Rose;
I groaned as a painful headache tore through my skull. Wincing, I groggily opened my eyes and blinked rapidly.
The room was strange and I gasped as I spun around, there was a man peacefully asleep beside me. A man who wasn't Toby, my boyfriend up until two weeks ago.
The soreness between my legs told me everything I needed to know and my breath hitched in my throat. How have I gotten here?
Memories of the night before came rushing back to me and I mentally face-palmed. Last night wasn't supposed to happen but I had gotten an invitation card to Toby's wedding and I realized that I couldn't hold it in anymore.
I had gone to the bar to clear my head when I saw him. He was the most handsome man I had ever seen with a strong jawline and piercing blue eyes. He had a body that could put male models to shame.
He had approached me one thing had led to the other and we found ourselves in a hotel room.
I cautiously slid out of the bed, picking up my previously discarded clothing, and hurriedly put them on.
I tiptoed to the door and as I held the doorknob, I turned around to check one last time if he was awake yet. I sighed in relief because it would be weird if he woke up to me sneaking out. I didn't know his name and I thought it'd be weird if I kept a note for him.
As I turned the knob, an idea hit me and I tiptoed back. I took my small notepad from my bag and began to write.
"Dear stranger,
I'm sorry we had to end things this way. But last night was a mistake and thank you for helping me take my mind off a lot of things.
Yours, your co stranger.
I re-read it again and nearly laughed. It was funny but I felt I had to do it, in case he'd think something had happened to me.
I put it on the bed, beside him but thought against it as he might lay on it. I then put it on the bedhead but figured out that he wouldn't notice it. Then I decided to place it on the table, there was no way he wouldn't be able to see that.
I pressed my lips firmly together as I walked briskly outside the bedroom, careful not to make a noise so as not to wake him.
After closing the door behind me gently, I heaved a sigh of relief. It was nice and I wanted more. I wanted to stay back and revel in the moment, but I knew I couldn't.
"Next!" A sultry feminine voice called out from the office opposite where all the applicants were seated.
My eyes darted around, noting the outfits they were all putting on. I began to feel inferior as they were all richly dressed.
I was the last applicant, having arrived late due to my sexcapade the night before and I had been seated for almost two hours. Apparently, the interview also started late.
I ducked back my head, counting about five women before it would get to my turn. I inhaled deeply, forcing myself to calm down, alas it was at that moment that my stomach chose to grumble, I didn't have breakfast and the only thing in my stomach was the wine from the night before. I hissed in annoyance, earning a glare from the woman seated beside me.
"I'm sorry," I muttered and she turned away, muttering a string of curses.
It was my first time applying for a job after recently graduating from college.
I knew that finding a well-paying job would be difficult as I had no experience, but after stumbling on the TBC group vacancy advert on the internet, I realized I could have a chance as they were looking to hire a personal assistant with or without any experience. The pay itself was more shocking. I had no idea that a personal assistant could earn this much.
I pressed my palms flat on my thighs, attempting to straighten the crease on the black pencil skirt I was wearing, one of my modest pieces of clothing I own.
I needed this job urgently as I was dirt poor and on the verge of losing my apartment due to the bills I still haven't been able to pay.
"Next!" The feminine voice called out again and I quickly snapped out of my trance, realizing that it had gotten to my turn.
I hastily rose to my feet, slinging my bag over my shoulder as I gripped my files tightly as if they would crumble beneath my finger.
As I walked towards the door, my heart began thudding wildly in my chest and I swallowed the painful lump in my chest as I muttered a silent prayer.
Calm down! Calm down, Rose! It's just an interview!
I tried calming myself, attempting to swallow down my nerves and increasing anxiety but I knew that this wasn't just an interview, this was a matter of grave urgency for me, a matter of life and death.
If I don't get the job, I'll have to leave my apartment and probably go back to my stepmother who might even take me in and it'll be a shitty situation, being dumped and losing my house in just two weeks.
With a slight knock on the door, it opened to reveal a woman seated behind a desk and when she spoke, I realized it was that feminine voice. I had no idea that she was conducting the interviews herself, I had presumed she was the secretary.
"Tell me about yourself"
I gulped as I began.
"I'm Rose Hill, a business management graduate from Havana College. I only just graduated, so I have no working experience, but I have worked at charity functions before..."
"Why should we hire you, Ms. Hill?" She quickly interrupted me and I swallowed hard as I thought of what to say.
"I—um—I think—"
Suddenly, the door barged open and the woman quickly stood up.
"You're here sir. How do you feel now?" She questioned.
"I'm better now, thank you, Elaine. How has the interview been going?"
I furrowed my brows because, for some reason, the voice seemed familiar.
"So far so good, it's been going well. This is the last applicant sir" she said and he grunted and I realized that he was her boss which meant that I was right. She was either a secretary or just a normal employee.
As I spun around to glance at him curiously, she spoke.
"Ms. Hill, this is the CEO, Mr. Jayden Tyrell and he'll be taking over from here."
"Nah—you're good at this, go do you—-" he stopped talking just as our eyes met and I gasped. He did look rich but I didn't know that he was the CEO of a huge company.
"You!" He spat out and I whimpered, already seeing myself not getting the job even before being spoken to.
"You know her sir?"
I swallowed hard, awaiting his next word which I knew would never be good.
"Don't worry Elaine, I'll continue from here," He said and I could see a smile playing on his lips as his eyes twinkled.
He sat down in front of me and I began to think of what to say.
"So—stranger, you just left like that with one note? What kind of a letter is that?" He demanded, peering into my face and I averted my gaze.
"It's just—I um—I was drunk- we both were, I didn't want you thinking that something had happened to me," I explained and he scoffed.
"So you think what we had was a mistake?" He questioned and I wanted to inform him that this was an office, a place of business and that we shouldn't be discussing personal matters, but I thought against it as I figured out that since he was the boss, he would know whatever would be best.
"We were both drunk sir," I said finally and he nodded.
"That's right. But it wasn't a mistake, for me. I think it's fate."
I gulped, not understanding where he was heading to.
He picked up my folder. "Rose Hill—" he glanced up at me.
"I kept guessing your name, wouldn't have taken you for a Rose, Stranger," he said and I swallowed hard, feeling nervous under his intense gaze
"My name is Rose, sir," I revealed and he nodded.
"And you can stop calling me sir—"
my eyes shot up to meet him at his words as I wondered what he meant by saying I could stop referring to him as Sir.
"Anyways, I have a special job for you. You fit the description, in fact, you're hired."
My eyes almost bulged out of their socket. I was hired? I had a job. I wouldn't worry about losing my home.
"Thank you, sir," I almost screamed out in excitement.
Then something pricked in the back of my mind. What if he hired me because of the sexual interaction we had and he saw this as an opportunity to pay me?
I sighed. Who cares? I made a drunken mistake and that was over. If he felt he was paying me, fine too, all that mattered was that my days of being poor had come to an end. I wouldn't lose my home!
His next words made all the oxygen fly out of my body.
"I'm hiring you as my wife."
