Chapter 5 Bonnie's Dilemma
Bonnie's POV
It was nighttime in the Rossen household; at one am, I, Bonnie McTavern, was turning from left to right while sleep evaded me. The entire day's events mulling through my mind from classes where no one seemed friendly to the interview with Nathan and the oh ever so handsome CEO. Why did he have to belong to that jealous Elise and the threat she gave me? I could feel that he was attracted to me. It reminded me of the flight from Edinburgh to JFK airport when he was staring at me when we first saw each other. It seems as if I had the same effect on him during the interview.
I reminded myself never to look at or touch or try to get close to him. Elise's warning resonated in my head, and I knew that I could not accept the job. I do not want a negative encounter with Bonnie because she will make my life uncomfortable, and I have nowhere else to live. That is my reason for not accepting the offer given to me by the Walters Corporation. Although Nathan improved the offer from one hundred ten thousand to one hundred fifty thousand and then to two hundred thousand, I still said no to him because I feared the repercussions of making Elise angry with me.
I reflected back on that day's event. As I entered the board room, I thought the younger Mr. Walters was the CEO. The voice said, "Enter!" and I did. As I approached the two seated figures, the older Mr. Walters seemed flustered, as if he was sick, so he stood up and left the room. When he returned, I looked up, and I was dumbstruck with those two iris-blue eyes staring back at me. I felt frozen in time as a shiver ran through my body. I knew this man in my past lives as it seemed like time stood still forever. Then I heard someone clearing his throat, and that brought me back to reality. The sound came from the younger Mr. Walters.
I gathered my thoughts together, as this was an important interview because I didn't only want this job, but I needed it. A corporation of this magnitude would give me the vast array of experience I needed for my return to our family business. This type of experience will make me a better leader in the end. When I prepared for my interview, I knew I could ace it. My experience in Human Resources prepared me well to predetermine the questions that would be asked. I could do this, I reminded myself. I have to be on top of my game when answering the questions I think I will be asked. I wanted this job so badly.
The younger Mr. Walters introduced himself as Nathan Walters. The interview started off well. The questions he asked were pertinent to the job description. He asked, "Where did you work prior to the USA?" I told him, "I worked at McTavern Associates. He said, "Great! I will get the records from the company." That company was half owned by my father and my uncle; the associates were Rossen and Walters, but the CEO manager in Scotland was my uncle. Our families were in business for a long while, but I did not officially meet any of the Walters, who owned five percent, while the Rossen family owned ten percent. The history of the company showed that McTavern hit a bad patch and sold some stocks in the early years of the business. Great grandfather chose to partner with these two companies at that time. The Mc Taverns and Walters never actually met, but the Rossen family met once every year. I believe Grandpa Rossen probably asked Walters to invest in the company by buying some stocks at the time.
Nathan wanted to know about my work experience. I told him that my family believed that I should start at the bottom of the company so that I could learn the ins, and I started out as a receptionist as he believed I should know the company inside out. He nodded his head in approval to show he agreed with my uncle's decision. I explained, "Throughout the four years earning my bachelor's in Business Administration, I moved from that position to secretary, then to the Human Resource Department, and finally to Administrative Assistant to help my uncle and glean as much knowledge and experience as possible." He asked, "What were your responsibilities? I laid out all the responsibilities I had in the company. Most importantly, to represent the company in projects when he could not be there. I had to know all the information about every project the company had and be informed at the different stages of it.
All of a sudden, he popped the most unique question. He asked, "Why did you come to New York?" I told him, "My mum saw an advertisement in the newspaper for studying in the USA, and she encouraged me to apply since I graduated Suma Cumlaude. from Edinburgh Napier University. My mum was positive I will get the scholarship." He asked me, "What can you offer to Walters New York if you were chosen for the position?" I gave him an outline of ways to improve Walters New York Company and the part I would play in implementing the projects, etc., should I be selected for this job. "It seemed that he was impressed. by the ideas and innovations I suggested. By this time, the interview was completed, and both men were smiling. I knew I had the job.
After the interview, he told me you have the job. Filled with excitement, I was thinking ahead of how I would get this position and implement changes that I discussed with him. He gave me the best offer for an intern, which is $110K per annum.
Then he said, "You will not be working with me because I will be leaving for Milan by the end of the month, and I am not the CEO of Walters of New York, but my brother is. Let me introduce you to my brother." I was thrilled to meet his brother, my new boss. He was a handsome hunk of a man, about 6' 2". He was a giant to me. As I was only 5' 4". He had the most iris-blue eyes that seemed to twinkle when he smiled. His jawline was perfectly squared, and his sandy blond hair was cut in the newest male trend in New York City. I was mesmerized by him. When I looked into those eyes, I transcended back to a time that didn't exist. I could see longing in his eyes, as though he was drinking up my essence, and I was doing the same. Then Nathan said, "Meet CEO of Walters New York, Alpha Brian Walters. Fear and anxiety gripped my heart. I remembered the threat Elise gave to me. "Don't look at him. Don't touch him!" I stood up to shake his hand, but instead, as I heard his name, I stepped back when Nathan said CEO Alpha Briam Walters. As Alpha Bryan stretched out his hand to shake mine, I took another step backward. His friendly smile disappeared, and I could see a worried, sad, and puzzled look entering his eyes. I belonged to his pack until I returned to Scotland, and we would see much more of each other, but I was in a dilemma. How would I handle such a sensitive situation of the Alpha being my cousin's fiance and the Alpha of the pack While I worked for him? This is a controversy by itself. Right there and then, I made a decision.
Then I asked Nathan," Can I speak to you privately?" He said, "Yes!" and asked his brother for some privacy. Alpha Bryan gave me a searing look of disappointment and left us in the board room. As soon as he left the room, I said, "I cannot accept your offer." Nathan asked me, "Why can't you accept my offer?" I said, "I have personal reasons." I was not telling him about the threat Elise gave to me on my first day at her house. Was I willing to irritate her any further? Nathan respected my privacy but still asked, "What if I increased your salary to $150K, or even $200K per annum?" No matter how enticing this sounds, I couldn't accept it because of Elise's threat. Nathan was very disappointed. He said, "I will discuss this with the Alpha." At this time, I said. "Thank you and goodbye." Then I left the boardroom and headed home to the Rossen residence.
I am lying in bed, wondering what I should do next. Should I rescind and accept the offer and look for an apartment in the human community, or should I stay with the Rossen family? The safer thing to do is to stay in my comfort zone.
Little did I know Alpha Brian Walters, Nathan Walters, and I will meet again soon.