Desiderium

2 - Retine vim istam, falsa enim dicam, si coges

Restrain your strength, for if you compel me I will tell lies

As soon as stepped through the sliding metal doors, his interrogation began.

"So, what are your qualifications then Miss Remington?" He said staring at my face intently as if he was trying to determine what sort of a person I was. I kept a blank face, I didn't want him to be able to read me like an open book.

"I have an English degree from Cambridge." I replied curtly, looking straight ahead of me. Simon chuckled.

"You can relax Miss Remington," he said grinning at my stiffness "I'm not trying to catch you out, I'm just tying to get to know you." He continued to laugh at himself and his inquisitive stare diminished.

"I'm sorry I'm just not a very open person." He just nodded still grinning. His eyes were warm and friendly and I could tell that he was a trustworthy man.

"Now I'm just going to warn you, the man you are going to be working for cracks the whip like a slave driver. And I know that you have had experience in this kind of environment or else Holly wouldn't have recommended you. But I just want to warn you that it will be harder than the other secretarial jobs you have done before" My insides dropped, I had no experience, I didn't even know how to file papers, send emails or write in short hand, I was absolutely screwed.

"Another word of warning," he continued "the world of business is a mans world, and I don't mean to be sexist or anything but it most certainly is in the realm of the bigger businesses. Your a pretty girl Scarlett and as a word of caution, the men don't always have your best interests at heart and probably won't take your role particularly seriously." His eyes became more serious and i could tell that he was looking out for me. I understood where he was coming from, powerful men treated women like objects and not as people since they were easily disposable. I smiled at him gratefully just as the doors opened and I was met by a mass of silver, white and glass.

Surrounding me were people striding between desk upon desk, each within their own mindset and focused on their task. I could already tell that the level of dedication I could sense here would not agree with my relaxed attitude. The desks consisted of a shield of cuttingly clear glass of which behind was a extremely modern looking computer and each desk seemed to be mounted high with paper work. I wondered why they hadn't tidied it up, after all tidy desk tidy mind, then again I can't talk.

"It's only the work they need today, it will all get cleared before they leave." Simon said as if he read my mind. So all of that work is only for one day, God it would take me a lifetime to do all that.
"We'll Miss Remington, I hope that that's not the case, for your sake." Simon chuckled, oh no I had just said that aloud, I did have a habit of speaking my thoughts without realising it.

Simon then lead me through the desks and papers to a door on the far side. Simon opened it and gestured for me to go first. Through the door was a corridor that looked so clear it could have been polished with a toothbrush. Potted plants were placed in several corners and gave the corridor a sophisticated edge. There was another reception desk that stretched the entire length of one of the walls and I glanced at a dainty looking girl with fair hair and glossy lips, who smiled at me use before I was ushered through a door into another room.

I gasped as I walked through the door as sure enough there were only two walls in this room, the other two were huge windows that spanned the entire wall. They looked out over the bustling city of London and considering the height of the building I was able to see for miles. I could see the London eye spinning beside the river Thames and the Houses of Parliament situated just opposite it. Around me on other sides were high rise skyscrapers, none of which were as tall as the room I was stood in, which allowed me a clear view of the winding roads and jumbled assortment of the new buildings situated beside the ancient.

"It's amazing." I breathed.