The Wife He Never Deserve

Chapter 3

The Interview

ELARA POV

The next morning, I sat on the high stool at the kitchen table, scrolling through my phone as I waited for the meal I was preparing to be ready.

I was scrolling through job listings on my phone, my eyes bloodshot with desperation that even a tiny ray of hope felt like a miracle to me.

I haven't closed my eyes for seconds. All I did throughout the night was search for jobs, calling distant relatives for financial supper and all I could get was rejections. It's either they don't have funds at the moment or they have plans with their funds.

And these are the same relatives that threw themselves on my dad when things were still good for us then. They extorted money from him using every tricky way and yet he showed up for them.

Now things have turned around. All of them ran without looking back.

I couldn't sleep. How could I? Every time I shut my eyes, all I could hear was the bank officer's words. The warnings, and deadline.

72 hours before I lose my home and out of the 72 hours, over 10 hours is gone..

My chest tightened but I never stopped scrolling. Then I saw it. A job application which says: “PERSONAL ASSISTANT NEEDED. AT VEYRON HOLDINGS. EXCELLENT SALARY, NO REQUIREMENT, AND IMMEDIATE EMPLOYMENT”

My eyes flickered twice. What did I just see? I read it again and again to be sure I read the right. Veyron holdings is one of the biggest companies in the city and their salary alone was enough to transform my life. Their six months salary can settle all the debts.

Maybe this was it. Maybe this was my miracle. My tiny ray of hope

.

.

In the next hour, I found myself standing in front of a massive glass building. Veyron holdings. The headquarters look less like an office building and more like a paradise. Luxury cars lined up at the entrance. Men and women dressed in expensive corporate wear walked in and out of the building.

I became aware of the old suit, cheap handbag, worn-out heels. I felt I didn't belong here and the reassuring smile I plastered on my face wasn't convincing enough.

.

.

The waiting room was occupied with women. Women who looked far more qualified than me. Beautiful, well dressed and confident

My stomach churned. Maybe coming here was a mistake. What was I thinking when I applied? I should just leave. Before I could convince myself to run, my name was called.

“Miss Hale?”

I stood immediately, raising my hand slightly.

The receptionist smiled politely. "The Managing Director would like to interview you personally."

My eyebrows raised in confusion. Personally? Just for a personal statement assistant position? Why would he interview me alone? I thought I would be interviewed by four to five people.

I just smiled and followed her, swallowing my questions.

.

.

A few minutes later, she stopped in front of a large office.

Then I knocked.

"Come in." The voice was deep, and commanding.

The receptionist opened the door, and I stepped inside. My feet froze instantly.

The man behind the desk before me was the most attractive man I'd ever seen. His hair dark, jaw sharped, eyes cold and powerful aura radiating from him.

He looked up and our eyes locked. His blank expression changed for a split second into something I can't really place my hands on. More like a shock, like he had seen a ghost, something impossible and wasn't it expecting.

My heartbeat quickened.

Do I know him?vHave we met before?

The look vanished almost immediately.

His face returned to its cold, blank, unreadable state.

"Sit,” He uttered, his tone firm, giving no room for further words.

I obeyed. A silence followed, and I felt uncomfortable. His gaze remained fixed on me more like he was studying,or observing a problem. Like I was a puzzle he's trying to solve.

I shifted nervously on the chair. Finally, he spoke.

"Your name?”

"Elara Hale,” I responded, placing a bright smile on my face. A flicker appeared in his eyes but was gone before I could understand it.

"Age?"

"Twenty-six?” I replied, cheerfully and confidently.

He paused and his next question caught me off guard. “Relationship status?"

I blinked. What?

"Excuse me?" I muttered, in disarray.

"Are you currently in a relationship?" He repeated and my confusion grew deep.

"Um... no," I responded, blinking in daze.

His expression didn't change. He simply nodded then continued.

"Have you ever been married?" My eyebrows furrowed.

What kind of interview was this? I thought I was applying for the role of a personal assistant

"No, sir" I mumbled

"Engaged?"

"No, sir," I replied, slowly.

"Children?"

"No, sir," I muttered, slowly.

I stared at him, and he reciprocated the gaze. Neither of us spoke again but I felt something was wrong. I have been to tons of interviews and this one is going to be very different and strange.

It's very wrong, and made me feel like I don't have an idea of what an interview is.

The questions continued, and grew stranger and more bewildering.

Questions like: Could I relocate immediately?, Would I be comfortable attending formal events?, Did I know how to handle media attention?, Could I maintain confidentiality?, Was I capable of playing a convincing role in public?

This wasn't perplexing anymore but suspicious. If I wasn't at Veyro holdings headquarters, I would think I have entered the wrong building and applied to an impersonating company.

This was no longer a personal assistant interview. It couldn't be.

No company asked questions like these. Not even Veyron Holdings.

Then something caught my attention. A document sitting partially beneath his hand.

I wasn't trying to snoop honestly but one phrase was impossible to miss.

‘Marital Agreement.”’

My heart skipped a beat and I blinked repeatedly. Maybe I read it wrong because I'm not close to him.

But I have a very sharp sight. Then I saw another page.

Another phrase: ‘Spousal Obligations.’

The air left my lungs.

No…..No way. Suddenly everything made sense.

The strange question, the relocation, the public appearances, the media, the confidentiality, …..the relationship status.

Oh my God. What the hell have I applied for?

I slowly lifted my head. My eyes met his.

He wasn't saying anything but was just simply gazing at me. More like he was waiting for me, as if he knew exactly what I had just figured out.

I stood abruptly, scraping the chair loudly against the floor.

I pointed toward the document then toward him then back at the document.

"This isn't a job interview,” My voice came out barely above a whisper.

His expression remained unreadable.

Then I asked the question. The question that suddenly felt insane, the question I never thought I'd ask another human being.

"Are you trying to hire a wife?”