10 Risk it or not?

Nerd and Brad walked around the building. Since they were allowed to go home today and return tomorrow after they had made a decision, they decided to spend their time looking around the company. Nerd appeared to be shaken by what had occurred earlier in Grace's office. He glanced at Nerd, who was deep in thought, and said quietly, "You are considering it, right? Risking it all and accepting the job? Or just walking out and forget about it. I almost shit my pants in there. She is no joke at all." He visibly shivered at the memory.

Brad shook his head. "I am thinking about that man that went in as we were leaving." 

Nerd stopped walking to look at him in disbelief. 

"Seriously? Of everything to think about, you chose that?! We just came out of her office where she fed us black coffee with ice-cold water, and even her voice was icier, but you chose to think about the man that entered her office?" Exasperated, Nerd inquired.

Brad nodded. 

When they got to the door to leave her office earlier, the door opened from outside and he almost bumped into a man. 

"Oh, sorry. Had no idea she had guests." He apologized with a sheepish smile while looking at the two. In one hand, he held a medium-sized nylon bag.

Brad tried to remember where he knew him from, but he didn't have to think too much because he remembered having seen him on the news. Michael Stoner. Her friend. He looked even better in person, and his hazel eyes were totally similar to his. 

"Then learn to knock, stupid! Stop barging inside like it's your office."

Brad heard the lightness in Grace's voice and got interested.

Michael chuckled. He seemed to have realized the two were leaving because he went further inside while saying,

"Yea, I totally forgot, knocking works. Maybe you should get a secretary so we can work out this whole thing." 

Brad was surprised she was speaking lightly to someone and wanted to stay to eavesdrop more, but Nerd pulled him with him outside. 

"He is Michael Stoner. The one who had the engagement party recently. They have been friends since childhood." Nerd filled him in on the details, but Nerd already knew about those.

He wasn't one to rely on gossip or hearsay for information, but he wanted to know more about Grace and knew the only way he could get any proper information was through other people because the media only said bad things about her.  

"What else do you know about her? Have you heard anything from your nephew recently?" Brad asked him.

"It is not my nephew. But the nephew of my uncle's brother-in-law's maternal cousin. Look..." He looked around to be sure no one would hear them and also moved closer to Brad to whisper to him. 

"I heard her mother isn't her biological mother. One time, it went on the news, but it was taken down immediately, so only a few people saw it." 

Brad's eyes were round with surprise. "Are you sure about this?" 

Nerd shook his head. "I didn't hear this directly from the nephew of my uncle's brother-in-law, maternal cousin. It was from my aunt's employee's older brother."

Brad frowned. 

"Do not blame me. Try knowing about Miss Anderson directly if you think it is easy." Nerd returned his frown.

"Look, if we want to be sure that this is a safe environment for the two of us, we need to ask a few people who work here. They know her better than the media. Especially those who work in her department."  

Brad understood now why Grace didn't have a secretary. Since people rarely knew about her except for the bad things on the internet, the best person to find out from would have been her secretary. 

"What do you say? Up for it?" Nerd asked. 

Brad nodded. He didn't have a choice anyway. "How do you suggest we do it?" 

"Linger around until lunch break and visit the cafeteria. We can't leave now or else, we won't be able to return inside until tomorrow. Remember we do not have a card yet? And we cannot call that cold lady to help us in again." 

Brad agreed.

And that's what they did. They looked around, amazed at some of the equipment inside the building, until it was time for lunch. 

The cafeteria served good food. They didn't have a pass to go for a meal, so even if they were beginning to starve, they had to focus on what they were here for. 

The cafeteria was almost filled up, but fortunately, they found two empty tables at the far end of the cafeteria and hurried to sit at a table before looking around, thinking about how to start questioning people about Miss Anderson. 

They didn't have to think much because two girls joined their table with their trays and beamed at them, Brad in particular. 

"You are new." One of the girls said with a smile.

They looked to be in their mid-twenties and were modestly dressed in corporate clothes. One had her hair down and the other had it tied in a ponytail. 

"It's so nice to see new faces. What department are you in?" The one with her hair down, whose name was Claire, asked.

"Finance." Nerd replied with a smile, noticing the two girls do a double-take.

"Miss Anderson?" The other one, whose name was Justina, asked. 

Nerd nodded. 

"Oh, wow! Good luck to you two." Claire said and exchanged glances with Justina. The two girls suddenly stood up and left the table, leaving the two boys confused. Nerd especially, was disappointed. 

After they left, another girl joined their table. She was flirting with Brad until she heard 'Finance Department' and she was gone.

"I am beginning to get scared." Nerd said rubbing his hands together nervously. 

Two other girls joined their table, and this time, Nerd was smart enough to not mention their department. Instead, he asked what they thought about Miss Anderson. Brad hadn't said a word to either of the ladies. He let Nerd handle everything, even introducing him to them. He simply paid attention and was keen to hear any piece of information.

The two girls went on about how strict she was and how she didn't care about anybody's feelings except hers. They said a lot more awful words in hushed whispers until Nerd accidentally slipped and mentioned that they were in her department. The girl who had said worse things about Grace apologized and scurried away. 

The break was over, and so was their interview.

They had to make a decision. And even though Brad didn't show it, he was very nervous.

Because a lot was at stake here.

Should he risk it and accept the job?