Chapter One:
Just a Simple Interview…Right?
I knocked on the front door of the Phantomhive Manor. I couldn't believe I scored an interview with Ciel Phantomhive! All the others were practically begging for this job, but for whatever reason, it was mine!
"Yes?" a warm voice coming from a dark haired man in the doorway enveloped me, "May I help you?"
"I'm Lumi Olivier…" I sputtered out in complete awe of this man's beautiful face, "I have an interview with Lord Phantomhive."
"Ah, yes," he nodded, "Please, Ms. Olivier. Right this way. May I take your coat for you?"
"That's fine," I shivered, cold from the rain, "I wouldn't want to be any trouble."
"Please," he insisted, undoing the buttons. His beautiful piano hands worked so quickly, "It's drenched from the rain. It's no trouble."
"O-ok…" I had no choice. I watched carefully as he finished unbuttoning my coat, peeling it away from my shoulders, "Thank you…"
"Master Phantomhive is in his study," he directed, "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. My name is Sebastian. Come, Ms. Olivier."
I smiled politely in sheer terror as Sebastian looked me over, the corner of his mouth turning up slightly. I followed him down a windy hallway that emptied into this huge, open study. A young boy was working at the big, beautiful solid oak desk in the middle of the room.
I didn't know much about the young earl going into this except for his title and how he lost his parents young and the Funtom Company. But that was mostly hearsay. I had always wanted to meet him. And how, here he is, in front of me!
"Sebastian," he broke the silence, but not his concentration, "What do you want? I'm busy."
"The reporter from the paper is here, my lord," Sebastian bowed.
"I-is this a bad time?" I quivered, "I can come back at a later date."
"Nonsense," Sebastian pulled a chair out for me, "You've come all this way and in the rain, no less. At this point, it'd be rude to reschedule. Isn't that right, my lord?"
The earl rolled his eyes, "I guess. That will be all, Sebastian."
"Yes, Master," he bowed, "Ms. Olivier…"
Sebastian saw himself out and the earl, annoyed with my mere presence, put his pen down, staring a hole through me. But his annoyance softened the more he studied my face. I fumbled around for my notebook and my own pen as he stared daggers into me.
"You can speak," he said, "I have other things to do today. Please don't waste my time."
"I'm sorry," I apologized, turning to a blank page, "So, Lord Phantomhive-"
"Ciel," he cut me off.
"Excuse me?"
"Ciel," he repeated himself, "You're more than welcome to call me by my first name. I won't burn you at the stake."
"Alright," I nodded once, still more nervous than a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, "Ciel…What is something the world would ever guess about you?"
"I'm not very interesting," Ciel brushed me off, "I don't even understand why your editor would want a piece on me. Everything the world needs to know about me is already out there."
"I'm sorry," I apologized again.
"Why do you keep apologizing?" Ciel interrupted me, "It's not like it's your fault. This is the second time over the course of five minutes that you've told me you were sorry."
"I'm…" I stopped myself, "Forgive me, Ciel."
"On second thought," he looked me over, "I'm more interested in you."
"Me?" I wondered, "I'm not very exciting either…"
"I'm not surprised," Ciel scoffed, picking up with his work again.
And things were awkward and uncomfortable again. Is this what they mean when they say to not meet your heroes? Because Ciel was…well…He was just a bratty kid. He tried to come off as the head of the Phantomhive family that he is, and only at the tender age of nineteen, but underneath it all, he was just that. A bratty kid.
This interview was painful…I was lucky to get more than one word answers to any of my questions. To some of them, I didn't even get an answer. I'd just get a grunt. I did my best to give Ciel the benefit of the doubt, but it wasn't easy. Maybe he was just having an off day.
"Thank you, Lord Phantomhive," I smiled politely, "That will be all for today."
"Thank you, Ms. Olivier," he dismissed me, "I'm sure you can see yourself out."
"That won't be necessary," Sebastian joined us, "The weather has picked up, my lord. Due to hazardous conditions, Ms. Olivier isn't going anywhere. She'll be escorted to work tomorrow morning once the storm has passed."
"Sebastian," Ciel let out a heavy, disgruntled sigh, "Show Ms. Olivier to a guest room and take care of her."
"As you wish, my lord…" Sebastian bowed, gesturing toward the door, "Shall we then?"
"Ok…" I followed him out down the same windy hallway, opening to the foyer. I didn't really get a very good look when I walked in. But that's because I was more focused on keeping my lunch down. This place was huge! Such a shame it was only Ciel here. Along with the house staff and Sebastian, of course.
