Chapter 1 : The Interview

Soon , it will be the day . The day that will change Lia's life . The day when Lia discover the truth.

Raines Corporation Headquarters , downtown Manhattan

Lia sit in the sleek modern lobby , waiting for herr job interview to begin . Men and women in expensive suits bustle by

Lia : (Everyone looks so serious and professional ... do i even have a shot?)

Lia : ( I really need this job )

A pair of doors slide open , and a stunning woman with an icy demeanor approaches

Charlotte James : Lia?

Lia : Yeah , that's me

Charlotte James : I'm Charlotte James, VP of Operations at Raines Corp , I'm ready to interview you now

Lia : Oh ! Uh, sure... absolutely...

Charlotte James : You sound surprised

Lia : I just wasn't expecting to be interviewed by someone so high up in the company

Charlotte James : You're applying to be the executive assistant to our CEO, Finn Raines himslef , one of the most powerful and influential men in the world

Charlotte James : We take our hiring process so serious

Lia : Of course, i totally understand

Trying to keep up a confident look , Lia follow Charlotte into a sterile conference room

Charlotte James : Now then. The Raines Corporation is a global leader in technology and innovation

Charlotte James : Why exactly are you interested in being the executive assistant to our CEO?

Lia : What i admire most about the Raines Corporation is your dedication to global innovation and improvement

Lia : The clean-water initiative... the vaccine for the cerella virus... the green energy project...

Lia : You guys aren't just getting rich. You're trying to help people, to make technology that'll save the planet

Lia : I can't think of anything better than being a part of that

Charlotte James : Hmm. A good answer. A bit cloying, perhaps, but Finn might actually like that

Just then, the door at the back of the room swings open, and a handsome man in perfectly-tailored suit strolls in.

His eyes sparkle with a cold intelligence as he assesses Lia.

Charlotte James : Finn. I wasn't expecting you...

Finn Raines : I had a free minute. Is this the candidate ?

Charlotte James : Yes... but i've just started the interview and --

Finn Raines : I'll take over from here

Charlotte James : Of course, sir. Go right ahead

Finn pulls up a seat opposite her. It's like his eyes are burning right through her

Finn Raines : Lia, is it ?

Lia : That's right.

Finn Raines : Tell me , Lia. What do you desire ?

Lia : You mean... why do i want this job? Because i --

Finn Raines : I didn't ask why you want this job. I asked what you desire.

Lia : I desire passion

Finn Raines : Oh, really ?

Lia : Sorry if that's too personal, I'm just being honest

Lia : I want to feel deeply. I want to experience life . I want to live every moment like it's my last. That's what i desire

Finn Raines : I can relate

He looks down at your resume

Finn Raines : Let's see here. Graduated college a year ago... Bachelor's in Communications... interned at Mannon Financial... Volunteered in San Francisco abroad for a year

Lia : Yep. That's right.

Finn Raines : And how was that ? Tell me in three words

Lia : Difficult . Enlightening . Rewarding .

Finn Raines : Good. This job can be challenging and unpredictable. Are you comfortable running unusual errands?

Lia : Absolutely

Finn Raines : Handling confidential information ?

Lia : I can keep a secret

Finn Raines : Working nights ?

Lia : Always been a night owl

Finn Raines : Good. Anything else i should know about you ?

Lia : I've got world-class people skills.

Finn Raines : Oh?

Lia : I was voted 'Most Likeable' in my high school class. Also ' Most Popular ' and ' Best Smile '

Lia : Technically , you're not supposed to win in multiple categories , but i was able to persuade them

Finn Raines : This proving your point

Lia : Exactly!

Finn Raines : One last question.

He leans forward, hands folded together in the table. His expression is intense, impenetrable.

Finn Raines : A long time ago, there lived a man in a distant village. He had a good enough life... a wife , three kids, a village of friends , a plot of land to call his own. But one day , while plowing his field , he found a buried lamp. And when he rubbed it , a genie appeared and gave him three wishes.

Finn Raines : For the first wish, he asked for wealth. A pile of gold appeared all around him. But the rest of the village suffered instantly. Their crops withered , wells dried, larders went empty.

Finn Raines : Next, the man wished for immortality. The genie granted it... but when he ran into his house, his wife and children were all dead.

Finn pauses , stares into your eyes, searching , intense

Finn Raines : Tell me , Lia. What should the man asked for, for his third and final wish?

Lia : He should choose to undo his last two wishes

Finn Raines : Because...?

Lia : Because he'd already had all he really wanted or needed .It's a story about greed and temptation. There's no way for the man to win , because he should never had played this game.All he can hope for is to bring things back to the way they were

Finn nods throughfully, momentarily for away...

He pauses, deep in thought, fingers steepled... and then grins.

Finn Raines : You're hired.

Lia : Wh...what? Seriously ?

Finn extends his hand, and Lia take it.His grip is firm, His skin impossibly smooth.

Finn Raines : Welcome to the Raines Corporation

Charlotte James : But... we have fifteen more candidates! We haven't even--

Finn Raines : This is the one.

Charlotte James : Of course. Understood.

Lia : Mr.Raines, sir, I--

Finn Raines : Call me Finn.

Lia : Finn, I'm just... so honored for this opportunity! I promise i won't let you down.

Finn Raines : Good. Because i take promises very seriously

Lia : When do i start ?

Finn Raines : Right now.

Charlotte leaves to process Lia's paperwork, and Finn escorts her out towards a glistening shiny elevator...

Lia step into an elevator, and Finn pressses his keycard to a scanner to make a display with buttons appear. He presses one labeled 'Executive Office '

Lia : So... is this your own private elevator?

Finn Raines : Yes

Lia : Wow

Finn Raines : It's not pretentious as you might think. Sometimes, it's necessary for me to get around the building quickly.

Lia : Oh , I didn't mean... I understand you're a busy person.

Finn Raines : One of your jobs is to help me more efficient so i can get more done. My previous assistant... she didn't understand that.

Lia : Is that why she's no longer... with the company ?

Something unexpected passes in Finn's eyes . Guilt ?

Finn Raines : Among other reasons.

Finn turns his steely eyes to yours, studying you almost clinically, without a word...

Lia : (His eyes...like stars in a night sky...)

Lia : I'll absolutely do my best sir... I mean , Finn.

Finn Raines : I have no doubt you will. That's why i hired you.

Lia: I'm ready to hit the ground running. What's on the agenda for today ?

Finn Raines : My schedule for the rest of the day is packed. Right now, i need to prepare for a meeting with some very important partners.

Lia : Got it. I'll be sure to meet them as they arrive.

Finn Raines : Don't worry about that. They're longtime associates of mine . They've been here before and know where they're going.

Lia : How many of them are coming ?

Finn Raines : Just two

Lia : Would you like me to order some dinner for the three of you ?

Finn Raines : That won't be necessary.but there is one thing i'd like for you to do...

Lia : Of course!

Finn Raines : My guests are formidable people, at the height of power in their fields.And i'm conducting some delicate negotiations... So i wanted to welcome them with some memorable gifts.

Lia: No problem.Would you like me to run out and shop for some special items? I can shop like nobody's business.Especially with someone else's money.I'm like seriously like , semi-pro.

Finn Raines : I've actually already personally selected a few... uniquye things. All you need to do is pick them up for me.

Lia : Absolutely.

The elevator stops at the top floor and the doors open to reveal the lobby outside Finn's office.

Finn Raines : This'll be your desk.

Lia : Wow.

Lia steps forward it, but Finn stops her

Finn Raines : You'll be going back down.All the way down... to the basement archives

Lia : Is that where the gifts are?

Finn Raines : Yes. They should have everything for you.Afterwards, come find me on the 75th floor confernce center.Just be prepared.The archive clerk can be a bit ... unusual.

Finn reaches into the elevator and pushes 'B' for basement...

Lia : "Unusual"? Wait, is this some kind of a test ?

Lia exit the elevator and find herself in the basement archives.

Lia : Oh okay ...not what i expected

Archive Clerk : What are you doing here?

Lia startled by an old clerk with a deep scowl and an old-fashioned suit

Lia : This is a test right ? This has to be a test.

Archive Clerk: I have no idea what you're talking about.

Lia : Right. I'm here to pick up some items for Mr.Raines . Some gifts he requested for his guests ?

Archive Clerk : Do you have an authorisation form ?

Lia : Authorisation ? No, I ...

He turn on his heel and hunches away

Lia : Wait! I'm so sorry , sir ! Please, just give me a moment

The clerk stops and turns around.

Archive Clerk : You've got one moment.

Lia : I'm Mr.Raines new assistant i just started today. I'm sorry, i didn't realise i needed an authorisation form, but Mr.Raines himself requested that i come speak to you directly Please i dont want to get fired before i even get a chance to prove myself

A few moments later, the clerk reappears with a carved wooden box in his hands

Lia : Is that everything ?

Archive Clerk : It contains three things Do not get it wrong

He reaches into the box and pulls out an engraved silver dagger

Archive Clerk : The dagger is for Mr. Castellanos.It's from the 14th century

Lia : I was just expecting like a fancy pen with Raines logo.

Then the Archive Clerk takes out a gold Egyptian Scarab beetle encrusted with precious stones

Archive Clerk: This scarab is 2100 years old It is intended for Samira Sayeed

Lia : Got it

Finally he pulls out a tiny glass vial with a red powder and sealed with a tiny cork

Archive Clerk : Mandrake extract for Mr.Raines himself

Lia : Dagger, Scarab , Mandrake. Got it

Archive Clerk : Godspeed

He turns and disappears down a dark corridor

Lia : Bye

Lia get back to the elevator cradling the box and the precious contents .She knocks the door of the conference room.Finn let her in

Finn Raines : Excellent, Lia. Come in please...

Lia see 2 other people seated at the massive table. A stunning elegant woman with an intense gaze and a sweaty, older man who look her up and down with hungry eyes

Finn Raines : This is Lia , my new assistant.

Samira Sayeed ; You do go through them rather quickly

Finn Raines : Lia, This is Samira Sayeed CEO of Ahmanet Financial

Jamie Castellanos : I would be more than happy to shake your hand, gorgeous...

Finn Raines : And this is Jamie Castellanos of Castellanos Meats.

Jamie rises and graspes your hand hand in his. With his other hand he reaches out and strokes your forearm gently

Jamie Castellanos : What a beautiful girl

Lia : How dare you ! You filthy animal

Lia look over to Finn, alarm in Lia's eyes .Finn grabs Jamie's wrist and slams his hand into the table with a crack

Finn Raines : Hands to yourself, Jamie

Samira Sayeed : Jamie, please , come join us in the 21st century.This sort odf conduct is so tiresome.

With a scowl, Jamie jerks his hand and cradles it

Finn Raines : Lia , I apologize for Jamie's behavior Are you okay ?

Lia : Yeah, Thank you !

Finn Raines : Back to busines i have chosen some small gifts for you .Lia can you do the honors ?

Lia : Absolutely

Lia reached into the box and pull out the scarab

Lia : The scarab is for Samira Sayeed

Samira Sayeed : Ptolemaic Dynasty.Very nice, Finn

Finn Raines : i thought you'd appreciate it

Jamie Castellanos : Lovely.Poetic. But what do i get?

Lia pulls out the dagger

Jamie Castellanos: Ohh... angel with a switchblade! i'm in love

Samira Sayeed : Oh For god's sake

Lia : The dagger is for Jamie Castellanos

Jamie Castellanos : Please , call me Jamie . Or Daddy. Whichever you prefer well thank you, Finn

Finn Raines : Lia , Thank you , You may go

Lia head to her desk and wait for the meeting to be over and text her soulmate Mia

Finn Raines : You're still here Lia?

Lia: Well i wasn't sure if you still needed me how was the meeting ?

Finn Raines : Satisfactory well you can go home now

Lia head back to home and find Mia playing

Mia : Come take a seat tell me how was the job?

Lia : It was good

Mia : Awesome High Five

Lia : Oh no!

Mia : What is it ?

Lia : The Red Mandrake for Mr.Raines Sorry I have to go Sweetheart

Lia dash back to the office begging the security guard to let you in and take the elevator up to your desk then she hear a crack in Finn's office

Lia : (Phew he's still here )

Lia pushes the door

Lia : Finn. OMG!

Finn drink the blood of Charlotte then cranes his head up staring at you