TAMING THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Luciana walked into the company's lobby and her jaw dropped in awe.

She has heard of how majestic the company is but has never seen it for herself. To think she is here right now seems like a dream.

She pinched herself to be sure and the sting in her right cheek tells her this is no dream, this is happening.

Recalling what Aria taught her, she schooled her face and rid it of any expression then she lifted her chin like someone who bathed in wealth on a daily basis before walking toward the front desk.

‘Good morning,’ she greeted, making sure she didn't sound too excited or naive while also not sounding rude.

‘Good morning, how can I be of service to you today?' The receptionist flashed her a smile and Luciana could tell she was faking it.

That is something Luciana does daily, so it was easy for her to distinguish between a real smile and a fake one. But that isn't why she is here today.

‘I am here for the interview,' Luciana replied and she watched as the smile dropped from the receptionist's face.

‘Did she think I am here for something important,’ Luciana wondered, almost bursting into laughter at the receptionist's expression.

‘’Do you see those two ladies over there?’’ the receptionist asked, pointing toward two ladies dressed in suits.

‘Yes,’ Luciana replied.

‘Tell them to show you the way to the hall and they would direct you to where you'd meet the other candidates,’ it was almost as if the words were forced out of the receptionist's mouth with how Luciana could barely hear what she said.

‘Thank you for your time,' Luciana put on her best smile before turning toward the ladies she pointed to.

She was ushered into a big hall where she could see hundreds of candidates waiting to be interviewed.

Luciana felt her heart sink at the sight before her, how on earth did she think to come to such a big establishment like De Rosso in search of a job? She should have kept to her standard and looked for a small company to work with.

Looking at all the women here today, who were sophisticatedly dressed and beautifully fit for the job, Luciana knew she would never be chosen.

Yet she had promised Aria that she would try her best, so she found herself a seat in a corner at the back and offered a silent prayer to God.

From where she sat, she could hear the ladies murmuring in groups. Some of them wouldn't stop talking about how much they've wanted to meet Salvatore in person and knowing they have the chance to be his secretary is a dream come true, while others couldn't stop talking about the tricks they would use to get in his bed.

The door to the hall flung open and Ariana walked in with five ladies pushing a stroller behind her.

On her way to the hall with Emilia, Ariana received a call from the receptionist on the first floor (Rose) who informed her that they had a lot of candidates who were here to be interviewed just for the post of Salvatore's secretary.

‘How many candidates have arrived?’ She asked, clearly not believing that the hall had been overfilled to the point that candidates were being told to wait outside the company.

‘We have over seven hundred candidates in the hall, and I have lost count of those outside,' Rose answered. 'From what I am told, it is causing a traffic hold up and the security are trying to find a way to get them off the road.’

‘Give me a minute,’ Ariana stated and pulled the phone away from her ear, she relayed the message to her mother-in-law who instructed her to send those outside away.

'I don't think I have the energy to interview over seven hundred candidates, so take as many staff as you need, gather the candidate's CV and bring them back to my office.

We will look through everything as long as it takes and pick only the best 20 candidates we see fit, then we will give them another date when they'll do the face-to-face interview.

‘Yes, Mother,’ Ariana curtsied and waited until Emilia was back in her office before giving out the instructions.

Having been informed that the candidates outside had been sent back to their respective homes, Ariana asked Rose to send five staff members to the hall as she got into the elevator and pressed the last floor.

She got there just in time to find the ladies waiting for her, with a wave of her hand, they followed her into the hall.

The hall fell silent as she walked in, and everyone turned their attention to her.

‘Good morning, Ladies,' she greeted, her face radiating with a brilliant smile. 'I take it that you all know why you are here, right?’

‘Yes,’ all the candidates chorused at once except Luciana.

‘Good, so in order not to waste your time, I would like if you all stand in different rows and create a space for these ladies to go through,' Ariana gestured toward the ladies on either side of her.

‘Once they get to you, all you need to do is hand over your CV to them. We will go through each CV and pick only the best 20 people who would move into the next stage of the interview.

‘So if you hear your name later on, you should count yourself lucky to have been chosen.’

Everyone starts to murmur, showing their disapproval of such a method.

‘So what will happen to those who aren't chosen?’ Someone yelled from the crowd.

‘They will be disqualified,’ Ariana answered. 'We are sorry, but we have to follow the protocol.

‘You are too many for just a single position. Those who are lucky to be among the 20 will be given another date for their next interview.

‘Now if you will excuse me, these ladies will start collecting your CV,’ with that, she pushed open the door and walked out.

Through the grumbling of other candidates at the unfairness, Luciana smiled as she watched Ariana leave. She wished she could be that brave, but she had too much on her mind to worry about being brave or not.

Handing over her CV to one of the Ladies in charge of it, she pulled out her phone and clicked on Candy Crush to while away the time.

Knowing she had done her best was enough for her, there was nothing she could do if the employer decided they would only pick 20 candidates for the next round.

'I can relax and wait for them to announce those they picked,' she mumbled and focused on beating her current level in Candy Crush.

After about two hours, the ladies were done collecting the candidate's CV, they pushed it out and got into the elevator.

As soon as they got to the last floor, Ariana directed them to the conference room where Emilia and other staff were waiting for them.

Without further ado, they all start going through the CVs. Surprisingly, their task was much easier than they thought it would be.

It happens that most of those who came for the interview didn't have the requirements for the job, they just came to see Salvatore. In no time, they narrowed it down to two hundred candidates.

Ariana picked up a file and as soon as she opened it, she gasped and rushed to where Emilia was sitting.

‘Mother,’ she called, snagging Emilia's attention. 'She is here.'

'Who is here?' Emilia asked, turning to look at the file in her daughter-in-law's hand.

This caused the others in the room to look at the two women in confusion. Ariana showed Emilia the candidate image and a smile brightened Emilia's features.

‘What are you waiting for,' she said, looking straight at the ladies who still don't understand what's happening. 'Bring her to me,' she ordered.

Ariana handed one of them the file in her hand, they all bowed and rushed out of the room.

'Everything is falling into place all by itself,' Ariana said. 'It's like God has ordered the heavens to help us.'

‘Yes indeed, all that is left is for them to meet each other,' Emilia got up from where she was seated and held onto Ariana's hand as she led the way to her office.

‘I believe getting her to accept our offer is the only task we have left, if she says yes, then Salvatore has no choice but to listen to what you say.'

Emilia patted Ariana's hand in agreement as they both walked into Emilia's office to wait for Luciana's arrival.