1 PART 1 - STONE ENTERPRISES HOLDINGS INC

I was in such a hurry when I just got off the bus which is now taking me to the center of London, Hi, my name is Michella Claire. I'm familiarly called Mic, of course, it's not a microphone as you might imagine. It's just that I like the nickname because my mother gave me the nickname. Oh yeah, before you know me much, I'll tell you about myself. I am a happy only child before it came to the end that my parents died because of an accident that happened about 12 years ago.

At that time I was only 10 years old, the car we were traveling in was wrecked and didn't look like a car anymore. What I remember at that time was my position was fast asleep when I just came home from dinner together at my father's friend's house. Since that incident, I was devastated because I had to lose both of my parents at the same time. And at that time I was taken care of by my father's friend named Luke and his wife Trisha, Uncle Luke, and Aunt Trisha I considered as my parents. Because they had no children for 25 years of marriage, they adopted me as their daughter.

"Excuse me! I want to meet Mr. Ben Stone" said Michella while handing the file to the receptionist.

"Have you made an appointment with him?" asked the receptionist.

"Of course, I asked my friend to come to see Mr. Ben. She was unable to attend because she had to take a math exam which coincided with the day of the interview."

"What's your friend's name?"

"Kate Olson"

"Okay, let me take you to the director's room," said the receptionist, while Michella immediately walked following the receptionist named Clara.

They both took the elevator to the 12th floor, right in front of the room that reads "Director's Room." Michella was handed over to Ben Stone's secretary named Dylan Marvine. Dylan checked some of the files that Michella had brought, while Michella was worried and afraid that the files would be rejected because the participants who attended did not match the list.

"Kate Olson?" call Dylan.

Michella gasped in surprise. "No! Uhm. I mean Kate is my friend who should have come for this interview, but since today she has a math exam so Kate asked me to come here in place of her."

Dylan cleared her throat softly. "You are very kind, wait a minute I will give this file to Mr. Ben. Just pray that he will accept you an interview" said Dylan, smiling and immediately left in front of Michella.

Michella smiled at Dylan, she immediately sat in the waiting chair across from Dylan's table. Nearly 5 minutes Michella waited, Michella became increasingly anxious and resigned if she would not be accepted.

Exactly 6 minutes 35 seconds Michella looked at her watch, and the sound of the door creaking was heard. Michella immediately got up from her seat, she was very curious about the results Dylan would convey.

Dylan sighed. "I'm sorry, Mic"

Hearing Dylan's words at the beginning made Michella sure that the CEO had rejected her.

"Alright Dylan, I understand what you mean," said Michella, who immediately walked away from the front of Dylan.

"Michella, you're going the wrong way" shouted Dylan.

Michella turned to Dylan. "Wrong way? But this road is right to get to the elevator" muttered Michella confused.

Dylan smiled. "The right way is this way." Dylan pointed to the CEO's office.

Michella stared at her and went straight to Dylan. "What do you mean? That's the CEO's room."

Dylan nodded slowly. "Yes, you're right, you should first finish your assignment with Ben Stone. Because he's been waiting for you inside"

"So I got accepted for an interview?" asked Michella enthusiastically.

"Of course! Good luck, yes, let's hurry inside" muttered Dylan encouragingly.

Michella nodded her head and went straight into the CEO's room. Mic was nervous, she was afraid that the interview this time would fail. Now that she is in the room, the workspace of the CEO of Stone Enterprise Holding Inc. is very large. Even bigger than the apartment she rented with Kate.

The wall paint is white and some of it is painted light green, adding to the fresh impression of this room. The work desk is quite wide in brown and on top of it are neatly arranged work documents, a computer and a laptop are there. And don't forget an acrylic plaque bearing the name Ben Stone and underneath it says CEO.

Not long after that Ben turned his chair to face Michella, Ben was stunned to see Michella still standing in front of the door.

"How do you want to interview me? While you are still there," asked Ben softly and it made Mic's reverie shattered.

"Ah, hi good afternoon Mr. Ben Stone. Introduce me, Michella Claire, I came here to represent my friend Kate who was unable to attend due to a math exam" "said Mic, holding out her hand to Ben.

Ben smiled and immediately shook Michella's hand gently. "You are a good friend, please sit down"

"Ah, yes, thank you," muttered Michella.

Michella took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She began to take out the voice recorder and place it on the table. After that Mic issued a question file that would be asked of the CEO.

"Alright, shall we start the interview, sir?" asked Mic softly.

"Yes, of course," Ben muttered, staring at Michella sharply and it made her flutter.

The CEO's charm was completely unmistakable, his tall and well-built posture, with his glossy black hair. White skin, gray eyes, a sharp nose, and a sharp jawline also show that he looks very charismatic.

"Are you going to ask me that many questions?" asked Ben.

"No! This is a summary of some of the questions I have studied last night. Kate is indeed a very thorough and critical person for interviews like this."

"Okay, I understand"

"Fine, Mr. Ben, can you tell us how you started this company?" asked Michella enthusiastically.

Ben sighed. "I started my business since I was in college, at first I was just a property salesman. I offered several properties to friends and relatives, and I also often offered properties that I sold to the lecturers where I studied."

"I'm always enthusiastic and not infrequently some of my friends tease me, why would you go to college if you have to work as a sales? But I never gave up, I kept trying and kept trying until finally my position was promoted to marketing manager when I was in my last semester. "said Ben enthusiastically.

Meanwhile, Michella felt very proud to hear the story of Ben who motivated her.

"Very interesting, you are very inspiring sir"

Ben smiled. "You could be"

"Continue for the next question, have you ever experienced failure in the past? And how do you respond to your failure?"

Ben sighed and immediately answered Michela's question. "All the failures that occur in my life, I always make it a delayed success. Therefore I never feel that I have failed, but I just need to work even harder so that I can achieve this delayed success perfectly" said Ben enthusiastically.

While Michela is so amazed by Ben's words, for her Ben is a new role model in her life because Ben is always optimistic and never gives up.

"OK, let's move on to the next question," said Mic enthusiastically.

But Michella did not have time to continue her question, she was so stunned to read the contents of the conversation written by Kate. Michella was confused she didn't know whether to ask this question or not.

Until finally Ben, who saw Michella like a confused person, immediately asked her about it.

"Do you have any questions or not, Mic?" asked Ben softly.

Michella gasped in surprise and immediately read the question Kate had written.

"Are you gay?" asked Michella spontaneously.

And suddenly it makes Ben surprised to hear it, Michella tries to clarify her question because she feels bad about Ben.

"Sorry sir, I do not mean to offend you. But I also do not understand why my friend wrote words like this. But here it is explained because you have never been covered by the media dating a woman. Even you are rarely accompanied by a woman every time you attend an important event "

Ben sighed. "Okay, I understand. What do you think I am? Do I look like a gay?"

"Huh? you asked me?" Michella looked confused.

Ben got up from his seat and pulled his chair right in front of Michella.

Ben leaned his face closer to Michella's. "Of course! What do you think?"

"Hmmm .. Sorry sir, not mean to insult, I don't know about you" replied Michella nervously.

Ben sighed, the scent of mint surged and hit Michella's face. "So you have any excuse for being gay?"

Michella shook her head. "That's not what I mean, sir. I just heard and met you this time and how my friend found out about you, I also don't know. I beg your pardon, I don't mean to insult you"

Seeing the pitiful Michella, made Ben feel sorry and immediately grabbed the file that was in Michella's hand. Ben immediately signed the file and invited Michella to leave.

Michella immediately tidied up her belongings then came out of Ben's room, arriving at the front of the room. Michella is relieved that her job is done so that she no longer has to deal with scary guys like Ben.

"You're finished interview, Mic? "asked Dylan.

"Huh! Yes already" replied Mic stammered.

"This is a souvenir from our office, thank you for interviewing me at our office. Have a nice day, Mic," said Dylan, handing Michella a paper bag.

"Thank you, Dylan, have a nice day. Then I'll go first"

"Okey Mic, be careful on the road," said Dylan softly.

While Michella immediately rushed away from the office. Soon Ben came out of the room.

"Did you give a souvenir to the girl earlier?" said Ben.

"You mean Michella?"

"Yes Michella"

"Yes sir"

"Can you help me find all about Michella?"

Dylan smiled. "Of course sir, it's my pleasure," said Dylan enthusiastically, as Ben returned to his room.