7. Chapter 7 #3
“Nigel did nothing to stop it, and I walked in on the two of them laughing and cheering, to which I asked what the hell was going on, told Theo off and told him to go back into my office, but the smart-arse in the baby pink blouse started going on about how it wasn’t Theo’s fault a-”
“You remember what she was wearing? Interesting.” Min-Joon chimes in, rubbing his chin. I curse myself for letting that part slip out.
“I didn’t care what she had to say, so I kept addressing Nigel, but when he couldn’t answer me, keeping my eyes on Theo when she made it very clear that she wasn’t happy, I kept interrupting her.
That’s when she called me a butt head.” I said it felt ridiculous to repeat this.
Min-Joon burst into laughter because his hand couldn’t reach his mouth fast enough.
“Oh god, I like this girl already,” he laughs, adding emphasis on the word ‘already’ as if there would be more of her. Which there won’t be.
“Then-” I continue, to regain his attention. “Theo turned to say goodbye to her and asked if she could teach him some sparky magic trick thing she did on the game-”
“So, that’s what he was on about… Yeah, remind me to Google that.” Min-Joon says, making a mental note.
“Already did; it didn’t help. Anyway, the woman is crazy; she was fully aware she wasn’t passing that interview solely based on the fact that she pissed me off.
Acted highly unprofessionally, calling me names and, worst of all, she made a promise to Theo that if he listened to what Nigel and I said, then she would see him again and would teach him the trick.
” I growl, clenching my jaw in anger at the thought of her again.
“I swear, I never wanted to have someone arrested so fast in my life. How dare she be rude to me? And she touched Theo, Min-Joon! She actually touched him, without permission. Pulled his hoodie back on his shoulder whilst talking to him; how fucking dare she?! And it didn’t even stop there; even being the tiny little thing that she is, she never broke eye contact with me.
It wasn’t even a slight bit intimidating, but it was like she refused to back down until after I closed the door on her. ” I pause to take a deep breath.
“I mean, can you believe that??” I add, getting a little too passionate, throwing my arms into the air, then raking my fingers through my hair. Min-Joon didn’t respond; instead, he stared at me through the screen. When a minute had passed, I started to think the video call was frozen.
“Oliver?” He called, as I raised my eyebrows in response. “Are you stupid or are you just an idiot?” he asks with a chuckle. Furrowing my brows in offence, I prepare my response when the sound of my front door opens.
There was only one other person besides the one I was on the phone with who had a key to my place, and it was Nigel.
He did send a message earlier saying he was going to pop by on his way home; not sure why, because he hardly ever comes here, but moments after hearing the front door close, there was a knock on my office door.
“Come in,” I call, straightening up in my chair as Nigel walks into the room, closing the door behind him and standing in front of my desk. Pausing for a moment, Nigel’s voice filled the room.
“Sir, I’m so sorry about today, about earlier.
I want you to know it wasn’t done intentionally, and I did try my best to step in, but it wasn’t good enough, and what happened was my fault, nevertheless.
” Nigel admits, which earns me a stone-cold glare from Min-Joon as I flicker my gaze over to my phone, hidden from Nigel’s view.
“I just wanted to come here and personally report that Miss Jackson signed the NDA without question, and to follow up, I followed her for a while after that, where she met up with someone, but did not breathe a word about Theo being there at all. So I believe we don’t have anything to worry about on that front.
That aside, I conducted the remaining interviews, but none of the applicants met our designated standard.
There was one potential candidate, but his reference was ultimately what no longer made him acceptable…
” Nigel explains, entangling his fingers together in front of him while I nod in response.
“Sir? If I may?” He asks politely, with slight worry in his eyes, but now I’m curious about what he might say next, so I raise my eyebrows, indicating to him to go on.
“I know, you said to no longer consider Miss Jackson as a candidate. So, I took it upon myself to verify the reference she left us, and it checked out. Not only does she have multiple years of experience with children of all ages and those with special needs, but her background check had zero criminal activity, a devotion to her family and a glowing list of recommendations from a bunch of her university professors and alumni,” he reveals, placing a small stack of papers on my desk in front of me.
I glance down to see her CV and a USB stick, which most likely contains the conversation he had with her reference and printed responses from others regarding the kind of person this Luna woman was.
“Thank you, Nigel, but none of this is necessary,” I state, watching Min-Joon slap his forehead, at the same time Nigel slumped his shoulders. Surprisingly, the two of them didn’t hear each other.
“Besides, I’ve already collected another batch of potential applicants we can go through starting tomorrow. In the meantime, I’d like you to rearrange the schedule. I’ll need you to look after Theo after school unt-”
“No.”
The two-letter word forces the room to fall silent. I sit back in my chair with my eyebrows raised, giving him time to take it back before I get mad.
“L-look, Oliver.” Nigel starts, surprising all three of us by his use of my first name, something that didn’t happen often, especially when he was still on the clock.
“I love you, and I have an enormous amount of respect for you. Don’t get me wrong, I am eternally grateful for everything you’ve done over the years and have done nothing but work my ass off to prove that. But I have to draw the line,” he pauses.
“I can deal with the 3 am drunk phone calls to pick you up after a booty call or jump country to country with you when you grew bored of being in the same place for too long, and I can spend countless sleepless nights helping you re-organise your life to fulfil your responsibilities and still acquire a healthy sex life, but I draw the line at childcare.”