Unsettling Ties
1025 Words
In the morning sun Dina sat on her disheveled desk and scanned through jobs on her laptop with the burden of bills and email rejections. Her mother attempted to get her to sleep but Dina refused in order to make decent money.
Her friend Amelie posted about the job of being a junior branding associate at Dylan Luxe, a luxury company. Curious, and without having anything to lose, Dina immediately asked Amelie to explain it to her.
She was about to touch the screen with her fingers. What do I even have to lose?
Dina arrived at the stately Dylan Luxe headquarters in La Defense in her pink suit blouse and fitted blazer later in the day. Its white and marble-clad building gleamed with the aura of effortless style and had an intimidating presence as it was filled with well-dressed occupants. Her heartbeat rose, as she held her portfolio tight and told herself to calm down on the next interview, oblivious to the fact that Kristen Dylan was going through her dossier above in the penthouse office.
Kristen was reviewing the application of Dina Atticus, sitting in his chair. Being very close to her, he noticed he would like to interview her by himself. Though Elise raised his concerns about the unusual method of dealing with a junior associate, he made his stand and there was no other option.
Kristen smiled a little as Elise walked away. She is directly walking into my world. And she doesn't know who I am.
Dina waited in the smooth reception hall with her nerves crashing up in her stomach. A receptionist with oily red nails bestowed a practised smile upon her.
"Miss Atticus? Mr. Dylan will see you now."
Dina blinked. "Mr. Dylan? The CEO?"
The receptionist just pointed at the elevator.
Her breathing picked up as she entered. The ride up felt eternal. She practised her replies in her mind why branding, what value she could add but her mind kept on bumbling around the name Dylan.
On opening the doors of the elevator, she found herself in a sunlit office which looked across the horizon. And there he was himself; high and masterful, immaculately clad, his eyes a midnight black and all the more opaque.
Dina froze. Her breath caught. It was him. The driver from last night.
Kristen stood in his rear with an easy motion that was full of intention. "Miss Atticus." His voice was plain, soft, steady, but his eyes riveted her to the spot. "Please, sit."
Her pulse was racing and Dina sat carefully. She struggled not to show her face. Of all the places... Why him? Why here?
Kristen started the negotiation over the Junior Associate job and one can see that she was in a tight spot. Dina claimed that she knows how to market and manage brand, but she loves to tell stories, combining products and personal life.
Kristen was interested but provoked Dina and doubted her inimitable traits. Dina was not shy because she did not recede in despair of her everyday plight as we do not read in the textbook. As the interview went on, her nerves relaxed into concentration.
She explained how she relates Dylan Luxe products to a younger audience, and Kristen, apparently paying no attention at all, certainly seemed to be listening.
The look Kristen gave was a difficult one to read but it certainly was admiration and challenge.As the interview continued, the nerves in Dina began to relax into concentration and decision.
She explained her process to integrate both authentic and luxury when trying to connect Dylan Luxe products to a younger audience. While Kristen was listening with all his mind, his eyes would tend to wander, as though in search of a point to tangle at her neck.
At last he threw back his head and tapped his fingers. You are a great lady, Miss Atticus. But tell me why Dylan Luxe? Why not any other firm?"
Dina hesitated, and then spoke with conviction in a muffled way. Its name is not a company because it is more than a company. It's an influence. It's an image. And I want to study with the best people, to show that someone who has no privilege, no connections can be placed on the same stage as giants.
Kristen looked at her for a long time, without having made up his mind. Then he smiled slowly and the chill went down her spine.
"Very well. You'll hear from us soon."
As she got out of his office, Dina nearly fainted. She put her back on the cool marble wall of the passage, her chest going up and down quickly.
Him. Of all people it had to be him.
She pushed the thought aside. It doesn't matter. I need this job. Mom needs me to have this job. I will be able to work under him. I always survive.
Kristen stood and stared at her as she walked out of the office, his eyes as sharp as a knife. His hand made a fist over the desk.
She doesn't know who I am. Not yet. But soon... she will. Then she will be told that fortune never leaves a debt unpaid.
And yet among all the voices that whispered vengeance in his mind, there was another voice that mocked him with desire, with curiosity, with fascination.
Kristen reclined and then shut his eyes a little. Dina Atticus...-let me see how long you can live in my world.
Following her meeting with CEO Kristen Dylan, Dina told Amelie about her passionate interview experience, which she calls a rare and complicated one. She was optimistic about the job, although there was uncertainty and confusion, she felt that it was a stepping stone.
- Writer
