CHAPTER 1
𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞
"Have a great day, Mrs. Turner" Mrs. Turner smiles and then turns her back and leaves the store. Mrs. Turner is a sweet old lady that leaves across the street from the grocery store I work in. I looked at the clock on the wall and realised that I'm late! "Oh, shit!" I quickly picked my handbag and stormed off without looking back.
I had an interview with Mitchell Powers; the CEO of the biggest fashion company in America. I tried my best to get a taxi and finally I got one. "Can you please drive a bit faster sir?" I asked looking at the time on my phone.
3:21pm.
I was supposed to start my interview a minute ago and I was only halfway to my destination. "Crap! What to do now?"
"You know lady, you don't have to kill yourself over whatever's bothering you. I mean it's already happening. So you're late, so what? Strangle yourself? What I'm simply implying is that you calm down ma'am!" The driver said looking at me through the rear mirror!
I simply smiled at him and his words started making sense in my head. I took a few breathes and calmed down. My phone suddenly began vibrating. It was Noel. Noel was my boss in the grocery store.
"Hello," I answered the phone normally.
"Are you okay? Why did you just storm off like that? Not even a simple goodbye? "
"I'm sorry Noel. I am really late for my interview right now, can't talk. Anyways, we'll catch up later, I gotta go."
"We're here" The driver said.
I passed him a twenty dollar bill and waved at him as I run into the building in my 4" heels. It was 3:47pm. I took the elevator to the 6th floor. It felt like forever until finally dings and the doors opened. I run to the secretary's desk and told her about my interview and apologized for my lateness.
The secretary had a name tag on her blouse. Mary Thompson, that was her name. She looked at me and raised her overdrawn eye brow. "What's your name?"
I gazed at her wondering why a sane human being would put so much make-up on. Her brows were too drawn, I could tell that she had several layers of foundation on and she had bright red lipstick on. She looked like a doll.
"We don't have all day lady!" she snapped at me as I came back to my senses.
"I'm sorry, it's Alice Templeman," I said in embarrassment.
She glared at me and told me to wait in the reception 'till I'm called. "This is great, just great! I have to wait for everyone else to be interviewed because of my lateness," I said to myself just loud enough for only me to hear. While I waited, I practiced on how to answer questions about the job. After about two long hours I got called. As I opened the doors to Mr. Mitchell's office, the secretary whispers loud enough for me to hear, "you don't stand a chance in there."
BITCH!
I tried my best to forget about her as fast as possible and focus on my interview. I entered the office and saw a man sitted behind his desk working on his laptop with a stern face. It's like he didn't even hear me come in. I took a sit and greeted him with a smile on my face.
"Good evening sir!"
"Are you Alice Templeman?
"Y-yes!"
He put his laptop aside and looked at me without any emotion on his face. "OH MY- ", I say in my head. "He is hot." He looked better than he did on magazines. Suddenly I felt as if the temperatures rose instantly.
"Okay! So, what do you know about POWERS FASHION?" He asked.
"It is the best fashion company in all of America. POWERS FASHION is also an international company which has been having positive incomes and ratings for the past 5 years. It's main aim is to make everyone feel like the best version of themselves through clothing and accessories,...." I went on and on about the company's values, goals, culture and a lot more.
I could tell that Mr. Powers was really impressed by how much information I gave out. When I was done, I simply gave him my portfolio. He scanned it and out of his mouth came the most precious words, "you're hired!"
I couldn't believe my ears! After that secretary told me that I didn't stand a chance, I've got to admit that she kinda got me scared. "In her doll face!" A smile of relief formed on my face. I looked up to Mr. Mitchell and realize that I have been talking in my head for longer than expected. I compose myself and thank him. As I look at him, I can't take my eyes off him. His hair was a bit shaggy with a few strands falling on his face, his grey eyes were just looking at me and I felt as if they were taking me to another dimension, his lips were so well curved. He was wearing a black shirt that was not buttoned all the way up, exposing part of his chest. "Oh my God", I said quietly.
"Are you done staring?" I stood up instantly almost dropping my handbag as I was brought back to earth by his deep sexy voice. "I-I-I'm sorry Mr. Mitchell, I didn't mean to," I could feel my face turn red in embarrassment. "What is wrong with this day?" I say in my head. Just when I think that this day couldn't get any worse, it started raining cats and dogs! On this particular day is when I forgot my umbrella in my one bedroom apartment! I always carry an umbrella for days like these but I was in such a hurry on that morning because I overslept.
"Great!" Mr. Mitchell exclaimed as he closesld his laptop.
As the taxi driver dropped me, I noticed the parking lot was quite a distance from the main building so I could understand why Mr. Mitchell was frustrated.
"If only you came early lady! Urgh!" I felt guilty.
I just stood there and faced the floor like a child being scolded. I could hear Mr. Mitchell stand up from his sit and walk towards me. A shiver went down my spine.
"Look at me!" I obeyed innocently.
Woah! He was tall. Handsome, muscular, tall and has a deep voice, what would make any woman not look his way? I was staring again.
"The next time you have an interview anywhere please be punctual!" He said with clenched teeth.
He went and took a sit on the leather sofa on my right side. He's phone began ringing. He picked up and quietly listened while looking at the ceiling with his head on the sofa back and closing his eyes tightly. The lump on his throat just made him even sexier as he swallowed in frustration.
"No man, I couldn't make it. I got caught up in the office. I guess I'll just have to watch the replays on Saturday..... Alright bye!"
I could feel him stare at me from the sofa. My face turned red. I was dressed in a tight, short black skirt that exposed my thighs and curves. I didn't move a muscle. I was getting very nervous and i didn't know what to do. There was pin drop silence in the office that was very uncomfortable at the moment.
"Are you just gonna stand there? Take a sit over here!" He pointed the other end of the sofa. "You ruined my night, but it's boring here and I can't stay mad at you, so why don't you start by telling me why you were late?" I could see how annoyed he was. I explained what happened and surprisingly he took it well. I was relieved.
He stood up and fetched himself a glass of whisky and came back. Only this time, he sat closer to me. He took a sip of his whisky and then looked at me and asked, "How are you planning on getting home after this rain?" I wanted to answer him but then i realised that i had no means other than a cab, which would be hard to get after all the rain... Oh shit, i had no way to get home.
I looked back at him and his was looking at my lips. He wasn't just looking but staring at them. He came closer to me and kissed me. OMG! I just kissed my boss!
