Rhea's POV:
I waited outside the interview room for as long as I could, making sure to deceive anyone still on their way. I wasn't about to let any more candidates into the mix. By the time I walked in waiting room—one minute to the official start time—I was certain the coast was clear. No one else was going to show up, and that meant I was left with only five candidates who didn't have a clue about what was about to happen.
So, here I was, in the waiting room, facing off with five top-notch candidates who looked like they just stepped out of a corporate catalog. I was starting to feel a little out of place, but hey, this wasn't the time to chicken out. I had a plan, and I was about to execute it. Plan B: eliminate the competition.
I straightened my back and walked in with as much masculinity as I could muster, thanks to all the "acting like a man" tutorials Lucy forced me to watch. Every step, every move, every nod—it all had to be on point. I sat down between two of the guys and gave them a casual nod, hoping it didn't look too awkward.
I nodded at a couple of the men, trying to look confident, even though inside I was just praying I didn't give myself away with my girly voice.
I found a spot between two guys and sat down, trying to look natural. Now came the tricky part: starting the conversation without giving myself away. Luckily, one of the guys on the left made the first move.
"I thought we'd be more than this," he said, glancing around at the small turnout.
Well, he didn't know it, but the reason there were so few candidates was thanks to me.
"Yeah, seems like the guys chickened out," I replied nonchalantly, keeping my voice as deep as I could manage. "I bet it's because of the rumors."
That definitely got their attention. All five men turned their heads to me, their curiosity piqued. A middle-aged man, who looked like he'd been around the corporate block a few times, leaned forward.
"What rumors?" he asked, clearly eager to know what I was talking about.
I took a deep breath and smiled inwardly. I was about to have a little fun with these guys.
"Well, you know the salary is no joke, right?" I asked, dragging out the suspense. I could feel their interest growing. They were all hooked. Now it was time to reel them in. After a round of quiet "yeses," I dropped the bomb.
"The CEO's gay," I said casually, watching as their expressions shifted. "Sometimes, he needs his assistants to, uh, 'ease tensions' during the day. If you get my gist. So yeah, the handsome salary? It's basically compensation for... services rendered."
Silence followed my words. I could see the gears turning, each of them weighing whether the handsome paycheck was worth the potential... activities involved. The older man looked uncomfortable, the younger guys were visibly squirming, and one guy next to me muttered, "But, man, I'm straight."
I just shrugged, playing the role to perfection.
"Doesn't matter," I said, keeping my tone casual. "When the boss says, 'bend over,' you do it, man. Besides, you'll have to sign a non-disclosure agreement. If you get the job, you're locked in for three years, no breaks. Break the contract, and you'll pay a huge penalty. But hey, the salary's worth it."
I could see the men digesting my words, some of them clearly rattled by the idea. Then, one of them stood up, shaking his head.
"I can't do this," he said, looking horrified. "I'm a married man. To hell with the paychecks."
He practically bolted from the room, and a few others followed suit after some nervous glances and muttering things under their breath. It was working—I was down to just one guy. This was getting real.
The remaining guy, though? He was eyeing me with suspicion, his brow furrowed like he didn't fully trust what I was saying.
"Why aren't you leaving?" he asked, his voice challenging.
I raised an eyebrow, trying to play it cool. Before I could respond, a woman in a red suit and high heels stepped into the room, scanning us both. She was a vision of corporate power. She took our files and asked with a raised brow, "Is it just you two now?"
We nodded, and she sighed as if this was the most inconvenient thing in the world. "Well, that's... odd. But I guess it'll have to do. Mr. Miller, follow me."
I watched Mr. Miller stand up and follow her out of the room. His eyes lingered on me for a moment before he was gone.
Mr. Miller, the last man standing, stood up and followed her out of the room. I was left alone with the silence, feeling like a predator waiting for its prey to falter.
The tension in the room was palpable. All I needed to do now was wait for him to blow his shot so I could claim my victory.
It didn't take long. Five minutes later, Mr. Miller stormed back into the room, his clothes were disheveled, his hair mussed, and his face was practically burning with rage. He looked at me like I was the devil himself.
"You lied! You stinky mutt!" he shouted, his voice full of frustration. "Why the hell didn't he fall for my charms? No man can resist my charms!"
I bit my lip to keep from laughing. Mr. Miller's words confirmed it: the poor guy had tried to seduce the CEO, and it had completely backfired. No wonder my earlier "warning" didn't scare him off like it did to the others.
My little plan had worked. And now, with Mr. Miller's charm completely shot, it was my turn to make my move.
I leaned back in my chair, adopting the most nonchalant expression I could muster, while secretly feeling smug. Mr. Miller was out of the running, and the job was as good as mine.
I smiled maintaining my cool, and waited for the inevitable. He was done for, and I knew it.
Now, it was my turn to step into the spotlight. I just had to finish this—and the job was mine.