~7~

Emily's POV

Walking in the L.A.X company, I walked straight to the reception desk, every employee greeted each other with either a nod or an handshake, everyone was busy with something.

The floor was tiled in fine marble, which made every step echo and the receptionist, smiling like a photo, eyes remaining still, taking my details and checking identification.

"Emily Clark?" She asked

"Yes, yes, that's me" I was so anxious

"Fifth floor, Mr Brandon is waiting for you" she said as the smile never left her face

I nodded and walked straight to the elevator and punched in the fifth floor button. When the elevator opened on the fifth floor, I almost choke in surprise. This is a rich company and I can't believe I'd ever come for an interview in one. I smiled holding onto my bag so tightly. The twin door that led to the waiting room were a pristine black with golden handles. Walking in with the sweet smell of lavender smelt across the room. After an endless session of pacing the grey carpeted floor. I managed to sit myself on one of the monotonously black waiting chair waiting for my name to be called through the speaker hung above in the room.

As I stared at the blank white wall in front of me and tried to review what I've read about the company in my mind, I felt the tension and the anxiety build up, this happens whenever I'm not certain about getting the job. It happened when I walked into Derek's diner five years ago and now it's happening again. I stared blankly, my mind full of emptiness. Before the panic could eat me up I stood up breathing heavily as I managed to catch up on subtle breathing exercise to help me relax. Just as I was started to calm down, I could hear the familiar continual tap of heel against the marble.

The door opened and a woman in her early thirties walked in

"Miss Emily" she called out and I raised up my hand

"Come with me please" she said and walked out

I stood up and that was when I realized I wasn't the only one in the waiting room. I shyly walked out and followed the secretary. Wasn't the speaker supposed to be the one doing the woman's job, I shook my head, maybe the job wasn't worth it in the first place but it was too late to turn back and besides I needed the job so badly.

I've read about how interviews in companies like this goes, these jobs are always interviewed by panels, questions fired too quickly and you've got to answer with no much time to think twice because they'd want to see what's under the veneer of your persona.

What if I was asked what my last name and my last dinner was. I'd have to think that thoroughly because I don't even remember but now that I've thought about it, I think I do.

We came to a halt and the woman motioned me to go in. I smiled as I walked through the door the secretary told me. The interview room was jammed with six grey old men and three women in their late thirties. A woman stood up and walked up to me

"Hello Emily, welcome to L.A.X, you may take your sit" she said handling me a sheet with the company's logo

I felt a wave of anxiety hit me.

There was no back wall in the room only tempered glass. I was expecting it to appear dull as it did from the outside filled with lights. Yet it was crystal clear with the most stunning panorama of the city. I tried to run to the see more or even take some pictures but a twitch was all I could manage to do as I focused on the nine people sitting opposite me at the table

"So you're Mexican?" The old man to the left asked

"No I'm not, I'm an American" I said bluntly

I'm no racist but I think they got it all wrong. I don't even look Mexican

The old man sighed as he looked at me smiling "You're 24?" He asked again

"Yes" I gulped

"Do you really think you'd be able to work here, I mean you have got no qualifications whatsoever" the woman who walked to give me the blank sheet said

"I can, I mean I can learn" I smiled

"Learn?" Everyone one said in unison and laughed

"Okay, Miss Emily, Mr Brandon is waiting for you outside"

I got confused at this point, if non of them was a Brandon then who are they and why ask me silly questions. I stood up with a smile and walked out even though I wanted to run back and yell at every single person in the room.

I met the woman who escorted me here immediately I got out and she led the way. We got into the elevator and she pressed the third floor button. We started descending and when the door opened I couldn't believe my eyes. I walked around for a bit admiring each and every single places.

"Miss Emily" she called out

I turned around and she was standing next to a man, his shinny shoes and jet black hair stood out perfectly. His suit was crisp and his shirt ironed to perfection. I walked over to them and greeted the man

"Hello, I'm Brandon and welcome to L.A.X, we've been expecting you" he said with a smiling face

"Expecting me?" I asked and the woman left us and walked back to the elevator

"We export goods" he said leading the way to an unknown direction

"What kind of goods?" I asked and he turned to look at me with a frown and I quickly looked away

"Cars, we export cars" he smiled and resumed walking

"But I don't see any car" I murmured

He halted and turned to look at me again but this time he looked up and a hint of fear appeared on his face before he looked at me smiling

"Miss Emily you were saying?" He asked

"N-nothing, I said nothing"

"If that's so, shall we" he turned around and started walking faster

I turned to look at what he saw what I saw nothing only people walking upstairs with files or exchanging handshakes

"Miss Emily, we believe in only exporting profitable goods to our clients at fair price, I am the head of department C, which is going to be your department"

"My department, I haven't been interviewed yet" I stated

"You have and you passed and you're to start working tomorrow"

"Really" I said feeling so happy

I couldn't wait to get home to brag about my new work to Donnie and April. I wondered what I was doing in a diner for five years if the interview was this easy

"Mind you Miss Emily" he turned around facing me with a stern face "I watch all my employees under me to make sure the job in transferring the goods from our department to other departments goes smoothly, mistakes aren't pardoned"

I gulped nodding with a fake smile

"I shall show you where you'd be working, who you'd be working with and who you're to deliver to, understood?"

"Yes sir" I nodded as he opened the door and I followed behind

Everyone was busy with their computer in front of them. Mr Brandon stalked through the office with his head held high and I followed behind. He got to an empty desk and looked at me

"This is your table, where you'd be working and you'd be working with Kristen"

I simply nodded, he motioned for Kristen to come over to where he was standing as he left to his office. She introduced herself and I shook her hand

"Welcome to L.A.X" she said still shaking me

"Thank you, I'm Emily" I said

Kristen was wearing a short brown curly hair which matched her caramel skin and dark brown eyes. Her black and white stripped shirt tucked in her black jean matching her black stilettos. She walked away before I could even ask more question.

"Miss Emily" Mr Brandon called out

I turned around to look at him

"You're to sign this as it is part of what every employee must partake in when employed here"

I nodded and took the file from him

"I can take it home and read it, right?" I asked

"No, you're to sign it now or never" He said with no emotion on his face

I really needed the job so I collected the pen from him and sign at the last page. He collected the file immediately

"Welcome to L.A.X" He said smiling

I smiled and looked around, my table so neatly arranged and my coworkers working so beautifully. This was a fantasy come true and I couldn't wait to enjoy every bit of it

Song featured: Watermelon sugar by Harry styles