Undefiled Queen

Merlyn’s POV

It was the post of an accountant in the Radiance group of Industries. It is a top class firm in the United States. They are the leaders in cotton textile and consumer products who have also diversified their resources to the pubs and hotel industry.

I dressed myself in a sky blue pencil skirt and a cream colored top. I added a little bit of mascara, eye shadow to highlight my blue eyes and proceeded to leave. Throughout the journey I thought if I could be lucky enough to grab the job. I was not even qualified for the post. They require a post graduate in accountancy with a minimum of ten years experience and I wouldn’t fulfill either of the requirements. My chances to grab the position are nil but if I am lucky, the CEO is a liberal pay master. With no doubt I would be able to pull off our family expenses and also be able to complete my post graduation.

Half an hour later, I was in front of a stylish looking skyscraper with a big board on top hung in pride, The Radiance Group of Industries. Pushing away all my anxiousness I moved towards the receptionist to tell her the reason why I was here.

She told me the interviews were over but I was not ready to take a negative reply. I thought for a moment and something clicked in my crazy mind. I told her I got crucial information about the CEO’s deceased brother.

Before applying for any interview, I took it as a part of my job to study the background of the firm I was supposed to apply for and coincidentally I found the CEO’s younger brother also died in the same year and month my parents died in a car accident. Unfathomably, for no obvious reason empathy in me kicked for the family.

No sooner I walked into the opulent foyer I could see a life size portrait of a young man. “That’s the CEO’s deceased younger brother. Our boss loved him so much.” The receptionist stood behind me and said gravely. My heart skipped a beat. Though Mr Collomen and I are poles apart in social and financial positions, I could relate to his pain.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

“It is heard that the CEO’s mother suffered many months of depression after her son died and the CEO had a hard time to bring her back to normalcy. Since that day the family has done a lot of charity during festivals and social occasions but as you know nothing can bring back the buried man back to life.” Somehow, I felt very close to the boss and his family. My voice choked and breath clogged in my throat. “May God grant the family peace.”

“So, what is the information you got about his younger brother?” The receptionist’s voice brought me out of my reverie.

“I would want it to be stated to the boss first.” The receptionist looked at me softly. “Sure.”

She asked me to take a lift and go to the 17th floor and meet Ms Rita. The personal assistant of Mr Collomen. Very soon I came face to face with the CEO of the company and ground washed away from under my feet. Mr Stephen Collomen…. This man…so he is Stephen Collomen. The cotton textile mogul who rules more than three fourth of the American economy.

Everything makes sense now. Why I felt him familiar, why the people at the car kiosk were snickering and giving him knowing looks and why he offered me lift though he did not want to initially. Calculative Grinch. It was because he did not want to spoil his reputation before the front desk of the car kiosk and be in every newspaper the next day.

I was so stupid, I was too busy in my own world and brooding over my problems that I rarely read newpapers. But he was no less than a celebrity with his face struck at every banner and business newspaper of the United States. At least then I should have got a hint.

My uncle should have recognized him. He reads a lot of daily but maybe because of his age, he couldn’t recollect him immediately though he told her the man looks familiar, similar to her own feeling.

Merlyn ran her eyes from the corner of her lashes on his enticing figure and her orbs made a feast of his handsomeness for seeing him after a very long time.

He is charismatic, smart and handsome. An Adonis dressed to kill, his aura radiated dominance, might and power. The magnetic pull between us was undeniable and no sooner he brought me inside, he smooched me so hard like his life depended on that kiss. “So you are Stephen Collomen, one of the most powerful businessmen of the United States and the man who gave me a lift at the car kiosk unwillingly to save his face at the front desk and avoid complications with the paparazzi.” I giggled.

“I am sorry but I speak the truth, clean from the heart.” I say with not a bit of reticence and in between my smiles.

“I already know you Merlyn and I know you are clean from heart, a straight forward woman. Yes my firm stands among the top five firms in the United States and we are leaders of cotton textile but unfortunately you couldn’t recognize me. According to you I was some rich, overweighing handsome hunk with a lot of self-pride. But it came out like a blessing in disguise for me, at least I could be at ease around you like some nobody. Nevertheless, keeping our past aside, I am sorry to say, you are not even qualified for an interview here.” His strong voice penetrated my soul like shards of glass making me pensive in a matter of seconds but I wasn’t here to accept defeat.

I revitalize my courage and face him boldly. “You can ask me any number of questions and I am confident I will be able to answer them well.”

Stephen nodded thoughtfully. “You, being a science student, have hardly any chance to succeed in accountancy. Though you will not qualify for the job here, I like your confidence and your undying spirit to take over the challenges that are almost impossible to achieve.”

He took out a file from the top drawer of his desk. “This is the monthly statement of one of the branches of our company. The entries here aren’t posted in the right manner. You will readjust them, make ledger accounts and prepare the balance sheet. I give you one hour of time. If your entries are accurate, this job will be yours.”

My eyes already shine with enthusiasm. He was not a Grinch or stick in the mud. He has a heart that many people fail to see. “You can meet Rita at the front desk. She will give you stationary and all the other material.”

I finished the task given to me by the company before time and reached the hospital to take a note of my uncle’s health.

Going home I prepare dinner for me and my brother as my aunt was in the hospital and keep my fingers crossed praying to God to help me with the job. Next day afternoon at around 2:00pm, I get a call from an unknown number. “Am I speaking to Ms Merlyn James?” Fiddling with the pen in my hands where I was working on my uncle’s medical bills, I gave a feeble affirmative. “Mam, you have been selected for the post of accountant in Radiance group of Industries. Please be in the head office reception tomorrow morning by 8:30am sharp.”

“What?” I stopped breathing for a second. Did I hear it right? The receptionist once again repeated her words this time with a little irritation clearly in her voice but who cared? I was on the moon. I hug my brother, singing and doing a happy dance with him and finally breathe an air of happiness.

My uncle’s medical bills are soon going to get cleared but will I be able to stand the persona of the self conceited handsome hunk and keep a control on my heart especially when I would be working so close to him?