Timeless Jewel

Two

The building at Jewel Corp. was impressive, and she felt a bit overwhelmed by its opulence. After being called up, she found herself in the CEO's office, facing a man studying her closely. Determined to succeed in the interview, she understood its significance.

Grover took a while to gather his thoughts before speaking. He hoped she didn't find his silent stare weird. Why should her opinion matter so much? He was Grover Jewel, CEO of Jewel Corp., a successful business tycoon. He wouldn't let a woman with brown hair unsettle him.

Clearing his throat, Grover extended his hand. She blinked, then handed him her CV from her bag.

“Talia Timeless, is that correct?” He asked, going through the file.

“Yes sir.” Talia answered.

After a prolonged glance at the file, Grover dropped it on the table, resting his chin on his hand. Contemplating her suitability, he wished to hire her instantly, but his commitment to thoroughness held him back.

"Why are you the right fit for this job?" Grover inquired. Talia, sitting up, responded confidently, "I bring certification and experience from a high-standard organization. I understand the demands of the role and have much to offer."

Grover, impressed by her demeanor, asked, "How efficient are you at tasks with tight deadlines?"

"Optimizing output efficiently," Talia replied, hands folded. Grover continued, "Communication skills?" She affirmed, "Excellent, sir." On colleague relationships, "Cordial and professional, sir." Impressed, Grover couldn't shake off the thought of her. Despite his initial misjudgment, she seemed perfect for the job—smart, well-spoken, and beautiful.

“I like what I see. Your CV and qualifications match what I need in a secretary,” Grover admitted. Talia responded sincerely, “Thank you.” Grover, curious about her past job, asked, “Why did you leave the organization where high standards were expected?”

Grover wish he could take the words back. An odd look had fallen on Talia’s face though she was hiding it pretty well. Her face had gotten stony, devoid of any emotion; almost like a perfectly sculpted mask.

“Things didn’t work out so well.” Talia had plastered a small smile on her face.

Grover could tell quite well that it was fake. He mentally face-palmed himself, rebuking himself for opening his mouth and spouting out nonsense. Of course he had to be nosy to someone he barely even knew. He shouldn’t have been all up in her business. Dumb f**k. He took in a deep breath before addressing Talia again. “I understand. Back to the matter at hand, I believe you are the perfect pick for the job.”

The way Talia’s eyes widened was almost comical. Grover resisted the urge to smile at the warmth radiating from her expression alone.

“Are you serious?” She asked, though she already knew the answer.

“Yes, I’m serious. Starting tomorrow, you’ll begin work at Jewel Corps as my secretary. I expect you already have knowledge of what your job would entail.” Grover waited for a response.

Talia gave a nod and continued listening to what her new boss was saying.

“Alright. An acceptance letter would be sent to the email you provided.”

Grover leaned forward in his seat and stretched out a hand to Talia.

“Welcome to Jewel Corps.”

Talia’s smile spread even wider as she reached out to his outstretched hand and gave him a warm handshake.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Grover.”

Grover gave a nod of his head though he wondered how she knew his name. He didn’t remember ever telling her about it. Well, it was possible she had done some research on the company and found his name out. He was no doubt a popular figure in the business world. The chances of that being the case where very probable.

“Alright then. I’ll see you tomorrow, Miss Talia.” Grover said.

“Of course, sir.” Talia said with a smile before getting up to leave.

Once the door was shut, Grover slumped back into his seat. His entire body felt warm and he didn’t understand why this was the case. He knew he wasn’t sick or anything.

“Damn it.” The words came out in a whisper. He had no idea why he was so affected by this woman whom he barely knew. He could already picture her in his head. Her beautiful brown hair that accentuated her beauty. Her dark brown eyes that demanded unbridled attention. Her small pink lips that forced his eyes not to look away. He took in a deep breath and dialed a number on his phone.

“Cancel all other interviews for the day. I’ve found the one I’m looking for.”