Chapter 3 CAMILLE

“And where is the list of the people your team interviewed?” Adrien demanded.

The Manager of the recruiting team handed over a printed file to him.

“Hmm…okay, that’s fine. You can email them all their employment letters. They will all be working as interns right?” Adrien replied.

“Yes sir, except one of them which will be replacing your secretary” the manager responded.

“Replacing my secretary, why?”.

“Your secretary dropped her resignation letter just yesterday sir. The General Manager mentioned something about a business meeting you were at and he approved her resignation”.

“Oh, that’s fine. Thank you for the information. You may leave now” Adrien replied and sank into his chair.

“Why did she leave?” Adrien wondered, mumbling to himself.

He flashed back to the day before when she had come to discuss a business proposal of a client with him and ended up professing her feelings of admiration for him.

Adrien had been surprised but he took it well, because he was used to being admired even by his female employees.

Suzanne was brave enough though and attempted to seduce him. Adrien was not having it because he had a policy of not having any sexual relationship with his female workers to avoid any sense of entitlement or blackmail.

He however, was in a good mood and turned her down politely. Suzanne then decided to take off her clothes and try even harder. She was drop- dead gorgeous but Adrien stuck to his rules and declined.

Suzanne picked up her clothes, wore them back and stormed out in shame, mumbling how her situation was always different.

Adrien wasn’t expecting her to quit over him. Maybe he was becoming too distracting, he thought. Or she had probably made a bet that she would end up in bed with him. That was the only sensible explanation for her actions.

He shifted his thoughts from Suzanne to the new staff of interns that would be coming in the next week. He had to inform his administration manager to prepare a new speech for them before they resumed work. He picked up his telephone and dialed his number immediately.

A WEEK LATER

“Good morning everyone, my name is Spencer Durand and I’m the manager of Administrations in this reputable company. We’re all glad to have you here and as I’m sure you all know, this is the biggest opportunity of your life so don’t mess it up. Now, there are some rules and a speech I’ve prepared specially for you. The CEO will be joining us soon. Now, onto the rules…” Spencer’s voice gradually drowned out of Camille’s ears.

She felt like there was a knot in her stomach and it was not because she was nervous, but because of the public embarrassment she was waiting to receive. Since her encounter with Adrien, she had gone home crying bitterly and drowning in her sorrows.

When the employment mail came in, she was overwhelmed with joy, but she didn’t know what to expect. It was either Adrien had forgotten to do as he said, or he wanted to publicly embarrass her and she wouldn’t be surprised if he did the latter because he was known for his ruthlessness.

Standing here in the midst of the crowd, she just wanted the administration manager to stop talking so they could be shown their booths and she could hide her face from him forever and hope he'd forget about her eventually.

“…and those are all the rules! I hope everyone got it” Spencer said, snapping her back to reality. Everyone else nodded promptly.

“What’s up with you today Camille?” Simone said, nudging her slightly.

Great, she had been too focused on Adrien’s reaction to her presence to even listen to the rules.

Camille inhaled and exhaled. She had to be confident at least so she could at least impress Adrien if he decided to let her go as soon as he set his eyes on her. She looked up from the ground and the small crowd murmured among themselves.

Camille wondered what could be happening and then she saw HIM! Their eyes met and Camille withdrew her gaze immediately, cursing herself.

Adrien stood tall, walking majestically to the center of the first floor where the small crowd of interns stood with the administration manager.

His crisp black tux glistened in the sun reflected by the open windows and his smooth jawline complimented his icy blue eyes. His tux clung to his muscles a little which was even hotter and everyone could see his ripped muscles through the tux.

Camille shook herself back to reality, she could not possibly be drooling over someone who had disrespected her and would be ready to do it again if he so wished.

Every step Adrien took closer to them made Camille’s heart flutter. She didn’t know if she was swooned by his hotness or afraid of his reaction to seeing her.

She wasn’t surprised that Simone was not the least worried because she had other options and connections, unlike she who had only her dying mother to worry about first.

Adrien approached them finally and shook hands with the administration manager who greeted him politely, introducing the interns to him.

“Simone Jarvis, intern in administrations sir” Adrien’s brows furrowed.

He knew that face, he had definitely seen her somewhere. Simone greeted him politely and immediately stepped to the side, before he would recognize her.

“Camille Vincent, intern in administrations sir, although she was the one the recruiting team were considering for the position of secretary”.

Secretary? Camille was shocked. It was a dream come true and a curse. On one hand, she could be on a higher pay and on the other hand, she would be closer to Adrien. There was no avoiding him now.

“I definitely recognize you. I couldn’t place your friend’s face over there, but I definitely remember yours” Adrien said, staring deeply into Camille’s eyes.

At that point, Camille could melt into the floor.

“Good morning sir” she found herself saying, like she hadn’t met him before then.

Everyone went silent, waiting for Adrien’s next words. Camille felt like she could burst up or that the ground would open up and swallow her up.

“Secretary huh? You’ll have to prove yourself to me then Camilla” Adrien said finally after staring into her soul for what seemed like forever.

“It’s.. it’s Camille” Camille muttered.

“What?” Adrien turned.

“I…I said it’s Camille. My name…it’s Camille, not Camilla” Camille repeated, fidgeting.

“Okay. Camille, Camilla, whatever. Come by my office after the tour by the administration manager” Adrien said and left for his office.

Camille breathed a sigh of relief, at least he didn’t fire her on the spot.

He seemed unusually calm even, observing her. It was unlike him, based on all the stories she had heard about him and from her own little experience the week before.

“Yes sir” she responded.

“Okay, we will now be taking a tour of the building…” Spencer continued.

Camille felt a hand on hers and turned to see Simone beside her, with a warm smile.

“We'll be fine, Cam ” she said, whispering. Camille could feel her eyes welling up. She had survived this stage. Now, she had to prepare her mind for whatever was coming.