Disclaimer: I don't own Austin and Ally or some of the characters used in this story.
The light peaked through the curtains slowly waking me up. I fluttered my eyes and yawned quietly to myself before turning over to look at Keira who was still fast asleep. I looked over at the clock as it read '7:45 am', sighing to myself I dragged myself out of bed as the realisation of what happened yesterday finally hit me. But how was I going to make the rest of the money by this Saturday? I thought to myself while glancing over at Keira.
Rolling my eyes frustratingly, I strolled towards the living room to see my mom laying on the sofa fast asleep with her hair all over the place and her clothes tattered. Whenever she would get fired from jobs she would normally come home really late or not until morning and it pained me to see her like that. A woman that was so strong and had all the happiness that life had to offer was now a woman who had been struck down and destroyed by the city she had fate in her whole life.
"Mom… mom!" I said while crouching down beside her and shaking her a little. "Mom wake up" I uttered this time a little more loudly and within a few seconds she slowly opened her eyes while groaning under her breath.
"Uh Ally… what time is it?" she asked slowly lifting her head up the sofa.
I sighed again to myself before taking a seat next to her. "Where were you last night mom? I waited up till midnight for you, do you know how worried I was?!" I hissed while folding my arms.
"We needed some money Ally, I had to go ask Spencer if-
"Please tell me you didn't sleep with him again for money" I groaned cutting her off. "We talked about this mom, Spencer is no good plus I don't want you sleeping around for money, just leave it all to me" I said before placing my hand over hers.
My mom sighed deeply while squeezing onto my hand and gently stroking my hair. Her eyes were filled with so much pain and sadness but she still managed to put on a brave smile just for me. Sometimes I wish I was as strong as her when it came to hiding my feelings and emotions.
"Oh Ally" she whispered cupping my cheek. "It's all my fault… you had excellent grades in High school and got accepted into Stanford but had to turn it down… all because I can't keep a damn job for more than two months. I wish I can support you and your sister and make enough money for you to go back to School but-"she exclaimed unable to finish her sentence.
"It's okay mom, please don't cry" I said pulling her in closer and wrapping my arms around her. "It's gonna be okay I promise, I'll work hard for the 3 of us and get a job working at Strattmon Inc. one day" I smiled causing her to do the same.
"Oh I never get tired of hearing you talk about that business company" she uttered as we both laughed. "Speaking of Strattmon Inc. I hear Austin Moon is looking for a temporary assistant and is holding interviews at the tower at 2 today, why don't you go and try out honey" my mom uttered enthusticially. I was about to reply but was quickly cut off by Keira who walked into the living room before taking a seat in the middle of us.
"You're making it sound like it's another job interview for Ally mom" Keira groaned rolling her eyes.
"What are you talking about?" I asked furrowing my eyebrow in confusion.
"Austin Moon is no ordinary person, not only is he in the top 3 richest people in New York, but he's in the top 20 richest in the world too… and not to mention totally hot" Keira uttered while turning on her phone and gazing at her lock screen picture of him in awe. "Anyway what I'm saying is that since he's holding an interview for a new assistant almost everyone would be there so you have no chance" she shrugged earning a slap on the shoulder by my mom.
"I wasn't planning to go anyway" I sighed lowering my head.
"But why not honey?" asked my mom.
"There's no way I'll get the job mom, and there's gonna be people there who are very experienced and better than I am… as much as I'd love to meet Austin Moon, I'd just go there and embarrass myself in front of him" I spoke.
"But how great would it be if you did work for him though, I mean think of all the money we could have and-
"Oh shut up and make your mind up Keira" my mom hissed cutting her off. "Ally I don't want you to do something you'll end up regretting, so whatever you choose to do, just know that we're always here for you".
"And what about me?" Keira scoffed arching a brow at her.
"You young lady are very annoying" my mom joked smirking over at her.
"Oh whatever" Keira groaned before leaning over and placing a kiss on her cheek and I chuckled quietly to myself as they started to bicker and laugh loudly. We had no money and lived in a very small apartment, but we had each other and having them by my side at all times was truly the most important thing to me.
It was now 1:30 pm and I was working at my second job at a bakery. I stood behind the counter sighing to myself as each minute passed while glancing over at the clock. The interview for the new Assistant to Austin Moon was in 30 minutes and I had a hard time deciding whether or not I should go. I mean it had always been my dream to work at Strattmon Inc. but after re-evaluating it, I wasn't sure if I could handle it just yet.
"Ugh do you really think you're gonna get it Sarah" I hear someone laugh and I quickly turn my head to the table to my right to see two customers talking, with one of them applying lipstick and dolling up her face. It wasn't the first time that day that I heard people talking about the interview to become Austin Moon's new assistant, it was as if everywhere I looked everyone was talking about it, which only messed with my mind even more.
"Of course Britney, my future Husband AKA Austin Moon needs a new Assistant and that's got my name written all over it" she smirked before putting down her lipstick. She turned to glance at me but I quickly removed my eyes before staring over at the entrance to see a guy who looked to be in his early to middle 20s stepping out of a jet black Mercedes. He wore a very expensive navy suit and his light brown hair was slicked back. As he made his way inside the bakery all eyes immediately went up to look at him, some people whispered to themselves gawking at the insanely handsome man while others simply stared at him in awe.
"Well, everything here looks so delicious" he chuckled strolling over to the counter before looking down at all the cakes and sweets. I blushed lightly to myself admiring how well dressed he was and how great he was smelt.
His eyes slowly travelled up to me as a smile slowly appeared on his face. "I can't seem to decide what to buy, any suggestions?" he asked placing his arm down on the counter.
"U-Um the lemon cakes are really delicious, along with the strawberry shortcake" I replied anxiously".
"Great I'll have both" he smiled before reaching into his blazer and getting out a $100 bill. I stared up at him shocked as he smirked down at me like he was trying to figure something out. "U-Uh thank you but it's only 12 dollars" I stated handing the money back over to him.
"Keep the rest of the change, it would be fairly rude without giving a beautiful girl like you a small tip" he chuckled before reaching into his pocket to get something out. He called this a small tip?
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Ally".
"That's a beautiful name, Ally".
I smiled at his compliment as I felt my cheeks start to go red. I hardly ever even got a Thank you while working but this man that I barely knew was flirting with me and I couldn't help but feel extremely nervous.
"I'm Eliot" he spoke before handing me his business card. "I'd like to talk to you sometime Ally, please call me anytime." and with that he gave me one last wink before turning around to head out the restaurant. Did that just happen? I thought to myself before stuffing the card back in my pocket and gazing up at the time as it read 1:40.
I shut my eyes thinking of what to do as the interview was in 20 minutes. I couldn't possibly go and make a fool of myself in front of the most prestigious CEO in New York City, but on the other hand if I didn't go I knew that I would end up regretting it for a long long time. I had a slim chance of ever becoming his assistant but in a city like this you had to take every opportunity even if it means embarrassing yourself along the way. I opened my eyes and let out a deep breath before running into the kitchen to my manager.
"I have to leave early and go somewhere important today ma'am but I promise I'll work more hours tomorrow" I said as I quickly took of my work cap and grabbed my handbag and ran out the door before she could say anything else. I had to at least try, not only for me but for my mom and older sister as they were the two most important people in my life.
I wasn't sure what I was doing or what was going to happen, but from then my life began to slowly change in a way that I wasn't expecting.
I quickly parked my bicycle across the road from Strattmon Inc. towers before taking of my helmet and staring up at it. I looked down at my watch as it read '2:10' pm and I cursed silently to myself. Of course I had rode past here many times but every time I did, I felt like my 14 year old self again, who had decided that working at this company was something she wanted to do for the rest of her life
I looked over at the tourists who were taking pictures, amazed at the tall building before looking over at the paparazzi's and news reporters who were waiting outside the tower.
Parking my bike near the corner I went to cross the road but quickly stopped as I saw a limo pulling up in front of the building. Before I knew it the paparazzi's quickly rushed over to it while snapping as many pictures as possible and my eyes widened as the man I've admired for many years slowly stepped out the limo. He wore a black suit with dark shades and his blonde hair was neatly combed back. I stood in shock with my eyes wide open as he quickly made strolled over to the towers ignoring the reporters and paparazzi who were getting up on his face.
It was as if time had stopped and the only person I could see was Austin. His mere presence alone was glorifying and charismatic and I found it hard to take my eyes of him.
"Mr Moon, what are you looking for in your new assistant?" a reporter asked placing the microphone in his face. He stopped to look down at her for a brief moment before carrying on walking inside the building and they went to go after him but were quickly stopped by his bodyguards. It must be extremely difficult living a life where everywhere you go the camera was always in your face, but for Austin he seemed to love the attention and hate it at the same time.
I took a deep breath and gave myself a little pep talk before crossing the road and walking towards the building where I was quickly stopped by some reporters.
"Excuse me! Are you here for the interview to become Austin Moon's new assistant? Could you tell the viewers at home how you've prepared for what could be the most important day of your life?" the news reporter questioned holding the microphone up to my face. I stared directly at the camera anxiously before turning around to quickly run inside the building. If there was anything I hated more it was the attention and having the spotlight on me.
I breathed in an out rapidly as I looked around the place before walking up to the receptionist.
"E-Excuse me I'm here for-
"The interview?" she asked quickly cutting me off.
"Um yeah" I nodded before rubbing my arm nervously.
"Look even though Mr Moon just arrived there's still a lot of people in the waiting room, some even came early in the morning so you have to wait a couple hours sweetheart" she said before pulling her glassed back up. "So can I get your name?" she asked.
"Uh Ally Dawson" I stated and she nodded before pointing over to the waiting room. A couple hours?! I thought to myself as I slowly walked over to the waiting room as directed to see a whole load of people sitting and talking. I let out a deep sigh and took a spare seat at the back before lowering my head slightly. I really should have prepared more for this seeing that I'm about to enter into a room with a man who I've admired for years. Even the thought of it made my heart want to beat out of my chest.
As minutes went past, I watched people get called up to go up to Mr Moon's Office, some came down ecstatic about how it had went but the majority came down crying and throwing a tantrum. Those minutes turned into hours and before I knew it, I had been finally been called up.
"Ally Dawson!" the man called and I slowly stood up before walking over to him.
"Up the elevator on the top block then turn left, don't keep Mr Moon waiting for too long kid, he's a very busy man" he whispered the last bit while eyeing me up and down disapprovingly.
I nodded my head at him before turning around to head up the elevator. As much as I wanted to turn back and run away, it was far too late for that and even though I had no idea what I was gonna do or say, somewhere in my heart I still found a little faith and a little bit of that fighting spirit in me that had kept me going during my tough times.
Little did I know that the second I stepped into his Office my life would change forever.