บท 6: Congratulations, Ms Fowler.
"Isn't it obvious?" Grace asked in response to Caden's earlier question. He seemed to be lost in thoughts.
"Why don't you try taking him from my hand?" Grace continued and moved closer to hand over the little boy to Caden.
"Come here, Pumpkin, you will tire the pretty lady out with your weight," Caden said as he stretched his hands to take the boy from Grace's arms.
And just like that, the little boy allowed Caden to carry him, however, he still showed his reluctance while leaving Grace's arms.
"How did my nephew end up in your hands in the first place?" Caden asked out of curiosity.
"He was trapped in one of the stalls and I happened to help him."
She suddenly recalled something, "so he's your nephew?"
"Yeah and this, here is Mr Russell, the guardian specially assigned by my family to take care of my nephew," Caden clarified, pointing to the disgruntled man.
"Oh," Grace mumbled and darted an apologetic look at the said Mr Russell who had an "so I'm not invisible afterall" expression.
"I'm sorry for the misunderstanding, Mr Russell. I was only concerned about the child's safety after seeing him in such a sorry state."
"No offense taken," Russell responded flatly.
"That means you are my little nephew's saviour," Caden said to Grace's amusement.
"That's a little bit exaggerated," Grace chuckled softly.
"Thanks anyways, for helping my nephew, but we have to go back. By the way, your face is new, I've never seen you here before."
"You're actually right. This is my first time here. I came for an inter… Damn! I have to go."
She quickly pressed a kiss on the little boy's forehead. "Bye, Pumpkin," she whispered before dashing off.
The little guy's ocean blue eyes were as round as saucers as he nodded obediently.
Caden was again shocked by her actions. Despite being in a hurry she was still thoughtful enough to bid his nephew goodbye.
"Wait," he said, raising his hand to stop her, but the interesting girl was already out of earshot.
"We didn't even ask for her name," he told his nephew, whose gaze was still fixed at the direction Grace had disappeared to.
"Not to worry, we will do that some other time," he coaxed and left for his brother's office.
"Can you be a little bit more focused, Grace? You were so busy defending the universe that you completely forgot that you were here for something important, how nosey can you be?" Grace scolded herself as she took brisk steps to the waiting area.
Fortunately her number was twenty three and they were still on number fifteen when she arrived.
She resumed her previous seat and waited for her turn.
"Number twenty three, Grace Fowler, it's your turn to go in," she heard from the intercom about thirty minutes later.
As she stood outside the imposing double doors of the conference room, she couldn't help but feel a surge of nervous energy coursing through her veins.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the moment she had been waiting for, pushed open the doors and stepped into the vast conference room.
The room was bathed in natural light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, offering panoramic views of the city skyline.
The conference table, made of polished wood, stretched across the room, and seated on the chairs upholstered in rich leather which flanked the table, were the members of the interview panel.
At the head of the table was the CEO's slightly elevated chair which commanded attention, even though it had no occupant.
"Please sit."
"Thank you," Grace said as she settled herself at the designated seat, she couldn't help but feel a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins again.
"Please introduce yourself," a man that seemed to be the head of the panel said.
"I am…" she started and just then the door opened and a tall handsome man, impeccably dressed in a customized three piece suit, strolled into the room, exuding an air of sophistication that was impossible to ignore.
His chiseled features were framed by a mane of dark, sleekly styled hair that fell effortlessly across his forehead, accentuating his piercing ocean blue eyes.
'Could he be the CEO?' Grace asked herself and didn't need to wait for long as he directly went to sit on the empty seat at the head of the table like an emperor.
"I'll take over from here," he announced to the astonishment of the panelists who exchanged surprised glances.
Grace remained composed, her eyes fixed on the CEO. 'The worst that could happen is that I won't get the job, so why die before I am even shot by the gun?' She said in her heart.
With a nod of acknowledgment, the CEO turned his attention to Grace.
"Ms. Fowler, I've reviewed your résumé and heard promising things about you," Jace Brandon began, his gaze penetrating.
'Huh? I wonder what those promising things were?' Grace thought.
"But rather than proceed with the formalities of an interview, I have a few questions of my own."
Grace nodded, her heart pounding with anticipation, despite her inner prep talk earlier as she awaited the CEO's questions.
"Tell me, what motivates you? What drives you to excel in your work?" Jace inquired, his tone measured yet probing.
Without hesitation, Grace launched into her prepared response, speaking passionately.
"My motivations are the leaders that have achieved what I am trying to achieve and it is borne from my philosophy that if others can do it, I also can."
"But one thing I have come to realise is that success, most times, doesn't come on a platter of gold. I understand the place of hard work and dedication in achieving excellence and making a meaningful impact in whatever field I find myself in."
As she spoke, her words flowed effortlessly, conveying her enthusiasm and passion to succeed.
Impressed by her answer, Jace nodded thoughtfully and from the corner of her eyes
Grace could also see the panelists' subtle nods.
'I must have nailed it this time around,' Grace couldn't help but congratulate herself in advance.
"Congratulations, Ms Fowler. You have been hired as the personal assistant…"
"Really!" Grace exclaimed even before the CEO could finish his statement.
'Hmm, It appears those long speeches in my dreams actually paid off at long last.'
The growing sparkle in Grace's eyes did not escape the keen sight of Jace whose face was as blank as a sheet of paper, though he found her to be exactly what his younger brother had described her as- interestingly impulsive.
"To my son," he completed.
"Yes, I'm very much delighted to take up the position of the personal assistant to … your what?!" Grace's eyes almost popped out of their socket as she added "son?" listlessly.
"You heard me right," Jace replied coldly as he studied Grace.
"Is that not the same as being employed as your child's nanny?" Grace asked disbelievingly.
"If you want to put it that way, yes." Jace replied nonchalantly.
"In other words…" Grace began.
"You are officially my son's nanny, if you accept the offer."
"If there is nothing else, this interview is officially over. You have our contact if you have any objections."
Jace Brandon stood to his feet and left just as unceremoniously as he had entered, leaving everyone's mouth hanging agape.
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