"Miss Elena Grey right?" He asked with a smile that I considered too deadly as my heart drummed inside my chest.
I shouldn't have let my intrusive thoughts slip out so easily, I should have guarded it in.
"Yes.err..yeah, that's me." I stuttered locking eyes with my H.R for some kind of saving but he immediately looked away like he was trying to tell me that his hands were tied too.
"Let's go for a ride." He said casually putting on his suit.
"I'm sorry but no sir." I refuted immediately as I stared at the floor.
"I wasn't asking. It wasn't a yes or no question, Miss elena." What was more scary was the fact that they knew my name. Like what else do you know about me?
"I'm still on—" I tried to refute but the death glare I got from H.R made me snap my mouth shut immediately.
"She'll go with you. Just give her a few minutes to pack up her stuff and turn in her file reports." H.R said and he nodded thoughtfully.
"Yeah, she should be out in 30 minutes. I'm not exactly cut out for waiting." He stated and walked out the door while I and H.R heaved a deep sigh of relief almost immediately.
"Who does he think he is?" I clicked my tongue as I pulled off my glasses and tucked them at the collar of my shirt.
"You could talk shit about him and his family on Live TV but you can't even make a full sentence in front of him. What gave you confidence?" H.R scolded while loosening his tie like someone who had his breath supply cut.
"In my defense, I didn't know it was live TV. I thought it's the ones where they go back to compile it and then edit it and all." I countered and H.R clicked his tongue
"I don't want to go anywhere with him. What if he's trying to kill me?" I questioned and my H.R dropped his pen.
"His family summoned you. You know who his dad is right? You know what would become of you if you don't accept his invite. Say bye bye to working for this hospital ever again." My breath hitched a bit as I thought of that and I shook my head in negativity.
Now that's one thing that I couldn't let happen.
"Well then, I'll go with him."I dropped the files and a few minutes later, I was walking out trailing Mr Jamil Mason behind, I could see people gawking at me with pity in their eyes.
The ride to their house was quite tense and silent as he acted like I wasn't just seated next to him the whole time.
On getting there, it was safe to say that this man wasn't just rich, this man was an elite.
Their house was definitely a castle on its own.
"Welcome to our humble abode, Miss Elena." His father said once we got to the living room and I felt like scoffing. What's humble about this place?
"Join us and have lunch." They were acting so sweet and it seemed very suspicious but I was there so I had to join them. A lot of delicacies were spread out in front of the table and we started eating.
"So about the interview you made on Live TV this morning, let's cut down to the chase." I shifted uncomfortably as I wasn't sure where the conversation was leading.
"We would like you to make an apology on live TV as well. As you already know that the election is already nearby and the impression your interview has caused in just a few hours would take a dark toll on the election." His father stated and I gulped down saliva.
"But of course, we would compensate you for your troubles." He concluded and I dropped the fork slowly onto the table.
What if there was a way to switch the tables a bit and turn this to my favour?
"You mentioned something about compensation, what is it?" I queried and the father chuckled.
"I'm sure we will reach an agreement. Let me hear what you want." I pursed my lips as I hoped what I was asking wasn't going to be a bit too much.
"I want a job at the MANSON GROUP, your main company." I finally said and stared at each of them eye to eye wondering what was going through their minds.
I had worked in one of their affiliate companies alongside Sonia and Audre but I had to quit after I lost my father. If they granted me this opportunity, half of my problems would be solved.
"You can resume work there tomorrow. Our chauffeur would pick you up." I stared at him wide eyed for a few seconds with shock and tension coercing through my body.
"Are you serious? You're not going to bail out on me?" I asked in an agitated voice and he nodded.
"I need more solid proof." I muttered and then furrowed through my bag and got out my cell phone.
"Please repeat what you just said." I pleaded and the man smiled, staring at me. He would probably be wondering what kind of person would be so desperate but I am that kind of person.
"You can start working at the main group tomorrow, our chauffeur would pick you up only if you render an apology to our family on live TV." He repeated and if I was back at my house, I would probably roll all over the ground at this moment but I had to contain myself.
"Then that is it. I'll talk to H.R to schedule a press hearing—" I was still saying when he picked his phone up and dialed a number.
"Hello Doctor Brown, schedule a live press hearing at Kingston hospital as soon as possible." He said.
"Or you could just do that." I mouthed.
He was still on the call when one of their guards came in and whispered something into his ears.
"Mr Brown, don't worry about the press meeting." He said and ended the call standing up and moving over to talk with Jason and the guard that had entered.
"We've not even started the procedure and they're already trying to bail out." I sighed, stabbing my lobster, totally forgetting that Jason's mother was at the table.
"Be careful not to hurt your hand." She said and that jerked me out of my line of thoughts immediately.
"Yes ma." I answered with unease as my eyes darted to and fro.
A few minutes later, they came back to the table looking like they had just argued.
"Miss Elena, we have to inform you that standards have changed. We have an opponent as you already know in this political world and they've already gained access to the video and would use it to their detriment."
"An apology from you wouldn't solve anything as it would be considered that we forced you into it. That would cause further uproar so we can't risk, as it is, all we can do is the next available option." He looked at me skeptically for a while before clearing his throat.
"Well, what's the next option?" I asked and Jamil chugged down a cup of water immediately.
"You have to get married to my son, Jamil." The spoon I was holding fell out of my hand and I nearly choked on the soup that I was drinking.
"I'm sorry what? I don't see how marriage gets involved here and even if it is involved, I'm not doing it." I answered vehemently, shaking my head in negativity.
"We can say that you both had some kind of lovers quarrel prompting you to do that on live TV to show him you were angry. That would make the impact we are seeking." Oh hell no! There's no way I'm getting married to another man, not when I barely survived my marriage.
"You have to look for other mediums, else I would be unable to help." Though I was saying that, one part of me was literally offended that I was going to lose that job.
"Listen Miss Elena, it's a win-win situation. Once you get married quietly, show up in one or two events, talk to the media together and explain what happened, we'd settle you off with 250,000 dollars plus you get to keep the job. A contract marriage that won't last too long and you're out." The offer did sound thrilling and I was down thinking lane.
There was absolutely nothing for me to lose, they were right but still I had a lot of pride and integrity to uphold.
"Thanks for the meal but I'll have to be on my way now." I suddenly said and stood up, grabbed my bag and began walking out.
"You didn't give us any reply." Mrs Manson said and I paid no attention to her neither did I make any attempt to give her any answer.
"You do realize that you won't get the job at the main group until we reach a common ground right?" She asked again and I bit my lips regretting why I didn't just accept so I could get a million dollar deal but pride over everything.
"One of our chauffeurs would escort you back to the hospital." Mr Manson said behind me as he trailed me and I didn't bother replying to that.
As I got out, a black car was waiting and the man opened the door for me. I turned to stare at Mr Manson, his wife and Jamil.
Entitled politicians that felt they could bend anybody to their will just because they had the affluence, well it was not just a feeling, they really could bend anybody.
"Text me the details for the wedding tomorrow, let's do this." Mr Manson's lips contorted into a smile as I winked and got into the car.