The interview

She woke up to the alarm beeping incessantly. She was sleeping so deeply that she had forgotten that today was the day of her interview. So she bolted from the bed and hurried into the bathroom to get ready as fast as she could.

There is time, she thought while looking at her watch before heading to the coffee shop to get her favorite tea. Today She felt confident that something good was going to happen considering the present weather condition looking a lot more favourable as the sun beams its light rays on the earth.

Besides, science proves it that the early morning sun helps activate the vitamins on our skin. She consoles and encourages herself. A good omen she thought while she steps out of the house for the bus station looking all smart and accurately dressed wearing a pencil skirt that went from waist till slightly above her knees with a touch of some concealer, eyeliner, mascara, and a baby pink lipstick. She settles for a flat shoe as it seems stress free other than her heels, which posed as torture to her feet.

Her impatience grew by seconds on seeing the crowd of people waiting patiently at the bus station, so she books a cab online as that was the only swift means to bid her time. She forcibly stifled her impatience as she awaits her cab's arrival.

After about 4 minutes of standing in the same spot, Vuum, a Honda Fit 2015 model, closes in on her distance and ceases... winding down the side screen of the car, the cab driver chimes in, "miss Susan? You ordered a ride at City Rides 3 minutes ago."

She firmly grabs her hand bag whilst she bends down to confirm the identity of her booked ride. "Yes, I did." She exhales in relief "Because... I'm running late for my interview and I'll appreciate if you can be fast enough" she mutters as she hastens into the vehicle to bid her time.

He smiles and nods. "Yes ma'am, at your service," he zooms off as soon as she settles in.

"Thanks for" —she hops out of the car after a 15 minutes trip— "the swift ride."

Just at the reception, Susan froze for a second at the decorative lights and illuminants that lit up the extravagant Empire, multi-service company.

"Welcome to the Empire ma'am, how can we be of help to you?" Miss Joan says smiling. Miss Joan, a slim, light skin young lady. A receptionist at the company.

"Sorry, I.. I'm here for the 10am interview," Susan stammers. "For the cleaning service department vacancy." 

"Okay, that's fine, take the lift by your left and go up to the last floor," Miss Joan directs Susan, looking down at her desktop computer.

Susan's eyes gleamed with a hint of coldness on seeing the calibers of hot, attractive, accurately dressed ladies, all shades of shapes on the last floor. She chuckles, walking to where they were all asked to sit until it was time for the interview.

"Hello everyone, welcome to the Empire multi-service company. It's 10am prompt and we begin the interview immediately. Please do not advance to the office until you're are called upon for orderliness’ sake," Miss Ava instructs with an innocent smile. Miss Ava, the head of the Human resources department. 

Wow, beauty and brains indeed, Susan thought, admiring as she fixes her gaze on Ava, a light skin curvy blonde wearing a brown wig as she spoke fluently.

She sits on the same spot with her file for about 2 hours listening to soft appealing music via her Bluetooth device as to calm her nerves while she watched as every lady went in and came out after about 10 minutes either with a sad look or disappointed. 

This is scaring, if they were rejected, what happens to me? She ponders on seeing that she is next on the seat. This got her more nervous, so she pulls off her airpods from her ear to be more attentive.

"No, don't tell me that, you're just not competent," Mr Xander yells over the phone, facing the window, all furious in his office.

Susan stands up all startled, moving towards the direction of the sound she heard to be sure that there was no emergency. As she closes on a distance, she sees the door slightly open. Behold a man with an aura of dominance, confidence and intimidation. He was talking harshly to someone on the phone and walking angrily. Well, good luck to the person on the other side of the conversation... I guess that answers the reason for their sad faces coming out. She concludes, heading back to her seat.

"Susan, you're next," Ava stretches her hand to the door.

Knock! Knock! Knock! Susan strikes her fist against the door thrice.

"Come in," Mr Xander calls out faintly. Trying to get a grip on himself, he falls back to his chair, spilling a couple of files to the ground.

 "Sir, are you okay?" She bends down to pick up the files below the desk just then she recognises that it's the same man she bumped into yesterday outside the coffee shop.

He blinks his eyes, still trying to get a clearer vision. "Off course I am okay... and what's that look on your face?"

"Nothing, sir, just that," she adds. " You seem unstable."

He mutters as his vision turned hazy."Really...is that the reason you left your place of comfort as early as this?"

The more agitated he got, the more patient she was. "Can you just sit, so we get.... Just then, he slumps unresistantly to the ground.

"Sir..sir are you okay? Security! Security!" She calls out loudly for help as her emotions went from devastation to scared out of her mind.

 Mr Xander rubs his forehead slightly, asking in a mild and calm tone, "Where am I and where is my sister?"

" Aaah, you're awake already, you're at the hospital and you're doing just fine...you will be discharged as soon as possible provided you don't skip your medications anymore," Doctor Tommy advises. A surgeon by specification. A doctor at company's hospital.

"Miss Ketty hasn't been to work since today.... thank God Susan was with you in the office. She rushed out to the security as soon as you passed out," Ava points out to Susan's direction as she sat patiently over 6hours waiting for his recovery.

"Susan, please come over," Ava calls out

" Is she the one?" He tries to rack his brain around the face. "Her face is very familiar... seems like we've met somewhere or somehow before now."

Seeing that he now recognises her, she lets stray strands fall in front of her face as she looks downtrodden. "Outside the coffee shop, sir." 

"Yeah...you're right, the lady who spilled all of my tea in front of the coffee shop." Mr Xander states 

Her eyes still fixed on the ground, she apologizes with her soft voice "Yes sir, I'm so sorry about that day... I was so stressed and frustrated that day, sir."

Reassuring her, it's O.K., he said, " Accidents happen... atleast you just saved my life.. thanks Susan... I'm Xander by name, the CEO of The Empire.," they both shake hands.

"She was the last person you were meant to interview before this incident," Ava quickly chimed in

"Ooh wow, you can drop your file with Ava over here and resume tomorrow morning as the head of the cleaning service department if that's okay with you," he proposed

Susan smiles and nods, trying to suppress the joy in her heart. "Yes sir it's definitely okay by me, thanks sir for this opportunity. I promise not to let your trust down." She hands over her file to miss Ava as she exits the premises.

"She seems different and best for the job, unlike the others," Ava discloses calmly to Mr Xander as Susan leaves out of the hospital.

"I mean, giving her the chance isn't really a bad idea considering how concerned she was with your well-being, that shows she could actually head a department in the company,"Ava suggests to Mr Xander 

"Whatever." He reluctantly rolls his eyes back to bed. "Call Mr Dum to come take me home." 

"Okay sir, right away" Ava puts a call across to Mr Dum.

The slow movement of the door sounding twice, showing an entrance."Good day sir," Mr Dum greets walking towards the sick bed as he supports Mr Xander out of the hospital.

She takes a taxi heading straight home. Still can't believe that she just got a job and not just any job. The head of the cleaning service department at the Empire. Tomorrow marks a new start for me, she thought as she steps down from the taxi. She quickly dials John on her cell phone to share the good news.

"Guess what John?, I just got the job at the Empire and a departmental head at that," she utters with joy, feeling so excited

"Thanks for your ginger earlier on... Susan! Susan

 calm down... you're now leading a department, so put your acts together" she states imitating John's deep bold voice as they both couldn't seize laughing so wide on the phone after the little speech drama.

"Goodnight John,"

"Goodnight, head of department," John teases her and hangs up.

"Early to bed.. early to rise. Early to bed.. early to rise, " she sings on repeat, dancing as she heads to the bathroom. Today was indeed mind-blowing she thought as she enjoys the cool bath after the hot sunny day except for one thing that didn't seem right, the cause for Mr Xander's crises earlier today at the office, then she resolutes that minding her business would be the best option to avoid being fired.

She steps out of the bathroom, drying up. Immediately sets alarm for an hour early to help her have free time doing the house chores in the morning and also arrive early to work since she lives alone and expects no one to do the chores for her. Turning off the lights as usual; she heads straight to the bed, caressing and playing with the pillows; she falls fast asleep.