Lucian glanced down at the screen for a few seconds as he couldn't immediately process what he was reading. Then a surprised smile spread across his face.
"Congratulations, Mr. Vale. You have been selected for the position of the personal assistant to the CEO. You're required to resume tomorrow." The message read.
He had gotten the job.
Yes, he had been waiting eagerly for this but he wasn't really sure he could get the job- Because of what had unfolded during the interview, earlier that morning.
FLASHBACK
The interview had been at DOV foods. The building itself was impressive- sleek glass and steel, the kind of corporate fortress that screamed old money and new power.
Lucian had walked in wearing the same outfit he had. The black v-neck that showed his tattoos running down his chest and his long blonde hair tied loosely at the back. He had never been one for corporate dress codes.
There were three members of the interviewing committee- a middle-aged woman who looked strict with a very tight ponytail, an older gentleman who looked like he had seen everything twice and a younger man who looked like he was smiling but really wasn't.
The woman had been the first to speak after the initial pleasantries.
"Your appearance... We run a conservative corporation, Mr. Vale. The exposed chest, the hair- it's not really our company standard. We have an image to maintain." She had said firmly, tilting her head slightly.
Lucian had met her gaze directly. He hadn't blinked nor had he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"I understand that I'm applying for the position of the personal assistant to the CEO... I believe my style will not stop the CEO for being functional, will it?" Lucian had said simply with a soft smile.
The woman's eyebrows shot up. The younger man had exchanged a look with the older gentleman. There had been a pause that lasted too long. Too heavy. The kind of pause that usually meant rejection.
But Lucian had continued the interview like nothing had happened, answering their questions about his qualifications with ease.
He had talked about his organizational skills, his ability to manage complex schedules, his attention to detail. He had answered their questions about why he wanted the job, about his experience, about his availability.
Well, he hadn't mentioned that he was desperately broke and needed the income. That was nobody's business.
The interview had ended with handshakes and vague promises of "we'll be in touch." Nothing concrete. Nothing that suggested yes or no.
Lucian Vale being Lucian hadn't really thought much about rejection as he walked out of the building confidently until when he had spoken to Amanda about it.
After the interview, he had called Amanda on video while sitting in a coffee shop, nursing a drink he wasn't supposed to purchase considering how broke he was.
"Didn't you say you were going for an interview this morning? Is that the outfit you wore to the interview? Oh, my God, Lucian... When will you learn?" Amanda had exclaimed with an amused grin immediately she saw him.
Lucian had pressed his lips together, shrugging his shoulders slightly, his eyes squinting as if asking 'what's wrong with it?'
"Anyway, how did it go?" The seemingly ageless woman had asked, her beautiful eyes glinting with mischief.
"It went well, I suppose. There was just this woman who raised an observation about my outfit and I told her my style doesn't affect the service I'm required to render." Lucian had replied then took a sip of his drink, unbothered.
A laugh had rippled out of Amanda's throat at that. She wasn't surprised to hear that. She had known this man for years and knew what he could do.
After a few seconds, a small frown crept up on her face, instantly replacing the amusement;
"Lucian, have you forgotten how broke you are? You need that job. You can't afford to be prideful about your style." She pointed out seriously.
"I've been telling you to get yourself a stylist if you want to blend in there... Oh, well, you can't afford that right now." Amanda had added then burst into laughter again.
Lucian rolled his eyes then muttered;
"Yeah, rub that on my face mercilessly."
He groaned and took another long sip of his drink. He had accepted that he actually had no one to blame for his current situation. He was the cause, after all.
"Okay, at least hide those tattoos. Cut the hair. You will need to if you actually want to work in that city and live like a decent human being!" Amanda maintained firmly.
"And who says I won't get the job without changing my style?"
"I will get the job," Lucian had said as a matter of fact.
Amanda had raised an eyebrow, her gray eyes skeptical.
"Really? Based on what? Your charm?" She queried, her amused grin returning rapidly.
"Based on the fact that I'm good at what I do." He'd replied with his usual soft smile- the one where his eyes twinkled beautifully and his lower lip slightly curved.
"And your refusal to compromise?" Amanda egged him on.
"Especially that." He'd said and the woman had laughed again then suggested something ridiculous but challenging to Lucian's fragile pride.
"Let's bet on it! I say you won't get the job."
Lucian's hand tightened around the phone. That was his pride at risk and he wouldn't let it suffer a dent.
"I will get the job. What are you betting?" He shot back with a glare.
"Uhmm, let's see... Okay, anything you want. But I'm certain it will be the other way round and then I can tell you what I want is for you to come back here to where you are supposed to be." Amanda had said.
Something had shifted in Lucian's eyes and for a second, there was an awkward silence.
A knowing chuckle from Lucian had lifted the tension and the video call had ended after some playful words were exchanged.
The day had stretched on after that and Amanda's bet had stirred something in Lucian's mind- uncertainty.
"I have to get the job." He had thought.
And with that thought on his mind, he had spent the rest of the afternoon and evening doing small tasks such as going to the gym.
By 7pm when he hadn't gotten any response, his brain had started thinking about other options. At least anything that could keep him living in this city instead of returning to...
Maybe warehouse work? Night shifts at a convenience store? But would his pride allow him to work in those settings?
Hardly.
So despite the uncertainty, he had kept checking his phone anyway. Some part of him had held on.
And that was why he had been checking his phone as he sat on the bus.
END OF FLASHBACK
Lucian looked at the screen again to be sure he actually saw the message clearly.
"I did it!" He muttered jubilantly.
The jubilation was from knowing that he could relax now and not worry about how to afford rent and food in this grand city.
He had been struggling for about two months since he arrived.
The bus got to another stop and Lucian got off, his eyes finally leaving his phone screen to look at his surroundings.
"Oh, f-uck!" He cussed as he saw the unfamiliar streets. His apartment was still far. The walk would take over an hour in this direction and his body was tired.
"It's all because of that man!" He grumbled as his mind drifted back to the man on the bus.
Lucian started walking, his long hair moving with each step. The city moved around him- people rushing home from work, couples heading out for dinner, the usual chaos of evening traffic.
Despite how tired he felt and how his empty stomach roared, his mind kept circling back to the man on the bus:
The way he had looked- expensive suit, but eyes that held absolute despair. The way his shoulders had shaken as he cried. The weight of him when his head had fallen onto Lucian's shoulder.
That man was drowning in something. Lucian could see it the way some people could see colors. The devastation had been that obvious.
"What could be wrong with someone to cry like that?" Lucian muttered aloud as he walked. A woman passing by gave him a concerned look and hurried away.
Lucian didn't care. He was thinking about the stranger. About the unexplainable pull he had felt and how he just couldn't bring himself to push him off and had let his bus stop pass just to be present for someone who didn't even know his name.
"Whatever is breaking him is none of my business..." Lucian told himself, trying to shake the thought of the stranger off but suddenly, he felt something in his heart.
Something he hadn't felt in years...
A sharp ache in disagreement with his resolve!
Just why?