When I walk out of my 8:39 a.m. meeting with my team of financial advisors, I’m reminded by my PA, Bru Sifen that the interview for a new law consultant is underway.
“The interviews are going as planned, Gerrard, right on schedule,” she says, reading from her tablet as we weave through the main office building to the Interview Lounge. “The last two candidates are remaining to be met.”
I pass by employee after employee as I go, Bru’s words registering in my head. This last law consultant’s position is important. My team of legal experts just needs one more person to complete the unit. And it’s got to be the best person out there, because I have big plans, and I need a good team to keep all legal fixes out of the picture.
Get me through the loopholes, so I can focus on my business and not on fucking laws I got to adhere to or the defaultsI’ve made as I climb higher on the success ladder.
I’m so wrapped up in my own head that I don’t even remember to respond to Bru, that I’ve heard her, but at this point I guess she’s used to it, because she doesn’t try to repeat herself- mistakenly thinking I haven’t heard her.
Well, all I can say is working closely with me for five years can do that to a person.
Get them used to me.
The Interview Lounge chairs are outnumbered when I get there; so many people applied for this job that I’m somewhat relieved, but not completely. Not before I find a competent candidate.
When I open the door to the Interview Room, my five most knowledgeable legal experts are interviewing a candidate, who I notice is a girl with a head of dark brown hair.
And it’s open.
I immediately don’t like her.
There’s a sense of formality one’s got to have in the way one dresses for office. And because she isn’t dressed for the occasion, either she’s disrespectful of rules, or she’s a novice.
"...towards studying corporate law in a great deal of depth since I began studying, and I think working as a law consultant for your company, I will have a lot to add to the team...”
Judging by the sound of her voice, which sounds young, I’m guessing she’s a novice.
I resist a scowl. Didn’t I specify I don’t want a first-timer? Why are these idiots even wasting their time on this girl?
“...and I love being a part of a team, and I think that my communication skills add a lot of value here. During my internship at JV Firms, I was working with offices in different parts of the state.”
JV Firms? The fuck are they?
I’m mincing my teeth when I see the five oldies putting their heads together to discuss whatever this girl said. Because enough is enough. The fact that they’re even considering her tells me they didn’t understand me like they should have.
I don’t want— a novice.
Walking towards the bench, I throw a glare the girl’s way, and when she notices me, her face changes like she’s seen a ghost.
It pisses me off even more.
Her eyes get even bigger by the second, to the point where I can see every speck of dark brown on her muddy brown irises.
She’s checking me out; her eyes almost automatically fall to my neck, then my arms, and finally on my suit, and I know what she’s seeing— my tattoos.
I swear it’s a tick— the urge to shake my head. But I have to resist it; I can’t give into it just yet.
So I shift my focus to the oldies again, who’re watching me now that I’ve reached the bench. I nod at them, sliding the only file on the table my way.
Next to the girl's photo, it says ‘Priscilla Gard’.
Smooth name.
But a bit old fashioned.
I flip through through the pages.
Grade A student. No troubles. No failures. Goody-two-shoes. In simple terms- a plain Jane. Not to mention a newbie, because that ‘JV Firms’ shit just doesn’t count.
“Thank you, Ms. Gard. You may wait in the lounge while we ponder over our thoughts,” I hear Morris say, and the girl gets up.
I can feel her looking my way when she’s about to leave, but for some reason I dislike her very much. Needless to say, I don’t feel the need to return her gaze.
I’m Gerrard Southerford for a reason.
As soon as the door closes behind her, I drop her file on the table. I’m about to say something, but Truman beats me to it.
”She’s good, Gerrard.”
Morris nods. “Her record’s pretty good. Besides, JV’s given her a serious recommendation.”
I really want to tell him that a recommendation can be bought easily for just a night, but I keep their age in mind. They should seriously be thanking me for the gentleman that I am to them.
They can tell I’m not convinced, though.
Smith eyes me. “We need a few young people on the team, Southerford.”
I resist the urge to stare him down at the use of my surname. Just because I’m 24 doesn’t mean they’re going to keep throwing that in my face.
But then Smith adds, “And you know better than anyone just how good young people can get.”
I get the jibe. The old man’s referring to me and my success. His jealousy is understandable, but not welcome.
So I prove his point. “She’s on board, then.”
It’s difficult to keep my annoyance in check as I march off outside with the acceptance contract, eyes raking across every face till I find her. She’s staring at me before I do, her eyes way too big for my liking.
I keep my voice hard. “Priscilla Gard?”
She nods shakily.
”Congratulations. You’ve been selected.”
The words taste like tar on my tongue; heavy and sticky. I hate them. When she lifts her hand to take the acceptance from me, I’m already thinking of ways to get her out of my company, without having to undermine my success in front of the likes of Smith.
The gears in my head are still turning when I walk past her, but not without promising to myself that Gard isn’t going to stay.
I won’t let her. Because now, it isn’t even about her.
It’s between Smith and I.
And if there’s one thing he should’ve remembered before doing what he did today, it’s that I always get what I want. And that I never lose.
I can’t believe I actually got the job. Southerford Inc. is notoriously difficult to get into, even for experienced professionals, and I got the job?If this isn’t a pinch-me moment, I don’t know what is.I’m being led to the third floor of the main building through the atrium by one Mr. Smith. He tells me he’s one of the first members on the team of legalexperts, and it takes no genius to guess he’s one of the senior members on the team-- work-wise as well as age-wise.“Now, Ms. Gard, I’d like you to not feel overwhelmed by work on your first day,” Mr. Smith says with a smile, but there’s just something so cunning about the air around him that I restrict myself to formal yet cordial smiles with him. “I’d suggest getting familiar with your surroundings and colleagues today, and then we can slowly get you used to your work targets.”The lift dings open
I know I shouldn’t be feeling this way, but the mood in my office changes so drastically and so desperately and so... weirdly whenever my big brother comes over that I just can’t handle it.It’s so annoying that at this point, I’ve stopped trying to even spur on any kind of conversation. Because whenever I do, it fizzles out like a poor-quality firecracker.Even now, Keith just sits there, right in front of me as we hang out at the conference table in one of my offices, tapping his fingers on the table. He’s looking around the office as if he hasn’t already been here a thousand times, ignoring the elephant in the room as if that’s ever helped.I sigh. “Keith, I’ve told you. I can’t be there for dinner next week. We have a party here at the office then.”Keith shrugs. “You’re going to have to tell that to mum yourself, Gerr. I’m not going to be your messenger al
Ruben doesn’t play.As I wait at my desk, waiting for ‘something to be sent my way’, I think about what’s happened since morning. First, Gerrard Southerford himself witnesses my interview for the position of a lawconsultant in his company. Second, it becomeshelluva lot apparent to me that he hates my guts the way he staredme down in the Interview Room.And somehow, I still end up with the job?And then, Argo Smith, one of the senior consultants on the team takes it upon himself to introduce me to his only son, who turns out to be the manager, and then Remo tells me that Smith ‘runs half the company’?I know for a fact that he’s no partner in this company; Gerrard’s not the kind of person to share even a fragment of his success with someone else who didn’t even contribute to it.Then how could Smith run half this company?My mind drifts back&nbs
It's been twenty minutes by the clock, and Bru still isn't back. It's making me wonder if all's well with her and Keith; he's a tough nut, I know that best.Sighing, I decide to make my way to the kitchen.If what I'm guessing is right, and they both are having an argument or something, then she's really going to need the coffee I'm going to brew just now. I make my way out of my conference room and to the kitchen, but I see something in one of the rooms down the corridor which makes me stop dead in my tracks.That rascal.Ruben's just entered one of my offices, and guess who he's brought in tow with him?The novice.My jaw ticks.As I watch them without their knowledge, I see Ruben's lips moving. My eyes shift to Gard, and I notice she looks uncomfortable. Ruben laughs suddenly, and I wonder what it was that he laughed at, because the next thing I know is that Gard takes a step back. I wish I could see her face and not
It's been a rollercoaster at work today. I'm exhausted, to say the least- but most of all, I'm starving. The first thing I do as soon as I get back to my apartment is make myself some hot cocoa. While it's simmering away in the pot, I run down to the washroom and let loose. I'm sweaty, my work clothes are damp with my sweat,so I freshen up and change into my night-suit. By the timeI walk back into the kitchen, my cocoa is about to burn. "Shit," I curse under my breath, heaving the pot off the stove with a dishcloth and pouring it into a mug. There's this slight note of smoky cocoa in the vapours that fly over the mug, but it's going to have to do. Sighing, I take my hot cocoa and head to the tiny living room. It's a one bedroom flat that I live in, and to be honest, it's kind of cramped, but then it's the closest oneI could get to Southerford Inc., so I'm not complaining. I plop down on the couch and switch on the T.V. I almo
I just can't believe this bullshit. I can't-- fire Gard. The fucking acceptance says we've signed a fucking one year contract with her. If I still want to terminate the employment, I'm going to need a resolution to be passed by the Board. And I have honestly no idea what the fuck I'm going to tell them when they ask me why I want her gone. The absolute, absolute fuck? I'm honestly just holding my head in my hands at this point, because for some weird ass reason, Bru insists that I rescue Gard from the clutches of Ruben. She's been hounding me about this ever since she saw them in that room yesterday. But obviously, Bru being Bru, doesn't think this is about saving Gard at all. Why? Because just now, before she went to get Gard from the lawdepartment, she told me, "Priscilla was appointed to the position of the final lawconsultant on your team, Gerrard, not to look after everyday cases. We alre
“On whose team, Gard?”I knew it that this man hatedme, but I never knew he’d literally throw it in my face. I get that he doesn’t want me to work for his company.I get that.But if I’m really that unbearable, or— undeserving, then just kick me out, damn it. Don’t just insult me like that.I’m staring at his back, unable to believe the words that just came out of his mouth.Never has anyone ever spat out my last name at me. As if it’s an insult, for god’s sake.You know what, man? I don’t care about you and your shitty company if this is how you’re going to treat me.”On yours, Southerford,” I reply, defiantly staring at the back of his head.I can see his body tense when he hears me, and I brace myself for the worst. Which is me losing this job.But you know what
I thought I disliked Gard. I was wrong. I hate her. Hate. Ever since that meeting in the morning, I've been unable to get that scene out of my head. To get her words out of my head. 'I think it's stupid'. "Fuck," I hiss at myself, slamming the shower door shut. I switch on the shower, water at its hottest, because I'd rather feel my skin burn than keep thinking about that girl. A blast of scalding hot water hits me suddenly, and I hiss under my breath at its intensity. But I still can't believe the way Gard insulted me today. If not for Bru, who held me back just in time, god knows what I might've done. It's already so difficult for me to stand that novice in my company everyday, and then she goes ahead and insults me to my face-- in front of all my team. The fuck? I growl at absolutely nothing and grab some shower gel. I honestly do