Chapter 4
*Rick's POV*
It was 2:00 pm now and it had been 5 long hours of rigorous work, meetings and introductions of officials, important file signings and lunches for Richard. Collins was right, this was turning out to be a very long day, he sighed and now he had that goddamn Personal Assistant to go to. "Can't they just select someone on their own?" Rick was pissed. He had a headache coming on. Getting up from his chair, he walked towards the wall behind his desk. It was covered with a glass window from one corner to the other which looked over the New York skyline. He loved this view; it somehow soothed his nerves to stand at a height and position of power and with his office on the 35th floor of the building, the skyline looked gorgeous and breathe taking. Rick was lost in his thoughts when his desk phone rang startling him. "Anderson," he said taking the call.
"Good afternoon Sir. It's Smith speaking. We are ready with the final candidates for the selection." It was his General Manager, Jared Smith.
"How many are there?" Rick said massaging his temples and forehead.
"There are three Sir. Only three out of seven candidates could crack all the rounds. Board room no 2 has been set up according the way you asked for. As soon as you are down here we'll be sending in the candidates. The names and details of the candidates are in the file in the boardroom. Would you like me to send it up to you?"
"No. I'm coming there. I'll go through the details as the interview proceeds."
"Okay Sir then I'll inform the candidates of your arrival."
"Do not disclose my identity to them. I want this interview to be discreet until and unless the selection is complete."
"Yes certainly Sir. Is there anything else I can do?"
"No. Let's just get over with this and for your and the other interviewers sake, I hope that you have chosen the best candidates, otherwise it's going to be all your asses."
"Sir I assure you that these three are the best in the lot."
"I hope so". Rick finally got up to leave his office for the interview. Little did he know he was going to get something much more than what he had expected?
As the lift's door opened on the 34th floor, Rick walked towards the boardroom with long strides. Catching a glance at three candidates sitting in the other room, he saw that they were facing the front door with their back towards him. His eyes quickly scanned over each of them, before resting on the last one – it was a woman. She had a long, slender neck, with her dark brown hair tied up in a top knot. The lady was massaging her neck with her left hand, but there was something in that gesture, something very familiar that reminded Rick of someone. Staring at her for quite some time now, he was suddenly brought back to his senses by the sound of a person clearing his throat. Quickly turning around Rick came face to face with Collins. "Excuse me Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt you but everyone is waiting for you in the boardroom to begin with the interview."
"Uh yes, I'm just- uh I was on my way towards there. Are they the three candidates?" Rick asked before he could get anymore embarrassed.
"Yes Sir. They are the very ones. Quite a remarkable trio Sir, I must say. All of them extremely capable of handling this job profile. But the lady in the third chair, the last one, is something else. Charming young woman, with a good degree and probably the best one among the three, she has a remarkable resume for this job. But that's just my opinion Sir, with everyone else."
While Collins was talking about that particular girl, Rick noticed that there was a slight hint of a smile on his face. He knew the man for 20 years now; Collins was a trusted employee of the company even when his father was alive. All these years, Rick knew him of having a strict professional appearance and never had he ever seen him smiling once while talking about any other person in the company. Was the woman so special that she had made Edward Collins smile? What was it about her that intrigued even Rick's toughest employee?
"If you think so great of her why didn't you select her along with the other interviewers on your own? Why did I have to come here and interview these people? "Rick was curious now.
"As I said Sir, it was only our opinion. You are the boss and owner of this company, the ultimate decision lies in your hands. And I personally think that you would very much enjoy meeting this young lady."
Rick could feel something was going to happen. But Collins was right, he was now very much interested in meeting this woman.
"Sir if you please, everyone is waiting for us." Collins motioned towards the last door at the end of the corridor. He then started stepped aside as Rick started walking towards the door.
Opening the boardroom door, Rick was greeted by Jared Smith, Stuart Thomas – his HR manager and Petunia Robins – his manager. "Good afternoon Sir," they all said together, "we are ready to start with the interview," Robins informed him.
"Sir, here is the file about the details of the candidates," Smith said handing him over the file. Rick was now looking at the first candidate's name 'Angela Williams'. Was this the woman?
"Okay. Now is everything ready?"
"Yes Sir. Everything is setup and ready."Robins told him.
"Sir, do you now want me to send in the first candidate?" Thomas asked
"Yes please." Rick glanced at her direction before taking his seat.
"Okay Sir." Saying this Stuart left the room. The others turned towards Rick and were now waiting for his instructions. "You may leave now," he told them calmly.
"Yes Sir," all of them said together before leaving the room and closing the door behind them.
As Rick was going through the details of the first candidate, he heard a knock on the door and a shrill voice of a woman saying, "May I come in Sir?"
Okay this was now turning out to be a massive headache and it was just the beginning.
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From now on I'll be doing one character's POV in one chapter, coz its really difficult to put two in the same chapter.
How are you guys finding the story till now? Like it? Don't like it?
Please comment and vote. It'll surely be appreciated a lot! :)
