Chapter 3- You're hired

Lucas's POV

I sat at the head of the long mahogany conference table, the glass walls of the boardroom framing the city skyline. A dozen sharp suited executive of the board watched me with guarded expression, their laptops were open and documents spread before them.

On the far side of the table, Mr. Collins, a silver haired investor with a reputation for being as cutthroat as he was wealthy, leaned forward, drumming his fingers impatiently. The deal on the table was worth nearly two hundred million dollars, a simple merger that could help even the books for an expansion into international shipping. 

It should have been simple. I had done these deals all the time, but as Collins fired off numbers, dates and contract clauses, I realized with a sinking stomach that I was missing critical briefing notes.

Normally, my secretary would have the summary packet placed right in front of me, bullet point, highlighted every figure and made sure it was double-checked. But instead I was flipping through incomplete spreadsheets, grasping at fragments of information.

“Mr. Blackridge,” Collins snapped, irritation cutting through the air. “We've sent you these figures twice already. Are you seriously implying that you still came here unprepared?”

A cold sweat pricked down my neck. I straightened, my jaw tightened. “I assure you Collin, Blackridge Logistics always delivers. We-”

“The projected shipping costs in Europe are quite expensive I am sure these figures agree with my statement.”

“Urm…yes.” I was rummaging through the documents looking for that piece of paper.

The silence that followed was heavy and humiliating.

Collins sat back, his eyes narrowing. “Unbelievable. If this is how your company handle such details then it's best I go somewhere else.” 

The deal collapsed right there. Collins gathered his papers and muttered something about incompetence and stormed out.

For a moment, no one spoke. The only sound was the faint hum of the city outside.

I sat back in my chair letting out a sigh of frustration.

If anyone else had fumbled this they would have been executed on the spot. Not even fired, executed. The person will never see the light of day again, but it was me and I don't usually mess up like this.

“I'll call him and we can resch-”

“Lucas, this is unacceptable,” barked Mr. Kensington the CFO his voice was sharp. Maybe he needed a small reminding of who is in charge here. “A deal of this magnitude doesn't fall apart because of numbers, it falls apart because the man leading wasn't prepared.” 

I tilt my head sideways. I mean what he is saying is true but the audacity to actually say it is astonishing.

“Choose your next words carefully.” My voice was low and cold.

“You're spread you thin,” Mrs Alvarez added. The head of HR. “You can't run a company of this size without proper support. You need a secretary.”

“I don't need a babysitter,” I snapped, my fists clenched under the table.

“No,” A voice said at the doorway. “You need efficiency, that's what this company was built on. Without someone handling the details you'll keep fumbling and next time it won't be a deal it will be the reputation.” 

Now they have the chairman of the board on their side. Great!

I'll have no choice but to hire one. He will take this into a vote and as usual I'll be outvoted.

“If you want, we'll take this into a vote.”

See?

“No need to, I'll have a secretary in by the end of the week,” I muttered in shame.

“Good, remember Lucas it's for the good of the company.”

Get a secretary. The words stung. I hated the thought of dependence. All it took was me to fumble just one deal. 

************

Once again the door to the conference room clicked shut again.

I leaned back in to my chair and let out a big sigh.

A sigh of annoyance and boredom.

“That's the sixth one already,” I said running a finger across my lower lip. “I may have to see HR after this. She's joking by accepting these applicants for the job of the secretary.”

I hummed noncommittally and turned to the resume in front of me.

“Enough, let's continue.” I demanded.

The last interview was a disaster. She had a great smile but terrible brain. I asked her, “If you had to burn down one building in this city, which would you choose and why?”  

She blinked at me like I was a mad man. 

You see, I have no interest in answer. I was more interested in how the person would react, a secretary who could think on the spot. Not succumb to pressure. People who wouldn't flinch when things got complicated.

“Hello sir, please the next one is ready.” 

I motioned my fingers for her to come in.

She stepped in with high heels clicking, red lips perfect.

I didn't even look up again. “Name?”

“Charl-”

“If I asked you to destroy any documents that implicated criminal activities of the company would you?”

“Um, um well-”

“Next,” I said waving her out.

The next one entered. 

“Describe the last time you lied and got away with it. Was it incriminating? Was it worth it?”

“Well-”

“Next.” 

It was an absolute joke. Unbelievable.

I let out another big sigh. These were just here because of the status and fame that came along with it. Too over prepared, too nervous, too polished. 

No.

I want instinct.

All they were giving me were polished answers, they would fold under pressure and I don't want that.

“Deborah Brown,” I called out from the room but no answer came.

“Ah well, let's call it a day.” I walked to the door and stood in the doorframe. “I want to thank you all for making it here the choosen one will be emailed. If you don't get the email by tomorrow then that means you didn't get the job. It's as simple as that,” I smiled with my hands behind my back. “You are all excused.”

I turned back around and walked to the table to get my files. Then the door creaked open.

A female slipped in breathless. She had blue eyes that matched the blue sky with brown hair that was tied back and messy like it hadn't been combed for days. Weeks probably. 

Wait, wait… imagine wearing a tank top and jeans that hugged her beautiful curvy body to an interview. Surely she is lost? Or she is the mail girl? This can not be here.

“Sorry, I am late,” she grasped for air, placing a hand over her chest. I fixed my face upon her. I was intrigued besides she was that opposite of all the others. 

No pretenses.

No polish.

I leaned forward. “You,” I said with a commanding voice that was low. “Why shouldn't I kick you out right now. I mean I can see that you are clearly not prepared.”

“You see, it will become your loss if you don't hire me. I don't need you, you need me.” 

“Excuse me?” My eyes widened in shock a little. I mean the audacity alone has me more interested in her.

“If you were a weapon, what would you be?”

She blinked, then she tilted her head. “A baseball bat.” 

“Why?”

“Because I am practical, I am not flashy but I get the job done,” she said simply like she isn't acing the interview already. “Also if anyone underestimates me… they usually regret it.”

“Well then, I hope I won't be making that mistake.” 

I studied her. I was amazed at her answer. It was like she knew what I was going to ask. 

“Ok, that was probably easy. Let's say a storm hits this building and all the files are gone, what do you save first?”

She didn't even pause before she opened her mouth. “The people, files can be replaced while people can't.”

Yeah I want to kiss her. I leaned back slowly my lips slowly curving into the faintest smirk. She was a fast thinker.

Thank God. 

I fixed what I hoped to be a piercing gaze on her. “You're not what I expected,” I muttered to myself.

“Well I get that a lot.” 

Great. She has a sense of humor. 

She met my eyes and she didn't flinch and for the first time in a long time I felt the faint s

tirrings of something unfamiliar which was interest, amusement and maybe even the smallest hint of respect.

“Congratulations,” I said. “You're hired.”