Keeping Up With The Boss

001

"Neo? Neo Anderson?" The receptionist called out, snapping me out of my internal pep-talk. "Neo Anderson, please head into the office for your interview." Her eyes swam over the little crowd of people who were sitting in the slightly over-crowded waiting room. I bobbed my head, giving myself that final shove as I stood up. The room swam slightly in my vision, a tell-tale sign of my nervousness... A bad sign. I took off running down the short corridor, heading for the rest room to empty my stomach for the second time that afternoon. Why did I have to be born so pathetic?

Several minutes later, I could hear the sound of the restroom door swinging open, announcing the arrival of another person. I shook my head and stood up, flushing the evidence of my nerves down the toilet. The pale light of the restroom shone down over my face, highlighting the light scattering of freckles over the bridge of my nose. 

"Nerves?" I heard the other guy call out as I walked out of the stall. My eyes shot up for a second before I could recompose myself. He chuckled slightly. "It's understandable. Happens to the best of us I guess." He used a paper towel to dry off his hands as he laughed. "Good luck out there." He threw a mock salute over his shoulder as he walked out off the restroom. I just stared at my reflection wondering what the f**k just happened. 

"Ugh, can't I just get one normal day where I don't have to puke out my guts?" I groaned and splashed water over my face. I can't believe I screwed up my interview. I dried up and left the restroom, walking back to the waiting room. There were considerably less people waiting around for their turn.

"Neo? Come over here please." The receptionist waved my way. I quirked an eyebrow, trying to look like I didn't just shove my face into a public toilet to puke out my guts.

"Yeah?" My voice went up a pitch, making me sound like a squeaking kid who hadn't hit puberty. Heat rushed up my neck as I cleared my throat. That was embarrassing. 

"Mr. Harrison wants you to wait till all the other applicants are done with their interviews before you go up again." She twirled her hair between her fingers as she spoke while idly tapping on the keyboard in front of her. 

"Um, okay." I rubbed the back of my head. Way to go Neo, screw up your interview and make sure Mr. Harrison knows you puke in restroom stalls all day. Pff.

******

An hour and half later, I got called up again after the last applicant left the CEO's office.

"Your turn, Neo." The receptionist gave me a thumbs up, as though wishing me luck. Were my nerves that obvious? I pushed open the double doors that led into the CEO's office and peeped in. My eyes nearly fell out of their sockets.

"You weren't expecting to see my here, huh?" The CEO smirks at me with a quirked brow. That CEO being the same guy I saw in the restroom. My brain does a mini flashback where I try to picture the exact face I saw in the restroom with this same face. My cheeks warmed and I glanced away. He laughed a bit before clearing his throat. 

"Come, sit." He gestured at the empty seats across his table. "We have an interview to conduct." He said with a wolfish smirk. I sat down while trying to make myself as small as possible. I doubt I'll be getting this job. I've already made a fool of myself on e in front of him. I'm pretty sure I've already left a bad impression... One of me being an i***t who frequently pukes his lunch whenever he's nervous.

"Neo, hmm? Nice name. Goes with your hair." He waved at my bright red hair. "Age, 21. Height..." He rambled things off my application while spinning a pen between his fingers. I twiddled my thumbs and fidget all through his inspection.

"Who do you stay with?" Mr. Harrison suddenly threw a question my way. My head jerked up and I stumbled over my words.

"Um, my aunt." I mumbled after a few seconds of stuttering like a fish out of water.

"Parents? Siblings?" He asked.

"I moved away from home so they're not in this part of the country." 

"Oh. Well, I want to see you first thing here Monday morning. 7am sharp." He slid a folder over to me.

"I... I got the job?" My head had difficulty wrapping around the idea that I got the job.

"Yup. Now go. That's a compilation of do's and don't's. Congratulations, Neo. You're my new assistant!"