Chapter 212 Old Acquaintance
1705words
I step out of the car and the street is crowded with people. I hurriedly make my way towards the building that has the name "Dazzle Dreams" on it in a big white bold monogram.
Taking a deep breath, I enter the building. The building is surprisingly filled with very less staff. I greet the young woman at the reception and then hand her the card of her company, "Someone handed this car to my neighbor while asking for me."
"Your name please." The woman asks in a cold professional tone.
"Tessa Will." I give her my name and after typing on her computer, she picks up the phone and informs someone about me.
"You can take the elevator straight to the 11th floor, Miss." She guides me politely and I thank her with gratitude.
I walk towards the elevator with each step getting heavy and my heart starts to pound heavily at the same time.
DING
The elevator door opens and I enter inside, pressing the button for the eleventh floor.
I am extremely nervous and when I look at my reflection, I realize that I have messed up my hair and my shirt is also tucked out from the side.
I immediately smooth my hair and tuck my shirt properly in.
After taking a deep breath, I feel like I am ready to go and just then the elevator door opens with a DING.
Again, increasing the beating of my heart.
Relax, Tess. They won't eat you.
I keep repeating in my mind and just then a woman appears from nowhere like a ghost and I nearly fall from her sudden arrival.
"Tessa Will?" She confirms and I nod my head.
"This way, please." She leads me to a way and as I look around I notice that the whole place is well furnished but there is only a handful of employees here.
"Is today off for work?" I ask the woman in curiosity and sensing my point she starts to explain, "This company is established six months ago, so we are still recruiting people for the different positions, Ma'am.'
"Oh."
"This way, please." She opens the door wide of a room and asks me to step inside. Without thinking much, I enter the room which is quite larger than I had imagined.
"Do you want coffee, tea, or anything, Ma'am?" The woman asks in hospitality and I shake my head in response.
"No Thanks. I am good."
"Then, Mr. Maverick will see you in a minute, Ma'am." She says dismissively as she closes the door and leaves me alone in this huge room alone, or I would say the office.
But who's office is it, the CEO of this company? Or HR Manager, maybe?
I try to not stress myself and keep practicing in low voice, "Hello, Mr. Maverick, My name is Tessa Will. You had been looking for me?"
No... No... No...
"Hello, I'm Tessa Will from Chicago."
Yeah, that sound better but Mr. Maverick's greeting?
Maverick?
Why this name sounds familiar to me?
Mave - rick.
Mave .... F**king .. d**k...
F**k, the realization hits me hard and I feel like my world has turned upside down. No... No... this can't be the one I am thinking. No way. Never.
I turn on my heels, I need to leave this place quickly before I'll encounter anyone but as my bad fortune has promised to never leave me the door of the office opens, and there enters the devil.
"Are you intending to leave?" The man asks calmly standing at the door blocking my way to escape.
"Uhmm... No..." I shake my head hesitantly, as the man enters inside and turns to close the door.
BOOM
"It's ok, I won't bite." He says with a smirk and I don't feel a bit pleased by his joke.
As he walks towards his place, I notice that he has grown a lot, his face looks mature now and in this three-piece suit, he looks quite dashing and noble.
Gracefully, he takes his place and then gestures for me to sit.
"Sit," He commands lightly.
"I never knew you were interested in jewels," I remark.
"Just developed my interest." He replies warily.
"So... are you the boss? Mr. Maverick?" I question hesitantly.
"Aiden Marven Maverick." He corrects me with a gentle smile on his lips and my stomach twists weirdly. I have never seen him gentle and polite like this. He had always been wild and impatient.
"Uhm... I don't think I would be suitable to work here." I say apologetically as I rise from my seat with the intention to leave.
"I haven't even started the interview yet, Tessa Will." His cold chilling voice comes from behind me and subconsciously my steps halter mid-way.
"I don't have any degree with me," I reveal before he is able to start the interview.
"I know." He says calmly leaning back on his chair and I stare at him in bewilderment.
"Why... Why you're so calm?" I ask.
"Hah, It's been more than 4 years since you last saw me, many things have changed since then." He explains with gentleness and I am completely struck by the change in his attitude.
From the wild, asshole, how could he turn into such a mature and polite man?
"Still, I don't expect this much change in you." I breathe still not believing my eyes.
"Same here. You have changed a lot, too." He points out and I look down at myself nervously.
"Have I?" I touch my hair feeling nervous, have I turned into an ugly old woman now?
In college I had been living a life of beauty and calm I wonder if still I am able to impress the people around me.
Sigh, but who cares about it now.
My life now starts with Cyrus and finishes with him there is nothing in my life or my concern at this time.
I am just a mother, Cyrus's mother not Tessa Will that used to be clever and arrogant, and beat the shit out of this bulgy Aiden. No, many things have changed now.
"I know we both had... unpleasant memories of each other from the past. But, I would really appreciate it if you at least try for this position." He looks at me with sincerity and unknowingly I am back at my seat, straightening my shoulder and getting ready for his questions.
He interview me for an hour that I don't think should go that long but he keeps bringing up our past college days in between and I couldn't help but explain my point of view on his doing.
"We could go for lunch, now." He stands from his place indirectly inviting me for lunch as I look at him in hesitation.
"You're forgetting we are old acquaintances too. From that relation, we could have lunch together, No?" His reason is valid and his smile is disarming. I never knew he is such an attractive and handsome man when his words comes out as a sweet melody.
Whoosh...
For a moment, I feel mesmerized by his caring and sensibility and nod my head as he very politely starts to lead me the way and we walk out of the building together.
Aiden takes me to a fine restaurant and we both order lunch according to our preferences.
"So, how was Chicago?" He asks casually.
"Hmm.. good," I replied plainly.
"I wonder what makes you leave?" He says as his eyes stare into mine for answers.
"I wonder what changes you into such a polite gentleman." I tease him trying to change the subject and he chuckles.
For the first time, I don't feel any evilness in his laugh but it's pure and angelic.
Aiden, an angel, I laugh at this thought.
"Anything funny, Tessa Will?" He prompts with a smirk.
"I still remember the way you were, a devil. Could never imagine you like this... And this suit on you..." I pause inspecting him up and down. "How do you even manage to keep wearing them, I still remember how you always wear T-shirts and Vests, showing your muscular body to the whole campus," I state, amused by the change in him.
"Devil? Did you look at me as a devil? I thought I was your greatest competition, no?" He asks teasingly.
"Indeed you were." I agree.
"Why you didn't graduate? After all, it was your dream to get into that university in Chicago." He questions and I look at him stunned.
It was indeed my dream to get a scholarship in Chicago but how would he know about it? We both were enemies back then, so how does he look so concerned about me, now?
RING ... RING ...
My phone rings breaking my trance and as I stand to take out the phone from my pocket the waiter appears from behind keeping our lunch at the table politely and subconsciously I disconnect the call without even looking at it. I sit back at my place, my phone in my lap when again it starts to ring.
RING ... RING ...
I look down and my eyes widen, not because of the person who is calling me but because of the name he has saved on his number.
It shows "Husband" and I try my best to not show any reaction to it as Aiden's eyes are still on me watching me intently.
I pick up his phone and exchange a few words, I don't want Aiden to know about him nor want Andrew to know about Aiden at all. Both men are, after all, great trouble in my life.
"Anything important?" Aiden inquires.
"Nah... just a friend. She just wanted to know if I need a ride back home." I lie and thankfully he didn't press it further. Later, he offers me his laptop for work on designs which is very generous of him, and even insists on dropping me back home.
I had never thought in my life that one day I would be admiring Aiden's behavior of becoming a true gentleman and treating a woman with respect and generosity.
So much has changed in these last few years.
