Chapter 17

17. A new assistant?

Coraline’s interview is coming closer to its end. I feel anxious to get out of here, as the surrounding seems to have an almost suffocating effect on me. Everything I learned today is too much for me to handle. I need some peace and quiet, a chance to leave the building. But Gerald dogs my steps along the way.

“I know it’s too much to handle,” he says, “but think of it this way. You will be getting a COO’s salary rather than an allowance from your father. You would be able to live as independently as you want. Get your own apartment, your own vehicle, and take care of yourself like you want to.”

“Very tempting, Gerald,” I mutter unhappily, “but I’ll pass for now.”

“Jace,” for the first time, he calls me by my name, and I turn to him with a sigh He looks confused, “why do you deny this so much? Is it because of my position in the company?”

“God, Gerald, that’s the last worry in my mind,” I assure him, “in fact, I feel good about having you here at the company. You could clearly handle yourself as you did with that asshole manager.”

Gerald purses his lips, and regards me for a moment, “Then why are you denying this opportunity?”

“Gerald, I’m only human,” I confess, “I can’t go to school and work as the fricking COO in a company. You have to understand this. I’m not even twenty-five years old. I do not have the experience, nor do I have the necessary qualifications. And more than that, Aiden’s fricking father is the third majority shareholder, and his son hates my guts. Clearly, his father lets him do what-the-

hell-ever he wants, and the last thing I want is to have problems in the company because we can’t stand each other-”

“Hey,” Coraline approaches us, having done with her interview. She catches the tension between us before she even gets close, “Er, am I interrupting something?”

“Not really,” before Gerald can answer, I butt in, “I’m about finished here. How about you?”

“Same. They said they would give me a call after evaluating me,” for some reason, she does not look too pleased about it.

“Very well, then. Let’s get out of here. Do you have any other interviews you want to attend?”

“Nope, not today. In fact, this is the last one for a while,” the unhappiness in her voice deepens, and I realize that I need to know the root of it.

“Okay, it’s the afternoon now,” I make a show of glancing at my wristwatch, “do you want to have lunch with me?”

Coraline bites her lower lips, and nods, “sure if you aren’t busy.”

I’m not. In fact, I got a free day today,” I reply and turn to Gerald who regards me with barely hidden exasperation, “tell dad I want to talk to him about the liberties he seems to be taking concerning myself. I’ll see you soon.”

Gerald looks like he wants to retort, but at the last moment, changes his mind, “very well. I will do what I can about our third majority shareholder. Have a good evening, Master Greyson. And you too, Miss. Coraline”

With that, he leaves for his office “So, your servant isn’t your servant at all, huh,” Coraline comments as the waiter leaves our table after placing our respective lunch dishes in front of us. We have chosen to have our meals at a local French food place where Coraline is a regular attendant. I have never had French food before, so I was open to the experience.

Besides, the day had already become the worst it could be. I’m pretty sure nothing else can happen to sour it.

“Not at all,” I reply, spooning the French onion soup in front of me, “He’s the CEO of Zelt Tech and a friend of my dad’s. He’s looking after me as a favor for my father.”

“How does he find time to follow you around and do his job?” Coraline wondered loudly, and I shrug.

“Beats me,” I decide to change the subject, “so, I hope you’re not having any personal problems with the change in your relationship status.”

“Oh, no, none,” Coraline smiles ruefully, “in fact, my parents are thrilled to have me at home again. I’m an only child, you see.

They always see me as their baby girl. It was hard for them when I moved out in the first place. Now my mom spoils me so much when I do as much as mention the possibility of moving out. again on my own.”

She chuckles at that, and I find my own lips quirking into a smile. Must be nice to have parents like that.

“Well, they would be proud of you when you get the internship,” I provide, and her face darkens, “what’s wrong?”

“I don’t think I will get the internship,” she confesses, looking dejected, “the level they expect is way higher than where I’m currently at. I mean, I’m still a student, and they asked me about my previous experience. For an internship! With Aiden being a jerk and taking away the opportunities at other companies and my own inexperience here, I don’t know if I will get a job at all.”

“That’s so unfair,” I protest, “you’re great at what you do from the little I saw.”

“I know. Maybe I’m overestimating myself but...” she sighs, “I just want things to sail smoothly again.”

I think about her dilemma for a moment, and make an offer, “Okay, I can help you with the inexperience problem.”

Her head whips up from where she is poking her food, “how?”

“If you don’t get the internship, come and work for me as my assistant,” I remark, “I know my father won’t be letting this go until I become the COO, and I don’t know the first thing about the job. But you do, you’re more adept in the corporate world than I am.

So, being my assistant will get you work experience, and help me get my father off my back. It’s mutually beneficial. After some time working for me, you can apply to Zelt Tech again, and by then I will have the ability to even give you a good promotion!”

“That does sound tempting.” Coraline whispers after a few seconds of thinking, and grins, “you know what, I’ll take you up on your offer. After all, I got nothing to lose if I get rejected from all of the companies I interviewed at. I will be a good assistant, and I’ll finally get the opportunity to pack my debt for the help you gave me. So, I accept.”