Summary: Jude has attended countless interviews in attempt to get a job, yet unfortunately, none were successful. Just as she is about to lose hope, an encounter at a bar lands her a job at one of the biggest corporations in her city- Elfhame corporations, owned by Cardan, a notoriously young and wealthy man. Through trials and tribulations, Jude learns that there are individuals preventing her from working with Cardan, and eventually leading to murder.
~Hey yâall! April here! Hereâs part one of a new company/office AU Iâm working on! Iâll be posting the final part of âthree steps from hellâ soon and the spymaster as well. Sorry for being MIA for a while, I was a bit busyđ
for those wondering, Iâm calling this fic âIcarusâ based on the Greek archetypal. He was known for being headstrong and rebellious, and it fit well with the fic hehe. Happy reading loves!!đ§Ą~
Tag list: @nope-i-am-done @jurdanhell @hizqueen4life @judexcardanxgreenbriar @afexiss @queenofgreenbriar @aelin-queen-of-terrasen @belongtorhys @aesthetics-11 @jurdan7 @clockworkgraystairs @charincharge @lol-im-obssesed @thewickedkings @runnybabbit9 @absolute-dissapointment
(Please let me know if you would like to be added to the tag list! I will be more than happy to do so!!đ)
Potential Trigger Warnings: Cursing/profanity
Rating: M (mature audiences)
*please note that all rating are specific to each chapters*
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âShit!â Jude gritted, her foot impatiently tapping the concrete sidewalk. The bus was late, and the next one wouldnât arrive for another twenty minutes.
Her interview was in ten minutes.
âShit shit shitâ Jude cursed as she fumbled for the ride sharing app on her phone. She hoped that she could get a driver to get her there, and preferably on time.
Every single interview Jude to had gone to went wrong. The last time she had counted, she had been to fifteen. Today was her second to last resort to find a job, and she hoped that she would at least get the lowest position. She didnât care. She just needed some way of providing a source of income for herself to pay for her rent and necessities. She was lucky enough though for having a kind landlord, and he was able to negotiate her rent price. Maybe Jude had seduced him for it- but that was besides the point. Her degree in finance was something she relied heavily on. For now though, her only source of income was her local bookstore.
Yet as frustrating as it was, Jude still had a small sense of hope within her. It happened to suppress itself when she was stressed, but she knew that things would workout one way or another.
A black car parked along the curb, and the driver rolled his window down.
âAre you Ms.Duarte?â He asked, a toothpick sticking out his mouth. Even with only the window rolled down, Jude could detect the pungent, thick smell of cigarettes. The driver had a stubble, and wore a grey flat cap. He couldnât have been more than 30 years old.
âUh, yeahâ Jude replied, shoving any worries she had aside. She had to get to this interview, and soon.
âYouâre headed to the Summitâ He thought out loud as Jude slipped into the back seats. The driver held eye contact with her through the rearview mirror for a moment.
âYeah. Um, could you maybe step on it? Iâm really lateâ Jude said, her fingers fidgeting in her lap as she pulled her skirt down lower and tightened her crossed legs.
âYou got it missâ He replied. After a moment of tense quiet, he spoke again.
âIf you donât mind me asking, do you work there?â He asked as he pulled out from the curb and drove. The smell of gas and cigarettes clung to Jude. Now she would have to spray perfume on her when she got there.
âNo. I have an interviewâ She replied, taking out her manila folder containing her information and paperwork.
âMy brother works there. Best of luckâ He replied, his eyes now on the road and his grip on the steering wheel tight. She was down to five minutes to get there. To make matters worse, it was rush-hour, and traffic was moving at a snails pace.
âThanksâ Jude replied as a deep worry settled in her stomach. If it wasnât for her shitty alarm clock and inability to wake up on time, she would have been early. Maybe thatâs why all of her interviews never went well.
âI heard theyâre really professionalâ
âThatâs how all offices workâ Jude replied, a slight hint of annoyance in her voice. She wasnât annoyed at the man for taking her there, but rather his questions. She was trying her hardest not to think about it.
The driver didnât respond as he wove through the cars, the halting and driving making Jude feel queasy.
âThank youâ Jude said as she prepared to step out of the car. She extended her arm, her hand a bunching a twenty dollar bill.
âDonât mention it. Use it to get a snack or something- you look paleâ He replied. Judeâs face burned now and she regretted her unpleasant attitude earlier.
âThanks a millionâ She said, hopping out of the car. She looked at her watch.
She had one minute left to get to the building.
Judeâs eyes went wide as she hurried to the building, her heels clacking against the pavement. Summit corporations was infested with business professionals, both on the inside and the outside. Jude hurried over to the receptionist, her loud stomping, frizzy hair, and smell of cigarettes wafting from her left people only gawking.
Jude was thankful, however, for the slight murmur of people talking that echoed in the building, along with the ringing of telephones that effectively masked her heavy panting.
âHi-â Jude began, gasping for air âIâm here for the accounts manager interviewâ She finished. The receptionist tilted her head down. Only her cold grey eyes remained on Jude, the glassy stare piercing through her.
âSurnameâ She said, her voice a high shrill that could have made a bat jealous.
âDuarteâ Jude replied, her mind now jumbled.
âIâm afraid youâre not on the listâ She replied, her voice a void of absolutely no emotion. Judeâs heart raced.
âWhat? What do you mean? My name is spelled d-u-a-r-t-e. Could you check again please?â She countered.
The receptionist gave an irked sigh as she scanned the list.
âNope. Sorry sweetheart. I can put your name down though if you would like. You could be waitlistedâ She replied.
âOhâ Jude said, almost losing her balance. Maybe they had rejected her applications before she had come. It would be a weird possibility, but it was still probable. âSure. That would be great. Sorry about thisâ She finished, trying to keep any sense of loss from creeping into her voice.
âNo problem. Have a good oneâ She finished, and Jude flashed a false smile.
Another interview down the drain. She had rushed for this- and for what? To be kicked out before she even had a chance to introduce herself. Jude cursed whatever application system or team had reviewed her as she waited for the bus to take her back home. And the stupid vehicle actually arrived on time.
Once inside, Jude plugged in her earbuds, determined to silence the tears that threatened to slip out of her eyes. She was frustrated. Beyond frustrated and angry at every single person who had ever reviewed her applications. What was she doing wrong? She was a top student, graduated- and she had a damn degree! Being late wasnât her fault. Something always had to go wrong. If it wasnât get alarm clock not going off, it would be her clothes being strangely unironed. If no such mishaps occurred with her clothes, then the damn bus would end up being late.
It was no use. Jude felt like a failure. Her sister Taryn worked at the Summit and worked her way up the ladder of jobs in the office. Taryn had a nice house and a boyfriend. And what was Jude stuck with? An apartment that could be mistaken as a rundown shack and no sufficient employment.
Jude pressed the button on the side of her phone rapidly and the volume increased to an ear shattering level. She didnât care if her ears would end up bleeding out with the noise.
The bus stopped in front of a fairly large bookstore. Outside, succulents and plants of all shapes and sizes lined the store. The bomb had a tendency to decorate her shop with almost anything. Literally. On the windowsill alone she had lined up crystals, feathers, small clocks and lucky cats. The windows that stood tall were so clear that the titles on every bookâs spine could be read from the outside.
Jude stepped inside, the doorâs bell jingling as she slipped into the shop. The familiar smell of books, glue, and vanilla hit her nose and she gagged for a moment. She could never get used to the smell of the store. Even if she lived in it.
The bomb was on the other side of the room, her body leaning against a shelf as she reorganized titles. She turned at the sound of the bells and her eyes rolled at the sight of Jude.
âLook at youâ She said, stepping over to help Jude. She took the blazer from her hands and hung it up on a nearby coat hanger. Jude slumped onto an uncomfortably hard stool and she took off her earbuds.
âWaterâ Jude croaked, dramatically splaying the back of her forearm against her forehead.
âThereâs a convenience store across the store Judeâ The bomb replied, focusing her attention back on the books.
âWhy the fuck would I go there if I know youâll give it to me for freeâ Jude said, kicking off her heels.
Finally. Her feet were aching, and taking off her heels felt like she was taking a breath of unpolluted, country air.
âHow did it go?â The bomb asked as she handed Jude a water bottle. She held the plastic bottle as beads of cold water dripped down itâs sides.
Jude didnât answer as she guzzled down the refreshing water, letting the liquid travel down her throat and cure her raspy voice.
The bomb stared at her, her eyes softening. She was beautiful, her white hair contrasting beautifully with her dark complexion. She radiated like the sun itself, and her personality was just as entrancing.
âI take that it didnât go well?â The bomb asked, her hands crossing as she leaned against the table that was stacked with old texts.
âClearlyâ Jude drawled as she used her small fingers to smooth her skirt.
âIts alright, Jude. Iâm sure someone will accept youâ The bomb said, fumbling with the zipper on her sweater. She had a tendency to fiddle around with things when she was nervous or under pressure.
âI know. I know that. It was just strange this time. They said that I wasnât even on the listâ Jude began, her voice thickening with the heavy syrup of sadness. The waves of vexation she had tried to put down finding their way back to her again.
âReally? Did you make sure your application went through?â The bomb suggested, now playing with her earrings.
âPositiveâ Jude choked out, and a tear slipped down her cheek. Shit. She hadnât planned on crying.
The bomb gave Jude a sympathetic look. Understanding and guilt glinted in her amber eyes as she reached to embrace Jude. She held Jude in a tight hug in hopes of reassuring her.
âShh donât cry Jude. Youâll figure it out, I promiseâ She said gently as she patted Judeâs back.
âEasy for you to sayâ Jude replied as she pulled back.
âUh, no. In case you forgot, I never even went to collegeâ The bomb said, a sheepish smile climbing up her lips.
âAnd that was a damn good decision. My ass went and I still canât find a job. I have no idea what Iâm doing wrongâ Jude said, her voice rough as she spoke.
âJude, stop beating yourself up. Youâre one of the smartest people I know. I mean, look at you, youâve got a degree, you were ranked second in your school-â
âFirstâ Jude interrupted as she flashed her a wicked grin.
âSee?! Goddamnit Jude, you never cease to amaze me. You just need to be patientâ She finished, giving Judeâs hands a delicate squeeze.
âI guess youâre rightâ Jude said as she dried her tears with her fingers, thankful she had forgotten to apply any mascara that morning. Then again, she never did.
âAnd remember, you can still work here if you need toâ
âYeah, no shit. Youâre never going to get rid of meâ Jude smiled and the bomb shushed her. Judeâs profanity was the one thing the bomb seldom liked in her.
âWhatâs your next step?â
âIâm going to go home, take a shower, and plan ways to murder the head of every single company that rejected meâ Jude said nonchalantly as she slipped her feet swiftly back into her heels. The bomb have her a disapproving look that only a parent could give to their child.
âFine. I have one more interview Iâm going to attendâ Jude gave in, standing up and placing her phone in her purse.
âElfhame corp,â Jude gave the bomb a side hug as she reached for her blazer from the hanger âLetâs hope for the bestâ
âE-Elfhame Corp?â She stuttered.
âYeah. Are you alright?â Jude asked, bothered by the bombâs sudden change in mood
âDo you know who owns it?â She asked hesitantly.
âUh, no. And it doesnât matter. Iâm aiming for a low position anywaysâ
âJude, Cardan owns itâ the bomb said, her eyes searing through Judeâs.
âMm, doesnât ring a bellâ Jude replied cooly. Cardan. She knew who he was. She saw him on the news practically every morning. If it wasnât the news, it was the radio.
âCome on. Cardan? Cardan Greenbriar? You guys went to school togetherâ
âAnd?â Jude replied, a hint of irritation in her voice.
âN-nothing...I just thought...Nevermind. When is it?â The bomb asked, shaking off any lingering thoughts that remained unsaid. She was so technical.
âTomorrowâ Jude said.
âTomorrow?â The bomb spat in disbelief
âGeez, give yourself a breakâ The bomb said as she led her to the door.
âI run on company time, darlingâ Jude cooed as the bomb rolled her eyes in exhaustion.
âCall me. And tell Taryn and Vivi I said hiâ The bomb said, an encouraging smile finding its way onto her freckled face.
âBomb, you know I moved out, right?â Jude reminded her.
âI know. Maybe when you call them or somethingâ
âAlright. Iâll be here tomorrow for my evening shiftâ
âTake it easy. Good luck, Judeâ The bomb said sweetly.
âYou bet. Thank youâ Jude said as she slipped into the brisk evening. She pulled the blazer tighter around her torso, hoping the delicate fabric would protect her against the cold.
The sun had melted into the horizon, spreading its dulling rays into the grateful sky. Deep hues of reds blended with oranges, purples, crimsons swirled as if they were drawn by a artist and their brush.
For a moment Jude was fixated into a timeless existence, hopeful that the sky instead would serve as a protective blanket of a new night, and sweet dreams.
Thatâs what she would have. Tomorrow, she was going to kill it.
Iâm going to get that job, she promised herself.
Even if itâs the last thing I do.
âââââââââââââââââââââââ
Suggested songs to listen to while reading:
