Before the Interview

DEMI

Seconds move fast. I can't take my chances when the man looks this intimidating. Why is he at my door this early?

I'm still floating in my temptation to get back in, when he smiles, leaving me confused.

“I mean no harm,” he says, as if reading right through me.

As if that's easy to believe.

He raises his palms in surrender. “I'm just here on orders, ma'am.”

My brown furrow. “Orders? Who the hell ordered you to stand at my door early in the morning?” I pry.

“My boss. Gavin Morgan. I'm sure his reputation precedes him.”

The mention of Gavin's name piques my interest and oddly my heart feels a little calmer.

“What reputation do you mean? Ordering creeps to stand at people's doors?”

The man lets out a soft laugh.

“I meant, I'm sure you know who Gavin Morgan is. And yes, he ordered me to guard your house because he couldn't stay to take care of you. He had important things to take care of.”

“Oh,” I cross my arms, as I take in the implication of the man's words.

Gavin really did that for me?

“Besides,” the man continues. “Even if I hurt you, I wouldn't live to see another day.”

“Why is that?” I cock a brow.

“He would kill me. His orders were clear. And honestly, ma'am, it's been a while since he gave such orders.”

Those words warm my heart even more. What did I do to deserve this treatment? Yet a while ago, I was thinking about how he must have already forgotten about me. How he must have so many girls in his radar, considering how hot he is.

Yet he did all this for me? He made sure I slept well, set up a glass of water and painkillers, knowing I would wake up with a hangover. Set an alarm for me so I wouldn't wake up late for the interview…

Speaking of alarms, now that one of his men is here, I should take the chance to give back the phone.

“Hey, I should give this back. Tell him I said thank you.” I say handing over said phone.

The man switches glances between the phone and me.

“I can't take that ma'am.”

“Why? And please stop calling me ma'am.”

“He specifically ordered me to get it for you last night.”

“Last night?” I'm puzzled. After chatting while drinking wine, everything else is blank. I can't place the events that followed. I don't recall Gavin doing all this.

“I can't keep it.” I tell him.

“And I can't take it, ma'am.”

“It's Demi,” I correct him.

“I know,” he says.

Oh well, I guess nothing should surprise me anymore.

“And I'm Edward.There’s no need debating this unless you want me to get fired.”

“Of course not,” I mumble.

“Great. Let's get you to Springs Hotel.”

“What?” I probe, confused, again. Am I still under the influence that I'm hearing my own things?

Seeing my confusion, he explains.

“Guarding the house weren't his only orders. He asked me to make sure you took a healthy breakfast before the interview.”

“Oh.” I'm flattered. He keeps doing that more and more. I don't deserve this.

“Edward, you really don't have to…”

“Oh, yes I have to. If I don't do that, he’ll find out, and I don't want to get in trouble with him."

“How?”

“I have his credit card…Can we please leave?”

Do I have a choice?

________________

After one of the best breakfast, Edward drives me to Morgan Industries offices. I've visited this place a few times, but never actually went in. I only came when I had to pick Laila and usually waited outside.

The place is even fancier than I've seen in pictures and magazines. Everything screams serious business. Scanning the place, I understand why it's one of the biggest companies in New York.

Edward walks me to the reception where a friendly redhead with a warm smile leads me to the waiting area outside the offices on the tenth floor.

I'd expected dozens of applicants to be here, but oddly it's only me. A lot of questions run in my mind. Am I too early, or too late? I'm leaning so hard on the former. I can't afford to fumble this one. It looked so promising.

The redhead doesn't say anything. She ushers me to have a seat and then disappears, leaving me confused as hell.

I only last for a few minutes, when two familiar figures appear before me, holding hands.

If it isn't the last people I want to see.

Traitors.

“You're here,” Laila says with a smirk.

I look away, not willing to stay in the same space as them.

“Demi, how are you doing?” Ernest asks, and I shoot him a sharp glare.

“Like you care,” I snort.

“Of course, I care,” he counters. A soft laugh escapes my lips.

Yeah, he and I have very different definitions of care. To him, care means cheating on me with my best friend.

I don't want to lose control, so I decide to control the anger riding inside me, so I may not explofe right before an important interview.

And I look away to mind my own business.

“I never meant for this to happen, Demi. I never meant to hurt you.”

Taking me for a fool again, I see.

“No need to pretend, babe. She's always been a selfish bitch and I've had to tolerate that for a long time, right Demi?”

Silence.

“Demi, you became so unavailable and Laila and I…”

“Were fucking each other while I was desperately fighting for my life?” I cut in. “You know, the guilty always find excuses and excuses. What did I do to let you down, huh? Both of you can testify, I was there for you every time you needed me. I supported you, I loved you…”

A lump starts forming in my throat and gets painful every time I speak.

“Well, Demi,” Laila cuts in. “There's no need to hide this anymore. Ernest and I hid this from you, because we cared about you. But we just can't hide how we feel for each other anymore.”

All I do is laugh. “Congratulations,” I say.

“Congratulations to you too. We saw the guy you came in with. It's hasn't even been twenty four hours, yet you're already fucking rich guys. Deep down I always knew you were a gold digger, hiding in that angelic face,” Laila says.

I stare at the girl I knew to be my best friend for years. Someone I trusted, someone I confided in!

I don't respond to her insult. And when she sees that I'm ignoring her, she keeps on talking.

“Anyway, I hope you've heard. All other applicants were disqualified last night. Only two were left according to the boss’ orders. Me and you. I wonder why they chose you, because clearly, I'm getting the job. No hard feelings, we both knew that from the beginning.”

That's the first time I'm hearing of it. Since when does this happen in the job market?

That's strange and sudden.

Laila can't stop yapping about how she's fit for this and how I should just leave since we know what the outcome would be.

“What a perfect time to prove to Ernest that he made the right choice. And to everyone that I'm better than you, Demi Perez.”

“Are you sure about that?” A familiar, deep sultry voice cuts through the air and we both turn to the direction it's coming from.

And there he is. Gavin Morgan, looking hot as usual, in a black suit

Seeing him, my lips involuntarily curve into a smile.