The Edge to Kill

I cautiously opened the door, feeling a surge of nerves. Why was I so jittery? I couldn't quite pinpoint it. Despite feeling confident about the interview so far, I knew I had to ace it to secure the job I wanted.

"Please take a seat; we'll get started soon," the lady and the man instructed, both engrossed in some documents, paying no attention to me. They were both strikingly attractive, with features that suggested a mixed racial background, much like mine.

"Introduce yourself," the man commanded, his tone unpleasant and without even a glance in my direction.

Internally, I groaned. Why was I here again? I thought to myself, resisting the urge to clear my throat.

"Good morning, sir, ma'am. I'm Emma Gradon," I began, "I hold a master's in Industrial Psychology, a degree in Business Intelligence and Data Analysis, and I have five years of work experience. I'm particularly interested in the head of strategic planning position at your company."

Finally, the man looked at me, his expression turning pale.

"Wait a minute... you're supposed to be dead! I saw it right in front of my eyes," he exclaimed, startling me. The woman's reaction mirrored his shock as she stood up to comfort her colleague.

"Excuse me!! Dead!?" I exclaimed in disbelief as the man abruptly stormed out of the room, leaving me stunned and confused. His words echoed in my mind, filling me with a strange mixture of apprehension and disbelief. I exchanged a Shocked glance with the woman present, who urged me to wait as she hurriedly followed her colleague out of the room.

Left alone with my thoughts, I couldn't shake off the surreal feeling that lingered in the air. The accusation had been so absurd, so utterly unfounded, that I struggled to comprehend its significance. "Now I look like a dead Kiwi woman (People born in New Zealand or Citizens of New Zealand are known as Kiwi's)," I muttered to myself incredulously, the absurdity of the situation made me loose myself for a second.

As I reflected on the bizarre encounter, I couldn't help but wonder about the man's reaction. What had made him give me such an extreme response? And why had he pointed me out in such a bewildering manner? The implications of his accusation left me feeling unsettled and unnerved.

In the midst of my confusion, I couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that there was more to the situation than met the eye. The man's reaction had been so over the mark, so intense, that it left me questioning his sanity. "He didn't look like the type to just lose control," I mused, recalling the brief but intense encounter.

Minutes passed, each one stretching into an eternity as I waited anxiously for the woman to return. When she finally reappeared, her composed demeanour belied the strangeness of the situation. "Ms. Gradon, right?" she inquired calmly, as if nothing out of the ordinary had transpired.

"Yes, that is right," I replied, struggling to maintain my composure in the face of the surreal events that had unfolded. As she proceeded to address me with polite professionalism, I couldn't help but wonder about the mysteries that lay beneath the surface.

In the aftermath of the encounter, I found myself grappling with unanswered questions and lingering doubts.

Her: I apologize for my boss's behaviour. You bear a striking resemblance to someone from our past, although that's not an excuse, I'm sorry.

Emma: Okay... I mean, I didn't know what to say. I guess that explains it.

Her: Right, let's get this started. Besides your qualifications, what else can you tell us about yourself?

When she noticed my surprise at her asking for personal information, she did so in a polite manner.

Her: You catch on very fast. Yes, I am asking you for personal information. Can you blame me? You look like a deceased friend of mine.

Emma: Alright, I guess if you put it that way. Well, you already know my name. I'm not from here, New Zealand. I've lived in the United States my whole life. My family resides there, and I moved here to get away from my father's shadow. Yeah, that's about it, really.

Her: Alright, you are aware you are by far our youngest applicant and don't have a lot of experience. That puts you at a disadvantage.

Emma: I am aware, but I assure you I am your best bet. I am young, energetic, and productive, and not to mention, I have exposure to world businesses.

Her: Confident. Well, thank you. We will notify you should you be selected for the job.

Emma: Well, thank you...

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Mike

My name is Mike Sylvia. I am 30 years old and have businesses nationwide.

But it didn't come easy... My father was a farm manager in Gisborne, on Peter Marcus's farm. He was a wealthy man with the largest farm in Gisborne, dealing in guns, jewellery, and ivory. He was never caught because he had friends in high places. I made the mistake of falling for his only child, Charlie. Yeah, she was a snob, and I started dating her because of a stupid bet with the farm boys. But I fell for her hard when I was 20 and she was 16... and my world fell apart when I saw her car explode into pieces one day when she was heading to town with her family. And yet, I saw her again today, looking as beautiful as ever... only this time it was her ghost.

Ria: Mike, you're going to have to pull yourself together because you will blow everything up if you think every girl you meet is Charlie. She said, walking into my office without even knocking.

Mike: Don't start with me, Ria. You saw that girl... you saw it... I just couldn't contain my anger. I walked to the window... something about the view from my office calmed me down.

Ria: Fine, I did, but did you have to make it so obvious? I know you loved that girl, but it's been 10 years for pity's sake. And besides, I managed to ask around about her after my interview with her, and she checks out. Nothing stands out...

Mike: Tell me more about her.

Ria: She is the daughter of the multibillion-dollar David Gradon from the USA. Her mom is a nurse from South Island (South New Zealand), and she has 3 siblings and a twin brother who has moved here with her.

Mike: Well, if she is so rich, why is she here? In Gisborne, no less... I mean, it's not like this city or New Zealand are well known or has anything to offer unless she has some dirty business?

Ria: Apparently, daddy dearest and his little girl had a falling out, and she wants out of his shadow.

Mike: Hire her!

Ria: Are you kidding me right now?

Mike Shot her a look and started going through the Cvs Ria place on the desk. "I will call her myself".

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Emma Gradon

When I arrived home, my feet were absolutely killing me, marking the end of what had been an incredibly eventful day.

My twin brother, Xander Gradon, and I are currently residing in CBD, known as 'the upscale part of town or city centre'. Our house boasts four bedrooms, two studies connected by a mini-library, a TV room, and a spacious open-plan kitchen. Cooking is a passion of mine, and I find solace in our kitchen, which features a large glass door leading to the garden adorned with an outdoor shade and beautiful tables and chairs - truly priceless. The security measures implemented in this place are remarkable, although I must admit that the lavish lifestyle has begun to weigh on me. In all honesty, I had yearned for something simpler, but with the expectations of our parents weighing heavily on us, this was the simplest option we could attain.

Me: "Bino!"

I called out across the living room for my twin, but he didn't respond. Dismissing his lack of response, I kicked off my platforms and collapsed onto the big sofa.

Him: "I get tired of carrying you up the stairs, you know," he remarked as he settled next to me, engrossed in his phone.

Me: "What time is it? I guess I must have dozed off..."

Him: "It's 6PM. I ran a bath for you. Go soak yourself and figure out what we're having for dinner."

Me: "Alright, on one condition. Let's go upstairs together, and you sit on the bed while I bathe."

Him: "Alright."

Me: "So, how was your day?" I shouted from the bathroom while he sat on the bed.

Him: "Not bad, I guess....

My twin is not a man of many words but tries for me. He has a very high IQ of 163... He is a genius. Though that's great, it does have its downside. He is socially awkward. A lot of kids used to call him all sorts of things, and high school teachers were even worse. He and Dad don't understand each other because they speak different languages. We had to be homeschooled because of his uniqueness. I was just gifted, intelligent but not as much as he is... He works as an accountant, and he loves audit." Literally he loves numbers.

Him: "Yours?"

I had just finished bathing and was wearing my loose pink shorts and one of Bino's oversized T-shirts, along with my fluffy pink socks.

Me: "You won't believe it... it was like something out of a horror movie..."

*I continued speaking because he wouldn't ask me much.*

"So, when I went for the interview, the CEO and head of HR freaked out, saying I looked like some dead girl. The whole situation was so bizarre, I almost believed them..."

I was still busy trying to style my hair into a bun when I noticed Xandre tensing up. I could literally see panic written all over his face, and he even swallowed hard.

Me: "Okay, what was that? That expression?"

Him: "On second thought, I need pizza. Do you want some? Let me go buy some."

Me: "This isn't over..."

He walked past me, and I let him be because he wasn't going to say anything about the matter. I went to the kitchen, poured myself some mango juice, and sat on the high chairs, pondering. Something fishy was definitely going on.

My phone snapped me out of my thoughts – I thought It is Mom just checking in, but I couldn't really tell her what was going on without anything concrete, In the dilemma, without looking at the caller ID, I just picked the call and shouted at my Twin anyway, its just Mom, she won't be angry at us brother and sister fighting.

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Mike

Her: "Will you get here with my pizza already!"

Oh God, she even sounded like Charlie on the phone... I decided to call her and let her know she is hired... but that might have been a mistake... I thought of hanging up, but what the hell, I already called, and I can't have her think I'm a coward after I ran off this morning when I met her...

Me: "Alright, Ms. Gradon, I don't know who you thought you were talking to, but I am Mike Sylvia, from Sylvia Corp..."

Her: "Oh my God..." *she giggles a bit* "Sorry, I thought I was talking to..."

Me: "Doesn't matter..." *I cut her short* "Look, I called to tell you that you got the job. Come to my office first thing Monday morning. Are we clear?"

Her: "Y..Y..Yes Sir."

I hung up. I know that was rude, but I just couldn't... I couldn't take it when I heard her giggle. So many memories came rushing back. Call me weak, but I loved that girl, with every fiber of my being... And when she died... I didn't even have a chance to explain... I didn't say sorry... I will never forgive myself...

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Emma

Over the weekend, I noticed that my brother was deliberately avoiding me. He stayed holed up in his room and didn't even make an appearance in his usual study spot. While I'm not one to constantly pester or nag others, I couldn't help but feel hurt by his decision to shut me out. It made me question why he was distancing himself from me.

The situation was made even more unsettling by the lingering thought of a potential connection between myself and a deceased girl. Although I didn't want to entertain the idea, the notion lingered in my mind, causing me to wonder about the possibilities.

Despite my reservations and emotional turmoil, I had to push through and focus on work. It wasn't something I was particularly eager to tackle, but it was a task I couldn't avoid, especially since it was a favor for my dad. With a sense of reluctance, I prepared myself for the day ahead.

Before leaving the house, I took one last look in the mirror. Despite the internal turmoil, I couldn't help but admire my appearance. The blue denim dress hugged my curves in all the right places, accentuating my figure. Paired with royal blue platform heels, I felt a boost of confidence in my stature. Completing the ensemble with matching royal blue hand and laptop bag, along with my brown curly hair neatly tied in a ponytail, I couldn't deny that I looked stunning.

Xander: "I presume you got the job." I found him preparing a sandwich in the kitchen, while I simply grabbed an apple. I was in no mood for breakfast.

Me: "You wouldn't need to presume if you weren't avoiding me." I made my way to the main door, with him following behind.

Xander: "Have a productive day. Don't wait up tonight."

Me: "You know I won't force you to tell me what that was all about on Friday... But if you're hiding anything, I will find out, and you better hope it does not implicate you." He kissed my cheek before heading upstairs.

I wished Xander would just tell me already. But if I were to find out anything, work was my best bet. Not that I would ask questions immediately; that would be suspicious. I had to be careful. Did this have anything to do with my accident when I was 16? I don't remember much about my childhood because I suffered from amnesia since then. But no, that was in the States. There's no way someone who grew up in Gisborne would know all about that. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts, and then jumped into my Jeep Grand Cherokee. Heading to work, I couldn't help but appreciate SUVs, by the way.

Me: "Good morning, Miss... I'm here to see Mr. Sylvia."

Her: "You are? And do you have an appointment?"

Me: Ms. Gradon, and no, I don't. But I'm sure if you ask him, he will know why I'm here.

"What is it with secretaries and their stinking attitude... is it universal?"

Voice: "Let her in, Itu... Ms. Gradon, follow me."

It was the head of HR.

Her: "Morning, Mike."

She said, helping herself to a seat.

Mike: "Don't you know how to knock?"

He said, turning from his window, his eyes opening wide when he saw me.

Me: "Morning, sir."

Mike: "Ms. Gradon, have a seat... I won't waste much time... We'd like you to start as soon as possible. Here is the contract; you have a week to go through it."

She stood up and extended her hand... I did the same and shook hers.

Me: "Thank you..."

Mike: "Let me show you to your office and, of course, your team."

Ria: "Isn't that my job??" She looked upset that he even mentioned it.

Mike: "Nah, I will handle this one... I'm sure you have tons of work to do." He said that, brushing her shoulder gently and making his way out...

Guess they were more than close.

We went two floors down from his office, quite the whole way there. When we got there, we found everyone in the open-plan office making light jokes, not really doing much.

Mike: "Is this what I pay you all to do?" He said calmly but firm enough to get the whole room to settle down and give him his attention.

Guy: "Sorry boss, won't happen again... To what do we owe this pleasure?" He said, mainly looking at me.

Mike: "This is your new boss... Ms. Gradon... the new head of strategic planning... Ms. Gradon, this is your team."

Me: "Nice to meet you all... There is plenty of time for more to be said."

Guy again: "Yes, ma'am... I am Thabang, and I will be your right-hand man."

Everybody laughed. I guess he was the joker.

Mike: "Now all of you get back to work. Gradon, let me show you to your office."

We went up the stairs into the same room. My office was kind of suspended above the workroom. It had a nice view outside and a huge glass wall. I could look down on what was happening down there but also had shades, meaning a girl could have some privacy. It was painted in dark shades of purple; I loved it.

Mike noticed my expressions "I hope it's to your liking."

-------------------------------------------------------

Mike

Emma: "I like it, especially the shades of purple going on in here... my favorite color."

She looked around, taking it all in, I guess. I could tell by her smile that she liked it. She was so engrossed in looking around, she probably forgot I was right next to her and trying to resemble her with Charlie.

Me: "Well, let me leave you to it. If you need anything..."

Her: "Definitely..." She blushed a bit, I guess she was embarrassed she was lost in, how nice the office was.

It was hard to believe she wasn't Charlie... she even liked the same color as her... I thought to myself as I made my way to my office... I had gotten my people to do her office the way I thought Charlie would like it... I don't even know how I'm gonna work in the same place as her... I acted on impulse hiring her... Once I thought she looked like Charlie I couldn't let her go, not before I found out more... What really happened 10 years ago??

Me: "What the hell are you doing in my office??"

Ria and I grew up together and have loads of history, but she is goddamn too much these days.

Ria: "What the hell was that?? Since when do you show them their offices?? And since when did they come to see you on their first day??"

Me: "Since when do you question me?? And now that you mention it, how is it that you knew exactly when Gradon showed up??"

Ria: "So now you remember employee names?? Stop thinking with your dick, Mike! She ain't freakin' Charlie!"

Me: "Fuck!"

I couldn't help but smash the water glass I had in my hand against the wall, and she flinched.

Me: "Don't start with me, Ria! It's a Monday morning, goddammit! Never talk about Charlie that way... you hear? You will stop with your jealous lover melodrama before I twist that neck of yours...."

Ria: "You wouldn't dare, Mike!"

Me: "Woman, don't test me! Our engagement is nothing but a business arrangement, and I made it clear. One I might change anytime I please... and our history, our One night stand is nothing compared to what I feel for Charlie... So, if you still wanna keep your place... get your ass back to work and do what you're paid for!"

She walked out, and I couldn't be happier. The nerve of the girl.