Hiiii this chapter is a long time coming, it's hard to fit in writing fanfiction with writing for school and I had a little bit of a block with this one. Because of how busy everything is, I wont be able to spend as much time editing so I apologize for any grammatical errors. I hope you enjoy this chapter ! Though it is more to jumpstart the next few.

"Isn't this a little too…sexy for an interview ?"

My eyes met Cindy's in the mirror, where she was leaning towards me on my couch. A little TOO invested in my outfit.

"Girl homie gon' take one look at those titties in that sweater and hire your fine ass on the spot."

I blushed at the thought of the "homie" in question. Keep your thoughts professional Jasmine- only work-y thoughts.

Due to Cindy's peer pressure, I had tried on her light brown long sleeve sweater with the exposed sleeves. It was a tight fit that hugged my chest, and I had paired it with black flare pants that clung to my bottom a little too much. A gold chain draped modestly around my neck, and my hair was up in a tight clean bun, not a strand loose.

This all in all was pretty bad, but one little detail was the cherry on top of the slutty ice cream cake – a small sliver of triangular skin showing right smack in the middle of my chest. Though it was high up and too small to show any real cleavage, I still felt it sent the wrong "intentions" for a work environment.

" Bitch you look expensive." Cindy smirked. " On top of being hella qualified. He'd have to be a dunce to not hire you on the spot."

I forced a shaky breath. This really needed to work out. I had an interview for my new place and if this worked, I could move in the next two months. It would also feel so good to slam that resignation letter in my managers' faces as well. Those shit heads.

"Boo ?" Cindy's snapping pulled me back. Right. The interview.

" I guess it technically isn't showing anything." I sighed, subconsciously checking my watch.

Wowzers.

" Crap it's 11:30. I gotta get going."

Cindy squealed the most ridiculous girly squeal, before jumping from the couch to kiss my cheek.

And smack the hell out of my ass.

" Girl-"

" Go get um tiger !" she toothy grinned, ushering me out the door.

The whole drive to the company I was stressing. What if the slit of skin was too much? Or what if he super overestimated me?

If this went wrong, he would probably think I'm some incompetent loser.

Woah. I frowned. Why should I care about what sorry ass Huey Freeman felt? I was going in for one reason only. To make money. So, I can have a better living situation. For my mom…

My fingers tightened on the wheel. I had to get this job. Huey and his weirdness be damned. I didn't have a choice but to get hired.

" I'm here for the interview at 12:15 ?"

The girl behind the front desk looked up from her computer, eyeing me.

Maybe the slit was too much.

She gave me a wicked frown, indignant. "I'm sorry there's no scheduled meeting time for Mr. Freeman today."

How am I here for only two seconds and already am having issues ?

My fingers tapped anxiously against the marble of her reception desk, and a smile played on my face as her eyes tensed with annoyance. She was pretty despite her ugly attitude – with baby blue eyes and dark brown hair that fell around her shoulders in planned waves. She wore a neatly pressed white blouse that matched her brown and white rimmed glasses. Glasses that told me everything I needed to know.

" I wear glasses too you know." I chirped.

Without a pause in her typing, she slowly looked back up at me, eyes wide with annoyance. "Cool."

"Yea," I continued, " Cute amber ones. They have little stripes on the side. White."

" Do I need to call security ?"

" Yea… the agitating thing about glasses ? They always reflect what you're looking at. Especially on screens." I smiled down demurely.

She continued to gaze at me frostily, before her eyes started to widen again like saucers- realization hitting her.

" And as my resume stated, I'm a fast reader and very observant." I winked down at her. " So it wasn't hard spotting my name in bold on the excel spreadsheet you have open right now."

Her cheeks turned red like lava was pooling beneath them, her glare turning from frost to heat. I kept cool, giving her my most innocent smile. " I'd hate to have to ask your supervisor what they think about my observational skills."

" You're ten minutes early." She seethed, her teeth grinding together. " Hue is a very precise person. Have a seat."

Hue ?

Whatever.

I gave her one last smile before taking a seat on the quite cozy looking chase against the reception wall. My pride began to wane, and the stutter of my heart kicked back up. Maybe I was too harsh…

She was literally in the way of me and paying my next bill so it kinda makes sense for me to fly a little off the handle. But all the way off ?

I sighed, embarrassed, sinking into the chase. It was even comfier than I thought it would be.

Searching for a distraction, I let my eyes rove over the whole room. Mr. Freeman must have a specific decorator, as the reception hall matched a lot of his apartment. I don't get how someone can be okay with that – it's like you can never take a break from your work environment.

The same dark accent furniture and greenery accentuated the space, paired with marble floors etched in gold.

H emust have a thing for browns… you'd think he would have a brown sweater as a favorite instead of that black one. The brown would probably really set off his skin tone too…

"Ma'am ?"

…Like give it an extra pop. And make his afro and stubble stand out. Plus those warm wine eyes-

" Ma'am !"

I jumped. Turning back to the receptionist, I was met with her stormy blue eyes once again.

"Hue will see you now." She pointed to the door beside her desk, not bothering to spare me another glance. "He doesn't like to be kept waiting."

She had to be trying to assert dominance with that Hue crap. Like I gave a flying fuck. Glaring at her one more time, my feet clanked towards the door. Swinging open effortlessly, it revealed a long corridor with the same marble floors and white walls. Closed doors lined the walls, and unlike the other room there was no decoration. No sounds coming from the doors either.

It felt like an insane asylum. Shivering, I forced my way to the grand door at the end of the hall -which, of course, had to belong to the insane control freak himself. My purse was tucked into me and his leather jacket hung over my elbow as I sauntered towards it, hyperaware of my heels clicking harshly against the floor

Heels make you feel like the most powerful bad bitch in the room.

Well Cindy, right now all this bad bitch want to do is take up less space.

Swallowing my nerves as best as my body would allow, I reached the grand door, taking a deep breath. I rose my fist to knock –

The door sprang open.

A woman, slightly shorter than me, with dark brown eyes and deep red hair glared up at me. Her face was flushed, and tears stained her face.

My heart lurched. " Oh my gosh are you-"

"Nothing your clobber heels can fix !" she spat, pushing past me.

It was decided- I will be wearing flats from here on out.

I couldn't help staring at her for a moment, feeling my eyes stretched wide, before I slowly turned my head to be faced again…

…With Huey Freeman.

He had not acknowledged my presence. Instead, he was kneading his left temple harshly with one hand, the other tapping a pencil against his mahogany desk loudly.

He was simmering.

My face felt hot. Gosh what was with him and pissing off women? Was he some kind of womanizer?

Protectiveness for the poor girl raced through me. Regardless of my situation, I would never want to be employed by such a heinous man.

There was a harsh edge to my voice I couldn't control when I lastly spoke. " I should go-"

"The woman you encountered is not employed here Dubois, and is definitely not your concern." His voice boomed slightly, and I felt it in my bones. My arms crossed despite it. " It really is none of my business." And it wasn't. As long as no one was getting hurt, I could not care less about this man and his affairs.

He took a deep breath, still not looking at me. His chest and shoulders rose in a harmonious manner, a little slower than what was usual. He seemed to be trying to calm himself down.

Even through his black coat his shoulders were so defined.

His eyes finally rose to meet mine.

Despite the tenseness in his body showing frustration, his eyes were like chilled wine, relaxing me unintentionally. An air of calm and steadiness washed over my body.

I clutched my stuff tighter. As if having a grip on what was in my hand would help me get a better grip on what was happening in my mind.

"Have a seat Dubois." He stood up, pushing the green suede chair across from him towards me, and oh my gosh of COURSE he is wearing it.

The sweater from my fantasy, brown, knitted, and snug enough to accentuate each muscle in his arms in chest.

And man would I be lying if I said myday dream did the image any justice.

As if he knew my awful thoughts, he shrugged off the black coat ( the whore).

I felt like I was going to combust as I forced my ass to sit in the chair, but not before draping his coat over the table. " I thought I'd bring this for you."

He gave me a half there smile, obviously distracted, before pulling the coat towards himself. Silence consumed us after. I fiddled with my bag strap as he gathered his things, a leather notebook and a pencil.

"Let's start off simple. Tell me about your background history of work as well as academia."

I began answering each question with my most cool yet enthusiastic demeaner, pushing aside my anxiety. He almost stumbled me in between questions when he would give me this almost approving look – not quite a smile, but somewhat hinting towards one. Surely it was meant to be encouraging, but the way his eyes squinted and his high cheek bones lifted was for some reason almost making me hyperventilate.

After taking deep breaths, I geared my brain to think only professional thoughts, powering through. Truly I needed an award for my professionalism.

And also I needed a date soon- my hormones were obviously out of control if this awful man was making my act out like this.

"Before we conclude this interview," Huey prompted, respawning me, "Is there anything you would like to ask me ?"

His eyes drilled into mine, expectant. I sat up in the chair. Yea there was plenty I wanted to ask him.

Why did he help me then treat me like dirt right after ? What did he mean I didn't know what I was talking about when it came to Lin and his club ? And why has, since the moment he rudely pushed his way into my life, has he completely consumed it ? And that smell ?

His eyes were cool as he regarded me, pen in one hand, chin resting on his other's knuckles. Waiting.

I sighed. " I was mainly curious about what a usual work day would look like for me here ?" I asked weakly.

He looked me over, rubbing at his stubble, his face as blank as ever.

I'd pay a fortune to know what he is thinking. I blushed at the thought.

" Here." He reached in his desk and pulled out a folder. "IN here is everything you'll need to know."

I looked over the black folder, feeling a tsunami of happiness overwhelm me.

"Does this mean I'm hired ?" I all but squealed, looking up at him. I tried my best not to smirk.

He didn't try to repress his smirk at all. His eyes ran over me as the smirk overtook his whole face, showing off that dimple. " It means we'll call you Ms. Dubois."

Heart soaring, I reached over to grab his hand, shaking it. " Thank you so much for this opportunity and for considering me."

He arched a brow. " Despite that attitude of yours I had a feeling you were a more or less grounded young woman."

I frowned. Was that an insult. He didn't give me time to consider it as he reached over to grab my expecting hand. Pure warmth spilled from his grasp, his long callous fingers wrapping around my hand felt so strong. So sure.

So wonderful.

My thoughts ?! Ach !

Disgust pumped through me, my cheeks on fire as I tried to give the most business-like handshake I could muster. He gave his infamous arched brow again before pulling back, eyeing me. His hand ran through his fro almost subconsciously. "Well that concludes our meeting. Like I mentioned we'll call you."

I nodded, carefully standing from the too comfortable chair. "Thank you again for the opportunity."

He nodded, his attention once again fully on his work. "You may see yourself out."

Talk about a 180. I hope this wasn't a mistake.

Swallowing down both pride and anger, I grabbed my things and "saw" myself out through his large doors and out to the hallway. "Have a good day Mr. Freeman."

He didn't respond.

As my heels clacked angrily down the hall and back towards the front of the building, regret flooding me. This was a good opportunity. A chance for the social mobility and to really feel a growth in my pockets. I could handle an asshole like Huey Freeman for a fatter check. And I would – not his annoying bitchiness, or my stupid high school emotions were going to stop me.

And getting back on the dating scene was one way to help fix at least one of those problems.

Barging through the large doors, I sauntered to the exit, stopping to give my new favorite receptionist an exaggerated wave.

She glowered in response.

Despite this over hostile work environment so far, the thought of my soon to be new place and a little less stress made me walk a little louder. Stand a little taller.

I had to get this job. And anything I have to have, I will.