Chapter 6 MEETING THE BOSS

Lyosha alighted from the taxi and stared up at the skyscraper.

"Good luck in there man." The driver said to him through the open window.

"Thank you, I'm going to need it." He replied as he shut the door and bid the driver farewell. He had been so jittery during the drive, he basically narrated his life history to the man in a bid to calm himself down. He cringed inwardly just thinking about it.

He was vetted by security and given a temporary access card. As he stepped into the building, he immediately identified the employees by their name tags and the applicants by the anxiety bubble that seemed to engulf them. He totally understood how they felt.

Previously ranked number three, C.S Enterprises became the number one firm in the country after signing a highly coveted deal. They had various holdings that cut across different countries, and he was a proud employee... Psych! He was obviously an applicant.

He rode the elevator to one of the H.R floors as he was directed to, it was where the interview would take place.

He adjusted his already straight tie for what was probably the hundredth time in the last hour and cursed silently as he wiped his sweaty palms on his new dress pants, checking to make sure it wasn't stained or creased. He had spent a shitload of money on new clothes, just so he could make a good first impression. He knew he was taking a big risk by dropping everything and spending so much when there wasn't a guarantee that he would be successful in the interview, but he needed this job. He didn't even want to think of what would happen if he wasn't accepted, positive energy only.

He stepped out of the elevator car and was directed to a door that would inevitably lead to his salvation or damnation, he hoped it was the former.

He paused outside the closed door and took a deep breath, reminding himself that confidence was the key... and answering correctly... and a proper posture... and smiling, he wasn't in a boxing ring... and... get it together Lyosha. He took another deep breath and opened the door.

As he stepped in to see about a hundred eager interviewees, he became despondent.

He cursed himself many times over as he found an empty seat and sat tentatively –of course there were a lot of people here, did he really think that he would be the only one vying for the slot? And there were also other positions apart from the one he had applied for.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, he was so stupid for banking on the tiny chance –now very, very tiny chance– that he would be taken for the job. His former employer would never take him back after he quit and he wouldn't even want to go back there, the pay was nothing to write home about.

He didn't even think he was really qualified for the position he applied for in the finance department. In retrospect, he should have applied for a lower position he would be overqualified for.

There were probably graduates of Harvard business school and here he was, competing with his stupid college degree that he hadn't been able to further till now.

Think happy thoughts Lyosha' he muttered to himself. 'Sometimes confidence mattered more than a higher degree.' If only he had a scrap of it. He palmed his face and leaned back on the chair. 'Twenty minutes to go.' He thought as he looked away from the clock. He smoothened the sleeves of his dress shirt and checked his shoes to make sure the were still clean.

He suddenly felt a charge in the air that wasn't there before and he turned his head to the direction of the door.

He was on his feet before his brain processed the action, he couldn't help it. She had a presence that commanded attention and demanded total obedience –or he thought it did. Seeing as he was probably the first but not the only one standing, looking completely spellbound, it was safe to say that he wasn't delusional.

That gracefully powerful persona, combined with elegant beauty, was none other than Amandla Ilias, the CEO of the company that would make or break him in a few minutes.

She wore a deep rosette pantsuit that set off her mocha skin but did little to conceal the curves underneath. She was already tall, so the glass heels she wore made her a head taller than almost everyone present and showed off toes painted a shade almost identical to what she wore. She didn't wear much jewelry, just earrings and a bracelet that probably cost more than everything he owned.

Deep brown eyes that seemed to be able to see through you, down to your very soul. Her lush brown locks were done in a complicated at style that framed her face but was swept up on both sides with intricately patterned pins.

She was flanked on both sides by a man and woman, her full heart shaped pink lips in a thin line as she looked at the file in her hand. She walked farther into the hall and the closer she got to him, the faster his heart raced. She stopped close to him and stretched out the hand with the file. He moved to take the file before he realized he was moving and she turned to face him.

His throat bobbed as he felt the full weight of her stare and kept his back ramrod straight as she gave him a slow appraisal. Her gaze trailed from his head to his well polished new shoes. Now, he was pleased and relieved at the wardrobe change, even if it cost him an arm and a leg. She blinked and he took a step back.

"I'm sorry Ma'am, that was just a reflexive action." He quickly apologized but her deadpan expression didn't falter.

He mentally smacked himself, whatever shot he had at this was gone. And if she personally threw him out, he was screwed six ways to Sunday.

The man behind her took the file that was intended for him from her and she put her hands in her pocket.

"Come closer." She said and he shivered. Her voice was... he couldn't find the right adjective right now.

"Stop." She said when he was within arms length and he paused.

"What's your name?" She asked and he was filled with dread. Was this how it felt like to have your life flash before your eyes? Well, it totally sucked.

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