Chapter 2: The Shortest Interview
1344 Words
When Andrea got in, she couldn't believe who was seated in front of her.
Before her was the arrogant man that spilled coffee on her earlier. He held a stern look on his face as he looked at her.
She adjusted herself, ready for her presentation when he asked.
“ What's your name?”
“ Good morning sir, I'm Andrea Song and… she couldn't finish her statement when he said
“ Thank you for your time Andrea, you may leave as we won't be hiring you.”
“But.. but you haven't even interviewed me yet. Listen sir, I'm sure I'll be fit for this post. I graduated top of my class and have been managing… Andrea couldn't finish when he cut her off.
“ I'm not interested Andrea, you may leave now” he said sternly.
“ No sir, please consider, I prepared so hard for this interview. Can you please tell me why you won't consider me?”
He had an annoyed look on his face when he said.
“ First you disobeyed my rules by running in the hallway and now you're questioning my orders. You clearly aren't fit for this job.”
“ But it's unfair sir I was late so I had to..”
“ Miss Andrea Song, excuses are what I hate the most. Now leave” he said sternly but Andrea didn't move. She simply said.
“ Good morning sir, I'm Andrea Song. I am here to apply as your secretary. I know it is difficult to manage your schedule and if you hire me I will make sure to keep track of all your appointments so it doesn't wear you out.”
“ And I told you to get out” he hit the table with so much force that Andrea felt bad for it.
She then stared at Nathan who gently smiled at her before she left.
When Andrea left the room, Nathan suddenly burst out laughing.
“ Hahaha wow I can see you've met your match sir.”
Most of the other applicants simply ran off after his boss ordered them but Andrea stood her ground and he admired that.
“ Do you think it's funny, you know I hate when someone defiles my rules.” His boss was still annoyed at what just happened.
Nathan sighed before he said
“ Gabriel don't you think it's time to loosen up a bit. You know you need a secretary, this work is wearing you out. This is the 50th interview and you keep rejecting all the candidates.”
“Well I told you I don't need a secretary so stop organising these silly interviews on the first place. Now get out Nathan I need to work.” Gabriel said.
Nathan sighed before he left. He was truly worried about his boss's health. He knew the work was wearing him out but Gabriel was too stubborn.
Gabriel Martinez was the CEO of Prime Alpha Provision, a multinational technology company specialized in e-commerce selling everything from electronics to groceries.
Gabriel had been a cheerful person. This was before a famous incident happened 5 years ago that changed him completely. Since then he did not want to rely on anyone and built a protective wall around himself.
Nathan wanted to help his boss but he wouldn't let him. He suggested for Gabriel to get a secretary to help him ease his work but Gabriel rejected the Idea. He understood why Gabriel didn't want one, but he wouldn't just sit there and watch his boss drown himself with work.
Nathan had just found the perfect person for that post. He smiled internally, it had been a long time since his boss was riled up like that.
Andrea came out of the building and went straight home. She couldn't believe how bad the day had gone.
She arrived home with a sour look on her face. When her mother saw it she knew it didn't go well. She gave Andrea a warm hug.
“ It was terrible ma, I didn't even get the chance to use my elevator pitch. Apparently, I was disqualified for running in the hallway which was the GM's fault for spilling coffee on me in the first place. I'm so sorry ma”. Andrea said, looking down.
“ Don't worry dear it was his loss for not considering such a wonderful person like you and there will be other opportunities so there's no need to worry about that.” Her mother reassured.
“ Now look, I made your favorite tacos so have a bite.” Her mother handed some to her.
After eating, Andrea went straight to her room. She needed to forget about today's experience so she went straight to bed and slept off.
When Andrea got up, it was already 7 pm. She heard voices coming from downstairs so she went down to see.
When Andrea went down, she saw her best friend Halo. He was playing with Matteo when he saw her approaching.
“ Halo, you're here” Andrea said cheerfully.
“ Well, your mother told me there was a sulking young lady who didn't want to leave her bed so I had to see and you sure look like a mess Andrea” Halo joked.
“ I look just fine Halo, you're just making things up right Matteo?”
“Your hair literally looks like a bird's nest and you're saying you look fine, Matteo please tell her the truth” Halo continued.
“ Did you come here to make fun of me or to cheer me up?” Andrea was pouting when Halo said.
“ Fine, you look pretty even when your hair looks like a bird's nest.”
They all laughed and Andrea was happy again.
Halo was Andreas' childhood friend, he always knew how to cheer her up when she was down.
Halo had a big crush on Andrea, everyone knew that except Andrea herself. That's why he was ready to do anything to make sure Andrea was fine.
He had never confessed his feelings because Andrea once told him she wasn't ready for a relationship. He was ready to wait, and when the right time presented itself, he would tell her everything.
“ So I hope you're ready for today's carnival,” Halo asked.
“Yay, I can't wait to see the dance. Can we go now? Please, please, please.” Matteo was super excited.
“Well, I'm sure Andrea is the only one who isn't ready and with the rate at which she changes, believe me the carnival will be over before she's done” Halo joked.
“ Ha ha very funny Halo.” Andrea quickly got changed and came down stairs.
She left with Halo and Matteo for the carnival.
When they arrived, the place was crowded with people singing and dancing. Andrea loved how lively events like this could be.
“Can I get some ice-cream please” Matteo asked but Andrea refused.
“ It's too cold Matteo, Ice-cream won't be good for you.”
“Oh no it's the mummy sister mode, please spare us mummy” Halo was teasing her.
“Stop teasing me, Halo , I'm serious.”
“Well the kid just wants a cone, I mean it wouldn't hurt right? Oh wait don't tell me you're so broke you can't afford a cone” he said with a fake shocked expression.
“ Just shut up Halo. Fine you win I'll go get you your ice-cream.”
“ Yay thank you Halo. It works every time” they both did a high five.
Andrea headed to the ice-cream stand and got three cones for the three of them.
On her way back she couldn't locate halo and Matteo due to the crowd. She was trying to search around and failed to see the person before her.
She suddenly bumped into someone and spilled her ice-cream all over his shirt.
“ Oh my gosh I'm so sorry sir” she lifted her eyes to see the grumpy man before her.
…
- Writer
