3 Next Step

She looks ahead straight into his curious eyes, her mind kept on questioning herself if she's going to be in his good books or be like the other women who mostly went out either angry or crying their eyes out. She had believed that she will only find the interviewer inside. Who knew there's the devil lurking in the dark corner too, inspecting the whole process.

"Have a glass of water." Ezra, says handing her the glass.

She shakes her head at him. "Thanks, but I'm really fine."

"Come on I really insist," a curve tugs at the corner of his lips, "when I say you need it; believe me you need it."

The atmosphere suddenly changed from a tense aura to a certain aura which she couldn't catch. It feels like she has the power to overtake his dominance attitude but then again is she really willing to go to that extent? What if it's a test which he is making her fall for only to end up either as failure or something much more?

She hesitantly takes the glass from his hand when suddenly he grabs her wrist. A loud gasp escaped her lips, "what are you doing?"

He didn't reply, instead fixed his gaze on her wrist as if studying her throbbing veins or the blood rush coursing through her nerves because of his sudden skin contact. "Are you afraid of me? Or is it the normal temperature of your body?" She looks bewildered at him. He sighs before leaving her hand, "Your body temperature is cold. I can understand this as an effect of nervousness but watching the entire interview with Joseph, you seemed quite confident with him." He leans back in his chair and takes out his cell phone to scribble something over it. "Could it be because that you are afraid of me, Ms. Robinson? Do I make your blood chill out of fear?"

Taking a sip from the glass before placing it back onto the table she says, "you don't scare me Mr. Knight." Catching his attention back again towards her, "I just feel intimidated by you. This happens with every candidate. I'm no special case."

As if pleased by her answer he kept on looking at her, "You should." He says as his lips let out a proud smile before placing the phone on his ear, "Carly, send in two cups of coffee."

She arched an eyebrow at him, but he didn't ponder on her curious gaze much. Cutting off the call, he stood up from his seat and walked to her side. Offering a hand in front of her, he nods for her to take it.

Is he offering coffee because of her cold body temperature?

Taking the silent hint, she placed her hand on his and stood up from her seat. She didn't realize how close they were until she stood completely before him. His strong gaze on her, his blazer grazing her front even the fabric couldn't help but feel thin on her skin. The close proximity between them made her gulp. It felt unusually foreign to her; something she never thought existed.

He wraps his finger around her small hand and yet again gets to feel her soft skin. As if his lips had a mind of its own, it kept on smiling and he kept on suppressing it. In short, he's enjoying every moment of it.

Walking her towards the lavish couch, he offered her a seat and situated himself beside her. "Why did you make me sit here?"

"Isn't it comfortable?"

She opens her mouth to ask if he's playing tricks with her but restrains herself from it, instead smiles at his confused gesture, "It is very comfortable, thanks for kindness, Sir."

Just then the door to the office opens and in comes the same woman who mocked her before entering the room. She did notice the tray with two coffee cups along with a small sugar cube container, a milk container and the big pot of brewing coffee. "Mr. Knight, here's what you asked for- oh, I see she's still here." The distaste in Carly's voice didn't go unnoticed by Scarlett.

Placing the tray before them she stood expectantly but he dismissed her with a wave of his hand muttering a thanks. Frowns marred Carly's face but she composes quickly before throwing a gaze to her, "Enjoy your coffee." Saying she leaves the two back to their places.

Ezra hears a soft chuckle from her side while pouring coffee for both of them and turns his attention towards the woman who seems to be smiling ear to ear. As if feeling eyes on her she met his curious gaze and stopped smiling immediately. "Anything funny?"

She shakes her head side by side, "nothing, it's just your employee was quite shocked seeing me still sitting here."

He nods in reply, "Sugar for you?"

"Yes. Two, please."

"Cream?"

"Yes, I would like that." She feels shy now that he's prepping her coffee. Is she the only one or does he do this to every other interviewee?

"Here." He hands her the cup which she gladly took and waits for him to have his.

"Thanks for the coffee." She says but he didn't reply instead keeps looking at her with a frown. "Is something wrong?" She asks as his demeanor changes into serious mode, as if something about her is bothering him.

"Earlier you were asked as to why didn't you turn yourself in as a Nun, you said, you can never be as pure as them." He sighs before asking, "what did you mean by that?"

He knows he touched a nerve of her as she froze hearing his question, "Why would you want to know?"

"It's quite simple; I have every right to know as an interviewer." He states, sipping his coffee.

Her nose flared not because of his cocky statement but because now all the little gestures he showed towards her was because of this ulterior motive. He wants to know why she can't be a Nun? But why?

"Come on Stella, how bad can be your reason that you are hesitating so much?" He asks with his intrusive eyes on her.

Putting on a smile on her lips, she leaned close to his side and spoke looking dead serious in her eyes. "It's quite simple Mr. Knight, I don't have what it takes to be a Nun. No matter how much I'll pray in front of Jesus, the path to take holiness is far more difficult than you can ever imagine." She leans back to straight and continues to sip her coffee. "Did you understand what I meant?"

His gaze drops down to her lips kissing the cup again and again, "You chose pleasure or destruction in your past life, which is why you consider yourself impure, am I right?"

She nods in agreement, "you're somewhat correct Sir, but not entirely."

He raises his eyebrow in question, "tell me what did I miss then?"

"Nothing as forbidden as you have experienced in your life." She looks at him with a taunt of a smile on her face. 

His face says it all that she did hit a nerve of his just like he did with her. He knows by now that this vixen is dragging the conversation by dodging his direct questions. Leaning back to her side, she innocently sips on her drink while his stare becomes intense on her. "I like your spirit, Ms. Robinson." Letting the cup sit on the coffee table he offers his hand out to her. "Looking forward to working with you."

She looks down at his hand and then to his eyes, "Me too" taking his hand to shake. 

"Can't wait to work for you, Sir." Hope rises in her chest seeing the smile on Ezra Knight. She could feel he is considering accepting her as his live-in maid.

"Can't wait to have you, Ms. Robinson.". 

Strutting with her heels on the pavement of the elite locality where Mr. Knight lives, taking a deep breath, she walks inside the society surrounded with richness. Well-built buildings, beautiful gardens and expensive cars coming and going.

Glancing down to the address sent to her contact number by his assistant Carly, she makes her way to the high building filled with apartment lots of all millionaires and billionaires but his penthouse situated up above everyone's.

Telling the security guard her name and required details, he shows her the way to the lift. The doors opened and she got along with him. She notices he puts in a key to a lock and presses the green button above it. "Mr. Knight is in tight security; this is the only way one can reach his penthouse." He informs, "Also, this is the private elevator only for him and his staff and guests can use it."

"Got it." She nods at him.

"Good luck." He says just as the elevator dings open and a silent hall shows up revealing a large carved door and written in big letters, 'EZRA KNIGHT'. "Go ahead."

She leaves the elevator and enters the pristine clean hall, "Here starts everything." Walking ahead to the ultimate goal, she knocks on the massive door.