Chapter 2 The interview

'Aha our little assistant has stirred from her mild slumber.' A male voice welcomed her into the light.

'Has she now? Let her know to be ready for her interview with me in five minutes.' The woman's voice came off strongly and clearly annoyed by Marjorie's fainting.

Five minutes...!? Hold on, I passed out? Before the woman that claimed to be Agnes!? My employer?... Oh no... Marjorie realized in panic, her eyes darting left to right for what was not.

The room had stopped spinning, her eyes bloomed in concentration, welcoming the unusual scenery and the disappointing sight of her employer. Agnes was a middle aged woman in a wheelchair, not the young lady in the business magazines.

But how? Was this some sort of scam?

'As you've heard, you will have the interview in five with the CEO.' The beautiful man reminded her sweetly.

It is really Agnes? Or am I in the wrong company? She let her mind wander, fighting the urge to stare longer at the woman.

There was only one way to find out, pass the interview without passing out again. Though her heart did a little jump when she realized she was laid atop the gorgeous chaise longue by the very handsome man. Despite her piqued curiosity, she maintained a straight face repressing the grimace that taunted her facial muscles, taking one of the seats opposite them with a tentative grin. But she could not pretend, wonder seeping through her features as to what sick game the company played, they had to be fraudsters.

'You seem distraught with questions. Disappointed, are you? Not the CEO who were expecting? Not the lady in the magazines?' The CEO asked forwardly yet calm for no reason, like she was accustomed to this type of reaction.

'Ma?' Embarrassment flushed Marjorie's cheeks so quickly she dropped her gaze before the woman read her further.

'A few people know about my state. But I am Agnes Crawford, and the young lady was my heir. Now dead..' Agnes laid emphasis on 'dead', as if daring Marjorie to feel sorry for her. Cold. and Ruthless. Not an ounce of sympathy as she spoke even of her daughter's death. Her professionalism cracked Marjorie open like a sharp cutlass on the bark of a tree. A sudden wave of guilt and sadness washing over Marjorie as she realized what she had done. She was ashamed of herself for having arduously pushed the woman into defending her title by divulging a story filled with so much grief, she should have controlled her judgemental features, slapped her own cheeks if it was needed.

'My apologies ma.'

'Do not apologize for your own curiosity. It is your strength.'

Marjorie nodded in disorientation, swallowing the dried spittle in her mouth. How could this woman be so perfectly collected even in this moment?

'Do you have friends?'

Caught off guard, she did not answer.

'Time is of essence miss. Friends?'

Yes. No? What was the catch? Advantage? Disadvantage? Was it a test?

'I do.'

'You can't have friends with this job, I'll be entrusting my secrets with you. Friends are not allowed. Relationships too, and you report directly to me if problems are encountered in your position.'

No friends? What was this? A cult? Perhaps Agnes feared she would secretly take pictures of her and show it her friends over a chatty dinner.

'Apart from your salary which is eight hundred thousand naira per month, you will be provided a house, if you want...'

'Pardon me Madam...? About my friends, what do you mean by I can't have them with this job?'

Agnes grew impatient with Marjorie's question, motioning her son to continue the interview. Her body was stressed, it craved massage and sleep, yet her determination to go through with the interview herself pushed her to remain rooted in her seat and not in her bed.

'No worries Miss Marjorie, you can leave if you're not interested.' The son answered after an eon of silence, giving his mother the time to recover.

Not interested? Marjorie needed explanations...

'I am madam and sir. I just, I mean it's just.... can I hang out with them once in a month or something.'

The man chuckled richly, and for a moment Marjorie forgot herself. Her brows slightly furrowed as she observed the depth of his gaze, piercing and almost scary but also hypnotizing and unique. Dark eyes that made her want to forgo this interview, pull him by the collar to stare deeper till she was lost. Those beautiful pools were sheltered by dark long lashes and healthy arched brows that sat above them. A proud roman nose protruding from his gorgeously squared face, a little above plump succulent lips at the center of a dark garden of neatly trimmed beard. His shoulders were broad, assuring her he worked out, she was about to strip him with her eyes when his mouth started moving again.

'My dear it is a simple choice, your friends or your career. You will be well taken care of and your friends will wish they were you. We are just trying to avoid distractions.'

'Are you in a relationship sweetie?' Agnes suddenly asked, feeling better than before.

'No I'm not. We broke up last week, he cheated on me with some gorgeous model, one would think we would have gotten married. Can you imagine how insensitive he was? It was all over social media, he kissed the girl, in public! And my friends had the audacity to advise me on not forsaking the idea of men, I say I am totally done, you see cause...'

The man cleared his throat, causing her to freeze with regret. She looked at her companions apologetically and casting her gaze back to ground, blaming Franklin for her rambling and leeching embarrassment. Agnes' face saying the unspoken words 'You are pathetic and unfit for this job.'

'I'm sorry for your loss. You can have sex with whoever you want though, in and out of the company but neither date nor fall in love.'

It was sweet relief for Marjorie understanding Agnes took no interest in her story. The woman exuded professionalism to it's core, it was almost terrifying yet alluring.

Marjorie's mind wagered between the requirements, and as stupid as they sounded, she agreed with them. Perhaps that was what she needed. A hot moment with the hot man in the room, no strings attached, just therapeutic sex. He even winked at her, causing her belly to roar with heat, no doubt butterflies.

'Do you agree to the terms?' Agnes inquired casually, ignoring the weird signals between Marjorie and her son.

'I do.'

'Great, and oh... you'll be trained on the job. I'll be your tutor for six months, you'll be given a crash course in etiquette and martial arts.' The son announced, killing the tension at once.

Marjorie's eyes burgeoned to the point of explosion, did she hear martial arts? When was the last time she visited the gym? The requirements were silly and amusing, almost suspicious like she did not apply for the job of an assistant but of a spy in the military. Doubts set in, not because she had to learn martial arts, but the understanding that the company had been lying to people for years about the CEO. And the secrets? Were they dangerous? Why did she have to break bond with her friends?

Everything screamed spooky with the manner her acquaintances observed her like they dared her to reverse the agreement, chicken out of the job.

'My dear, you look pale.' Agnes pointed out with a concealed smile, a little annoyed and intrigued by the girl's weakness. Marjorie was definitely not who she envisioned as her assistant but she had chosen Marjorie for personal reasons even though she needed someone already exposed to their way of life.

Marjorie shook her head unsteadily, wiping the perspiration off her forehead with the back of her hand.

Say no. This job is a trap! Her head screamed so loud she feared they might hear.

'Are you sure you are okay with our agreement, your face says otherwise.' The son added with a quirked brow.

Second chance, say no!

'Yes. I'm totally in.'

She knew it was a terrible idea, but somehow she connived with the idea of plunging into this promising adventure that would either scar her or make her. It was about proving herself to Agnes and herself, and maybe she also looked forward to the promising wink from the gorgeous man in the room.

As for her friends, she had other plans. Plans she hoped would work if she approached with skillful stealth.