THE DAY, ONIKA AND JACOB FIRST MET.
Onika’s pov…..
Dear journal,
This is the most awaited day of my life, if I get this job, finally all my sufferings can come to an end.
Enough of doing two part time jobs to support my studies and bills. Enough of working my ass off to make the two ends meet. Time to do some real work!
This is the dream company I have wanted to work for, since I was seventeen, now I have the qualifications but as you know the only problem is my lack of experience.
I have successfully crossed the previous level, two more are left, this is the second one, and the toughest one I have heard, the COO of De Luca Corporation, will be personally taking our interviews today and the sources says he is the toughest one to impress. If I qualify this, I will be taking a big step closer to my dream come true.
A total of 150 finalists were selected in the first round, out of which only five will be selected in this one, for the final, which will be conducted by the CEO himself, scary isn’t it?
My heart is already beating fast in anticipation, I hope everything goes well, fingers crossed.
If I get this job, it can be life changing for me.
I closed my journal and looked at the watch, hanging on the old, discoloured wall of my small apartment, and sighed.
It’s 6’o clock in the morning, I know a bit odd time for writing a journal, but I really can’t sleep the whole night out of nervousness and need someone to talk to…. and, well my journal is the only option I have got.
I got up and went to take a shower and get ready, the interview starts at 9’o clock Sharp.
I wore a knee length black skirt with a white top, and tied my hair in a tight bun, some of stubborn curls making its way out of it.
Before getting out of the apartment, I looked at the photo on my bedstand, and gave a painful smile, my little brother and parents smiling back at me, ‘I will make you guys proud one day…. wish me luck’, I whispered silently with teary eyes, and got out of there, with a heart full of hopes.
I took a cab to De Luca Corporation. In almost 35 minutes I was standing in front of the tallest building I have ever seen, reflecting sky at its top through its black glasses.
Before I can pass through the front door, two guards stopped me and asked for identification. I immediately showed them my application form and ID, they nodded their head and cleared the way for me.
I entered the lobby area, which was occupied by a number of people, whispering and talking among themselves.
I went to the receptionist and told her ” I am here for the interview…” Before I can complete.
“I know why you are here, tell me your name” she said in an expressionless robotics Voice.
“Onika Coulin.” I replied politely.
She typed something in her computer and said “Candidate number 121, take the seat over there” she pointed over the left side of the lobby.
Number 121, holy shit, it’s going to be a long wait.
After, waiting for two hours, I was chewing my lips in nervousness, I am the next candidate.
“Onika Coulin” the receptionist announced.
I immidiatly stood up and went to her.
“Take the elevator to 58th floor, from there Mrs. Griggs will guide you to the COO’s office.” I nodded my head and mumbled a thanks.
As I got on the 58th floor, a lady, supposedly in her late thirties, told me to follow her, I guess that would be Mrs. Griggs.
On my way I heard two ladies talking.
“This is the seventh time I brought coffee for Jacob Sir, I guess these empty headed girls are giving him a headache. He doesn’t seems to be impressed by any of them, yet.” She said, throwing me a dirty look, I tried my best to ignore that.
I was standing outside the COO’s office. I read the name plate, displayed on the door.
Jacob Knights,
Chief Operating Officer,
De Luca Corporation.
Jacob Knights, I mumbled thoughtfully beneath my breath, before knocking at the door with shaky hands.
‘You will do good’ I consoled myself.
“Come in.” Came a deep velvety voice.
I opened the door to reveal, a gorgeous man, with dark eyes, smiling at me. His smile creating two pits on both sides of his cheeks, a few inches away from his perfectly shaped lips, giving him a childish look and I involuntarily relaxed.
After interviewing hundreds of candidates, since the last two hours, and after what I just now heard outside, I didn’t exactly expected him to hold that million dollar smile on his face. I mentally noted, this guys has got some great patience and mannerism.
A friendly aura was radiating from him which eased my wrecking nerves. I expected that the COO would be a man in his early forties, with a scary face, and not this hottie sitting over here, just a year or two older than me.
I was brought out of my trance when I heard that sexy, deep velvety voice again.
“Staring is a bad manner, you know.” He said, his friendly smile morphing into a teasing one.
What?! Oh fuck. My eyes widened in realisation
“I.. I…. wasn’t staring.” Of course, I was, can you blame me?
I mentally face palmed myself, I may have to kiss the job goodbye even before the interview has started. Well done.
“Sure you weren’t” he said, his eyes swirling in amusement.
“Anyways, come and sit” I heard him say.
As I was making my way into the cabin, the painting on the wall behind him caught my eyes.
My eyes widened in fascination.
“Wow…” I said, awestruck, ” that painting is beautiful, its a master piece, if you don’t mind me asking can I know who made it?” I asked before I can control myself.
His eyes suddenly lit up with interest, all the signs of boredom out of the window, “it’s made by my elder sister.” He said with pride evident in his voice
” Do you paint as well?” He asked curiously.
“I do, though nowhere near that magnificent anyways, painting something like that will need the finest materials, not that I can afford it, but I do like to painting a lot, it gives me peace and calms me down whenever I am upset.” I said.
“So, from where did you learn, did you take painting classes or something?” He asked me enthusiastically.
I scoffed internally at that, painting classes would be a luxury, I could barely afford my studies. My two months rent is already pending, if I don’t pay the land lord within two days, I may get an eviction letter.
“No, actually I am no professional at it, when I was a small child, I used to see my mother paint… she loved painting too….” I trailed off.
I felt a lump rose in my throat, thinking of my mother and how she used to paint, to lessen the emotional pain my father inflicted on her. I was barely controlling my tears, memories of those days make my heart bleed in agony, the last thing I want to do is cry infront of this stranger, more importantly who can be my boss in near future.
He looked at me intently, with an unreadable expression. I thought he was going to ask further questions, but as if sensing the change in my mood, he said,
“Please take your seat, so that we can proceed with the interview.
I sighed in relief and took my seat, he told me to pass my CV, I did.
He was scanning my CV intently.
‘Don’t ask about experience, please’ , I mentally chanted.
“Hmm…” pause “impressive..” pause,
“You have potentials, and I am positive that there are high chances that you will get the job, but getting the job is not the main difficulty here, keeping it is, here is an internal information for you, 90 percent of his PAs don’t get past making his first cup of coffee, he will simply fire you if you don’t put right amount of sugar in his coffee.” He said as a matter of factly.
Say what?! Is this some kind of deranged joke?
If not, then Can’t I work for you instead, I wanted to say, but I bit my tongue, I guess flirting is prohibited. But this Agustin De Luca sounds really scary.
After saying that he went back to scanning my CV again, and I crossed my fingers.
Please say yes.
Please say yes.
My stomach was churning in suspense.
He finally said those words I dreaded the most, and my heart shank.
“You lack in experience…” He looked at me for a second, then asked in a business like tone,
“Give me a reason why should I select you? I have a long line of candidates much more experienced than you” His eyes boring into mine, with an unreadable expression on his face. His voice lacking the softness it held before, and I knew he meant business.
‘Because I desperately need this job.’ I wanted to scream.
I kept looking at him at a complete loss of words.
I need to convince him.
I took few calming breaths and said, “I have to start from somewhere, if every company keeps rejecting me because of my lack of experience, then how am I ever going to have it. I know nations best company may not be fit to start with, but if I get this job, I swear I will be loyal and give it my 100 percent.” I said and looked at him, my eyes full of hope.
He was still looking at me with that intense gaze, completely unfazed by what I just said, like it was just a boring lecture he hears everyday. Oh my God, he is not buying it!
No! I want this job. I can’t live in bankruptcy anymore, please understand!
I took a deep breath and said, “Okay, let’s talk about experience, I have worked for two years in Starbucks, making coffee as a part time job, I guess, that is experience enough to last longer than 90 percent of his well experienced PAs.” I blurted out.
Someone tell me I just didn’t say that!
He raised one brow at me.
I just want to run out of here, why do I always have to embarrass myself like that.
“I–I am so sorr–”
Then, his blooming laughter resonated through out the walls of the cabin, that is the most addictive sound I have ever heard, for a moment I found myself lost in it.
Then I looked at him in disbelief.
‘You are something else’ he whispered lowly before announcing in between his fits of laughter’ “Congratulations, Miss. Onika Coulin you are selected… I might even recommend Agustin your name” He said clutching his stomach.
My eyes widened in shock.
He can’t be serious!
I immidiatly composed myself and said. “Thank you, Sir.”
“You can call me Jacob.” he said, still trying hard to control his laughter.
“Jacob” I repeated and gave a nod.
That went quite… unexpected?
As I was about to leave, I heard him say.
“It was nice meeting you, Onika.”
I turned to look at him, his radiant eyes beaming at me, I looked at him shyly and said, “like wise.” meaning it
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