Chapter 2
”This sucks,” I deadpanned, my voice a deep, gravelly tone that I reserved for my subordinates. The words hung in the air, heavy with the frustration I felt. I watched their reactions, their faces a mix of concern and uncertainty, knowing that my tone conveyed the seriousness of the situation.
I shoved my hands into my jeans pockets. I concentrated on the project, my admin specialist was presenting. I couldn”t help but notice my employee’s sneaking glances through the windows. They clearly felt intimidated by the CEO”s rare appearance across the hallway.
It”s not like they don”t know who I am. I”m the sole heir of the Woodrow family. I run California”s largest company, which has an annual revenue of about $20 billion. Plus, I”m next in line for the CEO position since my father got disqualified from running the company. From my father, I inherited the responsibilities of running a multinational company. From my mother, I supposedly got her striking blue eyes.
”We are aware of that, Mr. Woodrow,” Jake tried to stay silent. But he watched me nervously as I began pacing around the area wearing my signature scowl.
After a deliberately lengthy silence, I spoke again, my tone demanding. “When is the due date?”
“Four days,” Jake replied without missing a beat. I groaned. Not so much at him, but at the eager employees. They were huddled on the other side of the glass with their phones in the air. It was a well-timed reaction, though. It kept Jake wondering. Good. Let his anxiety yield results.
”Hey, what”s my schedule for today?” I asked suddenly. I strode out of the glass-walled room, paying no attention to the onlookers. I smoothly made my way down the hallway with Jake following.
Jake looked at his clipboard. ”You have to attend a job interview this morning at eight in the auditorium, sir.”
I slowed to stop, turning to look down at the smaller man who had been struggling to keep up with my pace. ”Was that scheduled for a later week?””
“It was sir. But the date has been postponed. This is to favor your appointment with the senior consultant. He is coming from London.” Jake spoke with his head held down, his words dripping with anxiety.
I clenched and unclenched my fists. I did not have time for this today. I let out a resigned sigh before answering.
“I won”t be attending that for long, Mr. Cameron. I”m paying hundreds of people for reasons. Picking out new, qualified workers is one of them,” I growled. I stared him down for a few seconds before resuming toward the elevator.
Jake replied with a quick ”Yes, sir.” But, the doors were already closing as I left. They showed that our interaction was over.
”My name is… my name is Cassie Evans…” I whispered softly, but the distant cheers drowned out my words once more. I let out a sigh filled with frustration, giving up on my speech practice. I turned around to see where the noise was coming from, curious and a little annoyed.
I searched all around but couldn”t figure out what made the noise. Suddenly, my phone vibrated in my purse, and I quickly reached for it. It was a message from Lisa, wishing me luck just like she always did. I couldn”t help but smile at her constant support.
The phone conversation ended in two minutes. It returned me to focus on the situation. A faint nervousness washed away as the call ended.
I took a deep breath, not wanting to mess anything up. Working at SoundEase had always been a dream of mine. Even my fidgeting feet showed nervousness. But, they were not going to stop me from landing a job at such a remarkable broadcasting company.
“Number 98?”
My heart nearly leaped out of my chest when they called my number. I thought I was prepared for anything. I had practiced my lines a lot. But, when I turned to face the stern person calling, another shiver ran down my spine.
I followed the given directions and smartly walked into a ground floor office. My brown eyes swept the room, taking in every detail. I saw the technology: a desk, chair, and a couch.
The space resembled an old movie or a sci-fi set, with its advanced technology. Everything seemed out of place. However, the office was perfect. But, my gaze suddenly stopped. It stopped when a pair of blue eyes appeared right before me. They were at a short distance and fixed me with a look of curiosity. The person”s familiar eyes widened a bit when they saw me. It felt like a special connection sparked between us.
My breath hitched. There I stood, frozen in my tracks as I stared at him in absolute shock. Only one name came to my mind at that moment was : Leo Woodrow. Even after all these years, he still looked captivating. He had blonde hair, pale skin, and a perfect jawline. Despite losing touch and the pain of his heartbreak, I could not forget his face. Not even once.
My mind buzzed with questions as I tried to figure out why this man was among the panelists. What was his role here? Was he working for SoundEase? And most importantly, why did I still feel so unsettled and thrilled at the sight of him?
I could tell he was also surprised to see me. Normally, he wore a blank expression. However, a slight furrow in his brow revealed his amazement. Then, I noticed another emotion creeping onto his face. His red lips rose slowly until I saw that familiar little smirk.
It showed a lot, including the fact Leo Woodrow seemed to still be that heartless jerk I used to know.