1- Selected

The CEO of a multinational company was crazily looking for his lost bride for the last five years. Who was she? How did she look?

He knew nothing about her except that she had azure eyes.  He was not aware that his wife might be working right under his nose in his office as his PA. That too under the disguise of a boy.

Once he would know his PA’s true identity will he throw her out of his office or spoil her to bits?

***

River pushed open the glass door and entered the reception area of Garner Industries’ head office where every seat was occupied by either a short-dressed girl or a girl wearing layers of makeup. All of them were here for the PA position interview.

She told her name at the reception desk and took the only empty seat.

“The CEO of this company is so hot. I can’t wait to be his PA.” A girl said while fixing her lip color and popping her lips.

“I have heard he avoids hiring girls for PA or secretary positions. He hates dealing with them. Most of them tried to seduce him and were thrown right away.” Another girl said examining herself in a compact mirror.

All of them looked like they were here for a beauty contest. They all looked perfect, smart, and confident.

Nobody had paid any attention to River. She was the only one who did not seem to fit well there. Though her clothes were not shabby, however, they were not as classy as theirs.

Maybe they didn’t find her attractive enough or maybe the reason was, she was dressed as a guy. She had chopped her long Raven hair off and now the soft waves reached her shoulders. Her friend Keanu had told her that nowadays boys were keeping long hair.

She was not wearing any makeup except she had to put on dark gray contact lenses to hide her azure eyes. Those grey eyes were now behind thick-rimmed black glasses for men. She had glued fake thick brows for giving herself a male look. Her disguise was completed after putting on a prosthetic nose. She was never in favor of an artificial beard or mustache.     

The door to the CEO’s room opened and a candidate girl came out weeping, “I can’t believe it. They insulted me! They are not hiring me. I am beautiful yet he wants me to get out of this place.” Her black kohl was running down her caky cheeks giving her a somewhat scary look.

The poor soul was sobbing uncontrollably.

“God! Why are all the girls coming out of his office crying?” One girl sitting there remarked rolling her eyes.

“There are rumors that he is looking for his wife for the last five years.” A girl sitting close by, leaned forward and whispered to the ones sitting near her, “Maybe by now, he is fed up. It might be his frustration. Whatever!” she shrugged carelessly, “I will straight away offer him my body and he will give me the chance.” The girl’s voice had turned husky by the end.

She adjusted her blouse to show her spilling assets.

However, after a few minutes when she came out of the office, she was wailing like a spoiled toddler.

River didn’t remark and kept a poker face trying to control her smile. Another girl sitting beside her was now running her gaze over River from head to toe, “You are the only guy who has applied here. I don’t think he will hire you. Guys hardly apply for PA positions because they think it’s a woman’s job.”

The girl pouted but River didn’t give a damn. The girls sitting there didn’t seem to know the full story about the CEO. River thought with clenched teeth.

The arrogant man not only left his bride at the altar right after saying his vows but also sent a divorce paper later.

Now the prude man was telling everyone that he was guilty. He had the audacity to call the woman his wife even after the divorce.

Had he forgotten about the divorce documents that had his signature?

Scoundrel!

She was fuming and balled her fists.

“River Brower. You are next!” The pretty-looking receptionist announced with a pleasant smile. Ignoring the glances, River straightened up, flattened her sky-blue dress shirt, fixed her tie, and walked to the office.

Just this morning, she was asking her friend Keanu nervously on the phone if she would be able to pull it. And he had said, “You will ace it, River. Just don’t wax or thread your upper lips and you are good to go! You will make a perfect boy.”

River had screamed obscenities at him and disconnected the call. Remembering it brought a soft smile to her face. She entered the office and stopped dead in her tracks.

It was a board of five members for taking the interviews but the man sitting in the center who must be in his mid-twenties had his eyes on her file.

She went to the only seat placed before them and sat down.

“Hello, Mr. River Brower.” The man from the committee who was sitting on the left called her in a professional tone.

“Tell us something about yourself.” The distinguished-looking man was still looking down and the five-clock shadow on his face was making him look so gorgeous.  Something was there in his demeanor that was a telltale sign that he was the CEO.

Five years ago, she saw him at the altar thinking that he was the most handsome man she had ever seen. He was clean shaved at that time and had short hair.

River started telling them about her limited qualifications and her interests. She tried to be as real as possible. She loved soccer and never liked to do girly things anyway.

Her tomb boyish nature was a plus point here. However, she had to stop when the center man raised his eyes and damn.

Those icy blue eyes!

He was a package. Now she understood what the fuss was about in the reception area. He was still a drop-dead gorgeous and all she wanted to do was keep looking at him.

“Mr. River,” the left-side man cleared his throat, “You were telling us something about your interests.”

“Yes. Interests…” She tried to focus on the interview, but she could feel that blue gaze probing her. She hoped that there were no doubts stirring in his mind.

She cleared her throat and started telling them about her life as taught by Keanu. He had been making her practice interview questions over and over.

“Your father’s name is not mentioned here.” The blue-eyed handsome asked her the first question while running his gaze on her CV.

“Yes, Sir. I was brought up in an orphanage. I can provide you with the references.” She explained hurriedly and hoped her sweet parents would not get to know about this lie.

“Mr. River,” The gorgeous hunk spoke again, “You are an ideal candidate because we wanted a male for this position,” River wanted to dance but then her happiness was short-lived.

“Usually, male candidates don’t apply here for such positions because they think I will go hard on them. … But … unfortunately … your qualification is not enough for this seat.” He closed the file and outstretched his hand to give it back to her.

“B… but sir… I… I am a,” she swallowed hard, “I am a mm- man.” She finished with difficulty.

“No. You. Are. Not. A. Man!” he straightaway negated her. She braced herself for the next blow. He would surely call the police.

Oh, man! She closed her eyes, “L-Look sir. I … I am sorry. Ok?”

“Listen, Mr. River,” he said sternly, “Stop calling yourself a man when you are merely a boy. Get lost. Ok?”

Gosh! He was rude!

“A guy like you should be in a good university with a part-time. Not here for a full-time job… for which you are underqualified.” He almost threw her file on the table.

“No! No! This can’t be happening.” She chanted in her head.

Now River knew why all the candidates were in tears when they left this room. He was insulting every candidate.

“I- I will work very hard, Sir. I swear. I can make very good coffee. I can do something for you people. I know how to keep the papers in stacks. I can help in keeping your office organized.” She knew she sounded desperate, but she could not help it.

This office was the last place that could offer her something. She had nowhere else to go. Only Garner Empire could help her. Her finances were running out. She had lost her rented apartment.

She was living in public bathrooms and stations.

“I said NO!” The handsome devil roared with finality and leaned back in his seat, “Leave!”

Trying to push back the moistness in her eyes, she stood up on her shaking legs and turned to leave. She reminded herself that she was dressed as a man and should not cry in front of those girls. Otherwise, they might think of her as weak.

“Mr. River?” his voice made her stop.

“Yes?” Her innocent face had hope in her eyes when she turned back.

“You are forgetting your documents here.” He pointed towards the file. Giving all the gentlemen a tightlipped smile, she picked up her documents and turned around on her heels to leave the room.

“No. I won’t let that happen to me. I won’t give up. Walking out of here means my life will be in danger. I need to do something.”

Once she was out of the office, the girls sitting there gave her a skeptical look. They all were waiting that she would sob and complain like the prior ones.

But no! They were wrong.

“I am selected! Yoohoo!” she threw a fist in the air excitedly and ignored the receptionist who had a bewildered look on her face.

“What? What is he saying?” A girl looked at River as if she was garbage.

“How is this possible, man? My new dress shopping just got wasted.” All of them were whining to each other.

“Girls! Listen!” River walked to them and loosened her tie, “Where is your self-respect? Huh? He might be the most good-looking man. But nothing is more precious than your self-respect!” Few of them nodded in understanding.

“I am selected. Please accept it and move on. There are millions of jobs out there by billions of handsome men.” And then she whispered, “he is not worth your tears. Go!”

A few of them just shook their heads in disappointment. All of them started leaving while talking to each other in hushed tones.

“Miss,” River turned to that sweet receptionist, “They will soon call you inside and will ask you to get my appointment letter typed. Nice to be on board with such a beautiful colleague.” She had forgotten momentarily that she was dressed as a guy.

The moment she saw the girl blushing she realized her mistake. But now it was too late for that. She could not take her words back.