Friday came much too quickly. I laid in my bed, staring up at the blank ceiling and trying to think of an excuse to get out of the interview. Tyler waltzed into my room at eight in the morning, smiling brightly and brandishing a plate of eggs and toast in one hand and coffee in the other.
"Morning, sunshine!" He cheered. I stared at him blankly.
"I brought you a power breakfast! I'll pick out your outfit while your eating, and then we need to get to work."
"I can't. I'm sick," I said lamely.He turned away from my closet and glared at me, hands on hips.
"Start eating you little bitch. You're stressing me out by looking like that. It's only one hour. One hour. You can do it."
"You don't understand-"
"No, I don't care. Now eat."
"You're the worst," I grumbled, sitting up and grabbing the plate. He sent me a wink and turned back to me closet.
I shoved eggs in mouth angrily and gulped my coffee. As Tyler,held up a printed red skirt with a striped black and white top. I nodded happily at his choice as he laid it on the bed.
"Now shower," he commanded.
I complied reluctantly, taking a quick shower and then blow drying my hair. I dressed quickly, the outfit looking even better on, before applying makeup. I walked out of my room 30 minutes later. Tyler was waiting impatiently by the door in his favorite suit that he wore when trying to make an impression, out second cups of coffee in to-go mugs.
We walked to work quickly from our apartment. It was nine o'clock, meaning I had two hours to prepare until Mendes arrived.I scrambled about, cleaning up my office and preparing the questions.
By ten forty-five, I was tapping my feet anxiously and adjusting my makeup as my heart pounded in my chest. Tyler walked in and grabbed my face, planting wet kisses on either side side of my cheeks."You're going to be perfect. And I'll be right here," he said in a calming voice.
I nodded and twisted my hands, noticing my palms were starting to sweat. I adjusted the high ponytail on my head one last time as Alice burst into my office, the words I was dreading to hear falling from her mouth."Mr. Mendes is here for his interview."
"Send him in," I replied. I heard my own voice shaking.
Tyler reached for my hand and gave it a light squeeze. Then the door opened, and there was Shawn Mendes .His curly hair was a mess of curly layers pushed towards the right side of his head. He wore the same cold expression as he had the first time we had met. His suit was perfectly pressed and perfectly fitted. It was a shade of light blue, a shade I would normally tell no one to wear but he somehow made it look powerful and sexy.Tyler and I both jumped up to greet him. I stuck out my hand.
"Mr. Mendes, thank you for agreeing to this," I said immediately. He glanced at my outstretched hand before looking back up at my eyes and stuffing his hands in his pockets. I withdrew my hand awkwardly.
"Uhm, please sit. This is my associate Tyler." Tyler looked star struck.
"Mr. Mendes, so great to meet you. I've heard about your amazing work," He complimented
"Thank you," he responded gruffly before turning back to me.
"Start the interview now."
"Oh, uhm. Right. Of course." I stuttered. He raised an eyebrow before leaning back in the chair, folding his hands in his lap and a glaring at me.
"So, you dropped out of college in your senior year, 4 months away from graduation. Why did you make that decision? Do you think it has helped or hurt you?"
"Because college wasn't enough. It helped." He replied curtly
"Uhm, how do you think it helped you?"
"I got started four months quicker on my business than I would have if I had stayed," he smirked.
"When did you know you wanted to start your own business?"
"I've always like to be in control," he said deeply. I could hear the implication in his tone. I audibly gulped, tugging on the end of my ponytail nervously.
"Don't we all?" Tyler cut in with a teasing tone. I sent him a grateful look.
"How do you maintain the respect of your older co-workers? Isn't it hard constantly being the youngest person in the room?" Shawn glared at Tyler, who to his credit didn't even flinch under Shawn's gaze, before leaning forward and resting his elbows on my desk.
"I don't have "co-workers". I have employees. I earn my respect. It's not hard being the youngest person in the room when you're also the most powerful."I finally found my voice once again.
"You seem to be pretty confident of your position. Are you not worried you could lose it all, especially after gaining it a such a young age? You've made a lot of big purchases recently."
"I won't lose it. I have money, why would I not make big purchases? , Thomas please go get me a coffee. No mild or sugar."
Tyler pointed at himself.
"Me?"
"Is there another Taylor in the room?" Shawn asked icily.
"You just said two different names, and it Tyler, but close enough," He responded quickly.
I sent him a look as he stood up, already hating him for abandoning me. He shrugged as if to say he didn't really have a choice. I stared at him with pleading eyes as he left, shutting the door quietly behind him. Shawn watched him go.
My heart pounded madly in my chest as I admired Mr.Mendes profile. His nose was average size and cute, his jawline could cut grass. He turned back to me and I immediately dropped my gaze back to the questions.
"So do you ever think you have too much pressure on you? It seems like a lot to handle for one man," I asked, trying to keep the conversation normal and willing myself to not look up at him.
"I can handle a lot," He answered.
I raised my eyes to his and regretted it instantly. Those damn brown eyes that were too bright for the rest of him, that glared at me coldly but also with a hint of something else that I couldn't quite put my finger on.Suddenly he stood up and casually walked towards the door, turning it until I heard the click of the lock.
I tried to sit up straighter, to look as if I wasn't terrified out of my mind. Where the hell was Tyler?Shawn sauntered over behind my desk to where I was sitting stiffly in my chair, eyes following his every move. He stood behind me silently. I refused to turn around. His hand brushed my ponytail off to the side, revealing my neck.
Chills ran down my spine as I felt him lean down towards me, hair tickling the back of my back and his hot breath on my ear.
"I think the question is if you can handle the pressure," He whispered quietly.
My eyes fluttered shut and I gripped my notepad tightly. "I have more questions," I mumbled.
He chuckled deeply and I felt his hands twirling my hair between his fingers.
"I like your hair like this," He asserted throatily.
"Thank you," I responded weakly. My shaking voice gave away my fear.
"I can hold on to is easily," He observed, giving it a small tug as if to prove his point.
I gasped at his actions and stood up at quickly, turning around to face him. He smirked when he saw my face.
"We need to finish the interview. And please keep your hands to yourself Mr. Mendes," I demanded.
I raised my head and tried to stand up taller. Even in my 4 inch heels, he towered over me easily.
"Do we?" He mused, taking a step closer. I could smell his cologne.
"And do I?"I audibly gulped.
"Yes. I'm sure you have other to be. More important places."
"I can clear my schedule whenever I want. People will wait for me."
I clenched my jaw to hold back my anger and he took that as an opportunity to take a step closer and place his large hands on my waist. He ran one hand up my arm to my shoulder, leaving trails of ice wherever they went.He traced my collarbones with one hand and held me tightly with the other, staring at me intensely the entire time. I couldn't move. He was completely in control of me and he knew it. His hand went around the nape of my neck, holding firmly.And then the door handle jingles and I let out the breath I had been holding.
"Tyler," I sighed in relief. Shawn's jaw clenched.
"One minute, Taylor," He called out.
My relief was quickly wiped away as he held my neck tighter and leaned in. At the last second he turned his head, planting a light kiss just below my ear. My body felt electric in his hands, everything he did sent sparks through me.
"Don't be scared," He murmured throatily. And then I felt his teeth graze my earlobe before gently bitting down. His cold nose presses against me and his curls were everywhere. They smelled delicious, like coconuts. An involuntary moan escaped my lips and then he released me as suddenly as he had grabbed me.
I stumbled backwards as he opened the door, revealing a very panicked Tyler who rushed into the room, shoving the coffee into Shawn's hands before coming to my side. I could see the concern in his eyes as I took my seat once again and gave him a slight shake of my head, warning him not to say anything.
Shawn was sitting down again, one leg crossed over the other and resting on the opposite knee and staring at us both coldly.
"I think the interview is over," He informed us.
And then he stood up and left as quickly as he had come, in and out of my office in less than 20 minutes.But in that 20 minutes we had gotten a few questions asked and my dignity had been thrown down the drain, along with the now cold coffee that Shawn Mendes had left sitting on my desk without a sip taken out of it. Tyler turned to me with wide blue eyes, looking like he had seen a ghost.
"His suit..." He croaked. "His suit was Yves Saint Laurent."