Fated

Nathaniel - Modern Day

            “I just got finished interviewing her.” He smiled at me politely I took the papers from him. He then walked out of my office

            I then began to skim them, “She’s well qualified. That’s a rarity.” I remarked. I hated this job. Working in an office under my dad reviewing potential applicants, was not what I wanted. I wanted to be a big boss. I guess I should have listened to my ex and thought about my life and future instead of thinking that since I’m the boss’ son I get to be in a boss position right off the bat.

            Wrong.

            Though he groomed me to take his position as a young child, I guess he thought I needed more practice. Don’t blame. I was a screw-up in high school and my last two years of college were hell. I didn’t go to business school. I kind of see his reasoning for putting me here. But seriously. I hate this job. I hate going through the interviewer’s notes.

            “She’s also pretty.” I heard a voice behind me say. I turn around to see it was my only friend on the floor, Kevin McKoy. He reminded me of a younger me; me that was in high school always chasing girls. He had obviously just cut his dirty blonde hair though in my opinion it was now styled like a girl. The front of his hair fell just above his blue eyes.

            “McKoy, I’m busy. I can’t entertain you.” I said trying to hide my smirk, though I was failing miserably at it.

            “But she is. She’d be nice to look at.” McKoy pointed out. The idea did amuse me. But I thought about Rachel

            “I’m getting married soon.”

            “I didn’t say you should f**k her. I’m just saying you can look. I mean that’s all you’re gonna have left once you tie the knot.” McKoy did have a point sadly. But I wasn’t actually going to listen to him. He’s the old me, the bad me. The one who said looking was okay but then would end up cheating, “Besides, she is the most qualified applicant.”

            “Yes, she is. She’ll just have to wait to hear back from us in a few days, maybe weeks, since we still need to get the worthy applicant interviewed.” I said in a business tone.

            McKoy smirked at me, “Well, I hope you hire her because I’m single so…” I had to laugh, “Then again she did seem like she had a stick up her ass. Her very nice and round…” I laughed.

            “Well, I now see a s****l harassment suit in our near future with you, McKoy.” I teased. McKoy shrugged. I then felt my cell phone vibrate in my pocket. I picked it up to see it was my father, “Yes?” I asked casually. I know he’d prefer me to call him Mr. Witherton, but that’s super weird saying my last name out loud. And I’d rather not call him dad on the job when I barely call him dad in reality.

            “Nathaniel, are you viewing what’s-his-face’s notes?” He asked me. He was horrible with subordinates’ names. Hell if it weren’t for the fact I was his son, he’d probably forget my name.

            “Yep.” I said, “She’s well qualified.” I remarked. I looked over at McKoy, who mouthed the words, “And f*****g hot.” To me making me chuckle a bit, “Dale also said she had confidence about her.” I said while looking at the notes, “You’re looking at the notes as well correct?”

            “No, I’m looking at her app. She went to the same college as you. I wonder if you know her?” He mused. I chuckled at the bitter-sweet memory of college. God, I miss my ex still. I swallowed and wished that I had a taste of whiskey to wash away the thoughts of her.

I wonder if she found a job and is getting married like me. I wonder if she has kids now. I’ve always hoped she lied about it, but I know for a fact she didn’t. We were together for about seven more months after she did it. Seven painfully agonizing months filled with hatred. I felt like a stranger in my home and she had become a stranger to me. I wonder if I were to pass her walking down the street would I even recognize her.

            I saw her mother at the store a few weeks ago. I had to pick up some milk for Rach. Her mother had the same dark chocolate complexion and no wrinkle in sight. When I commented on her good skin her reply was, “Good black don’t crack.” She was smiling at me even though I broke her daughter’s heart. I wanted to ask about her, but couldn’t work up the nerve. I guess I’ll always be a coward, just like she said I was.

            “I highly doubt it. I mean that school was pretty big, I didn’t know about three-quarters of my graduating class. I’m just lucky to have met Rach my junior year.” I admitted. Rachel Edwards was my fiancée and I adored her. She had chestnut, long wavy hair that’s soft to the touch. Pretty, dark brown eyes that are some light seem to have a green glimmer. She’s also very artistic; I just recently gave her a down payment to open up her art studio with a class downstairs. She’s also very mellow unless it involves her art.

            I heard him slightly chuckle through the phone, “How is my daughter-in-law?”

            “She’s good. Her art studio is doing well. I was thinking about hosting a charity event featuring her art. It’ll help boost our image as a business and also help her get more publicity. How does that sound?” I asked him. McKoy rolled his eyes and mouthed to himself this time, “Whipped.” I chuckled slightly at him. For a guy who’s going on twenty-three, he still acts as though he’s in high school.

            “It sounds nice. You can work with her on it.” He told me.

            “Well, of course. It is Rachel’s studio, so…..”

            “No, no, no. Not Rachel. The new girl. I want her on our force before some other competition snatches her up and makes us look like fools. Have Dale contact her first thing tomorrow morning letting her know she has the job.” He commanded me. This shocked me to a T. I mean, this is not standard procedure. Then I thought about what Dale told me.

            “She’s hot,” I said in a dull voice.

            “So I’ve heard.” He replied in an even duller tone if that was even possible, “What are you getting at Nathaniel?” I could tell he knew exactly what I was talking about. He was just getting ready to make me feel insubordinate and small. But this was one of those times where history was on my side.

            “You know what I’m getting at. Why are you so eager to get her in the building? So you can get her in your office, Mr. Whitherton?” My voice reeked of irritation.

            “No fair. She should be with me in my cubical.” McKoy whined playfully. I wasn’t in the mood to listen to him.

            “Nathaniel, not only am I your father but I’m your boss. You will not use that tone with me. Also, she graduated at the top of her class, unlike your ass who was a damn screw-up. She went on to a prestigious Business school. She’s ten times more qualified than anyone else who walks in this building will ever be. If she were to be hired by another company it could mean the end for us. The end of that little art studio we’re paying for. The end of the endless amount of money we have in our banks. Now, stop wasting our time and make the order!” He yelled at me and then slammed the phone down. Like I said previously, whiskey sounds pretty damn good.

            “You’re having a bad day?” Rachel walked into the living room to greet me. She hadn’t even taken her coat off. I sat on our love seat in the dimly lit room with my glass of whiskey in my hand. She then sat in the chair across from me, “You wanna talk?” She asked.

            “Not really.” I admitted, “But since I know you’re gonna insist I do. My dad pissed me off today. Nothing new.” I took a sip of the whiskey and let it slowly slide down my throat burning. I didn’t tell Rachel about my thoughts of my ex. I didn’t even tell her that I ran into her mother a few weeks ago. Granite, Rachel knows everything about my ex-girlfriend. Specifically, why we broke up and how nasty the break up was. She understood that I wasn’t going to be ready to commit the right away to her and she waited for me for nearly four years.

            She opened her hand towards my glass, “It’s not right to drink alone.” She told me I smirked.

            “Bad day?” I asked her in a mocking tone. But I was still somewhat concerned considering she’s not really a drinker.  I handed her my glass of whiskey and got up to go into the kitchen to grab another glass and the bottle itself.

            “Eh, it could have been worse.” She said and then took a sip, “I still hate giving tours. I can’t wait to hire someone to do that for me.” She spoke as I sat back down in the living room. I took a sip of whiskey at the thought of a new employee.

            “We’re hiring this new girl tomorrow.” I groaned.

            Rachel smirked in amusement, “Is she pretty?” She asked in a teasing tone. Rachel had a confidence about her that was so sexy and undeniable.

            “From what I heard; yes.” I admitted, “Kevin is going to get us sued with her though.” I laughed.

            Rachel laughed, “Well other than Kevin what’s the worry?” She asked me.

            I shrugged, “I dunno. I guess I’m in a sense worried she’ll be better than me and take my job.” I finally admitted, “She’s like my ex in a sense. My father already thinks highly of her due to the fact she graduated at the top of her class. He’s also making me work with her on the charity event.”

            Rachel’s eyes lit up, “Your dad agreed to it; to doing the charity event at the studio?” Her voice became two pitches higher with excitement, “Ohmigod, Nathaniel. Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?” She put my glass down, “This deserves a toast.” She said and got up to walk towards the kitchen.

            I grabbed her down and placed her in my lap, “The toast should be to us; for finding each other.” I smiled at her she smiled back and kissed me. Her kiss was full of love and compassion for me. I was now beginning to think that I was ready, ready to marry her; ready to give my love to her; ready to be solely hers; ready to finally let her go.