One.

Noelle’s POV

“Shit”

That’s the first line that comes into your head when you walk into a boardroom full of men and you are pretty sure you are in no way supposed to be here.

I had woken up this morning pumped to sign a business deal that would push me one inch closer to everything I ever dreamed of acquiring.

Clearing our debts, my mother, my fathers mausoleum and finally relocating to a better abode.

Now tell me why would an interview room for the position of an assistant be filled with four pairs of icy eyes and other men cowering in front of them.

I dared myself to get a closer look as I finally took in their faces. I had seen them on the cover of a business magazine once. But I couldn’t remember their names.

I quietly avoided everyone’s stares as I turned to leave the room as softly as I had entered.

“Stand back right there”

A cold voice sounded as I felt a wave of goosebumps wash over me.

‘It’s not you. It’s not you. It’s not you’ I sang this as a mantra as I tried opening the door once more.

“You heard him. Stand right there”

I froze as I turned back to them. The second voice appeared softer but yet stern in its own way. The other two guys had barely shipped in and yet the room seemed to be located at the top of the freaking Antarctica.

I looked them in the eye as I refused to back down. I might be standing at a literal disadvantage but I refused to cower to an oppressive power.

If there was a core factor I had learnt in all my years in business; it was the fact that all capitalists were sometimes stupid.

Even though there were four of them before me.

“What are you doing here, young lady?” The first guy as he struck up the conversation.

“I was asked to come today for a job interview. As an assistant to a Mr Adrian Velrose in particular.”

“And you don’t know who you are to work for? That’s such an irony don’t you think?”

“I see no reason why the person I should work for should determine a thing. In my eyes, everyone is equal despite the power you claim to hold”

“That’s quite a bold statement.”

“I have been told such before”

“And what would you do when you meet Adrian Velrose? Would you tell him the same thing if you got the job?”

“I see no reason why I can’t”

“Then I would love for you to look me in the eyes and repeat whatever you said”

Another guy stood up and walked to me. He was tall. Freaking tall. And the aura of someone who had commanded power from a young age.

Too bad for him though.

“Or else what? I believe you heard every single word I said earlier”

My statement made the men in the room give out a sigh of fear. Too bad I didn’t care about it.

“How dare you? Do you have any idea that I can erase you from the face of the earth?”

“Judging from how easily riled up you are, you seem to be Mr Adrian Velrose. That would make it even better then. You can do the interview yourself”

“It’s the audacity to think you still have a chance to work here.”

Ouch. I promised myself to keep my tongue in check. It wasn’t my fault I couldn’t stand the stupid masculine energy the room was filled with.

“What is your name?”

Elle, be extremely polite.

“Noelle Sinclair. CEO to the fallen Sinclair empire”

The last part wasn’t necessary but I was used to adding it in all introductions. It was a part of my life once. A part that made me… me.

I saw their faces as it all switched to something akin to recognition before it froze back.

“Noelle, my name is Dante Russo. What do you say if we remove the assistant stance and offer you a better preposition.”

A better preposition equals a better job. A better job equals better pay. A better pay equals how fast I can get everything done.

“I am listening Mr Dante”

At least one of them seemed to be calm enough and had some manners. Still didn’t make him less than the other three. Only manageable.

“We will offer you the position of the company’s analyst.”

“And that is?”

“You are to analyze all company records before sorting them and handing each out to the four of us. All in all, you are to work directly under us. Of course for a good price of course”

The offer was good. I would work directly under them. Learn everything I was yet to know and use their influence to find out the answers I was yet to know about.

But the question was, do I know them well enough to accept this?

“If I accept, what’s the condition that you won’t fire me at your own will?”

“There will be a written contract. Your signature along with ours. You are not to leave at any time and we are not to fire you at the slightest inconvenience. Do you accept, Miss Sinclair?”

His face seemed like he had tasted bile at the mere mention of my name. This was moving too fast and I would be a fool if I wasn’t the least skeptical about everything. But then again, years of experience had taught me how to control my facial structures to never reveal a single thought going through my head.

“I hope I will read whatever contract you guys are giving your all to draft, Mr Dante?”

“Of course”

He snapped his fingers and a guy who I presume is one of their numerous assistants ran off to possibly draft the contract.

All four of them assumed their seats, their sight not straying far from me. Not that I gave a fuck about it though.

I casually walked to one of the empty seats beside them and sat down, earning another round of gasps from the other occupants of the room.

“You are truly a fearless little thing, aren’t you?” The guy with the playboy charm spoke up but I didn’t pay any heed to his words as I looked straight ahead at the screen in front of me. The numbers were all mixed up. No wonder they needed a consultant. But I wouldn’t speak up about it till I was sure my job was secured.

“Notice anything different?” Mr Dante asked and I smirked. So it was on purpose after all.

“Nothing I would comment on at the moment”

I had just finished my comment and the guy who had left earlier returned with five copies of documents in his hands. He handed one to me and the other four to the men seated at the head of the table.

I carefully went through each clause and section of the contract. And when I was satisfied, especially with the six digit figure I would be receiving every month as my salary, I calmly picked up my pen and signed my signature.

“Welcome onboard Miss Sinclair” Mr Dante raised his hand and I calmly shook it as well as the other three pairs.

“The pleasure is all mine Sir”