WE ARRIVED at the restaurant twenty minutes earlier thanks to Jerald and his constant reminders throughout the day for us to get ready. You'd think he was the one mentally preparing themselves to meet their "future boss" with the way he seemed excited and restless. Now Mary and I are waiting for him to come back from "picking up" his friend at the car park.
I am busy fidgeting with my clothes when Mary silently squeals beside me, making me blink at her in surprise. "They're here," she shrieks excitedly, tugging at the sleeves of my pink chiffon dress and I turn towards the direction she's facing. My eyes widen when they make contact with my "future boss", only to shift into a glare when I realize who he is—the coffee jerk!
"Stop glaring Iris. Lucas doesn't like when ladies stare for too long," Mary whispers, tugging at my sleeves harder such that I have no choice but to break the eye contact and face her instead.
"How am I supposed to stop glaring at him when he spilled his coffee on me this afternoon and left without apologizing?" I say through gritted teeth making Mary stop the tugging.
"Lucas did that?" She whisperers again and I roll my eyes at her. "Are you sure he did that? I mean, you said you don't remember his face-"
The glare I give her is enough for her to realize I'm serious, but it doesn't stop her from whispering her uncertainties to me. I'm about to give her a sarcastic response when all of a sudden, Lucas hovers around the table and pulls the chair right next to me before sitting, making me swallow my unsaid words and bitterness. I try to size my opponent by giving him a side glance, but all it does is make him seem more intimidating than I want to give him credit for.
I hadn't realized how big this guy was before, but now that I am sitting next to him, his presence makes me squirm a little in my seat. He looks somewhere between a hundred and eighty-five to seven centimeters tall, and his muscles are so lean and well-defined that I have to fight the urge to tell him to remove his jacket so that I can have a closer look.
How can someone manage to look like a rugby player when they work in an office all day?
As if he can sense my inner thoughts, Lucas removes his jacket and flexes his broad shoulders before pushing his straight black hair off his face. It's like watching a commercial about hot boys being hot, and I swear my eyes almost bulge out of my eyes. The muscle is even beefier than I had assumed, and paired with that face of his, it wouldn't surprise me if he is a playboy of some sort.
Maybe that's why he's such a jerk, my sassy brain immediately hisses and I totally agree with it. He probably knows he's good looking and intimidating so maybe he thinks that's his passport to do whatever he wants. Jerk.
I feel another tug from Mary before she whispers angrily in my ear, " Stop glaring and biting your lip you horny idiot!"
I hadn't realized that I was gnawing at my lip and glaring at Lucas, but Mary just had to make it into something way more cringe than reality. "It's not like that," I whisper back at the same time Jerald clears his throat as Mary and I do a mini stare-down while sitting properly on our chairs.
"Since all of us are now comfortably seated, I'll do the honors of introducing us. Iris, meet the HOD of the magazine department, Lucas Andrews," Jerald pauses as he lets me take in the news, and I do. I slowly nod at him just so he knows I got it, before he moves on to introduce me to Lucas.
"Lucas, meet the candidate I said I'd introduce you to, Iri-"
" Iris Morris," Lucas says, cutting Jerald. I should be surprised that he knows my name, but his deep silvery voice makes it seem as if him knowing my name is natural. "Nice to meet you, Miss Iris," he adds, making the hairs on my skin stand just from saying my name.
I hate it, so I don't let him see just how much he caught me off guard. Instead, I slightly tip my head back and meet his green eyes with the same demeanor he exhibits.
"It's nice to meet you too sir, though I believe we met earlier today at your company if I'm not mistaken?" I reply, managing to taunt him. His eyes widen a little, and I fight the urge to smirk.
Gotcha jerk.
My eyes proudly land on Mary but she is busy paying attention to her phone and frantically typing something. It's only when Jerald's phone chimes that I realize she is explaining the situation between Lucas and me to her brother, which seems like a good idea since he's the only one in the darkness.
However, Jerald is the least of my problems right now. Lucas lets out a small chuckle and I turn my attention back to him. Did he just smile after I reminded him about his rudeness at the company?
"Well now that it has come to this, I'd like to talk to you about the incident—alone," comes the gentle silvery voice again. The emphasis he puts on 'alone' makes it seem like we have something private going on, and I have to admit, for a few good seconds, I find his offer a bit tempting. However, reminding myself that he's still a stranger, and I don't know what he will do to me if we're alone again sets my guard up.
It's my turn to chuckle softly and reply, but before I say anything, Jerald (now understanding the situation) interjects dramatically.
He places both his hands between Lucas and me as if we're already fighting and laughs nervously. "Okay, let's all calm down and be professional here," he says looking between Lucas and me, " I believe we came here for something way more important than what you guys seem to be talking about, no? Let's get this meeting over with before it's late."
But I didn't get my apology you jerk, shouts my suppressed heart as I give Jerald a side-eye. That troublesome apology blocker!
Mary lets out a small grunt, but she nods in agreement with her brother's words, and I can't help but feel betrayed.
Whose side are they on?
"I agree," I hear Lucas say and I turn my head so fast, I swear I hear a little crack mid-turning. "Let's focus on the meeting first before attending to other matters," he adds already pulling an iPad from his bag.
Other matters? Does he realize he spilled coffee on a white blouse?
" Yes, you're right sir. The coffee incident is stupid compared to this interview," I hiss professionally whilst imagining this man's death already. Jerald fake chokes at my comment, but his friend doesn't seem bothered by my reply as he continues scrolling on his phone.
"I'll go place our order," Jerald says, pushing his chair from the table, and Mary follows suit. "I'll come with you," she says smiling nervously and avoiding my gaze. It's their typical behavior whenever they want to avoid a guest at home and I hate that they're using it right now.
However, I save my commentaries for later and focus on Lucas instead. His cool demeanor from before is gone, and before me now sits a man who means business. A man who seems to know that he is indeed intimidating and who isn't afraid to use that power to get what he wants.
" I guess you came here not expecting an interview did you?" He asks in what I presume is his business-mode voice. It's flat with a hint of deep huskiness that I find attractive even though I know I shouldn't. I don't let that disturb me though.
"I am always prepared for anything Mr Andrews, because life is always unpredictable," I retort, making him smirk.
"Good. I like your attitude. So let me cut to the chase. Why Adder? Why do you want to work with us?"
To make money of course, duh.
I clear my throat. " I want to be an editor for the Adder magazine because of its sophisticated nature and reputation. I believe working on a magazine like that would help me gain profound experience and knowledge, furthering my interest in the editorial field. I also believe I can make the magazine better too, no, I'm confident I can do exactly that."
As if I offended him, Lucas furrows his brows and leans in towards me. " Are you saying we're not doing a good job with the magazine Miss Iris?"
I don't waver. " You're are doing a perfect job with the magazine Sir, considering it's number two on the best sellers list. What I mean is, I intend to help it get to number one."
His brows relax, but he slightly tilts his head to the side. " Then how do you intend to help the magazine get to number one?"
Lucas takes me by surprise and I stiffen on my seat. Of all the interviews I've ever heard, this is by far the most peculiar, and toughest. It feels as though I'm being scaled to see my worth, and with the way this man looks at me, I can't help but feel like one wrong move could be the end of my career.
I take in one small breath and let it out before looking Lucas straight in the eyes. "Well, for starters, I have ideas that I think would make the magazine better than it already is and-"
"What ideas do you have if I may ask?" Lucas quips before I can finish and I fight the urge to scrunch my nose. Why is he suddenly so impatient?
"I'm afraid that remains confidential unless you decide to hire me," I reply smirking ever so slightly as my inner self claps at my sassy yet professional answer.
"That's correct. Sorry for asking," Lucas mumbles and I'm weirdly surprised by it. So he can apologize after all?
My pettiness kicks in and I make a mental note to remind him of the coffee incident again so that I can get my apology later.
"I'll ask the million-dollar question now," Lucas says, cutting me off from my internal monologue. "Why do you love editing?"
His gaze on me as he asks the question is somewhat prying and I squirm in my seat for a second time as the nerves that I had under control till now start showing up from nowhere. It's as if a switch is turned on by this man's gaze that makes my body suddenly nervous and I don't like it.
"I'll repeat, why do you love editing?" Lucas's voice comes out a bit gruff, making my nerves double when it hits my ears. How can a voice sound so impatient yet so enticing?
I manage to regain my composure in time, and even though my heartbeat begins pacing rapidly, my voice somehow manages to come out confident and professional like I intend it to be. "I love editing because we take something ordinary and boring and hammer it into something more catchy and powerful that the whole world will hold like a valuable piece of treasure and honestly, " I pause as memories of when I began loving to read come to mind.
A lonely seven-year-old alone in a house at seven PM with no source of entertainment but a Cinderella book. Mom wouldn't be home yet as she would be working her ass off at god knows where trying to feed the both of us since my lousy dad decided he didn't want a family yet. I remember reading the book over and over until I knew every sentence by heart, then one day, Mom decided she couldn't bear the responsibility, so she led me to my grandparent's house where there was a whole library full of novels.
I slightly smile at myself, proud that I grew that love for reading into what it is today even though it started because of my loneliness. "Editing is like an art of making the wrongs right," I continue my long speech, " and it's a constant reminder to myself that nothing stays the same forever. Anything can evolve and I have the power to perfect it until it becomes enjoyable. All I need is self-control and patience, and I'll have the perfect piece before me in no time."
" Wow," Lucas says finally backing away from my face. His eyebrows are up and he keeps his eye contact intact. " I thought I knew what being an editor was, but your point of view just made me doubt everything I've ever believed in."
My nerves seem to settle at his compliment and I find myself relaxing. What's more, he suddenly seems to transform from being a jerk to being Prince Charming, and I almost forgive him. But do I? No. Why? Because I am petty as fuck.
" Thank you, Sir," I reply, still smiling.
" Please, you can call me Lucas," he replies. Did I mention he now seems like an angel to my eyes?
" Then you can call me Iris," I reply, brushing my curly black hair off my face.
"Will do that immediately," Lucas smiles back. "Well, that wraps up our interview for today. Here's my business card, please send your resume on the WhatsApp contact displayed there when you get ho-"
" How about I send it right now?" I cut him, already proceeding with the process. Within seconds, a notification sounds on his phone, alerting him of my message and he nods at me with a smirk on his face.
" You really meant it when you said you're always prepared didn't you?"
"I always mean what I say, Sir," I mumble, feeling shy for no reason. Just what is going on with me? I can't seem to wrap my finger around it.
Lucas hums approvingly, his smirk seemingly growing wider. " That makes you even more professional than I thought. I'll look into this resume tomorrow when I get to my office, and I'll call you if there's any progress from our side."
I nod at him respectively right when the siblings return to the table with waiters on their backs. The air is immediately filled with the scent of food and my belly does a summersault.
" Sorry for taking too long, we had so many orders to make as you can see," Jerald mumbles, avoiding eye contact with both of us. I immediately know he is lying because every time he speaks, Jerald looks at the person he is conversing with right in the eye.
"That's okay," Lucas replies, "you just gave Iris and me enough time to wrap up the interview. Now let's dig in, I'm hungry as hell."
"Me too," I reply, already picking up my cutlery. Yes, the interview happened, but for now, we dine and forget that we have bitterness to release.
★★★★★