Aaron's pov
"Sir, if you wish I can arrange for another interview tomorrow."
I look at my so called temporary assistant and slam the folder on the table.
He flinch, looking down and I get up.
I am done with this useless interview.
"Don't you screen the applicants before fuc**** bringing them here!"
"I. I am sorry Sir...we were behind the schedule and-"
"Just get out"
I say turning around to look at the street below. The busy hustle calming my agitated mind.
I hear the door closing and I sigh.
What a waste of time.
I really fail to understand why the majority applicants were females and second of all , were they here for a beauty contest or what.
I understand they need to look presentable but what were those seducing looks and words.
I seriously hate these types.
My thoughts go to Andriana and I find my nerves calming.
Why hasn't she called me today?
I check my phone to see her missed call and I smile.
She never forgets...not even a day.
Calling her back , I stare outside while the bell rings, she picks the call at second ring ,her voice like music to my ears.
I really miss her.
"Good afternoon Mr workaholic ,how is your day going?"
"Don't ask babe. These applicants are getting on my nerves!"
She chuckles, and I can imagine her beautiful smile in front of me.
"Let me guess. They are throwing themselves at you and you being you...are finding it irritating?"
"Ya, somewhat. I just hope I find someone capable or God knows I will go crazy in few days!"
"It's fine Aaron. Trust me. You will find the person very soon.
Have you eaten something or no?"
I massage me temple , only realising now that I was having ba headache.
The work load is too much , if she hadn't reminded, I would have definitely skipped my lunch.
"No I haven't. Don't worry , I will have it in a while. What about you?"
"Nothing much. Just shooting and stuff. I really miss you though, it feels like forever when it's only been few days."
I hear some voices outside and my anger sky rockets. What the hell is wrong with these people.
Is this a office or a playground?
"Miss you too babe."
The voices get louder outside. They were screaming just outside my door.
Here goes the decorum of this office.
"Listen babe. I will call you in a while okay? "
"No problem love. Take care and don't forget to eat okay?"
I smile, moving towards the door.
"Okay. Bye"
Ending the call my expression changes as I detect the voices belonging to girls, screaming on top of their lungs.
Opening the door, I see everyone's eyes stop on me. The voices coming down instantly.
A girl's back is one me as the guards hold her thin arms.
Her brunette hair falling down in waves to reach her hips.
"Leave me! Stop touching me dammit! Stop!"
She screamed thrashing in the guards grip and I gave the guards my deadly glare,they leave her immediately and step back from her.
Bowing at me.
What was this drama now?
Why are these workers not doing their work, enjoying this pathetic show instead.
"What the hell is going on here?"
I ask and the girls back stiffens.
My eyes met Ms Rodriguez scared ones and she started stuttering,trying to explain herself.
"Sir ..I can explain...this..gi..rl here-"
I show her my hand.
Everyone was slacking around not doing the work and she was being a reason behind it.
She shuts her mouth a looks down while I look around at everyone.
"What? Get back to your work everyone!"
And that's when they scurried and I brought my attention back to the girl.
But what I saw was no where who I had expected.
Innocent eyes of the girl I hated all my life, staring back at me.
The anger I had managed to subdue, got on surface.
She opens and closes her mouth unable to say anything and I fist my hands.
Why her! I thought I left her irritating presence at home!
And that 's when I remembered the last conversation at the table.
Dad! Interview! Fu**! I completely forgot about her.
Grabbing her wrist I pull her inside and bang the door shut.
Moving closer to her, trying to intimidate her with my presence.
But I see I didn't had to put much effort into it, she was already sh** scared.
Eyes lowered to look at my chest, body rigid and stilled.
"How dare you create a scene in my workplace Ezra?"
I say in my usual cold voice and the eyes which always looked so obedient and innocent.
Looked up at me.
Not so innocent anymore, narrowed in animosity and resentment.
"The same way you dared to stop me from interviewing."
I was surprised to say the least. I always considered her to be that kid who nods at everything others say,that scared sheep which goes to any extent to make others like her in return.
But I guess the little girl from 5 years back has changed. She is not that scared girl anymore and has grown a back bone.
Better if you ask me. I loathed her stuttering words and lowered eyes more.
"To stop you? Don't you give too much importance to yourself? Just because Dad asked me to hire you doesn't mean I have to do it "
I say , testing her. Which was true in a way.
She has to prove herself, I won't be hiring her straightaway.
"I skipped my workday at school for this interview and I waited for 4 damn hours waiting for you to call me! "
She says with her tone rude and eyes burning.
The kids. How can I forget it?
A nursery teacher in a school after a masters in mba , what a waste of my my families funds.
She continues , not bothered by my closeness like earlier.
"If you wanted to reject me,why do this drama of calling me to this interview! You could have just said it on my face Aaron!"
Isn't she getting too audacious?
Moving closer, I see her eyes widening.
But instead I was in for a surprise when I inhaled her fragrance.
Sh**! Don't breathe! I almost forgot how she smelt.
That tempting fragrance of peach blossoms and Rose.
The one that used to attract me when we were kids.
It's still the same. So damn addicting.
I was almost going to close my eyes to intake it when I stopped myself.
Stop with this bullish** Aaron!
"Mind your tone Ezra. You stand in my office right now."
I whisper in her ear and I bet I saw something glistering in her eyes.
But she refused to back down, her tone turning louder.
"So what? What will you do huh? Call the guards? Throw me out? Just like that manager of yours did?"
Everyone is giving her to much importance.
She thinks she can come to my office and threaten me like this?
The guards? I don't need them, I can fuc**** throw her out myself.
If it wasn't for father I would not even allow her to enter here.
Calm down Aaron. Don't let her get on your nerves.
"You are not allowed to come to my office, scream at my staff and ruin my name Ezra. What the manager did was right. "
I say, keeping my tone in check.
I don't want her going to mom and complaining about this, just like she used to do when we were kids.
I have had enough.Why was I even engaging in this useless conversation with this orphan girl?
Unintentionally my grip on her wrist tightened and I look up to see I was pinning her arm on the door behind.
Why was I even touching this girl!
"But she-"
"Just shut up!"
I scream and she flinched under my tone.Closing her eyes.
A teardrop leaves her eyes and I still.
Fuc*
What the hell was I doing?
Running my hand through my hair I step back from her.
Leaving her completely like her touch has burned me.
Sighing , I turn around and proceed towards my seat.
Her scared face...dammit!
Sometimes even I fail to understand why I hate her so much.
Is it to be blamed on her eyes that are like a trap of innocence?
Or her fragrance that has fuc*** with my brain since we were kids.
She is an orphan. A girl with no family, no status, no background.
Her face, nothing special if you ask me.
Yet she has my entire family wrapped around her fingers.
But I was not like them.
No way in hell can I be attracted to someone like her, so hatred is the only thing I muster for her.
Sitting back on my seat , I look up at her one last time.
Standing there like a statue, pressed against the door with eyes closed.
Not so brave now?
She peeped through one of her eye, to only turn around to leave when I stop her.
"Come and sit here"
I say and she obliges this time. Good.
She was here for the interview right? I will make sure to interview her like I have never interviewed anyone.
"Here"
I offer her a glass of water and smile to myself.
I was bored, why don't I have some fun with her? It's been long since I last bullied her.
But first I need to make sure my prey is prepared.
To fill her stomach first play with her afterwards.
"Have you eaten something?"
I asks and she doesn't answer.
Picking up a receiver, I smirk thinking of what all I plan to do with her.
I bet she will go to father, crying after this.
Not that I cared, at least he will stop pestering me about hiring her.
"Get 2 lunch boxes in my office."
I say leaning back on my seat.
"You...you don't have to do it. I am just leaving."
She says, oh come on! How can I let my prey escape?
You may think I am a basta*** for doing this but you know what?
I just love doing it.
It was my favorite pass time when we were kids, but still she was stupid enough to have feelings for me.
Yes.
I know about them, I am not blind to not know this girl likes me.
And it gives me another reason to bully her.
I mean I gave her enough reasons to hate me, yet she keeps trying.
Just pathetic I would say.
"Ezra"
I say in my smoldering voice.She is getting affected, I can see it and I am enjoying this.
"Stay"
She looks at me in disbelief. Even I wanted to chuckle at my words, you are a really nice actor Aaron Reed.
Andriana should consider me in her next movie.
"The interview is already over ..I don't think I should-"
"Who said it's over?"
I ask , opening a file and looking back at her.
"Huh?"
Aww so cute Ezra. But your tricks will not work on me.
Just wait and see what I have planned for you.
"The last candidate is still left. If you are ready for it. Let's begin"
I say and got ready for the show to begin.
....................................................
"If you don't mind me asking why did you resigned from your previous job Ezra?"
I say leaning back in my chair. She fidgets , not comfortable in answering.
"The boss...he..he was not understanding and a bit rude at times."
I wanted to chuckle.
Seriously?
She left her job/ internship if we call it because of this?
All employees face it, what's new in it?
But no one quits because of it.
If it wasn't for my family's generosity , she would be living on the streets as a beggar.
Let alone a job, no one will even offer her a roof over her head.
"A very lame excuse Ezra. This means you are over sensitive and you can't even listen to your boss reprimand you?"
"No...I generally I am not...its just that it depends on the person. I...I am not that sensitive."
I place down her folder and lean back on the seat again.
"Oh really? Then why were you crying few minutes ago. I didn't even said anything to hurt you."
She looks down at her hands. Her right leg shaking.
Nervous and scared.
Just where I wanted her.
"You know what Ezra. You are a really ungrateful girl who doesn't value what others give them."
She looks up , her eyes were already glittering with tears.
This is just the beginning, I promise you will run from here to never come back.
"What..do you mean?"
I get up leaning against the desk and folding my arms.
Her seat just next to me.
"My mother picked you up from near a dustbin. Gave you a place to live, a mother to love , money to spent. Yet you never did anything for them in return."
"Do you know how much money was spent on your studies?."
I ask and she looks up at me through her teary eyes, I want to stop.
But she needs to value these things.
No one will tell this to her, thinking it will hurt her but I can.
I don't care if she will be hurt. She needs a reality check.
"$200000 dollars girl and you wasted every single penny of it"
Her eyes widen as she looks at me in disbelief.
"But mrs Reed...said... I got...a scholarship..."
I chuckled at her words, looking down at her.
"Don't tell me you believe it. Did you see your grades? Let alone scholarship, no one would have even accepted you. Mom said it just that you don't feel bad. So that you accept it"
She looks down,her lips wobbling.
"I am sorry....I didn't knew..."
I step closer to her. Placing my palms on the armrest of her seat and moving closer.
"That's your problem Ezra. You don't know anything.... being that protected little kid... no one shows you what reality is."
She looks up ,her fragrance again hits me. But this time I was not affected by it.
Moving closer to her ,I breathe near her lips.
Enjoying how she gulps and tightens her grip on the armrest.
"But I will show you the real world Ezra."
"I will show you that life is not a fairy world where you get whatever you place your finger on."
"You have to earn it."
I thought she will push me away and run from here like a scared kid.
But what she said instead made me surprised for a second.
"Then show me Aaron...show me the reality that no one shows me...."
Such bravery ,if only she knew.
"Your sensitive heart won't be able to handle the corporate world Ezra, it's better if you go back to teaching abcd"
I say , stepping back when she holds my collar instead.
Pulling me to her,I was for a shock when I lost my balance and landed on top of her.
Damn! Did she really did it?
Her body is pressed against mine, and her tear filled eyes looking back at me in determination.
Not bothered by my closeness this time.
My hand is resting on her waist and I just realised how perfect she felt.
I move my fingers,my fingertips brushing on her naked waist but she doesn't get affected like other girls.
Instead with the boldness of a lioness,she lifts her chin and looks up at me.
"You don't know me well Aaron Reed. For I may be sensitive,but it is more of a blessing than a curse."
I cock my eyebrow at her,impressed.
"Oh really?"
I ask , raising a eyebrow and next I know she moves closer to whisper in my ear.
Her fragrance hits hundred times more this time and I close my eyes.
Darn it!
"Trust me.Now can you stop with this childish bullying and begin the real interview?We are not kids anymore and I am getting bored of it."
What the fu-
She pushed me back and I stumbled on my feet to get up and look at her in shock.
Did she-
She gets up from the seat,and steps closer to me.
Cleaning her tears and smiling at me.
"What the hell Ezra? What was that?"
I ask , unable to stop myself. When she raises her eyebrow at me and gives me a smile which was no longer innocent.
" Well, two can act Mr Reed "
She says , picking my glass of water and drinking it.
How dare she!
I move forward to scold her when she looks at me and smirks.
"And I was just trying to adjust in the corporate world as you said. How was it?"
She looks hot though.
My subconscious says and I stop myself.
What has happened to this girl while I was away?
And that's when my friends, I heard my heart beat rapidly in my chest for the first time.
And I for a second got lost in those challenging eyes.
Looking back I match her stare and spoke the words that surprised even myself.
"You are hired"
"When do I begin?"
She asks and I smirk, proceedings back to my seat and leaning my head on the backrest.
"Now"
And she fails to hide her surprise this time,while I smile in victory.
Get ready Ezra, this game is just beginning.