Claire and Danielle went to sit down together. She was still pretty much flustered by everything that had just happened. Danielle asked her if she was alright and Claire nodded. She would have asked if this was how Tristan behaves but then, it was his first time coming to the Norman branch. She sighed.
“You know, we all saw the guy who dropped you off,” Danielle said
“Him too?,” Claire asked her.
The girl nodded and Claire bit her lower lip. Now she would not only be taken as one not serious with her job but also as a flirt. She was done for. Pretty much she wanted to turn away and go home rather than take anything from him but that would seem like she had taken her step mother’s words seriously and had quit her job. She was not sure she would get another job easily knowing fully well she lacked things necessary for it. Claire knew she had to face the lion in his cave. Before she could turn to talk to Danielle, her friend was whisked away by the lion. Her heart was pounding and her entire world flipping as she weighed what would be the end result of her current predicament.
She however sat down there and waited patiently for her turn. He had called them in order of their appointment and by that means, Claire was the last person to go into his office. She walked inside meekly and closed the door behind her, watching him as he was making some remarks on the last person that had left before her. She decided to fix her gaze on his raven black hair as he worked. He looked even better than he did in reality. He almost seemed like a god radiating the entire place. Although unlike before on television, he seemed to be stressed out and made her wonder if she was the cause. He suddenly looked up at her without saying a word. He seemed to be weighing her and causing her to shift uneasily from one feet to another.
“What is the problem Miss Willows? Trouble finding your footing?,” he demanded distastefully
“No sir.” Claire said and held herself to the spot uneasily.
He glared at her some more and suddenly, Claire felt the urge to urinate as she began sweating around her temples. She kept telling herself that he was not going to eat her up but it all played out as words in her head.
He dropped the pen he had been fiddling with while observing her and strated speaking. He reckoned that from what it seems, she only began working there the previous day.
“Yes sir.” Claire said
“That was not a question Miss Willows.” he spat out.
She kept mute and begged her brain to learn to remind her next time to shut up when he speaks. Perhaps she had been wrong to have a crush on him. That was what was making her feel like melting before him. He was totally different from what he seemed on television show where he was all so cheerful a working happily with his sous chef. She began looking around his body for reasons to hate him but all she saw was perfection. One does not just hate on Tristan Jenkins. He makes you rather hate yourself giving you this image of how imperfect you are. She hope she could get through this in one piece.
He began saying he had heard that she was the new dishwasher. Claire said nothing as she had not thought that was a question.
“I asked you something Miss Willows,” he said annoyed obviously
“Oh… was that a question sir?,” Claire asked him
“No, perhaps it was rhyme. Damn well it was a question,” he stated
“Ye… yes sir.” she blurted.
He nodded and demanded under what qualifications was she hired. Alright, she became pretty much worried by what he now asked as she had absolutely nothing to show for. She simply said that they had not said the job needed any. He smiled and said that of course the job needed none after all it was a matter of keeping things clean but he needed to know. Claire could not believe her ears. He was acting like he had something against her other than she being late that morning.
“Well…?,” he demanded
“I don’t have it sir.” she said calmly
“You what?,” he demanded.
Claire said again that she had no credentials to show for it. He sighed and said he did not blame her for her nonchalant behaviour of showing up to work late seeing she had no experiences or basics on dealing with a working situation. However, he was going to retain her unless someone better shows up for the job. A wild thought inside her was telling her to quit before he makes her regret ever being born but Claire was adamant. If she could deal with her entire family, then certainly she could deal with her overbearing boss. She nodded and he smiled telling her he would also be keeping an eye on her just in case. Claire nodded.
“And before you think I would leave it out Miss Willows, come late to work and I would begin deducting ten’s out of your salary.” he said.
Claire was alarmed. Not even two or three dollars, he was going to be removing tens. With the kind of unpredictable family she was living in, she was not sure about the late bit.
“But sir…,” she began.
“You plan on coming late now do you?,” he asked her over raised eyebrow
“Certainly not sir.” she said
“Good. Now you may go.” he said to her.
For a brief moment, Claire could not make out what he had said to her and still stood there in the office while he went back to making remarks on the book probably about her. He must have forgotten she was still standing there when he looked up at her questioningly. Claire apologized and rushed out of his office.
The restaurant was open by the time she came out making her feel rather how insignificant her job was. She walked over to the area where she changed into her work clothes. Danielle followed her inside there apparently worried about her. Of everyone whom he had called, Claire had stayed there the longest. Her friend asked her what had transpired and Claire sighed saying she must have made it free of charge to his blacklist. Danielle understood her plight and reassured her that she would be fine. Claire sincerely hoped she would be able to do it as she changed into her work clothes. It was time to get to work and try hard not to get roasted by her boss. Tristan Jenkins had just proven to her that all that glitters is not gold. But somehow, he seemed to remain gold to her. Perhaps she was the one with the problem. That was the problem with having a strong crush, it becomes hard to decide. She looked forward to him frustrating the life out of her and her trying hard not to die.
Claire closed her locker and headed out with Danielle.