"Who was that?", I ask, brows knit together
"You'll know soon enough at the interview tomorrow", he declares already walking towards his room
He's gone before I could get a chance to parry
Aiden sighs deeply, "There is no point of arguing with a stone sissy, good night. I'm tired".
He yawns for an obnoxious amount of time before retreating up stairs. While hiking up the stairs, he pauses and peeps at me from above, "Good luck for the interview tomorrow", he grins, before vanishing.
Only when the words was regurgitated twice, did it finally settle...
Tomorrow?
"Tomorrow?!", the shriek comes out of me before I could stop it. Thankfully, not high enough to wake anyone.
But it's already 4 a.m., so what they actually meant was .....today?!.
Shit. Shit. Shit
I hike up the staircase going into the once unfamiliar room that I landed in after my doom. The rising sun from the window opposite the door paints the sky in a beautiful orange-pink. Just another reminder on how short of time I have left.
I spot a table right under that window. The table is slightly dusty as though it wasn't touched by anyone for a while. Law books, schedules and rugged fabrics are scattered in a messy fashion.
Fabric? Was Genny into fashion? I can't remember!
As I scoured the table for anything that could be of use, I find a chit , burried under the weight of books.
I unfold it hastily, and there it is a messy handwriting.....
Interview. NexaCore Pharmaceuticals.Monday. 7 a.m.
7th floor. H.R Cabin. Don't be late.
That means I had less than three hours. Fuck that.
I need to find the ring first. I'm pretty sure I left it in the park. I need to—
A reflection stares back at me from the mirror placed next to the door. My reflection and I don't think I'll get used to it anytime soon.
Mud partially dots the lower half of my pants, my white blouse ruined and slightly wrinkled, my hair wavy and put up in a messy bun and my eyes.....
My eyes sleep deprived and somehow still pretty, still gold.
But, it's unfortunate. Unfortunate that you always land second to Lily.
My breath inadvertently quickens as that voice echoes in my skull. Mr. Laurent, shouldn't have had so much control over my thoughts
Technically, I met him just now, and yet, his every word his and since hijacked my self-esteem , ego.
So, I decided to do something about it. Something stupid.
I'm going to regret this, aren't I?
My palm slips over my face as I groan preparing for doom, yet again.
***
"My uncle is death", the man with the goofy glasses blurts out, fidgeting with his fingers
"What—?!"
"What the?"
Various confused faces gasp in confusion at the man's outrageous declaration.
I push myself on my toes a teensy bit higher to get a better view, more specifically to see him.
The smug bastard. The devil. Lucien Ashford.
Even at a high stakes situation like this, not the slightest sliver of sweat reflects on his face. He sits like a calm devil, a bored expression shadowing his face.
He signals the man with the goofy glasses.
The man stammers unable to understand, "Sorry, English b-bad"
"Get out", Lucien orders tilting his head, "It doesn't matter if your uncle is dead or death, I don't tolerate uncertainty in this hall"
The poor man is escorted out with his arms flailing wildly, by four huge muscular gorillas for security.
"Next", Lucien drawls nonchalantly totally disregarding the scene in front of him.
Okay, show time. I'm next!
I tug on my black blazer and my soft waves as I stare at my reflection in the blue tinted glass walls.
Hmm....not bad Genny
I practise my smile in various angles as I lean closer towards the makeshift mirror. The luxuriant lighting really helped. I drown in my own yellow gold eyes, and deep red lips.
I pout slightly, ruffling my fingers through my waves. Oh, I really won't get used to this anytime soon.
"The glass is see-through Laurent", Lucien's eyes bore into mine from the other side
...
My soul left my body.
My brain definitely catching up, stupidly makes eye contact with the devil.
Bad idea
HIS EYES SMIRKED.
All the memories of our midnight meeting at the part rushed at me, each flashing vividly in the screen of my mind. The closeness, his lips, his breath, his—
"Come in, Laurent", he states stealing his gaze away from mine
My feet walk blindly, while I will my conscious to fucking focus.
I finally place my hand on the heavy handle almost topping inside, but balancing just enough to not cross over the line of my dignity.
I inhale deeply telling myself what I tell myself before every interview:
The worst thing that happened already happened. Phew...
I slap on a fake smile and strut towards the interview panel.
Five board members— three men and two women sit across me, each gawking as though they've already started their evaluations
When the woman to the far right end of the panel nods at me smiling, I seat myself of the singular black metal chair, back straight, chin up.
The introductions begin. The woman with the brightest smile to the far right speaks first, "I'm Helena Voss – Head of Legal Affairs". Her voice is soft and fluffy, but I know better than to trust the tip of an iceberg
"I'm Elias Verran – Chief Financial Officer", the man next to Helen speaks. Probably mid-40's , hair greying already. His blank expression tells me he's seen things he shouldn't have seen and unsees things he should see.
The woman in the centre doesn't bother to even at the candidate in front of her, her demeanour made of ice, "Mirai Kosaka – Director of Ethics & Compliance", her voice low and bored as she cold through a resume, probably mine. Her disinterest only strengthens the argument in my head that she's probably the only one who doesn't play games
Cough, cough, cough
Mirai offers a glass of water to the man sitting right to her, without giving the sick man a chance to speak she speaks, " He's Dr. Sinclair Dumas – Chief Medical R&D Officer". The doctor grins sheepishly. The classic mad doctor, I presume as I stare at his slightly trembling fingers. He looked just like the perfect comedic relief, but I know better than to mess with Jokers.
"And I....", my gaze snaps to the speaker, "Lucien Ashford, Acting Board Advisor", he declares, voice echoing within the little interview room, air stilling as if it also recognised the weight and power behind that voice.
The subtext was clear
The heir of NexaCore Pharmaceuticals
"So, shall we begin Miss Genevieve Laurent?"