ox3tyi and Shania583
 

Charles Devereaux the Third was just walking, or rather, strutting out of the Devereaux Inc. building when he bumped into her, causing him to spill his Starbucks coffee all over his brand-new Armani suit.

"The hell," he snapped at the intruder. "You just ruined my suit."

He pulled down his Ray Ban shades and peered over at the mischief-maker, revealing his startling blue eyes that contrasted perfectly with his "messy on purpose" tousled brown hair.

Charles was the kind of guy that women swooned over. Not only did he have the looks, but he also had the cash to back it up. The building behind him was none other than Devereaux Inc., a multi-billion international firm with over six hundred locations around the globe. And he knew it.

Except right now, Charles Devereaux was pissed. And no one wants to get on a Devereaux's bad side.

"Are you aware that I have a board meeting in exactly seventeen minutes," he snarled, shoving his Rolex watch in her face to prove his point. "And I'm now unpresentable because of your inability to watch where you're going?"

Alice White looked at the man when he bumped into her and said "Oh, I-I'm so sorry," She looked down at his suit then said "I really didn't mean it", she then realized who he was and then said "Mr. Devereaux! Oh, I really am sorry, I was just trying to get to work on time." She smiled slightly hoping that he didn't get any more angry, she tucked a piece of her blonde hair behind her ear and then looked up at the man. She pale blue eyes trying to be sincere as she did.

When he shoved his watch in her face she took her hand and placed it on his wrist pushing it away from her saying "My inability! You should blame yourself before you go blaming me" she paused "Beside your the one who walked into me." She thought about his board meeting that he said he had to get to then said "No, I was not aware. Also maybe you should learn to leave a little earlier if you plan on walking into anymore people." She looked at the building then back at the man saying "Now, if you don't mind I have that I have to do", she stepped around him and walked into the building behind him.

Charles watched her go into building, dumbfounded. Who the hell was she to waltz into his building after talking to him like that? If there's anything Charles had an abundance of (that wasn't money), it was pride. And right now his was getting stepped on.

"Excuse me, we're not done here," he said as he turned around and grabbed her wrist. "Who the freak are you and why are you going into my building after giving me such cheek?" Charles glared down at her stubborn face. "I've never seen you before in my life, so you're obviously not one of my regular employees."

Charles examined the woman. She looked not a year past twenty and was admittedly pretty. But her Louis Vuitton bag was obviously a knockoff, and her clothes looked like they came from a second-hand thrift store. Charles smirked. "Oh, I forgot. Today's recruiting day. Are you interviewing?"

Alice pulled her wrist away from him and then said "My name is Alice White" she paused "Yes, I am interviewing hence the reason I am here". She then thought to herself great if this guy ruins my chance at the place I'm screwed, she looked at a clock on the wall then back at him. She smiled then said "Not to be rude Mr. Deveraeux but I do believe that your board meeting starts in twelve minutes" she paused "I also have to go to an interview, so good day to you". SHe turned and headed for the elevators so she would make it on time.

((Sorry that it is so short))

Charles chuckled. If this Alice girl here thought she was just going to get off like that, she was sorely mistaken. No one messes with Charles Devereaux III and gets away with it unscathed.

Charles pulled out his iPhone 4 and typed away nimbly on the touch screen pad. "Done," he said, stowing the sleek white device back into his pocket. "I just changed the time of the meeting. It's not like I would've been able to go in this state anyway." He gestured to his coffee-stained shirt and started walking towards the elevators. As he pressed the up button, he looked back to find Alice not far behind him.

"My dad's in charge of conducting the interviews," he told her as the far left door dinged to signal its arrival. Charles walked swiftly into the elevator and pressed for the penthouse. "I look forward to . . . interviewing you, Ms. Alice." He chuckled as the elevator doors closed in Alice's face, and began plotting his coffee-stained revenge.

Alice couldn't believe it he just blew off his meeting, and for what a stupid stain on his shirt. As he walked towards the elevators she sighed, hearing that his dad ran the interviews made it even worse. When he said that he looked forward to interviewing her she was worried that it might not go over to well. When the elevator doors closed she smiled at least she would have time to think about what she would say in the interveiw. She pushed the button for the elevator and when one came she headed up to the floor where the interviews were being held. When she got there she saw other people there that were there for the job. Who thought that an assistant job would have so many people wanting it, she checked in and then sat in a seat to wait her turn.

Charles grinned as he checked out his reflection in the mirror. He had stripped off his stained suit, revealing a well-toned and muscular, tan but not too tan body. He fancied himself a modern Adonis, if you would. Opening his large walk-in closet, Charles began rummaging around his clothes before pulling out a navy blue Ralph Lauren blazer that he paired with a simple white J. Crew dress shirt and a pair of khaki Calvin Klein slacks. Slipping on his favorite pair of Oxfords, he adjusted his Rolex and flashed himself another winning smile in the mirror before starting down the hallway.

Upon reaching the elevators, he then proceeded to ride down to the seventh floor. Once the elevator doors opened, he made his way through the pool of applicant hopefuls toward the interview room.

"Mr. Devereaux," cooed a mousy-haired attendant. "What an unexpected surprise."

"Go set up another seat in there, Bree," he ordered. "And tell father I want to be part of the interviews."

Bree quickly disappeared behind the doors, and through the window paned glass Charles could see her muttering something into his father's ears. As frown lines appeared and a stormy look occupied his father's eyes, Charles began wondering if his plan would bear fruit after all. Catching his eye, Charles nodded as his father beckoned him into the room.

"Hello father," Charles greeted as he strode into the room.

"Aren't you supposed to be at a board meeting right now?" asked his father.

"I decided to reschedule," replied Charles as he assumed a reverential posture. "I decided that since today's interviews are for the position of my personal assistant, it would only be right that I was here taking a part of the interviews. After all, I'd like to meet all the people who took their time and effort to come and show their excitement for this position."

Charles relaxed, seeing his father slowly nod to his words. He had won this stage. Meanwhile, Bree had set up another spot next to his father at the table. Charles confidently sat down and patted his suit.

"Please send the first applicant in," he smiled.

Alice sat and waited to be called, when she saw Mr.Devereaux walk past she sighed she was hoping that she got called before he actually showed up. When he went into the room with the attendant she pulled out a black folder that she had in her bag and looked over them one last time before she went in. When the attendant came back out and called the next person's name, she stood up and thought he couldn't have been a little late could he? She walked over to the door and smiled politely at Bree and then opened the door and walked in. She sat down at the table and said "Good morning" she smiled she wasn't going to let him stand in her way of getting this job.

Only eight interviews in and Charles could already feel his eyelids drooping. All of the applicants so far had been lacking in every possible aspect. Their resumes were strong, sure, but Charles knew from experience that resumes lied. And appearance-wise, well, his sixth grade ex-girlfriend had dressed better. They either didn't know how to put on makeup, or they made themselves look like a clown. And don't even let him get started on their clothes. Each outfit screamed poor, each bag yelled knockoff. Not that what actually came out of their mouths was any better. All in all, not one of them held any sense of womanly charm.

Charles yawned and decided he needed something entertaining. Flipping open the resume folders, he rummaged through the papers until he found a certain Alice White. He grinned, mentally making fun of her picture. Taking it out of the pile, he beckoned over to Bree.

"Bring in this one next," he told Bree. Noticing his father's questioning glance, he added, "Her resume intrigued me."

Alice had been sitting patiently again after handing in her resume she had nothing else to do. When Bree came out to get her she stood up and walked over to the door where the interveiws were being held and then sighed and opened the door. Stepping in she smiled and looked at them both, she noticed that he had changed his clothes but that was only because of the coffee stain. She sat down in the seat and said "Good moring Sir" she smiled again, this was her final chance to get this job and he was the only one in her way.

Charles watched Alice walk in and suppressed an urge to judge her more than he already had. Her peppy smile was annoying him. She obviously knew he wasn't going to make this easy for her, so why did she even bother showing up? Charles cleared his throat and laid her resume down in front of him.

"So, Ms. White," he started. "Let's get this interview started. In your opinion, what makes you stand out from the rest of the applicants? In other words, why should we pick you?"

Charles smiled as he leaned back into his chair, waiting for her answer. Why should he pick her, indeed. Especially after ruining his suit and giving him attitude just fifteen minutes earlier.

(Ugh that question always gets me)

Alice smiled and thought about it for a moment and then said "In my opinion I would just like to be given the chance to work here. Also I have a very good work ethic, and am always organized and prepare for almost anything." She smiled at him she was truly being honest but also knew that this was going to be tough because of what happened earlier.

(Sorry it is so short can't think straight right now)

Charles smirked. What a generic answer, he thought to himself. Guard down, battle won, he continued the rest of the interview simply. It was obvious he had won, and he won't need to see her ever again. There was no way she was going to be hired.

After Bree had thanked all the applicants for their time and led them out the building, Charles turned to his father.

"I think we should go with No. 16," Charles said. "In my opinion, she was the most qualified of them all."

"And also the most willing to sleep with you," replied his father. Charles was stunned. He definitely didn't expect those words to come out of his father's mouth.

"But father," Charles pleaded. "This is going to be my secretary. I think I know what's best for me."

"That's exactly why you shouldn't be allowed to pick," his father said. "I entertained your idea of wanting to be a part of this process, but obviously you're letting your biases get in the way of picking the right candidate. I'll keep your suggestions in mind, but the final result will be from me. That's all."

Charles felt like he had been dealt a blow to the face, but he soon shrugged it off. After all, he was only here to make sure that miserable excuse of a human being didn't end up being chosen. And from the looks of her interviewing abilities, it seemed like he need not have worried much.

"I understand, father," said Charles as he began to get up from his seat. "I'll be waiting for your decision, then. Now if you'll excuse me." Charles made his way out the door and down the elevator. It was late, and he needed a good night's sleep after all that had happened today.

As soon as Charles left, his father motioned for Bree and handed her a resume. "I like this girl, Alice White. Hire her."

After her interview Alice had gone home there wasn't anything else she could do but wait to see if she got the job or not. Knowing that Mr. Devereaux the third would do anything to prevent her from getting the job. She was sitting on the couch when she got the phone call from the office saying that she got the job, she was suprised at first and then she was glad that she got it. Bree told her to come to work the next day. She agreed then hung up and got her things ready for the next day before heading to bed.

The next morning, Charles woke up on the right side of the bed. As he dressed himself in a Hermes suit of raven black, he hummed a simple tune to himself. Today was a new day, and today was going to be a good day. Even the sunshine outside was agreeing with him.

As he walked into his office, though, a sore sight caught his eyes. What was that shirt-staining, coffee-spilling, poorly dressed, pathetic excuse of a woman doing in his office? Good mood ruined, he strode angrily to her.

"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing here?" Charles demanded. "Get out of my office."

Alice had already got her things ready the night before and was able to get to work early. She was sorting out some papers when she heard the voice. She turned around and looked at him, she wasn't going to be mean after all he was her new boss. She politely smiled and said "Good morning Mr. Devereaux." she paused for a moment then said "Also you have to go to your board meeting today at 1 so don't forget"." She stepped around him and sat at her desk that was outside of his and started to write down more notes.

Charles was dumbfounded. His father had hired her? No, no, a million times no. This wasn't going to happen, he wouldn't let it.

"You stop unpacking your stuff right now," he ordered. "You won't be here for long."

Furious, Charles stormed into his father's office and shooed Bree out of the room.

"Her?" he asked. "Why did you have to hire her?"

"If by her you mean Alice White, then I think she is perfectly qualified for the job," his father said patiently. "Her resume was impressive, I recall."

"But she's so, so, so goddamn plain," said Charles, in a tone on the verge of sounding whiney. "And she didn't give a good interview at all."

"Only because you gave her the hardest questions, Charles," his father said simply. "Ms. White is staying, and that's that. Now I understand you have a board meeting at 1?"

Angry, Charles stomped out of the room and back into his office.

"Get me a coffee," he snarled at Alice before retreating into his room with a loud door slam.

Alice was supurised when he told her to stop unpacking her things, when he left she smiled again and continued to unpack her things. She had finished by the time he came back and was shocked at how he asked for a coffee the one thing that was a problem was that she didn't know how he liked his coffee. She knew that he was a little mad about her working here but wasn't going to let that stop here. She stood up and walked to his door and knocked before opening the door saying "You never told me what type of coffee or what you want in it?" she smiled and waited for his answer while standing in the door way.

Seems like this secretary wasn't as stupid as she made out to be, Charles thought to himself as he pondered over how to answer Alice's question. Sure, the whole get me coffee thing was the simplest yet most frustrating way to haze an unwanted employee, but normally he'd have liked to have seen more . . . frantic attempts at coffee making. Still, she made it interesting.

"My regular, of course," he replied as he shut the door in her face.

Alice looked at the door, he wasn't really making this any easier for her she sighed then knocked on the door again saying "It may be a little more helpful if you told me what your regular is." She looked at her desk and then back at the door waiting for him to answer. If only he would make it easier on her then maybe she wouldn't be bugging him so much, she then said "Maybe if you told me I could leave sooner." She grabbed a pencil and paper to write it down so she wouldn't forget it.

Charles sighed. She wasn't going to leave until she got an answer, was she? "Get me a decaf hazelnut, two sugars and a dash of half-and-half," he said quickly. "And make it snappy."

Rubbing his temples, he tried to focus on the pile of work in front of him. How was he ever going to get things done with this secretary, he mused. Well, he definitely wasn't going to make it easy for her.

Alice was just able to write down what he wanted and then said "Thanks", she turned and headed towards the elevator. Once it arrived she got in and went down to the main floor then left out the front doors. She was going to go to Starbucks seeing as it was the coffee she spilled on him the first day she thought that would be the place to get his coffee. After getting there she placed her order and waited for the coffee then left heading back towards the office. When she got back she hheaded for the elevator, it had taken her at least ten minutes to get the coffee and make it back to the office. When she reached his office she knocked on the door then entered walking over to his desk she place the coffee on it and said "Here's your coffee sir." She paused then said "If you need anything else I will be at my desk", she turned and walk out of his office closing the door behind her. She sat down at her desk and put the note she had taken about Mr. Devereaux's into one of the drawers then started to type on the computer.

Charles was surprised she had gotten his order correctly, but there was no way he'd admit it to her. He watched Alice go back to her desk and waited exactly ten minutes before calling her back into his room. "This is lukewarm," he complained. "Are you expecting me to drink lukewarm coffee? Get me another one."

He watched Alice's eyes widen in disbelief. Smirking, he began drumming his fingers on the tabletop. "It's not going to bring itself here, you know," he said. "What are you waiting for?"

Alice was suprised when he complained about the coffee, when he asked her what she was waiting for she smiled and said "Sorry, Sir." She turned and walked out of his office and back to her desk grabbing the note out of the drawer and headed back towards the elevator. She looked at the note thinking that in wont take long to memorize it if he kept complaining about his coffee like this. She sighed and left the building again, reaching the Starbuck and buy yet another coffee. When she reached the office again she took the elevator back up and walked into his office again saying "Here is your new coffee Sir", she smiled and then said "I will be at my desk". She turned around and went back to her desk, her first day here and she didn't want to make a bad impression but it didn't really mean anything since the first time she met him he ended up with coffee on his shirt.

((Sorry for being an arse, I'm just waiting for you to blow up))

Charles sipped his piping hot coffee and nearly burned his tongue. "Hell," he said to himself. "This is mad hot." He quickly rang for Alice again and watched her walk in, hands on her hip. Charles grinned, she was near breaking point.

"I just realized it's around 80 degrees outside," he said simply. "So I want an iced coffee, please."

He saw Alice roll her eyes as she began to make the trek again outside and decided to drill in the final punch. "Oh, and when you get back, there's about 50 pages of filing for you to organize. And schedule in another board meeting next week, same time. Don't forget to call me when it's almost time for my meeting."