They all got off at the fifth floor, and I continued to the top alone.
The elevator finally came to a halt at my destination and I had begun to feel uneasy again. My throat went dry, my palm shaky.
"Just grab your ID card and leave" I muttered to myself finally stepping out of the elevator before my courage evaporated.
I knocked on the door to HR's office and was ushered in, her eyes lingering on her monitor screen as she issued a request.
"Do you have Mr. Reed's coffee ready?"
"Um.. I wasn't told anything about coffee" I replied utterly confused.
"Aren't you the intern I assigned with coffee runs and why on earth are you dressed like that?" she questioned taking her eyes off the screen and to me.
"No ma I'm Nyla Park, Leah's friend, I had an interview here yesterday"
"Well I didn't expect you to want to start on such short notice, very well then, but you can not be seen in here dressed like whatever that is"
"No, I hav…."
"Would intern Jade please make her way to HR's office" she called out through the intercom, completely cutting me off.
"actually I think I may have forgotten my ID card here after my interview yesterday"
"it says here in your resume that you're multilingual, how's your Japanese?"
"It's great?" I replied totally confused.
One of the mean ladies from the elevator walked in.
"you sent for me ma'am"
"Please show miss Nyla to her office, ensure she gets an outfit change immediately, get the CEO his cup of coffee and ensure they're both ready for the meeting with the investors from Tokyo happening in about twenty minutes from now"
"Wait I just need my ID" I tried to protest, confused.
"Also see to it that her item is returned to" she said ushering me and the mean intern out of her office.
"Right this way miss" the intern led the way.
"Jane right?"
"It's Jade"
"Right, sorry but there must have been some kind of mistake, I just need to get my ID and leave I'm in a bit of a hurry" I said staring at time, I didn't want to miss my chance to go home, I couldn't wait to see my baby.
"Yes, this is definitely a mistake" she remarked softly trying to hide the hate in her voice.
She led me into another office, it was huge, with a shiny glass one that let you see out the city, the most beautiful view I had ever seen.
"Everything you need to know is in this file, change into this outfit, it should be a proper fit and if you need anything else, please try to refrain from sending for me but if you need to do so, you can make use of the intercom on your desk or simply call my line" she said handing me a bunch of stuff
"I'm just here to pick up my ID" I said starting to sound frustrated.
"I'll get it to you as soon as you're done signing this"
"What is it?"
"Just standard company procedure, sign here, here and there" she handed me a pen and I signed hurriedly, I'd do anything as long as it brought me closer to get my ID and getting out of here.
I changed into the outfit I was given and glanced through the file, it contained the job description and benefits.
If I took the job, I'd be getting a fully furnished New York style house, my very own car, hospital bills taken care of and my monthly salary could easily double what I earned yearly working two jobs.
And all I had to do to secure it was to follow the company guidelines and some minor business stuff, I couldn't believe I was about to work away from such a once life time opportunity.
There wasn't a job at home that could even pay me up to half of what they offered and I was prepared to walk away from such a thing.
I had to reconsider.
I was still weighing my options when the rude intern walked in, she urged me to follow her out of the office and instead of getting me ID like I had been politely requesting since I got here, I was led to an impeccably furnished meeting room.
You've got about five minutes till the meeting with the foreign investors starts and for your sake, I hope your Japanese is as good as HR said, here's a list of the details of this meeting. She handed me an ipad.
I stood there not knowing what to make of the situation when a peculiar fragrance hit my nostril leaving me unable to think.
My heart raced, my body froze, the steps seemed to be coming closer. Louder. It was him.
"He wasn't supposed to be here, why was he here, of course he was here he owned the damn company" the perfect time for face palming but I didn't need to draw attention to myself, hopefully he'd pass by and not recognize me.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
"Where is my translator?" he asked staring right at me, I stood unable to move or speak as though I were under some kind of stupid spell.
"You fired her yesterday" jade replied in a stupid corny voice that suggested she was trying too hard.
"And you are?" he asked giving her an irritated look.
"I'm Jade, I bring your coffee every morning" she smiled wrapping a finger full of her golden blonde hair around her fingers.
"You only speak when you are being spoken to and ensure that you stay out of my sight for the remainder of your stay here" he spoke sternly.
The smile on her face quickly disappeared and she apologized softly and walked away hurriedly.
"And you must be the new personal assistant "
I wasn't sure if it was a question or not but I nodded before I could even think.
I hadn't decided to take this job yet.
"No, I don't work here, I just came to get my ID, I forgot it after the interview"
"You signed the contract with the intern which legally means I own you, so for your sake, you'd better get familiar with whatever it is you have there and join me in the next two minutes.
His tone was flat with not even a slight trace of warmth.
Why on earth did I sign a document without reading it, had I accidentally started my first day at work?