Holden

"Wake up, sir", Mr. Robert's voice continued to echo in my ears. "Your father would be very angry with you. It is your first day at work. You don't want to spoil it, do you. Please get up"

"He should have slept earlier, instead of partying all night" Mrs. Brown said, "I tried my best to warn him. Mr. Kauscher would be extremely furious if he finds out"

"And Mrs. Kauscher would make sure he does" Robert sighed.

"I am awake", I sat up and rubbed my eyes, "And please don't let her know anything. I can bear dad, I can't stand her"

"My dear", Mrs. Brown sat down and pat my cheek, "you know we won't ever do anything that complicates things for you"

"Ofcourse", I replied. I definitely know she would never hurt me. After all, she was the mother figure I had. I never knew the woman who gave birth to me. She never showed up after giving us to dad. Why would she? So tragic that she gave birth to twins while she was only 21 and on the go. And the woman, our father married, never cared for us. Not when she was our aunt, and not when she became our step mother. Lylah, her daughter, on the other hand, is everything a sister should be. She is younger then us and we cherish her.

"Hurry up", Mr. Robert said, "You need to reach on time".

I nodded, rushing to get a bath. Holden Kauscher, eldest son and heir to Kauscher enterprises, cannot be late on his first day of work. 24 yrs old is mature enough for life responsibilities. My dad thinks so because he had us at that age. And two years later he took over the business after the untimely death of our uncle.

I dressed up and left my room, finding my brother Bolden outside the elevator. I don't know why grandad decided to give us these extremely similar names. It annoyed the hell out of us. Thank God, we didn't look identical.

"Dad is surely going to kill us if we are even a minute late", he said, adjusting his tie, which I was sure he hated.

"Relax, we'll make it on time" I pat his back, stepping into the elevator with him.

Being the kids of a billionaire had his benefits, like living in a multistory grand mansion, and all other things that money can buy. The demerits, lack of affection. We didn't have the childhood that others are blessed with. For starters, we had no mother. Sure, we had Mrs. Brown, as a nanny, caregiver, but she cannot be our mother in all ways. Our step mother, on the other hand, dislikes us. Because of us, her daughter didn't get to be the heiress. Because of us, according to her, dad doesn't want more children. But we all know, dad doesn't want anything to do with her and thus he doesn't want children with her. Except for Lylah ,we have had no true female relationship.

The occasional flings we had were never serious. It was always about sex. And what do we even know of love. We don't have parents to look up to. And there is no love between our dad and step mother. She is just a burden on him. And yet, he has never cheated on her. At least not that we know of.

Bolden drove us to our gigantic office building and we reached 1 minute and 27 seconds early. Phew. Dad won't have another reason to be disappointed in us.

"Welcome sir", Mr. Michaelson welcomed me in my own cabin. I could clearly see the amount of work I was already assigned. Dad expected us to be like him. All work and no fun.

"Your first task, is to be part of the interviews, with me* he said.

" Interviews? You mean to say we are hiring new employees? " I asked, it was obvious but I need to be sure why I was to be a part of that, and why Mr. Michaelson was involved, he was dad's personal assistant.

"The hiring committee does that, sir. We need to interview for Mr. Kauscher's new personal assistant" he explained.

"So you are retiring?" I smirked. He can be a pain, it was good to get rid of him.

"More like, change of job. I will be in charge of other things" he said.

I nodded. Right, we could never get rid of somethings and some people. It was clear that I was just being the part of these interviews because dad wanted to test something. What it actually was, I had no clue.

"When do we start?"

"In five minutes" he replied.

And we were seated in a large room, a panel of three men, ready to interview some poor souls who were soon to suffer my dad's tantrums. 

Various girls and boys were interviewed. I was just staring blankly after 3 or 4 were done. Obviously Michaelson was in charge and I was just here to be tortured. 

"Next" Michaelson said on the mike. 

I was so done, I got off my chair. 

"I need some air", I said, walking away from the table. And before Michaelson could argue, I was at the door, but it opened and I was frozen. 

I have seen many girls in my lifetimes, slept with many, and none has struck me like she did. 

I was frozen, as I stared at her. Bright blue ocean eyes, beautiful long brunette hair, and skin so soft, I am sure one touch would leave a mark. Lips so perfect, and beautiful long slender nose. 

"Come in", Michaelson said in his stern voice. She walked past me, her aroma filling my lungs leaving me intoxicated. Impulsively, I followed her and took my seat again. 

"Introduction?" Michelson frown a little again, his favorite expression. 

"Veronica Rakes, Bachelors in work development and human resource. No, previous experience of work of this kind. Previous jobs include, waitress at KFC, cashier at a local store, sales girl for 2 years at Walmart, baby sitting through out teenage, and.." she was caught mid-way by a call on Michaelson's cell. He had it on silent except for emergency calls only, and that emergency meant only dad. 

" Yes, sir. Alright. As you wish" he said. 

He put the phone down and looked at the sweet girl. 

"You are selected, Miss Rakes. Please wait outside and I will come and explain everything. We will get your contract signed and you start work tomorrow" he said. 

"what??" I was shocked. Michaelson eyed me with a stern look. Yeah, of course I have no say, "I mean, we haven't even interviewed her". 

She was as confused as I was, probably more. 

"Mr. Kauscher has himself selected her. We don't need to ask anything else" Michaelson replied. 

Oh, so the old man was having a live camera session. Great. 

"Thank you so much" she said, rising up in disbelief. 

"See you in a short while" Michaelson said, stamping her file and closing it.