and his lips twitched up to a cold smile. He cleared his throat, "Why should I take investments from you?
"Mr Carter we_"
"My name is Grey" he said in a low voice looking at them. "Call me Mr Grey " he instructed more calmly this time resting his hand on the table with his fingers intertwined.
"I am sorry" the old man apologized. "Mr C- Grey. We believe that it would be a great way for you to expand and we're willing to go all out for this project" the man explained proudly. Everybody wanted to be associated with a company like J&C corporations it was a good image for them and especially for this one.
"Surely you don't think you're the only one offering this proposition" Grey said monotonously throwing the folder on the table and reclining into the back of his chair. "And with this recent scandal of yours I'm a bit skeptical about this deal"
"Well instead of us getting a twenty percent share of the product we can take a fifteen instead" the man said turning towards his associates who nodded hesitantly. "And the scandal has already cleared that out"
"Also, being associated with us the Green base foundation will be a good name for your company" the only woman among them offered and they all nodded approvingly.
Grey sat up slowly pretending to be considering their offer. "I'm not interested" he shrugged standing up.
"Ten percent" the last man said standing up too and the others followed nodding favently.
"Let's drop it to ten percent" the woman said again agreeing with her partner. "I think it's a perfect deal"
Grey smiled stretching his hands toward them. He'd managed to turn the tables and made the investors feel like they needed him more than he needed them. "Deal"
"Thank you " the first man beamed shaking him. And one by one they all did the same smilling from ear to ear.
MEANWHILE, Bella looked up at the massive J& C sign contemplating if she should do this.
"This is a one time opportunity" she breathed looking at the card in her hand. She nodded confidently walking into the huge building .
"What are you doing here?" The receptionist asked as soon as she entered eyeing her.
"I'm here to see Mr Grey Carter" she replied ignoring the disgusted look on the woman's face.
"Oh no you don't" she said scrunching her face. "I'm sure Mr Grey wouldn't know someone like you, talk more of an appointment"
"You don't understand" Bella said exasperatedly holding up the gold coloured card against the woman's face. "He gave this to me yesterday" she nodded and the woman gagged.
"Get your hand away from my face. And also leave before I call security"
"N-no call his assistant or something" Bella nudged on stretching over the counter.
"What is his name?" The receptionist asked crossing her arms smugly over her chest
"I-I- don't know I didn't take it" Bella sighed realizing no one would believe her now. She had called the number severally but it seemed her number was blocked. So much for a business card.
"I'm sure you stole this card" the receptionist said pulling the card out of Bella's grasp. "And if you don't leave now I'll call security" she warned making Bella sigh deflated.
"Just give him one call and and tell him it's the girl from yesterday" she pleaded.
"Byeee" the woman said turning away from her and plugging her ear pods in. Bella sighed looking around at the beautiful building. If she could just find a way around it and sneak in.
Luckily for her,she sighted three tall slender, lavishly dressed girls in formal outfits holding files in a side. She looked back at the receptionist whose eyes were still stuck to her phone, and with one last sigh, she sneaked in sitting with the girls.
"Are you hear for the interview too?" One of them asked smilling at her sweetly
"I doubt" another one scoffed scanning her clothes. "She didn't even come with her file"
"M-my file" belle sighed looking at her hand. "I did bring it b-but something happened on the way"
"I don't care" the rude girl scoffed looking away making her heart drop. Bella sadly looked at the other girls and then back at herself. These were the kind of girls J&C hired, not her.
She sighed giving up and as she was about to walk away Evan came out of the elevator.
"Oh hi" he greeted as soon as hesaw Bella catching the attention of the receptionist.
" I'm sorry sir" she said coming out from behind the counter. "I told her she couldn't go in but she sn_"
"It's okay" Evan said cutting her off. "She's Mr Grey's guest"
The girl's eyes widened in shock as she gave a small nod retreating back to her seat, while Bella just smilled contentedly.
"Why didn't you call the number on Mr Grey's card" he asked looking at her hands. "It stopped going through after the first few tries" she said with a sad smile.
"That's typically Mr Grey" Evan mocked with a small smile. "Let's go upstairs" he directed leading her to the elevator as the group of other girls watched jealously.
She stared in awe as as the elevator doors slid open, revealing a gleaming, stainless steel interior, she felt her breath catch in her throat as they stepped in. Watching with twinkling eyes as the numbers kept blinking and eventually stopping at fifteen (15). The doors beeped open and they came out into the most beautiful floor she had seen yet.
The walls were adorned with beautiful paintings and in the side she could see another receptionist. Probably Mr Grey's personal receptionist.
How was rich was this man.
"Hey Katrina" Evan greeted seating Bella down in the expensive looking seat in the hallway. "keep her company for me" he continued walking towards the meeting room.
"Hi" she greeted looking at Katrina.
"Don't talk to me" she remarked scanning her clothes and Bella sighed settling down in a small party of the chair.
A few minutes later,Evan walked in holding a stark of papers in his hand with a worried look on his face.
Grey summoned Evan over with his forefinger directing him towards himself. He collected the paper giving it to the three investors and directing them on where to sign. The did so in turns turning back to Grey happily. After the contract had been signed, they all shook hand excitedly exchanging fake smiles and after a few minutes they left.
"Wow he breathed" watching the back of the investors as they left. "What is it?" Grey questioned snapping his fingers as he got up.
"Sir we have a problem" Evan said in a small voice "What is it?" He question looking intently at Evan.
"The woman we hit yesterday is here to see you" he replied cautiously.
"Give her her money and let her go. What does that have to do with me?" He questioned starting to get annoyed.
"She said she doesn't want money" he replied remembering their conversation in the elevator."she's asking for a job"
"Does she have any qualifications?" " I-i don't know sir but I think_"
"I don't care what you think. Give her the money and let her go" Grey replied picking up the resently signed documents scanning it.
"Okay sir" Evan said with a small bow leaving the room. He walked over to where Bella was seated patiently and immediately she saw the look on his face, she panicked.
"What did he say?" She questioned eagerly.
"He's not interested_" Evan said sadly looking at her. "Just take the money and go" he offered pushing a white envelope towards her.
"No" she said standing up, "let me just talk to him and maybe he could let me_"
"you don't want to do that" Evan said calmly shaking his head. "I should walk you out"
She bent down running from under his upper arm and towards the meeting room. Evan was able to hold unto her and so did the guard at the door stopping her from going in.
"You can't go in there" the guard warned looking at Evan worriedly.
Bella looked like she was about to say something when the door creaked open. "What is all the noise about?" Grey boomed holding the stark of papers in his hand.
"It's Miss Bella sir" Evan replied. "She was just about to go"
"Please" Bella pleaded kneeling down ignoring Evan's discrete warnings. "I can do anything, I'm a fast learner, please please" she continued with her head bent down.
"Get up" Grey instructed looking at her small figure. "What's your name?" "Isabella Casey" she breathed raising her head up to finally meet his.
His breath hitched.
What kind of games was life throwing at him?
Why did she have his mother's eyes??
He tried to regain composure by avoiding her eye. He looked anywhere but at her "What kind of work can you do?" He questioned.
"Anything sir" she pleaded bowing again. He sighed looking round the hall,
"Okay. You can clean this floor" he finally said turning away.
"But sir, Mrs Smith cleans this floor" Katrina tried to interject noticing the change in her Boss' countenance.
"Let her clean" he instructed more firmly handing the papers in his hand to Evan. "Follow me to my office now"
"Thank you sir" she beamed watching him leave with Evan. "I'm very grateful"
"That's okay" Katrina said bitterly holding her arm. "Go home and be here tomorrow by 6:am" she instructed stroding back to her desk.
"Okay. Thank you miss" she beamed giving Katrina a small bow.
"I don't think you will last" Katrina commented watching Bella as she entered into the elevator. "I don't think you will"