Chapter Two : The Interview

Carmella woke up early and got ready for her interview. Her mom Amanda Parker looked at her, "Don't rush this internship, dear. I want you to complete your studies first and then look for a designer's job. Don't take up any irrelevant job, sweetie. I'll talk to your dad," she said. She was very understanding, but Carmella knew she couldn't convince her dad. He wanted her to join the family business despite her lack of interest, but she refused to give in.

"Dad would never agree. I don't want to manage hotels all my life, mom. Even if this is an assistant's job, I'd be assisting one of the world's most wanted celebrity fashion designers. Surely, I'll learn a thing or two. Once I have the experience, I'll open my clothing line in the future," she said, her eyes shining with dreams of a better future.

Her mom sighed, "Okay, do what you think is best for you. All the best," she said, knowing how stubborn she was, just like her dad.

Carmella drove her white Cadillac to Jaxon Craddock's office with her heart racing with apprehension. All sorts of probable insults flashed through her mind, but she just brushed them away. She wasn't afraid of some weird celebrity designer! Parking her car, she walked into the reception area on the ground floor. Wearing an off-white top with lacework, she knew she was the most decently dressed woman in the entire office. She paired it with a long pencil black leather skirt, leaving her hair to air dry since it was still damp from a shower. Was she looking school girlish? Maybe, but who was she going to impress anyways? The man was into men and there wasn't any chance that he would recruit her.

She walked up to a snobbish woman in her late twenties who was sitting at the reception desk, looking at a sleek desktop and clicking away.

"Excuse me, please. I'm Carmella Parker. I'm here for an interview for the post of PA for Mr. Jaxon Craddock," she said with confidence. The woman looked like she would faint. Then she sneered at her with malice in her eyes.

"We don't entertain school girls crushing on Mr. Craddock. Go elsewhere, girl," she spoke rudely, going back to staring at her monitor. It infuriated Carmella, and she placed her hands down on the table determinedly. It got the woman's attention, and she glared at Carmella.

"I've come for an interview for your kind information. Mr. Craddock has emailed me to confirm the interview. Do you need proof? I can show you the email. So, which floor is the office?" Carmella asked impatiently while the woman gaped at her in disbelief.

"Hold on girl, you're not going anywhere. I'll just confirm," she said, picking up the intercom to talk to someone.

"No, there isn't any interview for any lady assistant," she said disinterestedly, scoffing at Carmella.

Carmella was annoyed off at the woman's attitude. She unlocked her mobile phone and opened her mail inbox. She clicked on the mail that Jaxon Craddock had sent to her.

"He sent me this mail yesterday evening. My interview is at 9 am and you've made me already five minutes late. I shall complain to him you are responsible for the hold-up," she said restlessly, showing her the email.

The woman's eyes went wide with shock. She stared at her wordlessly and then realized what she just threatened. "15th floor. I'm sorry, I didn't know. Please don't complain."

Carmella nodded and rushed towards the elevators and pressed the fifteenth floor. She reached in a few seconds and the doors opened onto a plush lobby with a small office room made of glass at the side. Beside it was an enormous door with the name Jaxon Craddock engraved on it. Strangely, not a soul was around the place. The entire floor was empty and eerily quiet. Was he normal, or was he an ogre? Her heart constricted with fright, and she gulped nervously. Standing at his door, she took a deep breath. She shook the thoughts away and knocked on his door.

"Come in," came a growl. Shivering, a little out of nervousness, she opened the door and peeped inside. There was no one! She went inside and closed the door. "Excellent, ten minutes late already, Ms. Parker. I hate tardiness! " growled the same voice. It was then that she saw him sitting on the sofa in the corner and reading some documents.

Her eyes widened with horror. It was the same man that she'd poured coffee upon accidentally yesterday. The gorgeous specimen who only spewed rude words out of his mouth. Her feet froze and for a split second, she had the intuition to flee. Now she knew why he had called her here. To insult her or to take his revenge!

"What? Can't cook up an excuse?" he said warily, aware of her shocked expression. Her reaction was enough for him to realize she hadn't recognized him yesterday. "I don't have all day. Sit down and let us start," he ordered while a dumbstruck Carmella slowly approached his desk and sat down nervously.

"Good morning, sir," she greeted him nervously. She was now convinced that he had summoned her to get even at her. She sat fidgeting with her fingers nervously, acutely aware of his gaze upon her. Was anything wrong with her? If he was into men, why was he staring at her?

Jaxon was aware of her creamy legs peeping from below her calf-length skirt, unlike the micro-mini skirts that girls of her age usually wore. He could see that she hadn't applied a speck of makeup. In fact, he realized her glow was natural. Her untied, damp hair looked so soft and silky. The top hid all her assets, yet she looked so arresting that he couldn't look away. She sat looking down at her hands and he felt a fierce wish to drown in her jade-green eyes. Why couldn't she look up into his eyes?

"So you are studying fashion design? Why have you applied for this post when you haven't even completed your studies?" he asked, straight to the point. He wanted to ask more but that would give him away. She would know that he had been doing his research on her. Although his intention was to satisfy his curiosity and get rid of her, he knew this was a bad idea. He was drowning in her and it wasn't a good sign.

"I need to get an internship within a month," she answered. Now his curiosity was aroused all the more.

"Why? Do you need money to continue with your studies?" He asked, dropping the documents onto the coffee table before him and looking straight into her jade-green eyes as she looked up at him. He needed to hear her explanation.

"My dad's given me the ultimatum, sir. If I don't find myself an internship within a month, he'd induct me into his hotel business, " she said with a sigh.

"That's a good thing. It'd be easier to join him," he commented, looking at her for her reaction.

She looked down at her hands again, much to his disappointment. "I don't want to manage hotels all my life. I love designing apparel and accessories," she said honestly.

"Then why are you applying for the job of a PA?" He asked, in a serious tone. If she had dreamed of sneaking into his design team, then she'd be disappointed because he hated such opportunists.

"I just want a job experience, sir. I feel no job is inferior. Since the age of ten, I've been cleaning my dad's cars and earning my own pocket money. He pays me a daily wage, and that has been my only pocket money. It has taught us the value of money and I've been saving my wage for the last ten years. Today, I have a neat sum in my account only from cleaning cars. I want to learn to work instead of sitting at home. When I complete my studies, I'll be capable of joining my field of work. Till then, let me see the professional world," she said, looking at the pen in his hands while Jaxon listened intently, completely impressed with her honesty.

He didn't expect this answer from a billionaire's daughter, eight years younger than himself. Such kids were usually arrogant, worthless, not caring for money, spending on useless things, and partying, but Carmella was different. He realized how unpretentious she was, and maybe the coffee spill earlier wasn't intentional after all. He had unnecessarily reacted in the morning. From his interaction with her, he could conclude that she was a pure, innocent, and hardworking soul. He couldn't fall for her and had to be rude and throw her out but how? Why did he not want to hurt her?

He took a deep breath and chanted in his head that he wouldn't hire her, however good she was. "I see. Why did you apply when it was clearly mentioned that I wanted a male assistant?" He asked. She looked up at him with confusion.

"Actually sir, my good friend wanted me to apply along with him. So," she was cut short by a growl from Jaxon.

"If your boyfriend asks you to jump into the fire, will you do it?" He growled angrily with his teeth clenched.

She lowered her eyes, much to his frustration. "I thought even women were as good as men, if not better," she answered.

"So, did your boyfriend get the job?" He asked sarcastically.

"He's not my boyfriend, sir. He's my classmate at college, a good friend. No, he didn't get the job, although he's very good at it. He needed it to support his studies," she sighed.

"I don't want his life history," he said, softening at the information that he wasn't her boyfriend. He did not know why he was overreacting to her. She was already nervous but yet there was some sort of brave fighting spirit in her. She faced him as bravely as she could.

"So why should I hire a fresher? Tell me?" He asked, looking at her. She looked up at him and then again at her hands.

"I don't know about other freshers, but I am a quick learner. I'm very hardworking and I'm very focused. You will not repent your decision if you hire me, sir," she finished, looking straight into his eyes. Her spirit was praiseworthy. He had to give it to her.

"Are you aware that my work's based in New York? You will have to move to New York if you want this job," he informed her while her mouth hung open with surprise. She quickly composed herself and thought for a moment. "Yes, sir. I can," she said a bit hesitantly completely surprising Jaxon. A strange thrill coursed through his body and he pinned her with his hot stare, unable to look away.

"How will you continue your college?" He asked.

"I'll take online classes, sir," she informed him, her gaze unnerving him totally.

"And last, we will have a purely professional relationship. There's no way I'm going to entertain flirtatious behavior. I don't do relationships at all and never ever with my employees. Is that clear?" he barked, looking at her minutely for her reaction.

Her jaws dropped at his arrogant innuendos. "I'm not interested in anything apart from work, sir," she said with confidence but strangely Jaxon didn't like that confidence. He wanted to see her disappointment. How could she be so different from the other woman? No, he couldn't fall for her charms. They were all an act. She would turn out the same once she earned his trust. Jaxon was in deep thought. His rational mind battled with his cold heart and he had no idea how to tell her to leave. The interview was over and she had surprisingly cleared it, unlike the others.

"Fine, you're hired," he announced, shocking himself as well as her.