Squirming in his presence

~Jade’s POV~

I hate the sound. It is the most vexing sound on the planet. I mean, I’m not in high school anymore. I reached for the nightstand to turn off the alarm, but I pressed the snooze button. After 5 minutes, the ridiculous sound came back on again as I was about to fall asleep again. I grumbled, closed my eyes, and drew the blanket closer to my face, hoping to fall asleep.

“Wake up, Jade. Don’t forget you have an interview today.”

“Just 15 minutes, Dad.”

“Baby, no one will take you seriously if you arrive late.” It annoys me he was right. With a deep grunt, I kicked open the blankets. I hate adulting. I mean, I have to find a job. Three months ago, I was a girl with dreams, and working wasn’t one of them. Not yet, but knowing how things are at home, I need to work to help my father. I immediately walked into the bathroom, took care of my business, showered, and picked out what to wear for my interview: a black pencil skirt with a high waist that fit my curves and ended just above my knees; a green long-sleeved blouse with a modest back slit. I approached the full-length mirror, running my hands down the side of my chest to ensure the top was properly tucked under the skirt. I put on my black high heels and began tying my hair into a ponytail. I put on my favorite earrings and a choker with the letter “slut.” Unless you examined closely, the slut words were barely visible. On my birthday, three days ago, my best friend Lee presented it to me as a gift. I did my make-up and eventually applied my killer red lipstick. I was all packed up and ready to go to the Blackwoods.

The Lombardis own the Blackwoods Corporation. The Lombardis ran New York City, with Domenico Lombardi as the most feared man in town. People crouch on their knees just hearing his name. The man owns almost all the buildings in New York City. We are his subjects, and he... the king. The man exudes wealth; even his name says, “Look at me.” The man is as haughty as an ice scratch that ice can melt. Nobody can stand in his presence. Nonetheless, I, Jade Davis, am attending an interview to become the Beast’s personal assistant.

I requested an Uber, and it dropped me at the entrance to Blackwoods. My heels were the only thing that could be heard clicking against Blackwood’s marble floors. I noticed a desk and went straight there. The facility was deafeningly quiet as if no one was working inside.

“Hello and good morning.” I greeted the lady at the front desk nicely.

“Good morning, sweetheart. How can I assist you, my darling?” The lady responded with the warmest smile I’d ever seen.

“I’m here for an interview.”

“Oh, Mr. Lombardi’s 9:00 a.m. appointment.” When I heard a ding, she motioned me to an elevator, saying, “It will take you to the top floor.” I thanked her and entered the elevator. The top floor is completely different from the ground floor. If I said the ground floor was peaceful, the top floor was even more terrifying. I noticed a lady seated behind the desk sorting papers.

“Morning,” I said, and the lady looked at me from head to toe before scowling.

“Can I help you?” Ouch! She didn’t even greet me before scrutinizing me as if I were some piece of garbage. I ignored her snobbishness.

“I’m here for an interview.” She scanned me once more and scoffed.

“Take a seat in that section and stay there until I summon you.” I went over to where she told me to sit. Not long after I’d taken a seat, a man walked in, and the lady started beaming as though she wasn’t being sassy with me, with a huge smile on her face.

“Good morning, Mr. Lombardi.” The man didn’t even look at her; he just said,

“Lexi,” he paused, “any calls for today?” While he was walking, he carried on with the conversation.

“Not yet, sir, only the 09:00 a.m. appointment.” The man came to a complete stop.

While inputting a code into his office, he stated, “Postpone my 9:00 a.m. appointment and make it 11:00 a.m..” His aura alone is terrifying. I never got to see his face. Wait! Has he just rescheduled my interview for 11:00 a.m.? That is “URGH!” I have to be at the bank by 1 p.m. I couldn’t stand the thought of waiting any longer, so I ended up getting on my phone to pass the time.

Me: Bitch

Lee: Bitchilicious, what’s up?

Me: Domenic happened.

Lee: What misdeeds did the monstrous creature commit? Your Majesty, OMG, did you get to see his face?

Me: postponed my interview to 11:00 a.m., and no, only his muscular back

Lee: Oh no, babe, but you can still go to the bank any day, even tomorrow.

Me: True, let’s meet after the bank, my treat.

Lee: All right, let’s meet at Mike’s.

I know my best friend. Every time we go out, she chooses a restaurant. I have a nasty feeling about today even before it has started. I’m not sure why. I checked the time. The time was now 10:57 a.m. The secretary then began to bat her faux eyelids at me before scowling again. This bitch doesn’t even know me, but she already hates me.

“You may go in.” I smiled at her and moved towards the door. When I knocked, the door opened by itself. I walked in, and the door closed on its own, followed by stillness. When I looked up, my gaze was greeted by a diamond chandelier hanging from the ceiling. My feeble mind began to calculate how much one of those gleaming gems would cost. I looked around the office, but I didn’t see anyone else there. A booming, authoritative voice stopped me in my tracks as I got closer.

“Do you think you are worthy of standing before me dressed like that?” I searched for the voice, and there, I was greeted by the cold, handsome, yet scary face of none other than Mr. Lombardi as he strolled to his wooden desk, coming from gazing outside through his massive windows, with one hand tucked in his pocket. He took his hand out of his pants, fixed his suit jacket, and took a seat behind his desk, like a king on his throne, looking at me as though I were dirtying his office. I took a glance at my clothes. He didn’t have to remind me that I wasn’t wealthy, did he? I was dumbfounded at first, but I soon found my voice.

“Good morning, Mr. Lombardi.” His cold eyes make me shudder with just one look. His stone-like voice makes me squirm. I feel judged in his presence. Not that I wasn’t being judged, but I feel like I will never be worthy of anything.

“You are not even qualified to breathe out my last name,” he boomed. “Lexi, come and take this trash out of my office,” he said over the intercom. Did he just call me trash? I burst into tears in front of him. I cursed ever being 18; perhaps if I had been older, I would not have cried in response to such insults. How can he call me garbage when he has never met me? He knows nothing about me, and yet he fucking judges me. As Lexi entered his office, the last thing I heard from Mr. Lombardi was,

“Miss Davis, I love your choker.”

Lexi smiled as she ushered me out. I’ve never felt so embarrassed in my life. I exited Blackwood and called an Uber to the bank.