Things We Never Planned

CHAPTER THREE:NOT YOU AGAIN!

RACHEL

Standing in the elevator of the huge building that was StoneWall Enterprise, my palms were sweating. I'd conducted many interviews before, but never with anybody so elite. I was up all through the night practicing and obsessing over all the ways this could end up bad.

“Calm down, Rach. You've got this.” I muttered under my breath. I wiped my sweaty palm on my skirt. I'd decided on a black pencil skirt specifically for this.

The elevator dinged open, and I stepped out into the hallway. I walked a few steps till I got to the one that was labeled “LIAM STONE, CEO.”

“Hello, may I help you?” A tall woman walked up to me with a smile on her face. She was really beautiful with her blue eyes and curly dark hair. She looked like she belonged on the runway, not in an office.

“Hi, I'm Rachel Altman, a student from Jordan University from the department of Journalism. I'm here to interview Mr. Stone for the school paper,” I explained to her.

“Oh, that's right.” She smiled. “I'll let him know you're here. Have a seat.”

She pointed to the one chair there and I nodded. “Thank you.”

At least I had a few seconds to put myself together. I sat down and fought the urge to remove my heels. I really didn't want to wear them, but Liza had convinced me that they made me look more professional. Tell me why I keep listening to her?

“You can go in now, Ms. Altman.” The runway model said, stepping out of Mr. Stone's office.

I stood up. “Thank you.”

I placed my hand on the door knob and sent a silent prayer to God that this wouldn't be a disaster.

I pushed the door open and closed it behind me. Then I turned around and went face to face with Liam Stone.

My eyes widened, my heart sank, and I almost laughed. Of course, this was just the type of thing that would happen to me.

“You! You're Liam Stone,” I asked through gritted teeth.

There was a flash of surprise on his face. “What are you doing here? Are you stalking me?”

I scoffed. “You wish. I'm here to interview you. I didn't even know who you were.”

He rolled his eyes. “You're the student from Jordan University.”

“Well, duh.” I rolled my eyes.

His eyes darkened. “I would be careful how you speak to me. You're not in a position to piss me off.”

I sighed. He was right. Everybody was counting on me to get this interview. If I messed it up, I'd lose my position and I also have a grade that depends on this paper.

“You're right. Let's just pretend like we are seeing each other for the first time. Let's get this over with and then we'd never have to see each other again.”

“That works very well for me.”

***

“Why do you mostly provide scholarships to kids from Third World countries?”

“Because lots of them live in poverty. They can't afford an education.”

“Is it true that you give jobs to many of them after?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because jobs aren't always available where they come from. We help them get their work visas and position then in any one of my organizations or companies that will be a good fit for them. Most of them are brilliant, but they need to put their brain to work.”

His response made him look like less of a jerk to me and I hated that. He was good-looking and had the heart for helping others. Those combinations were like dynamite.

“But what inspires you to help?” I asked.

He paused. This time he was looking at me straight in the eye with an expression that I could not decipher. It made me all the more interested in whatever his response to that question was going to be.

“I grew up poor. I lived on the streets for a long time till I became old enough to start getting jobs. One day, while working as a server in a restaurant, a man took a chance on me, gave me an education and here I am today. Sometimes, all anyone needs is for someone to take a chance on them, someone who believes in them even when they think they have nothing to offer.”

I almost burst into tears. I'd been so stupid and so wrong about him. I remembered the way he reacted in the car and now I understand why. I didn't know what to say, so I just stared at him.

He didn't look at me with challenge, he looked like he was trying to gauge my reaction to what he'd just said. I didn't know if I should apologize, or just go on with the interview like nothing just happened.

“Do you have any more questions? Because I have a meeting in an hour I have to prepare for.”

“Oh, of course. I think I have everything I need. Thank you so much for agreeing to do this.”

“You're welcome,” he said and stood up, at the same time I did. I put my notebook and tape recorder back into my bag and looked up at him.

He was watching me, there was an intense look in his eyes. I smiled at him—too brightly.

“I better be on my way.”

To my surprise, he stretched his hands out to me for a handshake. I looked at it for a moment before putting my hands in his. A shiver ran down my spine as our hands connected.

“Well, it was nice meeting you, Ms. Altman.”

“You too, Mr. Stone.” I responded. He held my hand a bit longer, the atmosphere around us felt heavy with something, I just didn't know what it was.

“Mr. Stone, your eleven ‘o clock is here.” His assistant said, breaking our moment.

He let go of my hand and I rushed for the door. I stepped around his assistant and made my way to the elevator without looking back. Once the door closed I felt like I could breathe again.

What the hell just happened?.