Beth awoke early the next morning with a beaming smile on her face, instantly alight with hope and excitement. She prayed, went into the small bathroom and dressed into her top and skirt. She slipped on her black flats, picked up her folder and slung her favourite black handbag over her shoulder. Taking a glance at herself in the mirror, she shook her head and began to wrestle her overly full head of curly honey coloured hair into a ponytail. Satisfied, she scanned her face. With her cat shaped and sharp brown eyes framed by long lashes looking as alive as ever, her small pointed nose without a dull shadow or grease, and her full cupid's bow lips stretched with a carefree smile, dipping into deep dimples at the middle of her cheeks, she nodded to herself, laughed and stepped out of her room. She walked hastily into her mother's.
"Buongiorno, mamma!" She greeted with a brilliant smile."Good morning, sweetie," Sarah responded, standing in the middle of her small room, right in her prayer spot."Since when did you start going to work with a folder?"Beth couldn't help but laugh, "I'm not going to the coffee shop today, mamma. Your girl's going for a job interview."Sarah's smile died on a sigh, "Darling.... Your hopes have been dashed too much than is good for you. I don't like seeing you look crushed over and over again."Sarah could no longer bear to see the look of pain that her daughter's face wore everytime she got back from an interview with sad news. She knew that Beth was trying over and over again, putting herself in all kinds of situations because of her and her sickness. Her daughter was very innocent, yet strong willed and stubborn. She knew she blamed herself for the death of her father. After he died, poverty had clothed them roundabout. Their ray of hope had come when she'd landed a great job and one she was passionate about too but after the bankruptcy, it hurt Sarah to see Beth go from one place to the other without rest, to make sure her hospital bills were well sorted. What hurt the most was whenever Beth was insulted because people didn't think she was dressed properly enough or even had the right social standing. Now, Elizabeth Francesca West was a very beautiful girl and her innocence couldn't be more spoken of. She cared too much about her mother to spend a dime on herself and that was what caused them to butt heads at times. "Mom, it's going to be okay this time. I believe it." Sarah saw the hope in her eyes and prayed to God that it wasn't dashed again."Alright. Let God's will be done.""It will be, mamma." Beth assured, stretching forth her hand to squeeze her mother's."I have to go now. Please, take care of yourself. Please mamma.""I will." Sarah winked.Beth smiled and pulled Sarah into a hug. As beth pulled away, Sarah reached for her purse and plucked out some change."Here,""No mom, I have some money here.""No-""Mom-""Shut up and listen to me. You gave this to me. I want you to use it. It'll make me very happy." Sarah smiled cheekily.Beth sighed and narrowed her eyes, "Blackmailer...." She took it grudgingly."I'm really fine. If I weren't, I'd tell you."Sarah scoffed, "No you won't. Now go. When you return, whether you like it or not, we're going shopping."Beth rolled her eyes and left, calling out a "Ciao, mamma."45 minutes later, Beth alighted from the cab, staring at the massive building in front of her.
"Here goes." She mumbled to herself, readjusting her bag and going in. The buzz the busy people created greeted her along with the rich body scents the AC carried around. She went straight for the reception, smiling to cover her thundering heart."Good morning.""Good morning, ms. How may I help you?" The receptionist responded with a smile, making Beth feel slightly comfortable."My name is Elizabeth West. I'm here to apply for the post of P.A. to the C.E.O.""You have very pretty eyes. Are you wearing contacts?"Beth shook her head, already used to the question, "No.""Oh. Your eyes are so glassy. Very beautiful. Forgive me, you're here for the Job?"Beth nodded, "Yes and thank you.""No problem. Okay, Please wait over there." The receptionist said , pointing at a set of aligned chairs. Smiling at her once more, Beth made her way to the chairs and sat, battling with nerves. Soon enough, the receptionist recieved a call and Beth was ushered into another spacious room and was told to wait again. Turning round the corner to go seat, she realized that she was not alone in the room. There was a lady on a chair, literally balling her eyes out. In flew the tension. Had she also come for the exact same thing? Had she been turned down? Biting her lower lip, Beth sat away from the weeping woman, hoping she didn't notice her. That would be awkward. After a while, the connecting glass door in front of her glided open and she was being ushered into another room. A smaller room. There, she filled a form and watched as a man named Travis carried the form into another room. Travis was rather nice and easy to talk to. Definitely a reprieve from the tension of the previous room. After a while, Travis came back out,"Beth, you may go in now. Good luck." He smiled. Her heart skipped a beat. She nervously smiled back and nodded, "Thank you." He nodded. She went in and found herself face to face with an elevator. Was she supposed to go on there? She pressed the button. The doors opened. She went in. The elevator had just one destination. The 12th floor. She pressed the button. The watched the screen above the door as it displayed numbers.Dang, why was it suddenly so hot? A ding was heard mere seconds before the doors opened. So quick? She stepped into another properly furnished level. A very comfortable setting with properly placed brown leather chairs and small tables. But it was empty. She looked around and headed for the only door she saw. She knocked and heard a low, "Come in."She pushed the door open. The first thing that caught her eyes was the set of huge floor to ceiling windows at the other end of the room. The view was amazing! She could see the cars racing by and the blue ocean sitting far away and she wasn't even standing close! Next thing she saw was the large flower vase on either side of the windows, creating a lovely frame. She then noticed the red carpet she was stood on and frowned slightly when she saw that it served as a walk way. Like a hall of fame carpet to introduce whomever walked into the room, or walked out. It was a great contrast to the dark oak floors. The office was one of spectacular opulence! The furnitures! It wasn't till she did a complete sweep of the room, that she noticed a man stood right next to another door, staring at her. A tall man. Her eyelids fluttered as she searched for what to say. That was him. Brandon Wade. How long had he been staring at her for? She groaned internally. Why did he have to interview his own personal assistants? Couldn't he have made someone else do it for him? An eager to please employee maybe? No? Okay. "Ms West?" His voice was deep and rich. Definitely suited the man before her. He sounded soft, yet firm and cold. "Yes." She watched him take lazily confident strides to his desk. A man who knew his worth and wouldn't be told otherwise. He took his sweet time sitting down and getting comfortable, before looking at her again. She watched him study her face, before looking down at her clothes. Her fingers twitched. "Good day, Sir." His gaze flew back to her face. That intense look.... "You have worked in an oil company as a business analyst and P.A." She praised God for his straightforwardness. That, she could handle. "Yes sir." "For two years." "Yes sir." "You were fired?" He asked. She paused. He'd read through her résumé. He knew she wasn't fired, not really. Why was he asking again? She had a letter of recommendation and everything. Maybe he just wanted to hear her talk, maybe? "No. I was let go of." "May I ask why." It was not a question. Rather, it was an aloof demand. Something was coming and she wasn't going to like it. Call it a gut feeling. "The company declared bankruptcy." She said simply. His expression gave out nothing. He just stared at her. She stared right back. There was that feeling again. What's wrong? she wondered. "You're sure?" She frowned but nodded, "Yes." "Is this how you dressed to your former place of work?" She stood frozen. "Because if it is, I would also declare bankruptcy to get rid of you." She blinked. Hold the phone.... What the.... "Excuse me?" "Look at you. You come for an interview looking like this?" He asked, directing his gaze to her clothes. "Better this than naked." She said, grimacing in irritation. He scoffed, "Women...." "Excuse me?" "You're excused." He bent, picked up her file and threw it at her. She blinked in surprise, looking from him to the file at her feet, then back at him, feeling a lot of things. "That's it?" He nodded once, "Yes. Get out." This man was downright rude in a suit! "May I ask why?" She asked, feeling her temper bristle. "You are not Wade industries material." "Because of the way I look?" He said nothing. Just stared at her. "Aren't you supposed to judge my qualifications? Why are you picking on what I'm wearing?" "I care about my company image, Ms West. If this is how I see you now, I can't imagine how you must have looked at your former place of work. I want an assistant, competent enough to represent me at local, national and international levels and you, Ms West, don't fit the description." "So you have to talk to me like this? Mr. Wade, I assure you that my dressing put my former job in no jeopardy, whatsoever. Situations that I'm sure you don't want to hear about, made things hard for me and for that, I look this way but please, if you'll take another look at my file, you'll see that I'm qualified. Please. Once I get the job, how I look will change-" "If you get the job." He corrected. "Yes, if. Please, look at my file-" "Get out." He spun around in his chair, done with her. Her teeth slammed shut, grinding against each other. His face was as beautiful as his manners were ugly! "You are downright rude!" "Rude?" He drawled out as he turned his seat half way, sounding like he was enjoying himself and that infuriated her more. "Yes! You were meant to access my qualities, not criticize me! Hear me out, not box me in-" "Are you trying to teach me how to do my job?" He turned, looking at her with slightly irritated eyes. "Yes! Yes, I am because you obviously need to be taught. What is this?! Break me down central? You pick a weak point and use that to judge everything else. Any other job interviewer would have thought about my brain work and God's willing, offered an allowance or something because a post needs to be filled and I'm qualified, but that's not you! You picked on my dressing and over emphasized on it! It's no wonder people don't like you!" Exhaling in amused annoyance, he started, "Miss West-" "I'm not done. I'm still talking."His brows shot up. Job or no job, she wasn't letting him get away with talking to her like that. She saw him frown in confusion.
"I really felt this job was right for me but I couldn't have been more wrong. You can give your Job to those with Fancy suits. Coming here for an interview might have been a waste of my time, but saying this to you definitely isn't. You need a reality check and serious attitude adjustment, so here's some advice-""Advice?" He asked, standing, staring at her in incredulity. "On what?""Your company.""You little brat...." He laughed out. "How on earth.... It's people like you who go around destroying the image of a company, after creating trouble.""And it's people like you who give people like me, something to talk about! Your egocentric head and wealth has made you see nothing past your proud circle-""Get out," he said very calmly. His voice was calm, yet his eyes were a stormy cloud. "Not until I'm done. Do you know why your former assistant quit?"Brandon blinked, appalled by her guts."Excuse me?"She suddenly frowned, looking at him like he was a very irritating piece of gum under her shoe."Compagno stupido." Stupid fellow.His brows rose."You really don't care about anyone or anything. In fact, I bet you wouldn't know the names of your workers if they didn't wear the stupid nametags you make them wear. You barely ever have staff meetings and when you do, it's to sanction them. Why wouldn't everyone be tense around you? Why wouldn't they stumble or stutter? They stutter and you see them as time wasting," she scoffed, "I bet you don't listen, either. At this point, I can't imagine working with you. You might be rich monetarily, but at this moment, I have reasons to call you poor at heart. And also, I'm no more of a brat than you are.""The fuck?! Excuse me?!""Sei scusato." You're excused.With that, she picked up her file, and without looking at him, marched out of the room and out of the company, fuming and mumbling under her breath. She would be disappointed in herself later for talking to someone like that but that was later. Right now, she was mad and she needed something cold. How dare he? The guts of that guy! At least she had given him a piece of her mind. Let people like him be on the receiving end for once! After getting a cold can of coke, she went home. Brandon was left stunned. He was confused. He was lost. He was angry. He was filled with awe and admiration. That woman had come out of hell and spoken to him like he was a petulant little boy who knew nothing. No one had ever spoken to him like that. He found it..... Oddly interesting. Very interesting. The way her glassy eyes had lit up the minute she'd lost her temper... How her hair swung from side to side behind her like a raging army, and the way her arms flailed as she expressed herself.... How her dimples angrily peeked out to sneer at him just like it's daring and beautiful host did.... And when she spoke her language like that..... What the fuck though? She was wrong and to satisfy the part of him that loved a challenge, he decided that he would prove it. He pressed an intercom button on his desk."Carla?""Yes sir?" She sounded..... Tense. He frowned. He'd never noticed that before. He'd always brushed her tone off to professionalism. Ms. West had successfully got his head thinking and while it annoyed a part of him, he couldn't help but smile. He found it interesting. Challenging"Cancel all interviews for today. Schedule a staff meeting for noon," he said and ended the communication, relaxing back in his seat.Ms. West was a spit fire. Gutsy and flamingly daring. For the first time in a long time, he was excited to do something. Prove her wrong.As soon as Beth had told her mom what had happened, Sarah had then dragged her out to a mall for shopping, no excuses permitted. Guilt had set in and Sarah had light scolded her for giving in to her temper like that, but had also admonished her to do away with the guilt. After four whole hours of shopping, they proceeded to eat out and walk around the city for a while. The rest of the day turned out to be very fun and exciting. The next day, she went back to the coffee shop, confident and comfortable and she kept that mindset going. Her new clothes had been spot on and so far, everything was fine. Even for Wade industries. She'd seen it on TV. Oh well, Lucky him. She was right. Later that day, he'd gone in as meekly as he could to his employees and had given a few of them free reign to tell him what they really felt. He was an asshole and a lot of heads had nodded to that. Turns out he really hadn't been listening and honestly, the amount of them who feared him, baffled him. Was he re
Brandon sat in his car, waiting and thinking. Beth was the woman who'd entered into his office, but barged into his head. His current interest. Brian's fiancee's best friend. Steven's crazy obsession. Brian's definition of the word, "Innocent."His bet. He had one question though. She was a very intelligent and brave woman. Why was she working in a coffee shop?As a car zoomed by, waking his drifting mind, he looked at his watch. The time showed 9:45 a. m.It was a good thing he'd dressed in his stoota black tracksuit set. He pulled his hood up, got out of his sleek black porsche 911 and took brisk steps to the coffee shop. As he entered, a bell rang above his head. He took in the busy place filled with business men and women, and slid into a secluded booth by the wall. The shop looked very stylish, yet, had certain touches of a throwback diner. Very smart design. Beautiful place. Just as he was about to pull off his hood, a woman came out the back, balancing two plates in her han
The shop was filled up by evening with teenagers and adults coming in. Brandon watched Beth weave between customers like a pro, with that smile on her face. She looked very happy to be of assistance. Actually happy. How many people did he know, who were genuinely happy to help? Beth couldn't help but watch out for Brandon and that annoyed her. He was supposed to go but he wasn't leaving. The fact that he'd said he was waiting for her, made her feel responsible for him. What he ate, where he sat, if he was feeling disturbed in any way and all of that. She felt responsible for him. What irked her even more was that Jackie had showed up, but had gone straight to Brandon and began talking to him like he was the YIN to her YANG. Due to the inflow of customers, Beth had to stay later then intended and all the while, Brandon watched her selfishly. She sighed as she turned the sign and stepped out with Brandon, locking the door. Her small phone showed that the time was 10:25 p.m. "You look
As they drove, Brandon would throw random glances at her, watching her look out the window with a smile on her face, enjoying the wind and view. Nymph."Oh yeah," she suddenly said.He curiously watched her pick her bag up and rummage through it. After finding what she was looking for, she dropped her bag and leaned towards him, tucking something into his pocket."What's that?" He asked."Your change," she answered. He glanced at her. Her face was a well of calm happiness."What change?""You gave me too much money last night. I used what I needed. There's the rest. Thanks by the way," she beamed up at him, then turned back to look out the window. Brandon was stunned silent. No one had ever...."How much was your cab fare?""A dollar and fifty cents,"He cast her an incredulous glance. At his wordlessness, guilt began to seep into her."But I paid two dollars instead because-""Don't explain. Elizabeth, a dollar? Where you told me to stop, it was around your house, right?"She nodded
Brandon froze. Brian casually threw his arm around Brandon's shoulder. "My very own best friend."Beth's brows rose. Wow. Her date was her best friend's fiancee's best friend. What a square."Okay. Beth and I have to talk about something. We'll be right back," Sherlie informed, taking Beth's hand and pulling her away."You're beginning to like him!" Sherlie squealed once they were a safe distance away. Beth sat down on the sand and pulled Sherlie down beside her."Why didn't you tell me you knew him when I told you?""I'm sorry, I was just very confused and hopeful, but wanted to see him first. Oh my goodness, Beth, I'm so happy. I think you're beginning to like him.""Why?""I know you hardly ever like people, but you let him take you to the water. Even I couldn't do that. You two looked really cute together, back there," Sherlie said, wiggling her brows suggestively.Beth chuckled. "He's pretty nice."Sherlie grimaced. "Trust you to use the blandest of terms. Just nice?""What would
Brandon battled with guilt almost every minute. He felt trapped. He had built such a strong foundation around his word. That was why Steven knew what to do to get him to do it, knowing whatever Brandon said, he backed up with his actions. He could tell her and Steven would be none the wiser about it, but... Honestly, he was scared. Beth was a very careful person. As happy as they were around each other, he knew he would be dumb to think he knew half of her. He knew she was starting to like him, but if she found out, she would leave without looking back.Brian saw the turmoil on Brandon's face and sighed, running a hand down his own face."I have an idea."Their eyes met."For now, forget about the bet."Brandon frowned.Brian exhaled. "You have a chance at something real. I won't let you spoil it-- even though you've already started to do just that. Continue the way you two are right now. A time will come where you'll start looking for ways to tell her the truth yourself, because you'l
Stepping into that board room had not been easy for her, especially since she was dressed in a jean skirt, a baby blue shirt and white tennis shoes. She had expected raise voices of distrust with questions directed at her loyalty and all of that, but with the way Brandon introduced her, there had been none of such. Brandon had done just that, then left her to carry out the presentation. She was more than a little startled and annoyed, but she pulled through and by the end of the whole thing, she was receiving friendly smiles and hand shakes. As soon as they stepped out of the board room, it was straight to evaluating. Brandon had other prescheduled things to attend to and had proceeded to set Beth up with another woman and a man from his team, Mrs. Bradford and Mr. Elliott, to assist her. Beth had a whole office to herself. One by one, members of his production and innovation teams started trooping in. After hearing them speak, in no time, she was able to pin point common ideas, and wh
Tracing a slash of red paint, she asked with awe,"Do you know how to ride?""Let's find out."She turned wide eyes to him. "Brandon-""I'm kidding." She narrowed her eyes in distrust."I promise I was kidding. I know how to ride.""Brandon, I'm too young to die. Or be on the food chain of water habitants.""Not to say that you would, but if you were to die, this would be a pretty sweet way, don't you think?"Her look turned murderous, "Brandon slot-in-middle-name Wade, if we die, I will hunt down your spirit in the afterlife and do my best to kill it. I don't want us to end up lying six feet under, with our mothers patting their faces wondering where it all went wrong under the snarling sky and cawing birds!" She spoke with gusto."Wow. What a colourful imagination you have," he said, slightly flustered."I'm not kidding. How many times have you done this before?""Only a thousand times."Not even the wind possessed the ability to change directions as quickly as her face went from gr