Cliché Love

#16 Long Lost Love

"Please send in the next candidate." She spoke through the microphone massaging her head. The day had proven to be rather stressful for the twenty six year old CEO of the publishing company.

She needed to appointment a new head of the sports department but had gone over as many as ten experienced men none of whom she can select as they lacked the spark she searched for.

This company was her own work and she strived to make it the best, selecting only the chosen few with unbeatable talents. Every individual is capable for something great, they just lose their way, she took it upon herself to find their hidden talents and give them a platform.

"Miss. Ria, serial number thirteen is a twenty eight year old who has an excellent academic background and a very impressive grip of the English language. He, William Jerome, has an experience of four years in the publishing industry and has quite an impressive resume. Ma'am, personally, I think he is very capable." Her forty year old assistant filled her in on the details and to be honest, she sounded very confident of this one. The name sounded way too familiar to her ears but she refused to believe it.

"Please send him in. And Mrs James, a cup of coffee who be amazing." She replied through the microphone.

"Coming right up."
The door pushed open after a curt knock.

"Good morning, Mr Jerome." She greeted him, still looking down at his files.

"Ria?" The voice echoed, the depth of the voice sent shivers down her back as she sat straighter in her chair.

"I'd appreciate it if you call me ma'am or Miss Timone. It is highly unprofessional to-" Her rant was cut short as she looked up, his face resembled one she couldn't put a finger on.
"-to call one's employer by her name." She finished motioning him to sit down. He still looked rather shocked as he took a seat.

"Yes, so Mr Jerome, I wanted to ask you. Why is it you have a degree from Yale yet you have found yourself jobless." She continued with her routine questions.

"No, wait, you really can't recognise me?" William asked.
"Sorry, I'm supposed to?" She looked closer to see if he matched any of the faces of her acquaintances but had come out empty handed.

"Well, I'm William. Will, from eight grade? Your first boyfriend?" Realisation dawned upon her as she finally recognised his face. She had held a relationship with him for over three years but had to be separated as they longed for different things in life.

"Oh, well, this is the first. I usually never run into my high school friends." She said in a clipped tone.
As ashamed as she felt to admit it, after Will she hadn't really dated anyone else. Sure there were the weekend dates her friend would set up for her but she had become a rather busy lady to hold up a serious relationship.

"I haven't heard of you for so long." And he wasn't wrong, she shifted to New York after her graduation and started her company.
Before she could terminated the conversation, Mrs James knocked on the door.

"Come in." She said, and watched as the older lady walked in with her cup of warm coffee.
"Ma'am, is everything alright?" She whispered as she placed the coffee beside her, low enough to go unheard by the confused lad sitting opposite.

"Yes, everything is quite okay." Ria answered, still wondering what she should do about the situation at hand.
"Thank you, Mrs James. I'll be right with you after this candidate." She smiled in her most professional demeanor.

Mrs James mumbled to herself and left the room after giving her boss a curt nod.
"Yes, Mr Jerome. As I was asking, why have you found yourself jobless?" She continued her professional interview, wanting to forget their relationship.
She could see his eyes hesitant which got her to sit even more upright and look at him intensely.

"Well, I had to take some time off my previous job at The National because of some personal reasons." His eyes shifted to his lap and immediately all alarms went off in her head. The answer he gave wasn't genuine. A number one rule an interviewer follows is eye contact whilst getting answers.

But she felt the need to give him another chance, seeing his impressive resume of course.

"The National is a very big publication, Mr Jerome, giving up a job there must've been a tough task." She egged him on.

"It was, but it was also a discussion I would make again. A mother is above all other necessities." His blue eyes stared darkly at her now remorseful brown ones. His eyes accused her of doubting him.

"Oh lord, Maria? How is she?" She gasped, remembering the lovely lady with the same eyes as Will's. She made the best cookies and worked her butt off to make a living for Will. Maria, as she had come to call her due to the elder lady's incessant pleading, was a very kind woman and had welcomed her with open arms.

"She-She couldn't make it." His voice broke along with her heart.

"I'm so sorry, Will." She spoke with a different emotion, one she hadn't felt in years. She actually hurt for him. He was so close to his mother, always after her.

They sat in silence for a while.

"I really loved her cookies." She reminisced, smiling.
He looked up at her, and remembered the girl he once loved. Both earning for the same feeling - love. It's cruel to see two who couldn't be separated sitting so far apart, their minds so detached but fate can't ever be fooled.

"They named it after her in the town bakery. She was quite something."

"Unfortunately, Will, I have to go and take the rest of the interviews." At her words he nodded and stood up to leave.

"It was good seeing you again, Miss Timone."

"It's Ria." She smiled warmly at him.
"I can't promise you a job here, Will. But if you ever need me for anything else, please do tell. I'm here to help." She offered, getting up as well.

"A dinner." He jumped at the opportunity to know her again.
"A dinner?" She chuckled, nodding and waving her hand. "Still the charmer, aren't you?"

"Still the rejecter, aren't you?" He retorted laughing along.
"Don't run away this time."

TO BE CONTINUED