"Kate! I really have no idea what I should wear for the interview. I'm just – " I sighed, exasperated as I looked into my wardrobe for the umpteenth time.
"You should just wear what you feel comfortable in, you know. Like ripped jeans and a tee," my roommate, Kate said sarcastically.
"Not funny, Katherine Montgomery." I gave her a look and she sighed over dramatically and came over to my wardrobe.
"You really need to restock your wardrobe. You need new clothes." She picked a pale blue shirt and threw it at my face.
"Hey!" I exclaimed and I took the shirt and threw it at my bed. "Yeah, yeah. I know I need to buy new clothes. It's just that-" I cut myself off.
"Belle, I know," Kate muttered. "Look you could wear that shirt." She gestured to the shirt on my bed and she brought out a black skirt. "And this. For the interview."
"I can't remember when last I wore it." I looked at the skirt with narrowed eyes.
"Then go try it out, you bozo." She giggled and I smiled at my best friend.
Kate and I shared an apartment. A month ago, we had both graduated from NYU. She had rich parents and they got her an apartment because she requested it. She wanted to share the apartment with me. She had a job at a publishing house. I had applied for interviews around New York. I had an interview tomorrow and I needed to get ready for it. It was actually my first interview.
"Look," I said fixing the last buttons of the pale blue shirt.
Kate looked up and she smiled. "You see. The blue shirt is the exact shade of your eyes. It fits you, perfectly. You really need to have some fashion sense girl," She said, a hint of laughter on her face.
I bit my upper lip and stared at the mirror. "The skirt is too huggy." I stared back at the blonde in the mirror. She had pale blue eyes and pale skin. Thin lips. Lean body. Not too fat and not too thin. I quickly turned around to see Kate, because she didn't answer me. "Kate?"
"Yeah?" she answered. I had obviously distracted her from her thoughts. You really never know what goes on in that mind of hers.
"You didn't answer me." I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
"What? Oh yeah, what did you say?" She shook her head as if to clear her thoughts.
"Kate. What's wrong?" I took a seat beside her.
"It's nothing. I'm fine." She said, a frown evident on her face.
"You know, those two words I'm Fine are the two most frequently used words in the dictionary and they are the most told lies," I said forcing her head up. "Tell me, what's wrong?"
"It's just that I miss Jordan so much. We still talk and all, but I can't wait to see him." She frowned deeply and there were creases between her brows. Don't be surprised at how her mood changed so quickly. You just have to deal with it.
Jordan Trenton was her boyfriend. He was in England with his parents. Kate and he had been together for almost a year now.
"Oh. That's it." I said and I ran to the sitting room to grab her laptop. I logged in my Skype account and I requested a video call with Jordan's. He picked and I saw him in his untidy room. I cringed at the look of his room.
"Hi, Belle!" He said enthusiastically with his dazzling smile. "And if I may ask? Why are you all dressed up?" He raised an eyebrow at me.
"Oh, this? I was trying it out."
"It matches your eye color," He complimented.
"Oh, yeah. Thanks, I guess. I also noticed. Kate had been missing you."
"Uh-huh?" he said. "I want to speak to her?"
"Yeah, why did you think I'll video call you then?" I said, taking the laptop to my room. "Kate, look who wants to say hi," I said in a sing-song voice to Kate who was busy fiddling with loose threads on her jeans.
She immediately looked up and snatched the laptop from me, mouthing, Thank you at me. I just smiled and whispered, "Go on."
*
I finally came to a decision to wear the pale blue shirt and the skirt with flats.
I set my alarm for 6 AM. I was an early riser but I just wanted to be careful. I could imagine myself at 10 AM at the interview sitted in front of the interviewer with raised brows.
I woke up earlier than usual, obviously. I woke thirty-five minutes earlier than the time I had set for my alarm.
I shuffled out of my bed and I stretched my stiff bones. I padded to the bathroom. After brushing my teeth and having my bath. I dressed into my shirt and skirt, slipped into my flats, and tied my blonde hair into a high ponytail. I had a nice long breakfast of hot tea and toasts, considering that it was still 6 AM.
Kate dragged her feet out of her room. "Good morning," she slurred out.
"Morning," I said, confidence radiating out of me. "Sleep well?"
She groaned and made her self a cup of coffee. Yup, definitely not a morning person.
"Going to work?" I asked.
"Yeah," She replied, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Okay. I'm going for the interview."
"Okay. Good luck, girl. Show them you're from downtown Seattle." She fist-bumped me and gave me a warm hug.
"Yeah, I hope I do," I muttered and sucked in a deep breath.
Yes, I was nervous. It was normal right? I mean, I was going for an interview in one of the largest enterprises in New York City. I wasn't that nervous though.
You go, girl! My subconscious told me and gave me a thumbs up.
I grabbed my bag that contained all the necessary documents I needed. I walked out of the apartment and flagged down a cab.
"Trevelyan Enterprises," I mumbled to the cabman.
"What? Are you sure that's where you're going, ma'am?"
What? "Yes please," I replied and entered the cab.
It was 7 AM already and it was still far from the time of the interview that was scheduled for 8 AM.
After thirty minutes, we got to a skyscraper. Whoa!
The cabman dropped me off and I walked slowly into the building. Nervousness had started to grip me.
I wanted to chicken out and run, but my legs kept walking and leading me into the building.
I pushed the glass door open and cool and fresh aircon air blew over my face. I sighted a receptionist behind her desk. She was a redhead. She was in a red dress and it hugged her body. She had harlot red lipstick on and she was on the phone.
Tomato.
"Yes... The documents are ready... In the tray... No, sir." She dropped the telephone and looked at me. She eyed my outfit and my subconscious screamed, Stop making it obvious you redhead.
"Good morning. How may I help you?"
"Uh, hi. I'm Isabelle. Isabelle Greene. I'm here for an interview?"She reached out to the paper cup on her desk and brought it to her lips, sipping what I guessed as coffee or tea. Her eyes examined me over the rim of the cup and I swear I saw her smirk. She brought the cup down and pursed her lips, turning to the computer beside her. "Oh," she drawled out, her pretty eyes, illuminated by the light that emanated from the computer screen, sliding to me, and her over-straight button nose jiggling unnaturally. "I thought you were the janitor's daughter or you just lost your way or some shit like that," she said almost lazily, infinitesimally arching a perfectly plucked eyebrow.I smiled sardonically. "Well, you thought wrong, then."Tomato Lady raised wrist to her f
"Honey, I'm home!" I announced to no one in particular the moment my feet stepped past the threshold of the apartment. I slid my feet out of my flats and walked into the sitting room. I found Kate laying spread-eagled on the couch, her long legs dangling from the side and her laptop perched on her folded legs while a talk show played on the TV. A can of soda and an open box with only three slices of pizza in it sat on the coffee table beside her. "You're back from work early?""Yeah." She glanced up and turned back to typing furiously on her laptop. "My dumb boss allowed everyone home early. So, how did the interview go?""Like utter shit," I said, somberly as I walked to the kitchen, sighing dramatically. I walked over to the sink and washed my hands. A loud beep came from the microwave, and I turned my head just in time to see a bowl -almost full to the brim- of macaroni an
I received different looks from everyone, as I was walking to Mr. Trevelyan's office: a couple of stares, a bunch of glares, a few sympathetic looks, and a whole lot of snickers."First day of work, and you're daydreaming at your point of duty." Even though, his voice was calm and steady, I almost winced. Almost. "You weren't hired to daydream."Unfortunately."I'm sorry..." I said instead and he raised a brow. "...sir.""Go to the coffee room and get me some coffee, in the next ten seconds," he ordered and I was surprised at how quickly his mood changed.And to say I was caught off guard would be an understatement.
He just said 'meeting' he didn't say like a dinner or anything," I said adding air quotes.I was having a video call with Kate, seeing as I didn't have an idea on what to wear. For the past hour, I hadn't come to a decision on the outfit to wear for the meeting.
During the meeting, the only thing I did was to nod and smile when necessary.After the meeting, lunch was provided. I ordered some Chinese rice and salad. Mr.Bossy's phone rang and he picked it."Trevelyan," he snapped. "Yes... It has been finalized... The contract is sealed... What? I'll get back to you." He hung up. "Ms. Greene, it's time to leave." He snapped at me and I flinched. "I'm sorry. There's an emergency. We have to leave," He said to the English."It's alright," Mr. Thompson said with his English accent.Mr. Trevelyan stood up abruptly and left the conference room and I followed suit, leaving my food behind. I contemplated snatching the food and gobbling it down, but
Okay, fast forward to the next day.I woke up with a jolt, disoriented. I realized I had fallen asleep on the couch with Kate. She was on the couch, arms and legs stretched out wide. I noticed a string of drool by the corner of her mouth. I shook my head and screwed my eyes shut for some seconds to clear my vision.I stood up groggily and walked to switch off the TV. I fetched my phone and checked the time. It was still 3 AM."Kate," I mumbled tapping on her leg."Jordan, give me my ham," she mumured, stirring a bit before falling back to sleep.I chuckled and went off to my room.*
In the days passed, I thought Mr. Trevelyan would loosen up and tone down on the hostility, but I absolutely thought wrong.Mr. Trevelyan became a lot more adverse and hostile as time withered away. It was like a whole new cycle of ours – I would go to work late, he'll yell at me, and I'll stagger into my office with tears in my eyes."You're lucky. I'm really starting to think you're his favorite.""What? He just said that to reprimand me. Nothing more." I let out an unladylike snort. I? Mr. Bossy Pants' favorite? I couldn't even dare to dream.Susan and I were at the cafeteria and like always, she was helping to cheer me up after the usual back-and-forth with Mr. Trevelyan."But he could just have fired you there and then. There was this lady, that used to work as his PA. She brought his cof
You know that feeling when someone's telling you something and then you just want to look into their eyes and say, "I don't really give a crap"That's exactly how I felt when he told me. I mean, it's not my company, I'm not the CEO. But I asked so it's not really his fault."Eric, I want you to inquire about what just happened." Mr. Bossy Pants said into the phone. "They said that..? Till when? Next month? Alright....yeah yeah, thanks." He hung up and looked at me. "Isabelle, the dinner is canceled go home," he said, and with that, he went out of the balcony.Okay, to get this straight, two things made me shocked and surprised. First, is because he called me by my first name. And second is because he just left me there, just like that