Ashley
I woke up and checked the time on the watch that hung on the wall. It was still 6:55 AM and I could sleep peacefully for another five minutes. I swear I will wake up after 5 minutes, I am very sleepy.
I dozed off for another nap as laziness took control over my brain and the next time I opened my eyes, fear engulfed me.
God, please tell me that I slept only five minutes…
I looked up at the same watch that showed me the time… 7:34 AM.
I better die.
I got up and ran towards my wardrobe. I took out my clothes and changed them. It was good that I already decided on my outfit yesterday. I couldn’t have possibly done that today.
I washed my face and getting my hair done, I picked nothing else than my phone and resume and left on a cab to the Brown Headquarters.
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The cab stopped right in front of a massive building. It was such a beautiful place that I can not even dream of working there. It was a very tall one and covered with what looked like the most expensive marble and glasses. It wouldn’t be a totally wrong thing to think that it was full of precious gems, like even diamonds.
I paid for my taxi and went inside the gate. It was quite expensive for me to always take a taxi here and there. I need to buy a vehicle that too very soon.
I shrugged my thoughts. I first need to pass this second interview.
I went inside and the receptionist smiled brightly looking at me.
“Hello. How may I help you, miss?”
“Ah… I-I am here for the second interview for the PA’s position”
“PA’s position…” she checked her documents. “Of Mr. Brown?” she raised an eyebrow.
“Y-Yeah!” I replied and she nodded. “Great because he is already here. But you might wanna be really careful with him, okay? PAs don’t last for long with him. And you look like a girl who needs a stable job”
“Yes,” I nodded. “I will be careful”“Okay. Good luck. Go to floor 47. He might be on the round. I don’t know where exactly he is, but he was seen on Floor 46 just three minutes ago. So, hurry and go to the 47th floor. Go”
“Thank you!” I smiled at her and went to the elevator and pressed the 47th button. I looked at the last floor. This building had 66 floors. Isn’t it too much?
The elevator stopped and I went inside. I have seen Mr. Brown before, so I can recognize him. Actually, I have seen him on TV. My first interview was conducted by someone else of this company and now that I finally passed it, and they said that it was very rare, I am here to meet him and get his approval.
I glanced here and there whilst moving forward. There were many cabins, followed by many rooms. There were different names written at their door and the building was way too luxurious to work in.
“Who are you?” I heard a voice and my heartbeat raced. I turned around and saw Mr. Brown standing with his hands in his jeans’ pockets.
“I-I… I am here for the second interview, sir”
He looked at his watch. “I thought the time was 7:15 and I never think wrong. The time right now is 7:45. Why do you think I’d take your interview now?”
I looked down as I realized my mistake. I curse myself for thinking that I’d wake up after five minutes. If only I had woken up, I would have been here on time.
“I apologize, sir. Please don’t think that I am not sincere. I just overslept, that would never be repeated” I finally spoke.
I don’t really get afraid a lot and I always speak my mind so that others can understand me instead of misunderstanding me.
He sighed. “Meet me in my cabin at 8” he left.
Where is his cabin?
Oh yeah, I better hurry and ask the receptionist.
I went down to reception. “Um… where is Mr. Brown’s cabin?”
“Which one?”
I stared at her blankly. How am I to know that?
“Ah… he told me that I should meet him at his cabin in 15 minutes. Now, do you have any idea where?” I questioned her as I found myself very confused.
“Yes. You should go to the second room on the second floor itself. That is his interview room, and also his cabin. But remember, the next time you are asked to go to his cabin, go to the first room on the second floor. Okay?”
“Oh, okay. Thank you” I smiled at her. “My name’s Ashley by the way”
“Great to meet you, Ashley. Kate here”
“Bye Kate” I left the reception with a smile.
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I reached the second room and I can see Mr. Brown written on the door. I can go inside already, but should I wait till it is 8? It is still 7:58.
I decided to wait and as it turned 8, I knocked on the door.
I went inside and he was sitting in his seat.
“12 seconds late, what were you thinking?” he looked at me.
What is this guy?
“Sir… 12 seconds…” I wanted to cry and laugh at the same time.
“Anyway” he closed his laptop. “Your resume?”
“Yes sir!” I handed him my file and kept standing because he didn’t tell me to sit down. I mean, I don’t need it anyway.
“Hm,” he handed me it back. “Now tell me about yourself”
“I… I am Ashley Jones—”
“I read your file. Tell me something that is not there” he interrupted.
“Well, I guess I haven’t included that I really need this job and I am determined to do this with sincerity”
He half-smiled. “ What are your strengths?”
“I don’t think that I should be the one telling this. I mean, of course, I only know about them. But I think that anyone would tell them after they see me work for a week because I don’t feel like bragging about myself”
He nodded, a playful smirk on his face.
“So, what are your weaknesses?”
“I really sleep a lot!” I accidentally spoke and then got embarrassed. “b-But, I will change it!”
“Well,” he looked at me. “I guess I got one of your strengths. You can’t lie”
“I think that is a weakness” I murmured to myself as he raised an eyebrow.
“Okay” he nodded, but I don’t think he really heard what I said. “Now, tell me why did you leave your last job”
Remembering why I left my last job; it isn’t the most pleasant experience.
“Personal reasons,” I said but he didn’t seem to be satisfied by my answer. “My… my mom… actually, it is really personal” I cut myself off.
“Okay,” he nodded. “What do you expect from this job?”
“I just” I started thinking about my family. “I just want something to keep me busy while I wouldn’t lie, but I also want this job for money. My sister lives abroad and I really can’t live without her. So, she is my only family. This is quite a personal reason, but yes, that is it”
He nodded. “How much salary do you expect?”
“Anything to let me and my sisters meet every once in a while”
He nodded as he stood up. “Great. But this isn’t it” he smirked. “Get ready for your task one”
Ashley“Get ready for your task one” he smirked and I nodded.“Follow me” he ordered and I followed him as he led us to some distinct corner. He looked at the small sensor at the corner of the door and it opened. It was… iris recognition.We went inside and trust me, it all felt like I am doing some high-level FBI work.As I stepped inside, he stopped. “You have completely five minutes, find the 56th desktop, and write an email convincing Mr. Houston to agree to 6% shares other than 10%. Only one chance, no mistakes accepted and yes”, he looked at me. “I mean it”Before my brain was able to process any doubts, he left the room. Five minutes, girl.I looked at the room. It was very big, more like a
Ashley“Lower the blinds of the window, Ash” he ordered me.“Okay,” I agreed and lowered them.He called me towards him.“Here. See this. This is the most confidential document of this company, I am showing you this so,” I looked at him. “I trust you” I looked at the laptop screen.I nodded.“I am only showing you cause I need you to study this and know about our strengths and weaknesses. I want you to be aware of our capabilities. Only you are allowed to read and see this. No one, and I mean not another soul should know this”I nodded. “Okay, sir”“And Ash” I again looked at him. “Don’t lower the blinds just because someone told you to. You can’t possibly trust anyone, i
Ashley“The Brown Luxuries,” he said and I looked at the building astonished.The Brown… in the sense his company owns them?“Woah. It is so beautiful” I uttered as we paused in front of a building.He looked at me and I shut my mouth and came out of the car as he did.“I am gonna tell you about this all today. Here carefully. You have your phone?” he said while making his way inside a building.“I guess, sir” I replied.“Take notes if necessary. Or better…” he went to the receptionist.“Mr. Brown! How may I help you?” she asked politely.“Give me a Live Scribe 3 SmartPen”She gave him some pen and damn, it looked expensive.
AshleyI woke up and checked the time as usual.Nothing is as usual.I am definitely fired.I suck.I should die.I think I should stop cursing myself and call him to apologize.I took my phone and hastily dialed his number. I know he must be boiling in anger by now. Oh god, he is not even picking the phone. I am doomed. I AM TOTALLY DOOMED. It is fucking 9:17.He picked it up but the line went silent.“Um… sir,” I said in a low tone.He didn’t reply for a moment but then exhaled loudly. “In my cabin in 10 minutes”“Yes, sir” I replied and the call ended.Woah. Just when I thought that everything was going
Ashley“I apologize for that,” he said.Was it real!?Was the ‘rude’ boss really apologizing to me? The CEO of this heaven?“And trust me or not,” his vision lingered on my eyes for a small moment. “This was my first apology till… now. I never apologized to anyone”The sole sound of that sentence made shivers run across my body. He was here; he was apologizing. Maybe I shouldn’t be that stubborn anyway. Maybe it was just a misunderstanding and I shouldn’t make a big fuss and I should forget.I didn’t say anything as I was drowned in my thoughts and I didn’t even know how to react. I mean, the staff, the people, and Kate, I could feel everyone staring at us. He didn’t whisper anything, he said everything audibly. Everyone heard everything
AshleyI couldn’t believe my own ears. After everything was going fine, suddenly fired? This was pre-planned, wasn’t it?I went down, to save whatever self-respect I had left and I really didn’t want to co
AshleyI made my way towards the door as I heard the doorbell. I opened it and gosh, I think I am hallucinating.“A-Ash,” he said and I think I am not.“Why are you here? Not humiliated me enoug
Ashley“Then fine. Let me be your boyfriend”As he said those words, my eyes widened.