Sweet Lord!

MONIQUE

                                      ♚

Everything seemed to happen so swiftly from yesterday because after Gina got me ready for my interview and checking out staff, she left and Maria walked in. 

"Good to see you again, lady Monique." The dress she was wearing practically had the same pattern and style as she wore yesterday and it got me thinking for a second if it was all she wore. If things went further--which I was so fucking terrified of, I wondered if it was going to be mandatory for me to wear those outdated things which they called clothes. Okay, maybe they weren't outdated, but it just wasn't my style. 

"Good to see you to Maria. How are you?" I managed to ask, trying so damn hard not to seem rude because, in this type of setting, news spread the fastest. Even without the media having much to do around here. 

"I came here to ask if you were going to be comfortable interviewing here. I know you're the type that likes your personal space."

"Definitely. We can do it here."

"That is great because the people who want to work in the cleaning division are here already and they're at the entrance. Should I bring them in?" I nodded and all she had to do was clap her hands before a lot of people began to walk in and suddenly, I couldn't handle it anymore. It felt like they were invading my personal space, whereas I was the one who gave her permission to bring them in. 

They were numerous and it was hard to count, but all I knew was that the ladies were more than the men. Judging by just appearance, I assumed that the age range between the women were ages eighteen to forty while for the men, there was a young boy who looked below eighteen there, probably fifteen or sixteen so the youngest of the males was maybe that age while the oldest was about fifty. 

I swore on my life that merely looking at them triggered something in me and I wanted to rush toward to toilet and just puke. It wasn't disgusting, not at all. It was hard to say what exactly it was. Or maybe my anxiety had just been triggered to the maximum level today. 

I couldn't hold it anymore and so before anyone of them could speak, I clutched tightly unto my belly and ran to the toilet before opening the cover and puking. By this time tomorrow, the rumor around would probably be that I was pregnant which honestly speaking, not a single ounce of the blame was going to be on them. If I were in their shoes, I would think the same thing. 

I washed my face and returned a while later, feeling even all the more uncomfortable but I was determined to go through this. Once the whole interview shit was over, I planned on sleeping the whole day. That would only increase their suspicions of me being pregnant, but I cared not. 

"Are you okay?" Maria was first to welcome me with a question the moment I got back from my little trip to the toilet. 

They all introduced themselves one by one. I could tell that it was obvious I paid no attention as I sat on the couch and they watched me. 

Twenty, thirty, forty minutes, maybe even an hour had gone by and I'd been dozing off and waking up back. I felt bad for the people that were dependent on me for employment because they'd seen what was happening when they were trying to introduce themselves and give me a little about their history, not as if I cared anyways. 

Everyone had now left and then I heard sounds of someone staggering like the person had been running for a while and I could hear pants as well. Maria and I had a little discussion about the ones I was choosing. I told her I was going to need some time to think about it. Bummer! I probably was just going to pick randomly. Another news that I expected to circulate after I appointed new staff was probably that lady Monique was playing favorites. How the fuck would I play favorites when I wasn't familiar with anybody. Fuck them. 

"Shit! Sorry, I'm late."

My attention got snatched away and I focused on the person in front of me. I was never interested in this interview shit, but I became all the more interested. 

I could focus on nothing except the person standing right in front of me. Even Maria stopped in her tracks on her way out. 

"My lady, I'm so sorry. Pardon me please." He went ahead to go on his knees to plead and I tried to tell him to get up, but the words got stuck in my throat so I use my fingers to signal to him.

"What is your name?" I said, wanting to hear that British accent again. 

"Marcus, my lady."

Oh, okay, Marcus. 

I cleared my throat so my expressions weren't going to be so obvious. 

"What exactly is it that you do?" 

"I cook." He nodded. "I cook and bake and I'd be very honored if you gave me the chance to prove how good I am. I know I'm late, but I could make it up."

Fuck. 

Why did those words sound some type of way to me?

About a foot taller than I was, blonde hair that needed a cut so badly, boots that had seen better days. His white shirt had stains on them and it wasn't buttoned up so I could catch a few glances of chest hair if he didn't already know that I was checking him out. 

"And Marcus, how exactly do you plan on proving it to lady Monique?" Maria chipped in when I failed to say anything. 

"Whoever is making her meal tonight, tell he or she to stop. I'll make her something." 

"That sounds like a good start," Maria said, bobbing her head as if she'd just heard the good news. 

"What did you say your name was again?" I knew that his name was Marcus, I just wanted to hear him say it. 

"Marcus, my lady. Marcus Blacksmith."

Fuck.

I'd sworn so much today both internally and externally and Marcus Blacksmith was the cause.