Chapter 9 Unknown Being

• (RAGNAR’S POV)
• *R&R Entertainment Office *
• *In the meeting room*
• “Sir, regarding Tiffany’s drugs scandal, we have tried to suppress the news and asked the media department as well but -” the department head hesitantly convey me, “but, the news is all over social media. The article that claimed to have seen Tiffany in a club using drugs has been deleted already but someone has posted a video regarding it.”
• I stared at him blankly, waiting for him to speak more, but he didn’t and stood there with an apologetic and idiotic face. Banging my right hand on the table, I stood up, “Cancel Tiffany’s contract immediately”.
• “Sir, in the video, the person’s face is not clear. Tiffany is our company’s ace. How can we cancel her contract so abruptly?” nervously, the HoD tried to defend tiffany, shivering a little.
• “Do I need to repeat myself, Ethan? Do as I said”, I ordered and walked out of the meeting room.
• I was on the 44th floor of the company, waiting for the elevator, loosen my tie, feeling peeved. ‘Useless people, they can’t even solve such simple matters.’
• I entered the elevator and paused for a bit. In front of me, an unknown being was standing, in the ‘executives only’ elevator. I gazed at her and she nervously lowered her eyes, looking tense. I sauntered inside, standing behind her, scanning her from head to toe.
• She was headed to the 75th floor as the button was already punched in. Suddenly, she, with a tensed voice asked “Let me press the floor number for you. Which floor are you going to?
• Her voice didn't sounded unpleasant to me unlike others but rather melodious, so I replied to her, “No need. It is same as yours.”
• After contemplating something, she turned around with a smile plastered on her face. “Good Morning sir, I am here for an interview for the post of CEO’s personal secretary. Can I ask you something?”
• I didn’t say anything to her and kept a straight face but was curious to know what this unidentified human wanted to know (and to hear her say something more).
• “What do they ask in the interview? Is it true that all the CEO’s previous personal secretaries have been chased away by him? Is he a difficult person to serve?” she barged in with her questions without a break.
• A frown formed on my face but as I was wearing a mask, she couldn’t see it. ‘So, she doesn’t know who I am, umm.’
• She explained with that annoying smile on her face, “Do not misunderstand me, I am not trying to gossip about him or anything of that sort. I just do not want to make any mistakes like the ones before me. If I cleared the interview, I will serve him with my utmost sincerity.”
• I looked into her eyes to find if she was only pretending to be docile and genuine, but couldn’t see anything. “Let’s see bambi, what you have got, I’ll play along with you.’ I smirked at her, feeling amused, which was hidden because of the mask on my face. In a cool tone, I conveyed, “We will see that” and looked straight ahead.
• The elevator came to a halt and the door opened. I walked out, without saying anything further to her. Abruptly, she came in front of me and asked, “At least, tell me your name? We may become colleagues in the future.”
• ‘Huh, colleagues, yeah right. If only you get selected, Ms. Bambi.’
• Without giving her a glance, I said, “You will know, very soon.” Then, not waiting for her reply, I stride toward my office.
• Setting foot in my office, Aston was waiting for me, fixing his glasses. “CEO Rivers, I was waiting for you urgently. Although, the interviews are in full swing but here are the resumes of all the candidates who have applied for the postion for personal secretary” he conveyed to me.
• There were stacks of thick files on my office desk, the candidates’ profiles. “Isn’t that your job? Why am I even paying you, hmm?” I shrugged, feeling irritated.
• “Ragnar, If only you wouldn't have chased away all the previous ones. At the very least take a look at their profiles, see that if there is any candidate to your liking. You know all the secretaries, uhh no, the whole office is very jittery and on pins and needles because of this” Aston, tried tell me his troubles, making a frustrated face.
• ‘Whatever.’
• “It is still office hours, you are my secretary right now”, I glared at him.
• Biting his tongue, he murmured, “If only you just pick someone out it’ll take a load out of me.”
• With a heavy sigh, I picked the file from the stack, lounging at my office chair, checked the candidates resumes.
• “Umhm, rejected”, I threw the file aside and picked the next one, “Nahh, too much fake information, rejected.”
• One by one, I scanned all the profiles, rejecting them all.
• “CEO Rivers, why are you being so picky? They all are qualified candidates with esteemed family backgrounds as well as admirable educations. Does none of them made the cut?” Aston asked, in vexation.
• ‘Someone who makes the cut’ I was suddenly reminded of the ‘unknown being’ whom I met in the elevator. ‘Isn’t she here for the interview as well, why is she not on the list?’
• I muttered, in confusion. “Is there any profile missing from this lot?” I asked Aston.
• “No, everyone attending the interview has there profiles sent beforehand so these are all we have got.” Aston declared.
• I tilted my head a little, thinking about it, ‘Is she a spy or something?’
• I got up from my chair and headed towards the conference room where the interviews were taking place, just to double check any security breach. ‘Bambi, you better be here, otherwise you are going to face hell.’ I murmured, devilishly.
• I entered the conference room, from the other door, out of sight from the candidates' who were sitting outside.
• “Sir, Good Morning. Are you here to conduct the interviews yourself”, Jessie, another secretary of mine, greeted me and asked. I gestured them to continue and took a seat, crossing my legs, resting my chin on my left palm.
• One of the interviewee entered, looking like a peacock, I squinted my eyes in dissatisfaction. ‘These are the so-called qualified candidates, hmm, incompetent fools.’ She quite literally, was all dressed up, like she had come to some kinda fashion event. Eww, no grace and zero discipline and negative decency. Still, I didn’t stop the proceedings.
• She sat on to the chair, when one of my assistant asked her, “Ms Samantha Victor, introduce yourself.”
• She, not in a very dignified tone replied, “Samantha Victor, 22 years old, majored in fashion from University of France, daughter of Mason Victor, head of Victor Automobiles, interviewing for the position of CEO, Ragnar Rivers personal assistant.”
• “Is that all?” Jessie enquired.
• “Do I have to say more?” Samaira or whatever her name is replied.
• I couldn’t help making a disgusted face. Then, Jessie asked her few more questions, which she more or less replied in an extremely non-professional way.
• “That’s all. If you are selected, we will contact you in 3 days’ time” Jessie declared.
• “No need to wait for so long, I can come in for work from tomorrow. I know I have already passed the interview. Who else, if not me, can be the CEO’s personal assistant?”
• All my secretaries, glanced at me, as I was agitated of her impudence. Nervously, reading my mood, Jessie said, "Ms Victor, your selection has not been finalized just yet. There are few more interviewees left. When we are done, only then we can make the final call. So, if you’ll excuse us.”
• “Those” Sam-something pointed out towards the candidates waiting outside for their turns. “They are not worth of your time and shot as well as mine.Anyways, I am perfect for the role. I have got the education, family background and the looks.”
• The more she was chapping, the more outraged I felt. 'Just how much nonsense is she going to spit.'
• I snapped at her, “You don’t have the most basic needs for the position and that is manners and etiquettes. You lack the very civility of being a proper employee. Jessie, cut her out right this instant. I don’t wanna see this useless face here anymore.”
• “How dare you? Who do you think you are? I am the daughter of Mason Victor. My father knows your boss very well. He won’t let you all go easily once he knows you tried to disrespect me” something-something spat her words.
• “Take her out and throw her away” I commanded. After a series of security guards dragging her away and her screaming, I glared at Aston, asking “They are your ‘qualified’ candidates, huh? Such a disgrace.”
• Aston, without saying anything in return, kept his head low, feeling gulity.
• “Answer me” I yelled at him. In a subdued voice, he replied, “Sorry sir.”
• After a few minutes, the next interviewee came in. The following interviews were conducted smoothly after that but none of them matched the appearance of the girl from the elevator.
• The last candidate also got up and left and Jessie asked, “Sir, did any of the candidates is to your liking?”
• “Rubbish” I groaned. “Was that the last person?” I asked in return feeling impatient.
• “Yes, CEO Rivers, she was the last one from the interviewees” she said in a low-spirited tone.
• ‘Oh, a spy, then.’ I thought and started towards the back door furiously when the front door of the conference room opened slightly. In came a hourglass shaped well maintained figure, with her appealing and delightful smile formed on her lips. She was looking glamorous as well as professional, with her and outfit. She uttered, “Hello, I am here for the interview for the position of CEO’s personal secretary.” She stood by the door, waiting for a reply.
• “What’s your name?” Jessie enquired.
• She chimed and said “I am Reya Arya.”
• 'Ahh, Reya. Her name sent tingles down my body. I like the sound of it, I like her sound.' I spoke to myself.
• “Your name is not on the interviewees’ list, Ms. Arya” Jessie informed her.
• A little flustered, hastily, she looked around and pointing towards Aston, she said, “Sir Aston, asked me to appear for the interview. You can confirm from him?”
• Everyone turned towards Aston, looking at him, waiting for him to reply. Aston, with much contemplation, recognized her and said, “You are the girl I met at the hotel yesterday?”
• “Yes” in an extremely polite way she replied, relief on her face. “And you asked me to come for an interview in the morning, remember sir?”
• “I did say so. But that was because you were very insistent” Aston responded. I was just observing the whole situation from sidelines. When Jessie declared, “Sorry, but we can’t interview you without reviewing your profile beforehand. Ms. Arya, you may leave for now.”
• “But….” that girl was about to say something when I commanded “Give her a try.”
• All the people in the room were stupefied and astonished. They all gaped at me, with puzzled reactions. Folding my arms, I glared at all of them, oozing an intimidating aura. After few seconds they all composed themselves and Jessie said, “Ms Arya, you may take a seat.”
• A radiating smile appeared on her lips. It was like; I could feel spring in this cold and chilly weather, a tingling sensation. This is so unlike me. I was feeling itchy around my upper left side of the ribcage.
• She placed her resume onto the interviewers’ desk and our eyes met. There was glint of curiosity in her eyes which was gone in a flash. Then, she looked away, sitting on the chair, seemed all focused.
• I had a strangely good feeling about her.
• To be continued . . . . . . . . . .