THE REMORSEFUL BILLIONAIRE

“Good morning ma’am”, I greeted the receptionist, trying to sound as polite as possible.

“I’m here for the interview,” I told the receptionist at the front desk on the ground floor.

“We don’t interview for cleaners here. Just go to the back of the building; you’ll see the office of the chief cleaner”

I was taken aback by what she said. Cleaner? Is that what she thinks I’m here for?

“I think you’re mistaken, I’m not here for the cleaning job, I sent an email to the hospital last night” I corrected her.

“Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t check, what’s the name?” she still seemed unconvinced.

I noticed that she didn’t really seem convinced.

“It’s Judith, Judith Summers” “I applied for…”

She cut me off before I could even finish. “PA?” she asked in disbelief.

“I’m sorry, is there a problem?” I asked, feeling embarrassed.

“No ma’am. Here’s your tag, I think you’re already late” she added.

“Really?”

“Yes. It’s on the third floor, last room” she directed me while handing the tag.

“Thank you” I said, and ran hurriedly towards the elevator with the thought that I had already missed the interview, roaming in my head.

I got to the third floor and was trying to find my way around when I bumped into someone. He was rude until our faces met.

I stared at him for a long moment, while still dumbstruck. I didn’t know if I would be exaggerating by calling him the most handsome man I’ve ever set my eyes on. Something about his face seemed familiar, but I must be hallucinating, because how in my freaking life would I have known him. He seemed equally stunned, staring back at me.

“Ma’am,” I was jerked back into reality as he gently tapped my shoulders. “Are you ok?”

Maybe I was still hallucinating, but he kept staring at me too. He had this look on his face, it was sober, filled with pity and he kept on staring. This time around, I broke him from this strange trance.

“Are YOU ok?” I tapped him.

“I’m sorry,” he stuttered, I watched how his rude countenance changed to a more appealing look.

“It’s my fault, don’t apologize” I insisted. “I’ll be more careful next time”Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

He helped me pick up my files and papers and without saying a word and left immediately, increasing his pace as he retreated to the hall on the other side of the room.

I managed to find my way to the interview room, where I met many other applicants, mostly young women and few men.

“Hi, can I see your tag?” A young man at the corner asked.

“Yeah, sure” I handed the tag to him. “Judith Summers, applying for PA to the head”

“Yes, why does everyone feel like I shouldn’t go for it?”

“Only the brave ones go down that path. I wish you luck, you’re number thirty- seven on the line.”

I collected my tag back and could only think of why people are that much for the interview if only the brave ones pursed the role. “Maybe they’re all so brave”

I sat down and waited till it got to my turn. The interview was taking longer than usual and the people, after coming out of the door, never smiled or showed an atom of happiness and excitement on their faces as it was before they entered. Perhaps, that was why they said it was only the “brave ones”

It was my turn and I walked in, as confident as ever. Lo and behold, the person to interview me was the man I met at the hall earlier.

“Hi, Good morning” I wondered where all my confidence vanished, my voice became a bit shaky.

“You came for the interview?” He asked me with astonishment on his face.

“Yes, I heard this was the lion’s den”

He laughed out loud “I too, wonder why they call it that”

He was getting too friendly, familiar and totally informal with me. This wasn’t the same person that was rude to me in the hallway earlier today.

“Tell me a little bit about yourself” He was composed now. He pointed at the seat in front of him.

I took the cue and sat down “uhm, I’m Judith, from Rome”. I watched as his eyes stared at me, I didn’t know whether it was with shock or amusement.

“Rome,” he repeated, “any reason why you left there for London?”

“More of it is a personal reason I wouldn’t like to talk about in here, I mean I’m here for the interview” I quipped.

“I’m the one asking the questions, aren’t I?” He stared directly in my eyes and I could feel the heat all over my body.

“A tragic incident befell me, and I had to change the environment to allow my peace to flourish” I told him.

“How long have you been in London?” he asked.

“Three years” I answered more timidly.

“That’s it, we’re done” he snapped.

“We’re done?”

“Yes, we’re done, you have the job,”

“You don’t have to give me the job out of pity.” I insisted.

“No, it’s not out of pity. If I didn’t see potential, I wouldn’t consider giving it to you.”

“You’ve barely asked me any questions related to my working experience.”

“It’s nothing to worry about,” he looked at my CV “Judith, Summers, right?”

“Yes sir, Judith Summers.” I was really confused at that point.

“I know more than enough and I’ve gone through your CV, that should be a pass on my side, so many qualifications here” he tapped the file that held my CV.

“But I’ll still appreciate to at least be treated like the other people that entered this office.”

“You have the job, Judith Summers, you begin as my PA on the next working day.” he concluded and gave me the cue that he was done with me for that day.

I stood up and walked out of the office, with thoughts in my head. His face still kept resurfacing and I couldn’t figure out why.

Well, we’ll find out on the next working day, the door slammed shut.