Venom and the Mafia Lord

Interview on Values

''Good morning, how may I help you?'' the receptionist addressed me. I decided to come to John's office before hours just in case some of the people recognised me. Lucky for me this wasn't Jenny, the normal sweet receptionist who became my friend in time, this one was stuck up and stared at me with disdain.

I stood up straight and put on my haughty façade when she looked me up down, I don't like being judged nor being stared at rudely. I know I am beautiful, elegant and the way I was carry myself demands respect and nothing less. That how I was brought up and taught, perks of growing up in a wealthy and well know family, not to sound arrogant or stuck up.

''I need to see Mr. Grey'' I say with a sweet smile. ''He doesn't take visitors before seven and right now it only six, you'll have to wait until then'' she brushed me off. ''Its important and I don't have time to wait until then, please tell him I'm here'' I she politely. ''I can't do that miss. Your schedule isn't mine to keep and if you can't wait you can come back later'' the audacity this woman had, if I had been one of the stuck up brats I hang out with, she'd be fired by now. ''Let him know I'll be in his office in five minutes'' I say going to the elevator. She grumbled incoherently before calling the guards and smirking ''I said he only allows visitors after seven'' ''Maybe if you did your job and asked my name and asked him if he could see me I would have listened'' I spat back. I was getting angrier by the moment and she wouldn't want to look her self in the mirror if I reach my limit.

I have been more irritable lately and only Addison could calm me down and I never got like this with her, no matter what she did. The guard she called was standing behind me waiting for a order.

The b***h sigh dramatically behind pressing some buttons on the intercom ''Sir there's a lady here to see you'' she said in a more professional tone. ''Who's she?'' he asked, I could hear everything he said clear, even what was happening outside.

''Your name miss?'' the receptionist addressed throwing me a dirty look. I knew I couldn't say my real name otherwise this b***h would sell me to my uncle for the 100k he offered whoever would find me. So I had a great idea, John never used my real name and would always call me by a stupid pet name. Who would have own it would pay off some day.

''Sunshine'' I say nonchalantly. She repeats it like I was trying to annoy her and John commands ''Let her up, now!''

The receptionist rolls her eyes and motion for the guard to go and then to the elevator for me.

As soon as I open the door to his office, he leaps off his seat and engulfs me in a tight hug. ''I was so worried about you, ma cherie'' he says and I can feel his rapidly beating heart on my own chest. Fact about my group of friends, we were all from different states and John is from France. Addison is from here in italy and I'm from Africa and Britain. My dad was black and my mom was English. ''I'm ok, John, I just had a bit of a problem'' I say. ''For and eighteen year old you have too many problems'' he grumbles, I just chuckle and pull away.

''So what happened, your uncle went ballistic when you didn't come home about a month ago, he came banging on my door like a mad man'' I pale at the information, I just hope he didn't blow up on every one of my friends like that. Some of them are high class bimbos and would freak out if I did something to 'ruin their reputation' tch, damned stupid!

''Are you ok?'' John asks and I just nod clearing my thoughts. ''So, what is it this time?'' I settle in his sit, behind the desk and tell him I need new documents, a new name and all. He was sceptical so I give him a bit of insight on my situation but I was careful not to say too much. He was livid when I told him about my uncle's plan but I left out the murdering part.

''Ok, Sunshine, I'll get you new documents and a job by tomorrow morning. I know you have enough money to build a damn maison, je ne te laisserai pas sans emploi, crios moi tu en as besoin'' I stand from my place in the chair and hug him tight. ''Merci, tu ne sais pas ce que cela signifie pour moi'' I say gratefully. He has always been someone I could count on and he has proven to be a good friend, others would have sold me out for 100k.

( I won't leave you jobless, believe me you'll need it)

(thank you, you don't know how much this means to me)

We talk some more until his intercom rings. When he picks up it's that stuck up receptionist again and when he is done I mumble a stupid comment about her rudeness. ''What was that?'' he enquires c*****g and elegant eyebrow. ''Nothing'' I say a little too quickly, I don't want to be the reason someone loses their job but the look on his face shows me he heard me loud and clear. ''If she was rude to you, she was rude to others and that's not what I hired her to do, tell me what happened''

I tell him about our encounter but I make sure to loosen him up a bit by saying she has just doing her job. ''Her job is to be nice, kind and welcoming to all guest and ask them their name and me for permission to let them up, whether she like it or not and you Sunshine are too kind to try and save her arse after she was rude to you'' John said before his phone rung. He pick up goes to the window over looking the busy streets.

I check my phone, Addison sent me a number of messages and I reply her and reassure her. She's worried about my unnecessary outbursts which I'm still trying to control. I think I might have a hang on them since I didn't shred the receptionist's caked up face. When John finishes his phone conversation I decide it's time for me to go. It's only ten to seven, he has to get back to work and I don't want to bump into someone who'll recognise me.

''It's for me to go, I'll see you tomorrow morning'' I announce ''Oh and here is my new number'' I say typing it in his personal phone. ''I'll call you later today. Go straight to the apartment and don't try anything funny. I love you Sunshine, au rivour'' he says kissing my forehead. ''Love you too, bye'' I say and head for the door. The receptionist glares at me when I pass reception but I just ignore her and head for Addison's apartment.

***

''How did it go with John?'' she asks as she settles next to me. She just got back from work so she looks tired. ''It was great, he said my stuff would be ready by tomorrow morning and he'll get me a job'' I tell her. She smiles brightly and says ''No chiding? No instructions to go home and nowhere else?'' I roll my eyes, John has alway been an overprotective brother to both me and Addi so we know his tendencies of treat us like kids. ''Of course there was all that stuff, he wouldn't let me leave before his little speech'' I mock feigning annoyance, I like his brotherly side, if it weren't for him I would be partying every night in a club.

Addi giggles lightly and I offer to order pizza. She looks at me than her abs ''Come on! ok fine, then you'll help me work out'' I cringe at the thought but my honestly, I need to burn some energy. ''Ok fine but one day only.'' I agree. She squeals in excitement and again I cringe ''sensitive ears, remember?'' I complain massaging my temples. ''Oh, sorry'' she apologises and hands me my phone from the coffee table, obviously excited she'll get to eat pizza with no worry of working out by herself.

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I arrive at the embassy same time as yesterday. ''Good morning, miss'' the receptionist greets with a tight smile. At least she's being professional. ''Morning, I'm here to see Mr Grey'' I say ignoring her glare. She motions to the elevator and I thank her before making my way.

I spoke to John for about thirty minutes before taking my leave. He seemed busier than usual so I decided to leave him to his workload. He told me about the job and it's actually nice. I finished high school two years earlier and I went to university just as early. I have a degree in business and accounting, law and I was supposed to write my exams in biology and animal genetics this year but that's not going to happen anymore since I supposedly ran away.

I will be working as junior manager at some 4star restaurant and I'm more than content with that. I'll use the money to get either my own apartment or to get a larger apartment with Addison, her choice.

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'Today's the day' I think to myself as I walk out of the bathroom to my closet. About a week ago I signed the contract for my salary and time at work and today is my first day.

I wear a white blouse, black formal pants and heels. My hair is tied in a neat bun and I have no make up, just red lipstick. I walk out of my room when I'm done and I'm ready to go. ''Damn bella, you're going to work or a fashion parade?'' Addi jokes. I roll my eyes at her, I wore the most formal clothes I could find for my first day. ''What?'' I ask innocent. She gives me a once over before frowning ''Aren't you missing something?'' she asks and I look at myself In a near by mirror confused.

I turn to her confused and she goes to my room. She returns with a small necklace that was my mom's, it's my lucky charm. I put it on and tears prick my eyes. ''No, no don't cry. Your mom you'd be proud of what you have accomplished from you studies to your new job and the beautiful, kind and caring person that you are.'' she cooed. I nod sniffing. ''Now lets get you to work, miss Richards'' she says with a smile.

Even though I prefer being called by my real name, I am more than proud to be called by my true name the name I got from my dad but I have no choice but to go with it. I smile brightly at my friend and take my purse from the sofa before we both make our way to the car. Addison said she'd drop me off since the restaurant is on her way to the gym were she works.

***

''Good morning,Jade. I'm Mary, the owner of the restaurant and I'm happy you could join us'' an elderly woman says. She has bright green eyes and grey hair, she's probably in her early sixties. ''Nice to meet you ma'am, I hope you didn't mind my late start'' I say smiling politely at her. ''Not at all, bella. I do have a few questions for you, come with me'' I follow her to a vacant office, it's nice and cozy. There's a mahogany desk and white comfy office chair behind it, two visitors' chairs and a book shelf and a bean bag by the window.

''Please, sit down'' Mary motion to the white chair behind the desk, at first I'm confused because normally the owner is the one to sit there, especially when they are interviewing you. I do as I'm told and sit up straight in the chair placing my purse behind the desk with me. She smiles at me before sitting in one of the visitor's chairs and questions ''Can you speak, Italian?'' I figured she'd ask that since I have a fluent English accent and I have not said anything in Italian. I only speak Italian when it's necessary.

''Yes, I can speak Italian, in what I'd like to believe is fluent'' I say with a chuckle. I don't believe myself, all I had to do was say I can speak Italian not that I'm fluent because I'm far from fluent. ''Oh, è cosi?'' she raises an eyebrow. It was rhetorical question but me being myself answer ''Sì-'' I stop myself from saying any further. ''What do you know about managing a restaurant, any experience?'' she questions. For a moment I wanted to lie and say yes but I don't lie and that'll probably get in trouble soon.

''I don't have any experience but I did study management in college'' I answer. She nods thoughtfully and her next questions is my favourite '' What are your values as a person and what values do you plan to abide by as manager?'' Dad always taught me values and morals and this reminds me of him. ''Honesty, integrity, kindness and respect. My father raised me with those four values and I have always and will alway abide by them. They are what makes the world a better place and the people good at heart. He always said you can't learn those values but they come from within'' I say staring into the distance.

''Oh, darling, you are a great manager and even better person. Do you want to know why I asked you to sit behind the desk?'' she asks and I nod curiously. ''I've been interviewing people for two weeks now and everyone I asked to sit there did the opposite of what you did'' I'm even more confused now and she notices. ''The others did not know the moral values people should have. Others slouched and others only work by the book. I was looking for someone to lead and not order people around, to show someone what they did wrong and help them instead of yelling or firing and a honest person who wouldn't let me done and you Jade are that person. The other's here call me aunt Mary, I hope you will too'' she says with a smile then stands to head out. ''Thank you'' I say and she flashes me her smile once more before heading out.

I guess I should get to work. There was a pile of document with a note on the desk next to a laptop I hadn't noticed it earlier. A young lady came to catch me up and show me what I need to do before she left me to it. The people here are very nice.

I can't wait to get to know everyone here

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