Tempted By Their Promises

3 - My Office, Now

“You didn’t have to move with me”, Amanda said, turning to face Chelsea. Despite being upset, she moved. She had admiration on her face towards her best friend. 'How she could just move to a new city when her life was Bay’s Beach' was very apparent in her mind.

“Jamie is in Peninsula more than he is at Bay’s Beach. It was the only decision to make”, Chelsea replied, heading to the closet to scan over her clothes to loan Amanda. “Now for the perfect interview outfit for you. Something that screams hire me.”

“It’s just an administration assistant’s job. The job description says we will be compiling reports for marketing and management”, Amanda explains, lying on her stomach across Chelsea’s bed.

“And I think you need something a little sexy in case you meet the gorgeous CEO you had in your arms a few days ago”, Chelsea mocked as Amanda’s face turned a nice shade of pink.

“I doubt he came out of his office to interview a mere admin assistant”, Amanda whispered, shaking her auburn hair.

“But he will be in the same building” Chelsea smiled, pulling clothes from the closet to inspect.

Amanda had thought of this and hoped she would at least catch a glimpse of Toby, but she didn’t dare tell Chelsea her thoughts. Although Chelsea does know her better than she knows herself and has probably already figured it out. She woke up around 4am after her and Toby’s encounter. She was moving the same day and decided she didn’t want to complicate their lives by staying. She applied for the position of administration assistant a few weeks before she left Bay’s Beach, not expecting an interview due to her lack of experience, and was shocked to receive a call two days ago for one.

“Here, this one” Chelsea said, handing Amanda her navy slacks with a pale blue blouse.

“I have outfits of my own”, Amanda fumed, taking the outfit from Chelsea, nonetheless. It’s what they do with big occasions. Raid each other’s wardrobes for the perfect outfit and this was no different.

“I know, but this outfit screams; take me, I’m yours”, Chelsea giggled as Amanda rolled her eyes before heading into the bathroom to shower and change. “What time is the interview?”

“9.30” Amanda called, double-checking her watch before getting under the spray of the shower.

“You better get a move on. I booked the Uber for 30 minutes. It will be easier than trying to find your way around the city. You don’t want to be late for your destiny”, Chelsea yelled through the door before Amanda came out of the bathroom 10 minutes later.

After applying her makeup, Amanda looked at Chelsea. “Wish me luck?” she said, picking up her interview folder and giving her best friend a hug.

“Luck? You don’t need it. You have this in the bag”, Chelsea replied, hugging Amanda back before the latter walked out the door to the waiting Uber.

It took the driver 15 minutes to get to the Sommerville Shopping Malls Inc office building and Amanda smiled at him, before climbing out of the car. “Don’t forget to rate me, 5 stars”, the driver called out the window as he took off up the street.

Amanda stood on the sidewalk, looking up at the 12-story building. “You can do this”, she whispered to herself before walking in through the main doors and over to the reception desk.

The blonde lady, Karen with the name tag on her chest, sat there staring at her. “I’m Amanda. I’m here for an interview with Miranda”, Amanda said calmly, sucking in a deep breath.

Karen narrowed her eyes at Amanda before picking up her phone to talk with someone. “You can take a seat over there” she huffed, pointing to a plush grey sofa.

“OK; that was a bit rude” Amanda muttered as she turned on her heels to sit next to the dark-haired lady who looked the same age as her on the sofa.

“I’m Belinda. You must be the other administration interviewee”, Belinda said, pushing her dark hair behind her ear. “Miranda said she would be interviewing both of us together. Apparently, the CEO decided he needed two of us, and we were narrowed down.”

“How do you know?” Amanda asked, taking a seat next to her.

“Miranda, when she called me for my interview. She informed me they would be interviewing for two, not one job as advertised”, Belinda answered, smiling.

“I wonder if she will be a good boss”, Amanda whispered. Before Belinda could respond, a brown-haired lady came over and introduced herself.

“I’m Miranda. It’s good to meet you, Belinda, and you must be Amanda”, Miranda said, extending her hand to Amanda and Belinda as both ladies stood up, shaking Miranda’s hand. “The interview will be in the boardroom on the 4th floor. Follow me.”

The trio headed up the elevator before Miranda ushered them down the hall. “Mr Sommerville is waiting for us”, Miranda smiled as Amanda’s heart skipped a beat as she glanced at the corner of the boardroom at Toby sitting in a chair, looking through paperwork.

“You must be our new recruits” Toby said, smiling at Belinda and Amanda. “Please take a seat.”

“Mr Sommerville; we are only here…” “Shh” Belinda said, stopping Amanda from voicing this is an interview as Toby narrowed his eyes at her.

“I’m well aware, this is an interview, Miss Frost”, Toby frowned as Amanda’s heart sank further to the pit of her stomach. “What made you choose Sommerville Shopping Malls as a career?”

“Um…” Amanda fumbled as Toby raised an eyebrow. “I was moving here from Bay’s Beach, four hours’ drive away. I saw the online application and followed up by looking into what you do. I may not have experience of the inner workings of a shopping mall and this is a weakness of mine. But I do like to challenge myself and feel this will be an opportunity I can’t pass up. Turn my weakness into a strength”, Amanda replied to the rehearsed lines she did with Chelsea over the last few days. She also wanted to say she applied for the position before our rendezvous; however, she kept that to herself.

Toby smirked before turning his attention to Belinda: “And what about you, Miss Spence? Why did you decide to choose a career with Sommerville Shopping Malls Inc?”

‘God is gorgeous. I wish I could just take him on the table’; “Miss Frost?” Toby interrupted her thoughts, smirking at her as Amanda took herself back to the room, blushing.

“Sorry?” Amanda said, looking down at the contract that was placed in front of her. Holy Crap, is he for real? He wants to pay me $80,000 a year as an administration assistant. This can’t be right, Amanda thought.

She opened her mouth to voice her concerns when Toby interrupts her. “Miranda, can you please show Miss Spence around the office? I have a few more questions for Miss Frost before we are done”, Toby asked as Miranda ushered Belinda out of the boardroom, shutting the door behind her.

“Mr Sommer…” Amanda was about to begin, when Toby moved to her side quickly. She could smell the spicy scent of his aftershave. The same scent she hoped to smell again. “Sweet Pea; why did you leave without saying goodbye?” he asked as Amanda’s face turned a new shade of red.

“I um; I was leaving for Peninsula and I didn’t want to complicate our lives”, Amanda whispered, realizing how her life had just gone to a whole new level of complication, making that comment null and void.

“Complicating my life? What do you call this?” Toby fumed, waving his hands in front of him.

“I applied for the job two weeks before we met at Dave’s. How was I supposed to know you were the CEO of Sommerville Shopping Malls?” Amanda answered, raising her voice slightly.

“Ahh; my name is Sommerville and raising your voice at your new boss. Not a good first impression”, Toby smirked as Amanda got up to leave.

“I’m sorry for taking up too much of your time, Mr Sommerville” Amanda murmured, her heart breaking into a million pieces as she headed for the door.

“I didn’t say you could go”, Toby huffed, grabbing Amanda by the arm. “You are not leaving here; you are mine, Sweet Pea, and I want you here. I will ask Miranda to show you around the office.”

Amanda was left dumbfounded as Toby left the boardroom. 'What just happened?' she asked herself as Miranda walked back into the boardroom. “Follow me. You and Belinda will be sharing a cubicle. Please sign the contract and drop it off at HR. You will start immediately according to your contract and will be on probation for three months. Belinda had to tie up some loose ends, and she would start at 9am tomorrow morning” Miranda finished, turning to face Amanda and waiting for her to follow.

The two ladies headed to the small cubicle area as Amanda sat down to read the contract. “You want me to do what, exactly?” Amanda asked, glancing over the contract again. “The contract doesn’t outline our role as much as I thought it would.”

“You and Belinda will share the responsibility. Both of you will write up the reports for marketing and management. Your password for your computer is 1234ABC; in capitals. We recommend you change it as soon as possible as this is the default password for all computers. Make yourself at home”, Miranda responded, leaving her alone in the cubicle as Amanda leaned back in her chair. She still didn’t tell her anymore that she already knew.

'Regardless, Toby is here; I’m not going to find a job that pays this well,' Amanda told herself inwardly, signing the last page of the contract before heading out of the cubicle. 'I just have to be professional.' “Where do I find HR?” Amanda asked the man near the elevators.

“Third floor; I’ll take you” he responded, looking at Amanda closely, causing her to feel a bit self-conscious. “Henry” he added, offering his hand to Amanda.

“Amanda” she answered, shaking Henry’s hand and looking at him, before gasping as she realized she had seen him at Dave’s Bar and started to shift on the balls of her feet.

“I’m the Finance manager here, 2 IC and Toby’s best friend”, Henry grinned, breaking the uncomfortable silence as they stepped in the elevator.

“Right” Amanda said, trying to hide her face with the contract. She didn’t want to give away; she is uncomfortable, even though he hadn’t done anything to make her feel uncomfortable, except knowing her and Toby had a passionate night together.

“Here we are. I will leave you in Fred’s capable hands”, Henry said, giving Amanda a wink as she walked into the HR office, trying to stop herself from blushing again.

By the time Amanda finished the paperwork for HR, he printed the contract in triplicate, giving Amanda a copy. It was almost lunchtime. “Where do we go for lunch around here?” Amanda asked Fredrick.

“Lunch is normally at 12.30,” Fredrick answered, smiling as he looked at his watch. “Head up to your office for the next 45 minutes. Most of us normally head to Café Latte for lunch, which is on the ground floor. I may see you there.”

Amanda nodded and shook Fredrick by the hand before heading to her joint cubicle and sat down. “Now for the password change” she whispered to herself, turning on her computer. She managed to change the password to her usual; Mand!2000, without any trouble, before opening her emails and gasping in shock to see an email from Toby.

‘My office; now’ was the only thing it said. She looked at the time stamp. It was sent two minutes ago. 'Is he keeping tabs on me?' Amanda thought, fuming and pulled out the map Fredrick gave her to see where Toby’s office was before heading back to the elevator.