Lavender

Chapter 9 - Unnerving

LAVENDER'S POV

Wearing Jada's black printed dress, I blew a loud breath as I stood in front of the building of Ellington Enterprises. It was the address Larry gave to me so I guess the friend he's saying is someone who's working inside the building in front of me.

I breathed as I slowly stared up to the building of Ellington Enterprises. "It's tall. Too tall," before glancing to the entrance of Ellington Enterprises. "Okay, Lavender. This is your second interview. Good luck, self," I said, cheering for myself before taking steps towards the entrance of the building when someone harshly bumped into me in my back.

"Aw!" I said as I looked at the man who was now walking continuously. His back is facing my direction but I can exactly describe what he's wearing as I'm sometimes a fan of polished style men's suits.

Not that I'm aiming to have a fashion-related job, but because of Jada in our high school days, I've gotten used to reading the magazines she has left in my room whenever Mom takes my things as part of my punishment.

Unluckily, I didn't see the man's face correctly, so I will definitely remember what the man was wearing. If ever we cross our paths again later and I've recognized him, I'll be the one who's going to bump him. I could hear my demonic laugh in my mind but I didn't give a damn as I examined what's the rude man bumped me wearing.

He is actually wearing clothes that help him to have a more casual and clean-cut look. He also slightly turned in my direction after bumping into me, making me see that he's wearing a classic navy black blazer matched with a light blue, collared shirt and dark chinos.

Tch! "Jerk!" I shouted that got some people's attention around me, making me feel a bit embarrassed before moving on.

Damn it! Whoever that man is, he's a real jerk. Who would want to bump a girl and says no apology? It was probably someone like that maggot that I'm still seeing from the building's large glass panels that didn't even give me a glance and just entered the building without saying sorry.

Pissed, I fixed the dress I was wearing before blowing a loud breath as I also fix my newly dyed white hair. "So much for the good luck," I whispered before walking towards the entrance and finally entering the building of Ellington Enterprises.

As I entered the building, I couldn't help myself from being amazed as I stared at the wide but luxurious place I had just stepped in. Ellington Enterprises' building is equipped with high-end interior designs. From the large glass panels to the dominant colors, that I must say is manly but elegant. From the shades of black to the dark blue colors of the tiles and marble walls, the interior design creates an impression of dominance and power for me, making me a bit intimidated.

"Who is the employer Larry's implying anyway?" Larry never said anything about his friend, only that his friend needs help for his sister that I'm attending to.

And now that I've seen the company, I'm valid to think that the employer Larry's referring to is someone... rich. I can't help but get too excited from that thought, especially that Larry already said my hourly wage if ever I have impressed Larry's friend to hire me.

"Oh, my freaking God." I must do my best to get this job.

This is, after all, an excellent opportunity, especially since the amount of money I will get is tremendous. Big enough to give Dad months of vacation to the places he wants to go, only hoping it's not Arizona he's planning to visit. I still hate Mom.

I blew a breath before walking towards the reception desk. I put a smile as the receptionist instantly saw me and greeted me.

"What can I do for you, Miss?" he said with a dashing smile.

Nervous, I gripped the envelope in my right hand that contained my resume and credentials to show for the interview. "I- uhm... I got an interview here. Lar-Larry Jones said that my interview would be held here, in Ellington Enterprises? Hi"

The male receptionist looked at me like I had just said something weird. "Ahm... wait for a second, Miss?"

Oh, s**t! Don't tell me I have been tricked? Damn that Larry Jones. Once I find out that this is his way of having his revenge because I rejected him back then, I will surely hunt and beat the s**t out of him.

"La-Lavender. My name is Lavender Miller..." With that, the male receptionist nods his head with his open mouth as he takes the call that's making the telephone ring near him.

Damn it! I feel like I have been fooled. After all the disaster in choosing what to wear from the man who seriously bumped me earlier, I feel like punching someone. Grrr!

"Miss Miller?" The male receptionist's voice made me glance back at him. He is now smiling. Unlike earlier, he's staring at me like I'm weird.

"Ye-yes?" Please make the interview real. Make the interview real! I said in my head as I waited for him to say something.

"Your interview---"

Please make the interview real. I gripped the envelope in my hand again as I felt my heart beating erratically because of nervousness.

"... will be held on the top floor. Please allow me to accompany you."

"Yes!" I slightly shouted, which made some people look at me again while the male receptionist just chuckled at me, making me embarrassed because of humiliating myself.

On the top floor? That does mean Larry's friend is someone in a higher position for Ellington Enterprises? Maybe someone near the Chief Executive Officer's office. I put aside the thought in my mind and follow the male receptionist as he guides me towards the elevator. When inside, I keep myself silent and proper as the nervousness in continues to eat me up.

This is it, Lavender. The interview was not a hoax, and the employer was really true. I was really nervous this time as the job was different from being a helper in a coffee shop to being a caregiver. Larry's friend, who's also going to be my employer, has already disclosed how much I will be paid.

I already talked to Dad about whether I'm going to be full-time or part-time as the contract Larry said was an indefinite term contract. Dad didn't really care whatever I chose, so in the end. I'm aiming to be full-time, even if that means being far away from Dad. Dad understands my plans anyway so it's okay for him to that I'm away for him, as he also said that he wants me to venture forth, discover more things while I'm still young, which is quite unearthly to me.

I blew another breath as I watched the elevator floor indicator rises. I and the male receptionist both waited for minutes until the elevator floor indicator stops at floor ninety-nine.

Fuck, Lavender. Prepare yourself.

"This way, please. Follow me," said the male receptionist, and I nodded at him as the answer.

I can't help myself stare at the interior designs as the whole company interior screams the word luxury. I followed the male receptionist as we both took two turns before seeing a hall that is only connected to the last door here on the ninety-ninth floor.

"That is the door for the CEO's office," the male receptionist said that making my mouth open.

Oh, my freaking God! Larry friends with a CEO? And he freaking forgot to mention it to me. What the hell! Now that I have an idea of who my employer is, I have become more nervous than earlier. Years of training and getting credentials, I suddenly felt like it wasn't enough as my employer is a CEO. A Chief Executive Officer that owns Ellington Enterprises.

God damn! I should have asked for more information about my employer from Larry, but damn. He should have also mentioned to me that his friend was a CEO—a freaking Chief Executive Officer.

"Miss Miller?" the male receptionist said, which made me come back to my senses.

Dayum! I spaced out, and now, it felt like my blood ran cold.

"Miss Miller, are you okay?" said the male receptionist with a worried tone.

I gulped in nervousness before blinking a few times. "Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm okay. I'm just getting cold feet." I know worry is written in my face, making the male receptionist chuckle.

"Oh!" He chuckles, making me a bit embarrassed because of my reaction. "It's okay to feel that way. Even I find it weird that Chief Executive Officer itself is the one who is going to be your interviewer even if there's no hiring around the Ellington Enterprises. But my curiosity was answered when earlier, Mr. CEO called the reception desk, which is unusual as the CEO never called to us, " he said that made me confused.

"No hiring?" I asked, also curious and still feeling nervous.

"Yeah, so whatever is it that you're going to be interviewed for, don't worry. Even if Mr. Ellington is called the cold CEO, he has a soft heart for his employee. In return, we also do our best to help him," the male receptionist said with a smile that somewhat gives me comfort.

"You mean, he loves his employees? Like bond with them?" I asked to make myself calmer after being shocked that a CEO is going to be my employer.

"Uh... no," he said, which made my nervousness come back into my nerves. "But technically speaking, he's kind. Kindest CEO I've ever met. He was always the reason why our additional compensation is higher than expected."

"Oh, uh, really?" I asked that he answered with a nod. Well, I guess... What he said is enough to appease my shaking nerves a bit.

"Yeah, so..." he put his left hand in my back as I felt him slightly, giving me a push to move forward. "Good luck!"

Yeah, Lavender. Good luck. I said to myself as I continued to take steps towards the CEO's office door. Until I'm already facing the one-way mirror sliding door of the CEO's office. I turned to my back to see the male receptionist smiling at me as he signaled me to go inside.

As I feel my heart beating frantically, I inhale and exhale three times before taking the gold-colored handle of the sliding door. Venture forth, Lavender. Just like Dad's trying to say, I must be brave and follow my dream.

And my dream, is to help people still be able to taste a piece of life, as life also became unfair to me back then. My heart is with helping people who can't voice out what they wish, for people who can't even move to reach what they want.

This is the reason why you are here, Lavender. This is it. I said into my mind before gripping the gold-colored handle and sliding it to enter Mr. Ellington's office.

I can still feel my heart beating as I set foot on the CEO's office floor. I don't know how I will pass the interview but I really wish that I will not stutter or else, I will lose the five percent left of confidence I still have.

With shaking nerves, I walk forward as my eyes set their destination to the back of the CEO, who's a wee bit... familiar to me. But I don't know, for a CEO, his office is quite dim. In my opinion, it's like he set his office lighting to dark, just always to feel sleepy. I continued to walk towards the CEO's desk as he was also like, preoccupied as he gazes at what Sunny Isles Beach's scenery in Florida can offer to him.

When I feel like I have closed myself enough to the CEO's desk, I clear my throat that instantly caught Mr. Ellington's attention as he slightly turned his head left but not totally enough to make me see his face clearly.

This time, I blew a silent breath before speaking up. "Mr. Ellington. I-I'm here for the interview."