I park the silver Mercedes, I borrowed from Sharpay, my roommate, at a free parking spot. I'm nervous as I pick up my purse from passenger seat and close my car. Trying to calm my pulse, I walk straight to the exit. Stupid Sharpay, my subconcious cruises. It's her fault, you're here. You should be studying. Yes I should. My finale exams are only two weeks away. Just like her's.
I walk through the glass door straight into another world. A world so much more different than mine is. Marble floor and a glassy facade welcome me. It's a huge building, with probably about twenty floors. I'm so not ready for this.
Sighing, I walk over to the reception desk. A blonde with the perfect skirt and the perfect black matching blazer looks up at me and smiles, showing her perfect teeth.
"I have an appointment with Mr. Bolton. Gabriella Montez for Sharpay Evans." I say, smiling as well. Although I don't fit in here, clearly because I'm only wearing a pair of jeans, a plain shirt and Converse, I have the same perfect teeth. Something I was proud of.
"One moment please, Miss Montez." she says picking up the phone. She eyeballs me and shakes her head slightly. I should have borrowed one of Sharpay's blazer! I knew it.
I push a hairstrand behind my ear, trying to not feel intimidated by all of this.
"Miss Evans is expected. Please sign here, Miss Montez. The last elevator, twentieth floor." She smiles politely as I sign. Then she hands me a visitor's pass. As if it wasn't obvious that I don't fit in.
After a thank you, I walk through the enourmous hall, straight to the glass elevators. The elevator transports me within seconds in the supreme floor. The doors open without any sound and I walk into another enormous hallway - everything's made of marble, glass and steel. Again, I see a blonde at the reception desk. I walk over to her and she smiles as she notices me. She's wearing a black suit as well. Black skirt and black blazer, that is the uniform of the office, I assume.
"Miss Montez, would you wait here for a few seconds?" she asks me, pointing at a leather couch.
I turn around and look through the glass wall. There's a huge room behind the leather couch with a really big wooden table in it's center. Behind it is the Manhattan skyline. Wow.
After getting seated, I get out Sharpay's questions. I can't believe she didn't even give me some CV or something. I know absolutely nothing about this man. Nothing.
Another flawless blonde passes me. What the hell is it with perfect blondes? She's older. About thirty. The other one is younger, in her teenage years.
I rise from the chair, "Miss Montez?" the blonde asks me.
"Yes." I say in the most confident way.
"Mr. Bolton will be ready for you in a second. May I take your jacket?"
Helplessly, I take it of. "Thank you."
"Did someone offer you something to drink yet?"
"Uhm... No." Oh dear, is Blonde Number One in trouble?
Blonde number three frowns and looks at Blonde Number Two, who is sitting behind the reception desk. "Would you like tea, coffee or water?" she asks me.
"A glas of water would be lovely." I mumble.
"Olivia, would you get Miss Montez a glas of water, please." It wasn't a question. It was a demand. Olivia jumps up from the chair and disappears within seconds in another room.
"I apologize for Olivia. She's a new intern, you know. Please take a seat. Mr. Bolton will be ready for you in five minutes."
Olivia is back with a glas of water.
"Your glas of water, Miss Montez." she says as she hands me the glas.
"Thank you." I say and smile a little.
Blonde Number Two walks back behind her desk. The heels of her shoes echo on the marble floor. Blonde number three already sits behind her desk and both turn to their work.
Perhaps Mr. Bolton insists on having only blondes at his firm. I'm thinking whether or not that is politically correct as the office door opens. A man, about fourty, wearing an elegant black suite, walks out. I definitely chose the wrong outfit. He turns his head back to the room and asks, "Golf this week, Bolton?"
I don't hear the answer.
As soon as the man recognizes me he smiles.
Olivia jumps up from her desk and pushes the button for the elevator. At least she learned the jumping up part already.
"Mr. Bolton is now ready for the interview. You may go in, Miss Montez." Blonde number three tells me.
I get up with shaky feet. I look at blonde number three. Shall I knock?
"You don't need to knock. Just go in, Miss Montez." she says smiling.
I take a deep breath before I open the door to his office. I get greeted by an office which has a ridiculous size. It's way too big for one person. But the view. Man, this view is worth all the money in the world. The whole skyline from Manhattan was shining brightly through the darkness. That's when I remember the time. It's already evening. And I should be studying. Stupid Sharpay.
"Take a seat, Miss Evans." I hear a male voice behind me.
I jump up, surprised by the softness of his voice. I land on his shoes. Damn it. Why does it always have to be me? His shoes are no longer shining. Instead there's a print from my converse. His shoes... His black shoes... Crap, they are from Prada! I ruined his Prada shoes! His shoes which are worth three monthly payments for my apartment. Damn it, Gabriella, my subconscious yells at me.
Sharpay brought her older brother the very same pair only a couple of days ago. She wanted to thank him for something. I don't remember what it is.
"Mr. Bolton, I'm so sorry." I apologize as soon as I'm out of my shock.
"There're just shoes, Miss Evans." he says and I look up. He's young. So young. And attractive. Unbelievable attractive. Damn, he's attractive! My inner goddess turns wheels and clapps happily in her hands. He's attractive! He has the perfect face, with soft lips and amazing eyes. He's wearing a fine gray suite, white shirt and black tie. He's tall and damn it, those eyes... So blue.
I feel my cheeks burning and I look away. "Actually... I'm not Miss Evans. Miss Evans got sick and she apologizes for not being here tonight...today... Uhm, this evening." I correct myself. Damn it, this man is like a walking god.
"And who are you?" he asks me, closing his office door behind me.
"Gabriella Montez. Shar...uhm...Sharpay...uhm... Miss Evans... I study with her at Yale."
"Ah." that's this comment on this one. A simple Ah. How can that sound sexy? So sexy.
"Take a seat, Miss Montez." he says, pointing at the leather couch. This one is white. The other one was black.
"I hope you don't mind me conducting the interview." I say as I get seated. Maybe I should have waited. Maybe he'll reject me.
"It's absolutely no problem with me, Miss Montez." he says, getting seated across from me. My head turns to the pictures on the wall behind me. Thousands of little pictures - a series of mundane, forgotten objects, painting in precise detail so they look like photographs- forming a huge totally differnt one once you see the whole picture. Amazing.
"It's from an local artist. Clayton." He says as he notices my glance at the picture.
"Amazing how such simple things can form this bigger picture." I say amazed.
He pauses, "Yes. I totally agree, Miss Montez." he says politely.
I clear my throat and look down at Sharpay's questions. Then I remember the recorder in my purse. I get it out and look at him, "Do you mind if I record our interview, Mr. Bolton? This way Shar...I mean Sharpay... I mean, Miss Evans..." I stop. He's so wonderfull.
His deep blue eyes keep me from talking. "No not at all, Miss Montez."
I nodd and push the recording button. "Did Sharpay, Miss Evans, tell you what the interview's for?"
"Yes. To appear in the graduation issue of the student paper as I shall be conferring the degrees at this year's graduation ceremony."
Ah. That's news for me. I should get my diploma from someone who's nearly as old at me? - Well maybe about five or four years older and he's totally successfull. Stunning. I frown and force myself to go on with the interview.
"Good." I say and gulmp nervously, "I have a couple of questions to ask you."
"I thought you might." he reponses. He is laughing at me.
"For such an empire you seem awfully young. What are the roots of your success?" I look at him.
He smiles disappointed as if he expected another question. "In the business world it's all about people, Miss Montez, and I'm a very good keen observer of human nature. I know how they tick, I can motivate them and therefore make them be the best they can. I have a team who is unbelieably talented, Miss Montez, and this is the key to success. A team who I pay very much to work with me." he focusses me with his dark blue eyes, "My decisions are based on logic and facts. That's the other part."
"And perhaps you're only lucky..." I mumble. His arroganz provokes me.
He blinks a couple of times, surprised to hear such a reaction. "I don't rely on Luck or fortune, Miss Montez. The harder I work, the more luck I seem to have. In the end, it's about leading your team's enegery in the right direction. This way they can go beyond their potential."
"Sounds like you're a controlfreak." I say without thinking. Damn it. I should stick to Sharpay's questions.
"Oh I exercise control in all things, Miss Montez." he says without any humor in his voice of eyes.
My heartbeat increases. My pulse is at it's best. I feel my cheek burning. Damn it. Why does he have such an effect on me? I look down at Sharpay's questions. "Do you have any other interests beside your work?"
"A lot actually, Miss Montez. And they are all very different. I'm a wealthy man and therefore I have expensive hobbies.
"You invest in production. Why?" I ask. Why do I feel so insecure around him?
"I like to build things. I'm interested in how they are build and how they function. Besides, I like boats."
"That sounds more like you're listening to your hear than on facts or logic."
The corner of his mouth form a small smile, "Possible. Although people say I don't have a heart."
"Why should they say something like that?"
"Because they know me." He sneers.
"Would your friends say that you're an open person?" I ask. Stick to Sharpay's questions! My subconcious reminds me. It's right. I regret it right away.
"I attach great importance to my privacy, Miss Montez and I don't give interviews very often."
"Why did you agree to this one?"
"Because I support Yale financially, plus I am a former student. Besides, Miss Evans was very stubborn. She called my assistant every day for three months. I'm impressed."
Yeah, that's Sharpay. Stubborn. I look back at Sharpay's questions. "You invest in argicultural technology. Why?"
"You can't eat money, Miss Montez, and on this planet are too many hungry people."
I nodd, "You are adopted. How much did it influence you?" Oh boy, a very personal one. I hope he will answer this one.
He frowns, "I can't evaluate that."
Oh, how interesting. "How old were you when you were adopted?"
"You can research this at agencies." he says in a stiff voice. Crap, I should have researched some things. Get at least a little informed. Damn it.
"You had to sacrifice your family life for your work."
"That's not a question."
"I'm sorry." I apologize and move around in the chair, "Did you have to sacrifice your family life for your work?"
"I have a family, a brother and a sister and parents, who love me very much. I have no intention to expand my family at the moment."
"Are you gay, Mr. Bolton?"
He holds his breath.
Oh god, how embarrassing! Shit. Why didn't I read them through before I read them out loud? How am I suppose to explain it to him? Damn it, Sharpay!
"No, Gabriella, I am not gay." His eyes shine cool.
"I'm sorry. It...uhm...sheet." I mumble, holding up the paper with the questions.
"Are those your questions?"
I'm pale." Uhm... No. Sharpay- Miss Evans- phrased them."
"Are you both working for the student paper?"
Oh boy. I hate the student paper. I don't read it. Never.
"No. I share an apartment with her."
There's a knock on the door and blonde number three walks in. "Mr. Bolton, your next appointment is in two minutes."
"We're not done, Andrea. Cancel the next appointment. That would be all." he says, looking at her. He smiles and her face turns red right away. Oh good, I'm not the only one.
"Yes, Mr. Bolton." she says before she disappears.
"Where did we stop, Miss Montez?"
Oh so now I'm Miss Montez again.
"Please don't let me stop you."
"I'd like to get to know you a little bit more. I believe, this is only fair." he says with curiousity in his eyes.
"There's not a lot to tell."
"What are your plans after graduation?"
I shrugg, amazed by his interest. Move to Manhattan with Sharpay. "I don't have any concrete plans, Mr. Bolton. I still have to pass my finale exam."
"My firms offer very good internships. For all kinds of jobs," he explains. Is that a job offer?
"Good to know." I say and look away.
"Shall I show you everything?" he asks me with his deep blue eyes focused on me.
"Surely you have more important things to take care of, Mr. Bolton, and I still have a very long drive ahead of me."
"You want to drive back to Yale?" he asks me, looking out of the window. It's raining cats and dogs.
"Yes, I attend to." I say, getting up from the leather couch.
"Do you have everything you need?" he asks me, getting up himself.
"Yes. Thank you for the interview." I say politely and shake hands with him. A weird electricity runs through my veins.
"I'll escort you to the elevator." He says with a soft smile on his lips.
"Thank you." I say smiling as he held his office door open for me. The reception desk is totally empty. No one is working anymore. No one but Troy Bolton.
"Did you have a jacket?" he asks me.
"Yes. A black leather jacket." I answer, nodding.
"I'll get it." he says and I follow his walk with my eyes. His walk is so elegant... So wonderfull.
"Where are your assitants?" I ask him, feeling lonely in this huge building.
"They are home. Their shift ended." he says, walking back with the jacket in his hands.
"Oh." I say surprised. Already?
He helps me into the jacket and I can almost feel his body against mine. Amazing.
For a moment his hands lie on my shoulders, causing my breath to get stuck. Wow.
He pushes the elevator button and we wait - me unsure and helpless, he confident and cool. The doors open without a sound and I walk in. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my pulse, before I turn around, facing him again.
"Gabriella." he says goodbye, nodding.
"Troy." I answer back as the elevator doors close. I leave him with a shocked expression on his face. I didn't think he would ever get shocked.
A new story, everyone! I really hope you will like it. It's very different than from anything I've written so far - more mature - as I grow up as well. The next chapter will be out soon, as it is already written.
Please review!
Xoxo Nic