Chapter 1 The First Meeting

• Blair’s P.O.V
• “Next.” The receptionist held up the chart in her hands and scanned over all the names before announcing the name of the next candidate. “Blair Avalon.”
• I stood up fast enough to give me a whiplash, before I adjusted my jacket and cleared my throat…and raised my hand like a pathetic highschooler. “Present!”
• Jesus, Blair! Why don’t you add ‘teacher’ to the end of that to sound like a complete nerd?
• “Mr. Maxwell is waiting in the interview room,” she pointed to the door behind her, an amused smirk on her plump, red lips. “Go right in.”
• I bowed to her slightly, before I started running towards the interview room…as if the men on the other side would fly away if I didn’t run all the way down the hallway, to the doors that would determine my future.
• Skidding to a stop right outside the doors, I took deep breaths to calm my jittery nerves and weaved my hands through my hair to tame them into place. I then proceeded to wipe my hands on my black pencil skirt. I’d kept it simple with a white full-sleeved shirt, the black skirt, black stockings and black heels. My dark brunette hair was brushed back into a ponytail to keep the wild mane in place and I’d applied as light makeup as possible. However, with the way I was beginning to sweat…I was worried about how much of the makeup was still on my face.
• But just as I finally steadied my nerves and was about to place my hands on the door knob, it opened on its own and I bumped into a man who was rushing on his way out. My heels were unable to keep the balance on the polished marble and it slipped…and on my way down, I grabbed onto whoever it was that I had just bumped into and fell back…expecting to hit the floor.
• I closed my eyes, bracing myself for full impact, but instead, I felt his arms at my back, holding onto me tightly so I didn’t hit the ground. Those hands that now helped steady me seemed muscular…strong…and I opened my eyes just a slit, still scared that I just might screw up once again and slip…
• But then my eyes met electric blue orbs, filled with authority and I was instantly forced to open my eyes fully, so I could get a proper look at the man who was holding me.
• He looked like a God, straight out of the front pages of Forbes Magazine. Some of his dark hair fell onto his forehead while the rest was gelled back neatly and his face was the perfect proportion of muscle to fat ration. High cheekbones, a perfect angular nose and a square-ish jaw…the man was utter perfection…
• So much so that while ogling the sheer beauty of him, I failed to notice the anger in his eyes, the hardening of his jaw as he noticed how I devoured the mere sight of him.
• Just then, he hauled me up and then shoved me aside roughly, breaking whatever spell that had me transfixed. And then he stormed off, leaving the office with hasty steps and in such harshness that he kicked aside the supply trolley that the janitor was carrying, without so much as an apology or a backward glance.
• The poor old man looked flabbergasted for a second before he lowered his head and began picking up the supplied like it had been his fault all this time. I took a step in his direction, to help him, when the receptionist called my name once again, this time impatiently.
• Startled, I looked at the woman who was now giving me a death glare and motioning towards the office. It was only then that I remembered that I was here for an interview and there were others waiting for this position as well.
• How come I had one look at a man’s face and my brain had fried all but crispy? I had never had that happen to me before in my life and I had met handsome men. But at this moment, that wasn’t important. Getting this job was.
• So I straightened my spine and fixed my collar and pushed any stray hair out of my forehead before pulling the stained glass doors open and entering the interview room for Maxwell Buildings Incorporated.
• However, there was only one person inside the interview room, on the other side of the desk. And one empty chair next to him.
• Oh…
• “H-hello…good morning,” I gave a slight bow as I came forward and extended my hand to the elderly man with the aura of authority. “My name is Blair Avalon and I’m here for the interview…”
• “Good morning, Ms. Avalon,” the man who I assumed to be Mr. Bernard Maxwell, shook my hand firmly before pointing towards the seat on the opposite side of the desk. “I’m Bernard Maxwell, the CEO of Maxwell Buildings Incorporated. Please, have a seat, Ms. Avalon. Let’s get to know each other well.”
• “Thank you,” I smiled at his kind gesture. Honestly…I hadn't expected the CEO of Maxwell Building Incorporated to be so…friendly.
• Strict and bossy? Definitely. But friendly? No…this was unexpected.
• I righted my skirt and took a seat opposite to him while swallowing nervously. Kind or not, there was no denying the air of authority around this man.
• He looked a lot like the man I bumped into earlier, as I was coming inside the room and there was no doubt in my mind that Mr. Maxwell was that man’s father…the man, who was now etched into my mind despite that one look.
• “I see you graduated from Yale.” Mr. Maxwell went through my resume, nodding his head in a way that I assumed meant that he was impressed. “Were you-”
• Before Mr. Maxwell could finish his sentence, my phone started ringing from inside my purse.
• “I…am extremely sorry,” I scrambled to open my bag and take out my phone. “This was so rude of me. I…”
• “It’s alright, it might be important.” Mr. Maxwell gave me an understanding smile. “Pick it up.”
• I looked at my phone screen to find that it was my brother…who hardly ever called me unless there was a specific reason.
• My brother and I shared a deep bond ever since we were young. We are almost five years apart, so I was his second mother growing up…and after we ran away from home…I was all he had left. So the two of us were very close to each other. He knew that I had an interview today, which was why I was even more confused…because he knew how important this was…so he shouldn’t be calling…unless…
• So without thinking any further, I picked up the phone. “Blake? Wh-”
• “Hi, this is Nurse Catherine Kovac calling from Harborview Medical Center. We found this cell phone on one of the victims of the accident. Please come down to the hospital immediately to identify the victim and check if they are among the survivors.”