3 First Job

"I should somehow gather all the information about this firm," telling herself, she braced to question that blank and serious face man in front of her.

"May I know about the company," Nina asked courageously straight-forward, but her stomach made her lose that confidence. As soon as she asked, her belly complained with an ugly sound that it wasn't fed from the past twenty-four hours.

"Have your lunch with Emily while asking her about the company," the expressionless golden hair manager advised her in a grim tone without removing his eyes from the laptop screen. Nina smirked at his suggestion, understanding his in-depth thought. He wanted Nina to save his and her time using lunch as an excuse. Though she liked his idea of managing the staff, his look didn't even appeal to her a little bit.

She walked towards the reception, glancing at the other rooms, mostly empty. "Emily, How about we have lunch together?"

"Sure Nina," she said with a thin, closed smile. Emily hurriedly packed the things and came towards Nina.

This strange and respectable behaviour raised many more questions in her brain. Being young and a person inexperienced in this domain, she should be told to do all the work, but the reverse is actually happening.

Walking beside Emily, "What's the strength of the company? I don't see many people."

"Along with you, 10."

"What?" Nina asked with confusion. She thought that all the staff were on a trip, but hearing Emily's answer, she felt that she had made a wrong conclusion.

"It's a new company. I will explain in detail while eating."

Emily stopped near a house on the above floor and rang the bell. A woman in her early forties opened the door and greeted Emily as we got in.

"Mrs.Cook, this is Nina....she will probably be working with us," Emily said, looking at Nina with a positive grin.

"Hi Nina!" the blonde hair lady with a slight tanned face muttered.

"Hello, Mrs.Cook!"

"As I had said to Emily when she started, I am telling you too. Please call me Lily!" She cried.

"Why are we here?" Nina whispered to Emily as Lily or Mrs.Cook disappeared into the house, making them sit at the dining table.

"Only Richard and I will stay in the office, the rest of the staff will be working on their respective trips. So, Mr.Cook asked us to have lunch in his home itself."

"Richard?"

"Ahh!! He didn't introduce himself again! The Manager you have met before."

Nina nodded, serving herself some rice.

"Mr.Cook wants to start a company for adventurous and nature lovers. So, he needs information about places that are close to the environment and exciting too. He has a list of those type of places, but the candidates who love travelling and writing are limited and rare to find."

Hearing Emily's words, Nina felt assured and being a nature lover, she felt excited to visit those places. Hiding her happiness, "What is the salary?"

"That's Richard's department," she replied, chewing.

Nina forced a smile at her and continued eating. Wouldn't the reception know an approximate amount given?

As they completed having lunch, they reached their so-called office, with three members.

Emily got back to her work while Nina walked lethargically to meet the dull manager. On reaching his cabin, "Richard" she managed to call.

"So, got the required details? Any more questions?" he talked again without a single glance at her face.

"Salary?"

"$120 per day."

"Day? Isn't it monthly?"

"You will receive the payment after every trip. However, you will be given $500 as a joining bonus." He responded, gazing and analyzing Nina's expression with his deep set of brown eyes.

Since her goal was exploring and knowing herself, money didn't matter much to her. "May I read the agreement," she asked, looking at the contract papers on the table.

Scanning the three pages, she didn't find any harsh conditions, except that she shouldn't leave a trip in the middle. A trip is considered completed after submitting the document with the necessary details.

"How many days will a trip usual be?"

"As I have said before, the area of the place determines the time. You can also talk to Mr.Cook in case you need more time to discover, but he is strict with the output." he went back to the screen after noticing a positive expression on Nina's face.

Everything about the company pleased her as she doesn't need to remember the stupid names and details here. Moreover, she can also write while enjoying the scenery.

"Fine!" she said to herself and signed the contract. Richard verified the signatures and asked for her identity card and bank account details. Upon completion of the whole process, he asked Nina to meet James in the last cabin.

She walked towards the cabin with a single question haunting her mind- 'Why did James select her?' Reaching the cabin, she greeted him and sat on the chair in front of him.

"When do you plan to start working?" he abruptly questioned as Nina settled in the chair.

"Maybe...Monday," she fumbled and doubtfully answered the sudden question.

"So, in two days, you will start. Am I right?"

"Yes!"

Nina felt that not only Richard but all the men under the roof were weirdos. The friendly and warm tone while offering the job disappeared as he became a boss.

"Since you are young and cheerful, I think Moon forest and the places nearby will interest you."

"Moon forest? I haven't heard the name."

James nodded his head, "It's a normal forest, where the moon can be seen much nearer. So, I named it Moon forest."

"What?... Ok!! How do I get there without a name?" Nina asked a little loud with a question mark face.

"The location will be sent to your mail. I remember reading in the resume that you love photography too. Why don't you take the company's camera and go on a solo trip?"

Nina's eyes open wide upon hearing his words. Watching him apply all his business and money-saving tricks on her, she started losing her temper. First, he hired her knowing her need and his necessity. Then he began to implement all his cost-cutting skills.

"Since it's my first trip, I think it's better to have someone to help me," Nina replied composing herself.

"I recommend going alone without another person disturbing you all the time."

Despite understanding the fact that he was trying his best in convincing her, Nina too felt that a solo trip would benefit her. "Fine! I think you are right. How many days can I take to analyze and explore that place?"

"It's a large area, dear!.... Take two days and inform me on Wednesday on how many days you think you can complete investigating the place."

Nina blinked her eyes in surprise as the friendly person was back again. Taking that a chance, she asked her troubling question, "Why did you select me?"

"Both of us are in need," he replied, turning his gaze towards the table.

The person who was looking into her eyes the whole time suddenly changed his direction of sight. Nina smirked, arching an eyebrow in acknowledgement.