STRANGERS » JOSHLER

t h r e e

"JOSHY, I'M SO nervous. What if they reject me? Just because of my hair. Or my teeth. Or - " 

Josh's hand slips into Melanie's, giving a reassuring squeeze that makes Melanie sigh, cutting off her rambling. 

"They'll love you, Mel." Josh smiles. Melanie smiles back, eyes going back to the road as the signal turns  green. It was a few minutes past eight and they were currently on the way to Joseph Entreprises. Better early than late, right? 

"Thanks, Josh." She breaths out, "I don't know what I'd do without you." 

Josh smiles softly, "Me too." 

He stares outside the window the whole ride, looking at random things. After some time, Melanie announces that they'd arrived, and they get out. 

Melanie straightens the dress she was wearing, dusting imaginary dust off making Josh roll his eyes. "You're gonna be okay, Mel." 

Melanie nods stiffly, glancing at her wristwatch, "It's currently forty minutes past eight. Let's go in." 

They walk into the seven-storeyed building through the glass doors, and Josh waits in the side while Melanie goes to the reception and talks to the red-head there. He tries his best to look at anywhere but the red-head as she keeps shooting him glances. 

Josh hums under his breath, slightly rocking on his heels as he takes in the scene of men and women dressed in expensive suits and dressed going in and out of the building. 

"The sixth floor." Josh cocks his head to the side to see the petite woman looking pointedly at the elevators. Josh doesn't not notice the red-heads penetrative gaze on him, so to escape the uncomfortableness, he nods quickly and they make their way to the elevators. 

A few other people entered the elevator as well. Clad in expensive suits and iPhones pressed up against their ears as they talked about whatnot. The elevators rises and stops at several floors, people getting out at their respective ones. In the end, there are just five people. Melanie, Josh and three other girls. 

Josh's gaze shifts from one place to another as he feels his uncomfortableness creeping in again. The other women wore clothes that left little to imagination, and their face is basically painted. 

It isn't like Josh has any problem with girls putting on makeup. Doing what makes you feel good is great, but he was attracted to guys so . . . 

 The elevator dings and the doors open, everyone getting out. There are a few people on this floor. Melanie tells him to take a seat somewhere as she goes to talk to a blue-haired woman. Unlike the red-head from earlier, Josh actually smiles back when the woman's hazel eyes dart to him and the corners of her lips curl into a grin. 

Her gaze falls on Melanie again and she says something, before nodding and walking away. Melanie walks to where Josh sat with a slightly dazed look on her face, plopping in the seat next to him. 

"What was that?" He asks. 

"One sec." Melanie mumbles, searching for something in the handbag. She takes out a few papers, straightening them before looking at Josh.  "What was what?" 

"That." He does a gesture with his hand. Melanie's features scrunch up in confusion before her cheeks tint pink. 

"That was Ashley . . " She clears her throat, "Mr. Joseph's personal assistant." 

"Oh." Josh smirks,"That means you'll see her a lot now, eh?" 

Melanie's jaw drops and she gives him a shove, "I- No, it's not like that." 

"Sure, sure." Josh says, rolling his eyes. 

"I had a twenty second conversation with her. You don't expect me to 'fall for her' this fast, do you?" She does air quotations with her fingers before adding, "Although she does seem very nice . . . " 

Before Josh can say anything, Ashley comes back, eyes solely focused on the girl beside him. She looks at Josh only when she is close enough and smiles sheepishly. 

"Oh, hi." She extends a hand which Josh takes, "Ashley." 

"Josh." 

She gives him a nod before facing Melanie. "Boss's gonna be here in twenty. Come in to fill some paperwork?" She asks and Melanie arches a brow. 

"Now? I mean, isn't that supposed to be after the interview?" 

"Well, actually, it is." Her voice drops to a whisper, "But I don't think they're gonna get it anyway so . . " She glances pointedly at the other women, one re-applying her makeup while the other two were on their phones. 

Josh coughs to cover up his chuckle as Melanie and Ashley laugh, earning their attention. They simply roll their eyes before returning to their business. 

Ashley feels her phone buzz. She slips it out of her pocket, eyes going over the text message. Her mouth forms an 'o', before she faces us, pocketing the device. "Boss said he's having a bad day so I should do the selection." She rolls her eyes before flashing a cheeky smile to Melanie, "Seems like we already know who got the job." 

Melanie giggles and Josh almost 'aw's at how cute they look. They were going to be a thing, Josh knows it. 

"Um," Josh starts, "but you need to do the interview, right? They're gonna be thinking . . stuff if you simply pick Mel now that you're being all cuddly with her." Ashley tilts her head to the side and Josh's eyes widen as he adds, "I mean, it's cute and stuff that you are, but I just- it just- " 

Melanie's hand slips into his and she squeezed it gently, calming Josh down. He will never be as comfortable and frank as he is with Melanie with anyone else. 

"Josh," Ashley says, "I never said I wasn't going to take their interviews." 

 "O-Oh," He swallows, cheeks reddening with embarrassment, "Yeah, right. Of course, I'm." 

Another squeeze. Josh breathes out and Ashley shakes her head, a smile on her face. 

"You're adorable." She chuckles, "I'll just tell them the interview's been postponed and then maybe try and get to know our new addition better?" She looks at Melanie  who nods almost too eagerly 

"That'd be great." Melanie says, looking at Josh, "You wanna go home?" 

"Uh, I can't drive, remember?" He says, glancing at Ashley to see her eyes fixated on Melanie. He's almost relieved, having expected her to judge him on every single flaw. Like everyone else always do.

"You can always take a cab." Ashley says, and Melanie looks at Josh who gives her a look that says 'low on money'. 

Melanie gives a curt nod and Josh fakes a cough, "Um, I'll be looking around. You'll be done in an hour, perhaps?" 

The women look at each other, before nodding. "Yeah, of course. An hour, yeah." 

"Okay, see you. I'll be around."

-