what?”
I noticed her glance towards my watch. “I studied towards a bachelor of business, where I graduated with honours. I continued on to get a post grad, when I ticked up almost $90,000 in tuition fees. I didn’t want to be in so much debt, that when I did land my dream job, I wouldn’t be paying off my student loan.”
“How long have you been doing all this?”
“A year and a half.”
My business mind starting counting, until Emily interrupted my train of thought. “I paid off my student loan within a year.”
“ Why aren’t you chasing your dream job? Gosh, you just have to persevere like everyone does, out of study. You find something eventually.”
Emily folded her arms again. “Money. Do you have any idea, what a graduate starts out at with no experience? I applied for jobs. I got turned away. No one was willing to give a young woman a chance. I settled on an intern role, filing bullshit paperwork and making coffee.”
She paused for moment, getting riled up.
“ Oliver, I got paid a starting salary of $32,000 per year and when I paid off my loan, with the nights I did here I realised I was making more money than my C.E.O.”
“I take it this must be your dream job now, by the amount of money you are making huh? You’re on top of the world…” I added.
A thin sheen of tears began to emerge in her electric blue eyes. Her head angled down to look at the watch my father had given me.
“ Emily, your father must be really proud of you…” I said.
Her head rose and her eyes widened, and she slapped me in the face.
It was so loud everyone turned, stunned. Emily stood up to leave and I grabbed her by the arm to sit her down.
“Let go of me!” she said , trying to pull her arm away. The commotion unsettled everyone, so that the barman and the bouncer by door came over and tried to grab me. I took out all the money, in my left jacket pocket and put it on the table. There was ten thousand dollars in cash, on the bar.
“ Emily, I want you.” I said firmly.
Her eyes shifted to the cash and then to me. Everyone was shocked at the amount. I reached into my front pockets and added to the pile. It was now higher than my tall glass of CC dry. The girls on the couch stood up and soon crowded around us. Emily put her hand on her mouth..
“Is this a joke?”
“No, this is your final interview for a job”
“I didn’t apply.”
“I want you to work for me, as my executive assistant. On this table is $50,000 dollars as an upfront payment and another $50,000 after six months with the option of full-time employment.”
The lady from the counter hobbled in and interrupted. “What’s going on here?”
“I’m offering Emily a job.” I said.
“ Emily, is this guy, causing you grief?”
The woman stopped in her tracks with her hands on her face when she saw all the cash.
“I barely know you…” Emily said.
I paused and placed my hands on her waist. “I know you.” I said.
W e heard the whispers of the women behind us. Some of them saying they would take her place and do anything I wanted. One of the brunettes said she would do me real good for half the cash, which amused me. But I didn’t want Emily for sex and the ladies got the wrong end of our conversation. I saw a glint of opportunity within her and there was a side of me that wanted to take her away from this life.
“ Emily, our business has been acquired by Cerberus petroleum. They are the largest oil conglomerate in the world. My partner and I, are in the process of working out the restructure and I would love to have you on my team. This is your shot at your dream job.”
I watched as she parted her hair behind her shoulders. When we both looked at each other dead in the eye, she didn’t flinch, but her eyes began to well up again.
“ Emily, I need someone I can rely on. Your education and skills will be invaluable for a role such as this. I will teach you everything I know, you won’t have to worry about