BENEATH HIS MASK

CHAPTER 13 (PART B)

I stand in my spot unable to speak or say anything. The confused expression on my face didn't go un-noticed by Damien who wore a bored expression on his face. He took advantage of the current situation to taunt me even more. His questions were proof of my guess.

"so why do you think you are qualified for this job?"

Who does he think he is? Does he actually think that i will stand his teasing. If he did, then he was highly mistaken.

"Are you going to just stand there or actually say something. This is an interview you know."

I couldn't hold it in any longer and decided to voice out my suspicions "it's not like you are going to give me the job. I don't see the point of the interview anyway."

He looked amused and yet exasperated at the same time.

"Woaw, are you this snobbish in all your interviews ?or is it just reserved for me?." he asked raising his eyebrows.

His snarky comeback made me rethink what i said and i didn't know if i was more confused or irritated. I was clueless about how to act or even speak in this situation. Luckily, i seemed like the universe decided to give me a break when Alexander walked into the room which gave me a minuted to organise my thoughts.

"Damien, i see you met Rebecca." He said formally

"Actually, i met her much sooner than you realise." Damien said with a smirk on his face.

"well, then you must know her better. I just wanted to say i recommend herfor this position." He said smiling but with a serious expression in his eyes. Damien must have caught on to that as he looked at me and then sighed before saying

"Rebecca, if alexander recommends you, then i am sure he sees you fit for the job. Why don't we have a test run for a week and see how it goes. If you pass, then the job is yours." He says calmly.

I didn't know what to do. I knew i neded the money but it was because of Damien that i needed the money in the first place. i didn't really lnow what to do but i simply knoded and excused myself from them and left the office as quick as possible. I rushed down as quickly as i could and jumped into andy's car which caught him by suprise.

"so, how was the interview?" he asked non chalantly.

I didn't know how to answer that as i didn't know the answer to that myself.

"how fast can you reach my crappy apartment?" i ask him.

"how fast can you get me 200$?" he asks me back. I simply look at him confused

"why?"

"that's apparently how much a speeding ticket costs here." he says as he shows me his ticket.

"sorry, it's my fault that you got this ticket. I just needed to get to the interview on time , not that it was worth it anyway." I say sighing.

"why was the CEO a creep?"

"no, he was actually nice. He even liked me and thinks i am fit for the position."

"then what's the problem?" andy asked completly confused.

"the problem is that he already selected a P.A so he recommended me to the vice president who happens to be none other than the annoying Damien taylor." I say frustrated.

The turn off events must have caught andy off guard as he almost clashed with a mini van.

"what?" he asked stunned.

''can we just talk about something else, this is giving me a headache."

Andy didnt say anything but simply knoded. He texted someone and then diverted his attention back on the road. The rest of the ride was a quiet one.when we reached the apartments, all i could think of was to screaming into my pillow. i rufled through my purse to find the keys.

"you know i think there is something which can cheer you up."

"andy, there is nothing that can cheer me up right now." I say as i open the door.

"you sure about that?" a perky voice asks calmly. I turn my attention to the owner of the voice and my frustration soon turns to suprise. I walk towards cindy and give her a big bear hug.

"what are you doing here?"

"what, can't a girl see her best friend?" cindy said wiggling her eye brows

"of course but how did you get in here. ? the keys were with me?" i ask puzzled.

"actually, andy gave me spare keys to this apartment."

"so you can stop by antime?" i ask confused.

"not exactly, you see this isn't just your apartments ." she says grinning.

"what do you mean?"

Cindy waited to speak till andy entered, she looked at me for a minute before turning her attention to andy, she furrowed her eyebrows and and made bizarre expressions which i didn't understand before she finally spoke

"we wanted to tell you later but andy said you were in need of cheering up, so i guess now would be as good time as any to tell you that i am moving in with you."

" what? Cindy you do realise that you wouldn't have time to dress up the way you do and it's realy not a convineint place to stay"

"becks, we promised you that we would be with you no matter what. I want to move in with you, we can share the rent and get furniture in this dump quicker if i chip in and the food...."

I cut her short by crushing her into a bear hug. if there was a silver lining to this mess, it was that i realise how amazing my friends are. Having cindy live with me will make living in this crappy apartments a lot less depressing.

Considering that it was now lunch time. The three of us went out to get some lunch in a diner near by. I ordered a grilled cheese sandwiches, andy ordered a ham and cheese sandwich while cindy ordered a salad. I just shook my head at her. she would always say that she wanted to check her weight, to which i always felt that if she checked it any longer, i would have to tie her to a string to stop her from floating away. She was already a size two. After explaining the situation at stone enterprises for the past 30 minutes, i was desperately interested to change the topic.

"so when are you moving in?"

"Most probably a week later."

"becca, how are you going to manage your part time job once classes start?"

"well hopefully, i can find something different by then."

"does that mean you are going to take the job?"

"sigh, i don't think i have a better choice for the time being."

''maybe it won't be that bad."

"maybe. Can we please talk about something else."

The three of us spent the rest of the time talking about random things. Andy ranted about the speeding ticket for about 15 minutes before i zoned him out. the day flew by quickly and i knew i had to get back and rest. God knew i would be needing it more than ever if i was going to work for that jerk the next morning.

During the night, i couldn't get an ounce of sleep. All i could think about was whether i could sustain myself from punching Damien in the face. It would take every thing in my power to be patient with him let alone polite. i felt the universe was trying to punish me as i was sure Damien that Damien was going to use this as an opportunity to get his way and boss me around after all there could be no way that we could ever get along, could there?