Clara received a call for an interview the following morning from one of the applied companies. She hurriedly took a shower, put on formal attire, and left the house in the hopes of being chosen by any one of them.
Before arriving at her destination, she took out prints of her documents from a Xerox shop and placed them in a folder.
She left the building after roughly two hours, feeling defeated that she had not advanced to the next round and had been turned down. Disheartened, she walked to a nearby coffee shop and stepped in.
Before coming here, she had nothing, so when she was rejected, she wanted to stuff her stomach.
"First interview and I was rejected" Clara muttered waiting for a coffee as she sat taking a corner table for herself.
She was a little upset as she couldn't make it and hoped she would get a call from the other companies she applied for the job.
After sometimes her order came along with some snacks and she started stuffing her mouth with the food. She had long forgotten her manner as she couldn't hold her hunger anymore.
Just when she was about to text Abby about her first rejection, she received an email. Her eyes widened in surprise and instead of texting Abby she rather opened the email.
As she scanned her eyes through the document, Clara squealed in excitement as she was selected for another interview from the company that was paying higher than the other one.
But there was one problem, they wanted her to come for the interview today itself.
Quickly finishing her food and gulping down the coffee, she hurried out of the coffee shop and took a cab to reach the Skylar Corps.
She had never heard about this company before, so she wasn't aware of who was the owner of this big firm.
Ignoring her doubts, she soon reached the destination and was quite surprised by the architecture. A tall building made up of glass shined under the scorching sunlight.
It was so tall that her neck craned her neck up to see it reach the sky.
"I shouldn't hurt myself" Rubbing the back of her neck she paid the cab driver and entered inside.
Inquiring about the interview at the reception Clara was soon guided by one of the staff members to the interview hall. There she sat with other people who applied for the same position.
"Have you heard about the CEO, everyone over here seems to be scared about him" the girl next to Clara muttered.
"But I've also heard that the man is too handsome to resist. How I wish to get into his good books" the other girl said.
Clara felt her throat run dry listening to their conversation. These two girls were beyond her imagination. They even went on to discuss how they would seduce the CEO to get the job.
'Oh! By the way, who is this CEO, and why are they drooling over him so much' Clara couldn't but think.
She was so worked up in her stuff that she didn't get the time to overview the company she applied for.
Rooted on her seat she waited for her turn and in just about half an hour, her name was called.
As she walked towards the room, she noticed the faces of the two girls who stepped out one after another. The wicked smile on their face was now replaced by fear and she fell into thought thinking about what happened to them.
Clara could only pray in her heart that she somehow got the job until she found the sender of the letter. Once she achieved her goal, she would eventually resign and return to the place she came from.
Standing in front of the cabin's door Clara took a few deep breaths and entered in. As soon as she stepped inside she felt the chilling air around the entire cabin.
Looking ahead she saw a man who was quite young but he dressed up more of a mature man hiding his age through his attire.
"Miss Clara Mathew," Austin said with a pleasant smile and asked her to take the seat. His calm and soft voice somehow eased the tension inside the room.
Smiling politely, Clara walked ahead and took a seat in front of the huge rectangular desk. She was having weird kinds of vibes but she brushed it off thinking it was just her nervousness that was making her feel that way.
On the other side of the desk, she saw a figure sitting on the chair with his back facing her.
'I think he is the boss' she thought and then composed herself for the interview to start.
"So Miss Mathew, why do you think you're suitable for the assistant's job when your profile says the other? " Austin questioned as he read her bio.
"You don't even have any experience in that field rather?" creasing his brows, he looked up at Clara.
Clara had already seen this coming but she couldn't get scared as she needed the job for a living even if it was for a few days. She wouldn't have applied for the position in the first place but they were paying quite well for the job and she also found it interesting. She would learn something new.
Composing herself she took a deep breath and raised her head meeting Austin's questioning eyes, "I know, my profile doesn't match the assistant position but as a beginner, everyone should get a chance to prove themselves. I know I don't have any experience but let me prove myself. I assure you won't regret giving me the job"
Clara hopefully looked at the man trying to read through his expression. A few seconds passed and his face crumpled into a satisfying smile.
"I think we finally found the right person" Austin smiled making Clara confused.
"D-does it mean I am selected," she asked hesitating for a second, and when she saw him nod her nervousness flew out of the window.
"But there is a condition" Austin's sudden clause dimmed Clara's smile.
"W-what condition?" she asked nervously but deep inside she wanted to know it.
"Apart from being an assistant, you also have to look after your boss's needs" Austin scratched his head as he finished the sentence.
Clara felt a bucket full of cold water smash on her face. Her brain was now stormed with multiple questions. What kind of needs he was referring to and why did he sound a little skeptical about it?
"N-needs" Before she could understand, she spoke.
"Oh.. there is nothing major Miss Clara" Austin saw the doubts in her reaction and before she could think any further he spoke ahead," You have to take care of his basic needs as in monitoring him and taking care of his health"
Clara felt at ease when she heard his condition, "Oh...these are the conditions, I thought..." she couldn't voice her thoughts loud and pursed her lips instead.
"I will take care of everything" she answered confidently.
Satisfied by her response, Austin pulled out a file and gave it to Clara for the signature. She didn't read the document thinking it might be some kind of remaining formalities and signed the papers without reading them.
Once she was done signing, she gave Austin the file back and was waiting for her departure but when she heard Austin's words she frowned.
"Miss Mathew, now our boss will have some words with you" informed Austin walking out of the room and leaving Clara alone with the man who didn't for once turn behind to see her.
As time went by she didn't see the chair swirl and with every passing second, she felt her heart pound.
Something inside her was asking her to hold on to herself and before she could comprehend the chair finally turned and the man sitting on it came into her view.
"Long time no see, Clara"