Chapter 53
What in Gehenna was Rean doing here?! Wasn't he an Instructor at the Thors Branch School still or had he changed professions? Ash did NOT look happy to see him and Melyssa had turned her head to look at him, following his every step until he was in front of her, looking intimidating and handsome as ever.
"Hello again, Rean." She greeted softly, clasping her hands in her lap and knew instantly this was not a conventional, everyday interview.
"Ms. Reynolds." He inclined his head towards her.
Rean was here as a personal favor to Emma, who had wanted his opinion on any potential new hires because she didn't trust her 'darling husband' to not be distracted by a pretty face. Machias wouldn't cheat, not on his wife, but that didn't mean the man wasn't immune to beautiful women either. Also, Emma had wanted a hardened opinion on man or woman, anyone who might be working closely with her husband because she no longer trusted people.
He didn't blame her and didn't either.
Emma must have asked him to come here for the interviews, Melyssa deduced in thought, feeling as if she was under a microscope. Four pairs of eyes were staring at her and she knew what they were doing. They were hoping she'd crack under the pressure and it wouldn't happen. Her training in Ouroboros made her immune to pressurized circumstances and situations. "You said you wanted to ask me some questions, so fire away. I'm an open book."
The smile remained on her face, not faltering and her demeanor did not change. Despite everyone in the room, she remained calm, minus her little 'freak-out' moment with Celine earlier. That would be the reaction of any NORMAL civilian seeing a talking cat, however, so Melyssa thought she played it flawlessly.
Celine had jumped up to perch on Rean's shoulder, whispering in his ear.
Which was very uncomfortable and ticklish, it took all of his many years of training and experience to not swat the cat off of him because her damn whiskers were going to make him sneeze. "I want to discuss your time at the museum." He informed her finally, hands behind his back. "I'm sure you've already discussed this with the mayor, but I want you to tell me, what exactly were your duties there?" He listened as she recounted what she had already told Machias, raising an eyebrow. "How does that qualify you to be a secretary to the mayor?" His tone was neutral, waiting for her to reply.
Her tone was just as neutral and professional. "As I told you and the mayor, I don't have a lot of experience in the secretarial field, but I am a fast learner and it doesn't seem all that difficult to answer telephones, file paperwork and use the computer. Honestly, I applied for this job because I need to pay my bills. I need a job, like every other civilian in this city. I'm good with paperwork and multitasking, as well as the computer. Now, let me ask you a question, if I'm not qualified for the position, then why would the mayor have all of you interview me?" That caught Rean off guard and she smiled at him serenely. Melyssa wasn't wearing anything indecent or showcasing any part of her body, so she wasn't using womanly charms to get her foot in the door.
Celine had to admit, this woman was sharp as nails and she shrugged when Rean looked at her, not sure what to think or believe. "Don't look at me, she's asking YOU the question, Ashen."
"I'm just honestly surprised she's asking it, I would have thought it was obvious." Rean said, already dismissing the woman who looked somewhat like Melyssa. She was either really good at lying and being dim or she genuinely was a beautiful idiot, which was a type found everywhere. "I don't think you're qualified, but Machias does. It's our job to ensure you're not a danger to anyone or lying."
"You do realize this is for more than just answering telephones, yes? You'll have to deal with members of the press and a million other things." Ash drawled, rather enjoying this.
"She'll be trained on what to do, if she gets the job." Celine began licking her paws again, acting disinterested.
"I'm aware, yes. The mayor went down the list of duties I'd have to perform for him since, if I'm chosen, I'll be the main person everyone goes to for appointments, interviews and anything else related to the government." In a nutshell, she would be Machias' personal assistant, not just his secretary. That would mean she'd be privy to any information involving his job, which meant everything he planned on doing while in this position. "And once my background check comes in, you will see I am not a danger to anyone."
Did she look dangerous? No. Was she dangerous? Yes. Not to Class VII, however. Getting this job, this position, would ensure she'd be able to protect Machias from Ouroboros, should they act, as well as being the Grandmaster's spy. Melyssa wouldn't be telling the Grandmaster everything, only what she felt the woman needed to know to sate her.
"What do you think?"
Rean shrugged one shoulder, sharing a look with Crow. Ash wasn't giving him the time of day outside of what society deemed polite and not a speck more. He didn't fault the other man. "Machias will hire her. She's not the most qualified who has been interviewed, but she's not the least either."
"But?" Celina prompted with a yawn.
"I don't trust her."
Ash snorted, shaking his head and gestured at the 'her' in question. "She's right there, you know."
"I. Don't. Trust. You." She looked too familiar, sounded too familiar and, yet, she was all wrong. He bowed to everyone present before walking out. He'd let Emma know what Celine had thought as well as his own, perhaps slightly askew, perceptions.
Rean was NEVER this straightforward before and Melyssa had no reaction or response to what he said. That was how he felt and more than likely, he would go to Machias and Emma, tell them his thoughts, and she wouldn't get hired. She turned to look at Crow and Ash, both having completely different expressions on their faces. Ash looked downright outraged while Crow had an unexplainable expression on his face and Celine continued staring at her.
"Wow, if the mayor treats other civilians like this, I'm wondering if he's up to being in this position of power." She did not feel bad saying that because any other normal civilian would have been irate at being treated like this. "That was very unprofessional. Have a nice day." She walked out of the room and out of the building, getting in her car to drive back to her apartment.
"Rean's not wrong." Crow said once she was gone. "She is… wrong, even Celine thought so."
"Not the point."
"Besides, if she can't handle dealing with Rean, she's not going to make it with the press. They'd eat her alive, so really… he did us a favor." Though… it would make it harder to keep an eye on her, but on the other hand, there was no way she was Ouroboros. That or they hadn't trained her well enough to know that positions like this required some serious patience and PR knowledge.
"Still not the point."
"You're not going to be pleased with him even if he had given her a pass."
"Also not the point."
No, Rean was a prick towards her and very unprofessional. No other civilian would have been treated the way Lysa had been and Machias was not happy with his friend. He informed Rean to go back to Thors Branch School, remove the stick from his backside and not to contact him until he turned back into the old Rean. This was not the Rean he wanted as a friend and comrade. Rean could not think clearly for the past two years since Melyssa had disappeared off the face of Erebonia. He had voiced his concerns to his wife and what did she do? She had Rean come to INTERROGATE a potential employee, a Crossbell City citizen!
Emma needed to stop sticking her nose in his business because HE was the mayor, not her. This was HIS decision, ultimately, regardless of what others said or thought. Machias had separate meetings with Crow and Ash, ignoring Celine because the cat would be bias from the beginning. Celine was always on Emma's side, whatever Emma wanted to do, she was for it. Machias no longer trusted Emma's opinion because it was also bias. Everyone needed to move on – what happened in Jurai was awful and he understood that, but this was business and he would do what was best for business.
Miss Reynolds was hired with an apology and promises she would not be subject to that ever again. Machias had a city to run through the democratic process and would not be distracted by his meddling wife because she felt something was 'off' with this young woman. Machias hadn't known Melyssa long, but even he could tell this was not her, these women were both very different personality wise and there were things that one just couldn't change. Not to mention, it was ridiculous, this theory about Ouroboros and Melyssa.
Why send someone they all knew?
It made absolutely no sense.
Since Rean had absolutely no intention of going back to Crossbell, not even if Ouroboros decided to come out and play, he informed Machias it was now officially HIS problem and he OWNED the fallout.
To say Melyssa was stunned at the phone call was an understatement.
All she could do was accept the apology, as well as the position, and showed gratitude for being given this opportunity. Was this Ouroboros' doing? How could it be? The Mayor was the one who did the hiring and Machias had faced off with Ouroboros in the past. Hmm…it made Melyssa wonder if Ash or Crow had something to do with it since it was obvious Rean didn't want her anywhere near City Hall. Rean knew something and he made that quite clear by stating he didn't trust her.
That hurt a lot more than Melyssa would ever admit. Machias gave her the rest of the week off and expected her bright eyed and bushytailed that following Monday morning at the office at 6 AM sharp. Melyssa assured him she'd be there and the call ended with her feeling conflicted, sipping her glass of wine. Things were panning out in her favor…too much, and she was starting to wonder if someone else wasn't behind the scenes pulling strings.
A knock at her door roused Melyssa out of her thoughts and when she got up to peer out the peek hole, there stood Crow Armbrust. He smiled when she opened the door, fiery red eyes narrowing in on the glass of wine she was drinking, taking in the lipstick stain on the rim of the glass and cleared his throat, eyes moving to meet hers. "It's considered bad form to drink alone, Lys." He said by way of greeting, not moving to enter her apartment because she hadn't offered him an invitation, just hovering in the hallway. "So, I wanted to talk to you about today." Today had been odd and awkward, even by their standards.
"Yes well, after the day I've had, I needed a drink." Melyssa remarked, wondering what exactly he wanted to talk to her about. "I suppose you are right, though. Come in and I'll pour you a glass, if you want."
She opened the door wider for him to enter, stepping aside and shut it behind him, setting her glass down on the coffee table. Moving to the kitchen, she grabbed another wine glass before heading back into the living room, sitting down on the couch. The bottle of wine was already on the coffee table, she hadn't been kidding when she said she needed a drink.
"So, do you want one or not?"
"Sure." He shrugged, watching as she filled his glass before topping her own off. Bringing it up, Crow sniffed it, taking in the aroma and smiled before sipping the liquid, letting it coat his tongue. "Rean isn't always a bastard." He said it abruptly, carefully setting the glass down. "You just physically remind him of someone he lost a few years ago, I don't think he knows how to react to you." She looked tired, like it had been a long day and given her morning, he bet the rest of the day had dragged on.
"Really? I do?"
Melyssa felt her heart clench painfully in her chest at that revelation. It was her fault Rean was the cold person she saw today…and at the party. He had completely changed and he wasn't nearly as warm as he used to be.
He has to realize I had no choice. If I didn't go willingly, they would have taken me by force and killed Crow and my Dad. I had no choice… Melyssa thought sadly, not realizing a hint of sadness entered her eyes as she took a slow sip of her wine. "Just because I remind him of this person doesn't MAKE me that person though, Crow. Do I remind you of this same person?"
Something had changed in her demeanor and it made him curious, maybe as curious as she was about if she reminded him of this long lost friend. "Nope." Crow smiled at her easily, leaning back against the couch and draped his arm along the back of it. Personally, he thought Melyssa should have told them to stick it up their ass and let the die fall where they may, but it didn't matter now, none of it did. "She was kind of an idiot; you don't seem like you are." He said after a moment, reaching for his glass and took another slow sip, red eyes fastened on hers. "And I mean that in the nicest way possible. She was a good friend, but an idiot."
"I see. Sounds like you don't agree with whatever she did." Crow shook his head and Melyssa had to swallow more hurt down. I did it for their own good, to protect and save them, including you, Crow! McBurn would have burned them all alive, just like her Papa. She knew what she did hurt them, but hearing and seeing the aftermath was heartbreaking. Even though she was an Enforcer, that didn't mean she wasn't human. "So, what did you want to talk to me about from today? Or was that it?" There was no reason to keep talking about her.
"Mostly to apologize about Rean and sort of explain that he wasn't always a major jerk."
Rean used to be friendly and caring, to the point where he would put others over himself. Crow supposed that Rean hadn't enjoyed the shoe being in the other foot so to speak, being forced to watch someone sacrifice themselves. Gehenna, maybe Rean's problem was that she had beat him to it.