Chapter 3 : What it takes to get employment

"And if given this opportunity, I promise to propel this company to global dominance and make it the best in the world," she declared, her eyes sparkling like diamonds, radiating pure joy and unwavering ambition as she sat up straight.

Her hair was styled in a sleek high ponytail, and her vibrant red dress perfectly accentuated her flawless skin.

The man looked up at her, and a smug smile spread across his face. "How about you make my d*** go global?" he said, letting out a booming laugh that echoed through the room.

“Huh,” she mumbled, taken aback as she tried to process the unexpected remark.

"Don’t tell me you don’t know what I meant,PRETTY GIRL!" he continued with a smirk as he stood up, brushing off the crudeness with a casual wave of his hand. "Just a joke, by the way," he added as he moved behind her, his presence lingering a little too close.

"I know you just rehearsed this... that’s what you young girls do these days," he said in a mocking tone.

"You come in here, rattling off speeches like there’s a battery inside you," he chuckled, then strolled to sit on the desk beside her.

"Your name again?" he asked, but before she could respond, he picked up the file in front of him, his eyes scanning it quickly. "Kristen Roses," he repeated softly, his voice almost a whisper, as if testing how the name felt on his lips. "What a sweet name," he murmured, leaning in closer, his breath warm against her skin. "I hope it’s not just the name that’s sweet."

"Excuse me," Kristen said loudly as she stood up quickly from her seat.

"Lol," the man chuckled as he walked away. "How would you get a job if you're this loud?" he said softly.

"I am sorry, Sir. I got carried away," Kristen replied immediately, bowing her head.

"Oh, you don’t have to beg me, Miss Rose. You just have to use what you want to get what you want....that’s all..."

"You want me to sleep with you so I can get the job? Is that what you mean?" Kristen shot back…

"Too local," he sneered, closing the distance between them with a sudden aggressive step. His hand reached out and yanked her so close that she could smell his cologne mixed with sweat. "Let’s get it done now, and I’ll make you a permanent staff member in less than an hour," he murmured, his breath warming against her skin.

Before his lips could travel any further, Kristen's instincts kicked in. Her palm connected sharply with his cheek, causing his head to snap to the side. For a moment, there was silence as he stared into the air in shock and disbelief.

He turned back to her, his eyes narrowed in anger. Kristen’s heart pounded with fear as she looked back at him. "Did you just use your hands on me?" he hissed, still trying to comprehend what had just happened. "How dare you?" he snarled, taking a step forward.

Kristen stepped back. "Stay away from me," she warned, trying to steady her voice.

He smirked and moved closer. "You make me laugh," he said. "What makes you think you’re going to succeed anyway, huh? No experience, no connections. Who's going to hire someone like you? You think you can just walk into my office and act like you’re better than this?" he taunted.

"I'd rather fail on my own than succeed because of a man like you," she said as she swallowed hard.

His expression darkened, and before she could react, he lunged forward and grabbed her arm with a bruising grip, trying to pull her closer, his face inches from hers. "You'll regret that," he whispered, attempting to force her into a kiss.

Summoning every ounce of strength she had left, she drove her knee into his stomach, which made him gasped in pain, and his grip on Kristen loosened. Seizing the opportunity, she quickly sprinted out of the office without looking back.

….……………………………………….

The Meyer’s Residence..

Lena paced around her lavish bedroom, examining the diamond-studded wedding invitations. The door cracked open, and one of her housemaids entered quietly, holding a tray of tea.

"Ma’am, I brought your tea, just as you requested," Maria, the maid, said with a polite bow.

Lena barely glanced at her and waved dismissively. "Just put it down and don’t hover, Maria. It’s distracting."

Maria nodded quickly and placed the tray on the side table. As she turned to leave, Lena’s voice cut through the air. "Why is my dress still in its bag? I told you to steam it hours ago. Do you want me looking like a wrinkled mess at the girls' party tonight?"

Maria flinched slightly but kept her head down. “I’m so sorry, Ma’am, I’ll take care of it right away.”

Lena rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. “You’re always sorry, Maria. If you can’t complete this simple task, what’s the point of having you around?” She paused, muttering under her breath, “Ten days until I’m Mrs. Anderson, and I won’t let anything, especially not incompetence...ruin it for me. You better start acting right, or you can count your days too.”

Maria’s hands trembled as she quickly picked up the dress bag, her gaze fixated on the ground as she hurriedly left the room.

With a deep sigh, Lena sank into a chair and picked up her ..

….…………………………

Video call

“What?!! I wish I was there. I would have given that creep a piece of my mind! How dare he try something like that?” Noami exclaimed, her face flushed with anger.

“You know me already, Noami. I am not the one to spare, I slapped him and ran out before he could try anything else.”

“You did the right thing. I think it's about time you leave the Philippines and come back to New York. There are more opportunities here.. you can start afresh from here,” Noami said as she stopped in her tracks.

“Reason why I am leaving on the next flight first thing tomorrow,” Kristen said with a smile.

“Really?” Noami said as she screamed with excitement.

“Yeah, I’ve had enough here,” Kristen said, smiling.

….……………………..

At the coffee shop in New York..

"You know I can’t let anyone see me around you. I’m an influencer, and I need to maintain a positive image for my brand," Lena muttered as she fidgeted with her hat and adjusted her sunglasses and mask, glancing around nervously.

"I know, but I needed to talk to you about the marriage," Ryan said, his voice tense as he leaned closer across the small coffee table and held his coffee tightly.

Lena sighed, rolled her eyes, and shifted in her seat. "Well, there’s nothing I can do about the marriage. I don’t want it either, but it’s a family thing... and honestly, it’s going to boost my brand and give me the lifestyle I need."

Ryan’s jaw tightened as he stared at her, his voice dropping to a low, hurt tone. "What will happen to us then, to what we share?"

Lena leaned back, and a smirk played on her lips beneath her disguise. "Nothing will change, Ryan. I’ll still come to you when I need... pleasure. But you can’t give me the life I want. You know that."

Ryan swallowed hard as he looked at her. "But it's you I want, not him. What makes you think he's going to treat you any better than I do? Is it because he has money?"

"Well, I will be just fine. I’ve known Reafe since we were kids, he keeps me everything I want anyways" Lena said.