Chapter 5
1274 Words
SELENE
"Poor girl, marrying a vegetable for money."
"I heard her father made her do it."
"Lol, the rich and their problems."
"She's an adult, she chose this. Desperate wh*re."
That was a few of the thousand comments under my wedding pictures. My chest tightened as my nails dug into the sheets. Why do people talk so boldly about lives they know nothing about?
I tossed my phone deep into my new bed, letting my hand linger on the duvet, trembling.
It was right what was said, 'Your phone shouldn't be the first thing you go to when you awake in the morning.'
And now my mood had been ruined for the day... Come to think of it, do celebrities even go through the comment section of their posts?
Well, I guess this was my new hell. The price I have to pay for choosing revenge.
A deep sigh escaped my lips, as I swung my feet unenthusiastically off the bed. I knew I couldn't get anywhere
staying coiled up in here.
"Mrs. Damian, what would you like to have for breakfast?" The petite maid, who has been fanning over me since my three days of stay here, came again.
"What's your name again?"
She smiled warmly, her cheeks widening. "Calanthea, ma'am."
I stopped, mentally pronouncing her name. "I will call you Thea, then."
"Yes, ma'am," she bowed, her two ponytail braids swinging in motion.
"Selene is fine."
"Alright, ma'am Selene," she bowed again.
I knew how this was going to go if I entertained it, and I wasn't ready for it.
"... Thea, surprise me with something delicious," I said with a smile. She reciprocated, bowed and left.
As the door clicked shut, the false smile I had on my face wore off.
Being Mrs. Damian wasn't as suffocating as I'd feared. Though I hated to admit—Dad was right this time.
I bet he was happy now that he had gotten what he wanted.
Now it was my turn.
...
"Selene," Mr. Joe smiled, as his gaze fell on me at the door to his office. "Come in."
I straightened my crisp blue pleated gown over my knees as I walked into his office. My breath hitched in my throat, as the purity of the air threatened to strangle me.
The air here was divine sophistication. The kind that makes the hair on your skin stand in awe.
Mr. Joe's office was extremely colder than the rest of the cubids I passed through before getting here.
Brown leather was littered on almost every space in his office—from the chairs, tables, panels, and even shelves. Only the wall had beige paint and a large frame of himself.
This looked more like a throne room than an office.
"Have your seat," he encouraged, noticing I had been standing. I did so quickly, holding onto my credentials smartly, trying not to forget the answers to the questions one mostly gets asked in an interview.
"I was surprised when my secretary said you were here," he said, stacking up some files neatly on a shelf just behind him.
I gave a nervous smile, as I hid my left hand that had been shaking beneath the document I held. Well, you can't blame me, I was seated opposite the almighty Joe. The King of the Steel Empire.
"I thought to come, since I was less occupied," I said, trying to sound more confident.
"I see," he nodded, slightly impressed. "Are those for me?" he asked, stretching his right hand towards the document I held.
"Uhm... Oh yes, sir," I jabbed, forgetting how to think for a moment.
"I see," he nodded, flipping through the pages. He raised his brows to me. "So, you graduated from Silverbrook University, right?"
"You are right, sir." I forced a nod, trying not to bite my tongue off. I can't afford any mistakes now.
"It states here that you have a degree in Economics," he said, his eyes still glued to the pages.
"Yes, sir," I managed, my throat dry.
"Impressive," he said, handing me back my document.
"You were away from Singapore for two years, was that all school-related?"
Silence.
I was taken aback. Why do things I try to keep hidden always find their way back to the surface?
"No, sir. I took a break."
He nodded slowly. "You know it's good to unwind, but for that long?"
Heat made its way up to my neck, and now I felt like I was drowning.
He sighed. "Anyway, here at Steel Empire we value cooperation, hard work, and loyalty. So, Mrs. Selene Damian, can I trust you?"
The level of Mr. Joe's professionalism got me questioning things I thought I knew about business.
My heart pounded greatly. 'If I said yes, I might come off to him as every fraud he’s ever met. If I said no, it meant I didn’t even trust myself, and I would lose everything.'
After a brief minute of silence, I responded, "I would prefer I earn your trust, sir."
I thought that had impressed him also, but his expression remained neutral. Was he some sort of mood swing or something?
"Good answer. But words don't keep empires standing."
"Be here tomorrow. Eight sharp," he said, rising up from his seat. I stood up, my legs barely keeping me upright.
"Thank you, sir."
"This doesn't mean you got the job," he cut in, his voice still maintaining the same pitch.
I was yet again dumbfounded, as it seemed everything I now said was against me, so I remained mute, choosing only to listen.
A lady in a sharp grey suit walked into his office after he pressed a switch. She greeted us, then picked up his coat and bag without questions.
"I'm sorry we have to pause here today," Joe said apologetically. "I have somewhere else to be."
"No, that's alright, sir. I should be the one apologizing for taking so much of your time. I will also be on my way now. Thank you so much for sparing me a fortune out of your busy schedule." That seemed to have cracked him up, as he chuckled a bit.
"You are quite funny."
"I will take that as a compliment, sir."
"Mr. Jonathan, the car is ready," the lady who had walked out minutes ago returned again, casting me an ugly look, as if she was the one who had somewhere going and he was wasting her time.
"Thank you, Naomi. I will be with you shortly; let me speak to my daughter-in-law." A smile that was miles away from her eyes formed on her face, before she bowed and left.
"Don't let the speculation going on in the media get to you," he said, fixing his tie. "I will have everything taken care of," he assured.
"Thank you, sir, but you don't need to bother."
He didn't respond as he walked towards me. "Anyway, take care of yourself, Selene. One last thing—positions in Steel Empire aren't bought, but merited."
"Tell me, why should I let someone who wasn't given a position in her father's company, work in mine?" he said as we walked out, not waiting for a reply. And I stood rooted to a spot, watching as he was driven out of the car park.
Wow, what a first day. I thought as I walked into the black matte SUV Mercedes-Benz that drove straight to the mansion.
One thing was clear though—Mr. Joe was a lot different from my Dad. And I had to win his heart and a place in his company, no matter the cost.
- Writer
