The Transfer II

“Yes, you’re the new transfer from the Megalopolis, right? I’m Charity. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said, extending a hand that Andrew confidently took.

“The pleasure is all mine, ma’am. Though I must admit, I’m a bit confused. I was told I’d be meeting with the high chairman. Is he not in today?”

“He’s currently in a meeting that couldn’t be postponed, so I’ll be conducting your intake interview,” Charity responded, “I hope that’s okay.”

“I suppose,” Andrew smiled, leaning back in his chair and lacing his fingers behind his head.

Charity felt her cheeks grow warm and quickly averted Andrew’s gaze. She was attracted to him, of that she had no doubt, and his casual responses and enigmatic personality made it hard for her to focus. She used Andrew’s intake form to cover her reddened face, though she could still feel his piercing blue eyes staring at her through the thin paper.

“So, you’re a Megalopolis native?” Charity asked without removing her gaze from the form.

“Actually, I was born here and moved to Megalopolis when I was young. I finished school there early and started working in the council hall as an intern almost immediately.”

“What made you want to transfer?” Charity asked, finally setting the form down as the heat in her face subsided.

“I just wanted to come back to my roots,” Andrew replied with a shrug.

Charity looked up inquisitively. His answer was unsatisfying, and she felt there must be something more. While Charity loved her home, people rarely requested a transfer to Caladun: a place that offered nothing but miners, mountains, and monsters. More opportunities were usually found in the other three districts, especially in Megalopolis, where city lights were said to rival the very stars in the sky.

“Is that really the only reason?” Charity inquired, skepticism etched into her voice.

“Professionally, yes. Personally, no.”

Charity pursed her lips. She wanted to inquire more but knew her father wouldn’t approve of prying into the personal lives of employees during an interview, beyond what was necessary of course.

“Your face doesn’t hide much, you know?” Andrew laughed. “If you want to ask me, just ask.” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the desk. A smile stretched across his face as his eyes met Charity’s gaze.

Charity bit her lip. Excitement and curiosity threatened to spill over, and she knew wouldn’t be able to stop herself. “Why are you really here?” she asked expectantly, her emerald eyes brimming with wonder.

“I owe someone a debt,” Andrew replied.

“That sounds vague and ominous,” Charity rolled her eyes. Her curiosity was left unsatisfied, and she was annoyed. Andrew laughed once again. He seemed to enjoy watching Charity’s animated expressions.

After a moment, Charity sighed in resignation, realizing that Andrew would not be expounding further.

“What is it you hope to gain from working in this office?” She asked, continuing the interview in the most formal tone she could muster.

“Experience,” Andrew shrugged, “Some of the longest-lasting council members come from this territory. I’d like to learn from them.”

“If you could choose which council member you were assigned to, would you have a preference?”

“Not particularly, but there are plenty of people I’d be interested in learning from, like your father,” Andrew teased, pointedly uttering the last two words while giving Charity an expression that made her feel he could see straight through her.

“How did you know he was my father? I never even gave you my last name,” Charity was perplexed. She intentionally avoided providing her surname to hopefully prevent Andrew from assuming she held any relation to the high chairman. It was a common practice she did with newcomers, so she could determine whether they were being genuine with her or simply attempting to gain favor in order to get near her father.

“Is that one of the intake questions?” Andrew joked. Charity rolled her eyes again and pressed her lips into a thin line. He was toying with her, and she didn’t like it. She made no reply and chose to glare at him instead.

“I do my research,” he shrugged.

“I don’t believe you,” Charity replied curtly.

“I’m telling the truth,” Andrew said as he threw up his hands in defense. “Although, it did help that there’s a guy across the hall who filled me in on who you were before I met with you this morning. Tall. Brown hair. A little too obsessed with your dad.”

Charity groaned and rubbed her face. “It was Jake, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. He seemed a little possessive of you. Is he-?”

“Please don’t finish that,” Charity interrupted and rubbed her temples. “We dated for some time before we were hired as interns, but things didn’t work out between us.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Andrew responded. His lips twitched as he stifled a smile—a movement that happened so subtly, Charity did not notice.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“You shouldn’t be. He’s a jerk, and I’m happier without him,” Charity replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

Andrew laughed loudly. “Your candidness is admirable, albeit a bit unprofessional.”

Charity simply shrugged before returning her attention to the intake form and chiding herself for getting so off track. She had several questions she had to ask, but time was wearing thin. Her father would not be happy if this form was left incomplete.

As though he could read her mind, Andrew stated, “You know, I haven’t had a chance to tour the building yet. Maybe you could bring that along and ask me questions while you show me around?”

“Bold of you to assume I would be conducting your tour,” Charity retorted jokingly, even though she liked the idea and had already decided to go along with it.

As if on cue, Peter walked into the office. Andrew stood to greet him, and Charity quickly tucked the unfinished form in a file so that her father couldn’t see it. “How was your meeting?” she asked nonchalantly.

“Typical. Monotonous but efficient,” he replied, extending his hand to greet Andrew. “How about yours?” Peter asked Andrew, “Do you have anything you’d like to ask me?”

“No, sir,” Andrew replied politely, “your assistant did a fantastic job. She actually offered to give me a tour of the facility.”

“She did?” Peter said, surprised by his daughter’s apparent hospitality. “Well then, don’t let me stop you.” Peter made a face at Charity. His eyebrows were raised to an almost comical height, and he gave her a subtle thumbs up as Andrew turned toward the door. Charity stifled a laugh and waved goodbye to her father.

The moment the door clicked closed, Charity heard someone’s throat clear. The voice was not quite as deep as Andrew’s, and Charity recognized it instantly. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She did her best to maintain a professional demeanor and turned to face the last person she wished to encounter.

“Hello, Mr. Adder,” Charity said with a smile.

Disappointment etched across Jake’s face as he heard Charity’s greeting, “Charity, you don’t have to be so formal with me.”

“Yes, I do. Outside of work, I want nothing to do with you and wish to remain professional with each other when these types of encounters unavoidably occur,” she retorted, lacing her words with venom while still maintaining a professional smile. “Now, unless you have something business-related to speak to me about, I have something important I need to attend to.”

Jake’s eyes narrowed. There was more he wished to say, but he chose to remain silent, knowing now was not the time. “I actually have a meeting with your father, so if you don’t mind,” he spat, gesturing toward the door behind Charity. She glared at him as he passed. He stopped just before entering to shake hands with Andrew, as if the awkward exchange Jake just had with Charity didn’t occur.

Charity watched the interaction and found it a bit amusing how much taller Andrew was than even Jake, a person who enjoyed looking down on people both figuratively and literally.

“That wasn’t awkward at all,” Andrew said sarcastically once he and Charity were alone.

“I’m sorry about that,” Charity sighed as they began walking down the long corridor.

“Do you want to talk about what happened?” Andrew asked.

“There isn’t really much worth mentioning. We were together for a few years when we were studying to be interns, and one day I realized he was only using me to get close to my father. He’s also a narcissistic prick, so I ended things, much to his and my father’s displeasure,” Charity replied.

Andrew laughed and chose not to pry anymore. A comfortable silence filled the air as Charity ushered Andrew to the building’s main hub: a massive circular room with hallways branching off in various directions. Feeling exhausted and slightly dehydrated, Charity did not stop walking until she and Andrew had reached a small break room in a hall opposite the one they had just exited. She set the files down on a small table and made herself another cup of coffee. She rubbed her tired eyes and sighed heavily as she placed herself in the chair opposite Andrew.

“Long night?” Andrew inquired.

“You could say that,” Charity yawned. “I’m sorry I didn’t show you anything on the way here, but I’ll give you a proper tour once we actually finish your interview.”

“I don’t mind,” Andrew replied.

Charity observed Andrew between her sips of coffee. She had always considered herself as a person who could talk to and make friends with anyone. She rarely found herself uncomfortable in social situations and could usually read and understand people quite well. However, there was something different about Andrew.

Conversation was easy, and he seemed kind and considerate, but he was impossible to understand, more so than anyone else she had ever met. It was clear he was hiding something. His composed face and mysterious answers drove Charity mad with curiosity. He was like a puzzle with missing pieces, and Charity was not sure what the final picture would be.

“Do you have any family here, Andrew?” Charity asked, caving into curiosity. For a moment, Andrew’s composure changed. Charity saw sadness in his eyes, yet it was quickly replaced with the guarded, calm demeanor he had been wearing all morning.

“No, I came here on my own,” he replied calmly. “What about you? Aside from the high chairman, of course.”

“It’s just me, my dad, and my mom. I don’t have any other family,” she answered in a tone that matched Andrew’s as she took another sip of coffee.

“You seem pretty close with your dad,” Andrew remarked.

“I am with both my parents. I’m really thankful for them. My dad and I don’t always see eye to eye, but he’s a good man who I really admire.”

“What about your mom?” Andrew asked, resting his arms on the table and leaning closer toward Charity, clearly interested in what she had to say.

“She’s the kindest, most sincere person I’ve ever met. I hope I can be half the woman she is one day.”

Andrew flinched, and Charity looked at him inquisitively, but he asked another question before she could think much of it.

“So, I take it you talk with her a lot?”

“Usually, but she’s away on a camping trip right now. She has a group of friends she goes with every few weeks, but why are you so curious about my family?” Charity furrowed her brow. She was used to people asking her questions about her father, but not many desired to know much beyond that. People rarely cared about her or her mother, or they only feigned curiosity for a short while in hopes of gaining favor with her father. Charity hoped Andrew would not prove to do the latter.

“Just getting to know you better,” Andrew replied with a shrug.

“Why?” Charity asked skeptically.

Andrew laughed, “I can’t just want to know you more? You seem like a great person.” He smiled warmly.

Charity rolled her eyes and raised her coffee cup to cover the slight pink that had crept onto her cheeks. She did not fully believe his answer, yet she could not deny she was intrigued. The more they talked, the more of a mystery Andrew became. Charity despised the unknown and wished to understand who this new transfer really was and why he was really there. Not to mention the fact that she found herself more attracted to him with each passing moment.

“Alright, Andrew,” Charity said as she set her coffee cup down, determination twinkling in her eyes, “if you really want to get to know me, take me to dinner. Two nights from now.”

Andrew grinned, and for a moment, Charity thought she saw a twinge of nervous excitement creep onto his face. “I’ll pick you up at eight,” he replied.