LONG STORY SHORT, she arrived at the Luxietude office on time. But was it worth it? She looked at the money app on her smartphone. The taxi cost a fortune.
'Damn—' she cursed, regretting last night's wasted time.
Charmaine believed that eavesdropping was a valuable introvert's skill. If you can't engage in small talk, at least make yourself well-informed about your competition.
She looked around to familiarize herself with the office and the people around her.
Including Charmaine, there were eleven applicants present. She smiled at them albeit awkwardly. She received a mixed reaction. Some smiled back. The others met her eyes with halfhearted acknowledgment.
Those two ladies were on another level though. The svelte brunette and the blonde with an S-Line figure. They could be mistaken as models. They were tall with an impossibly slim waist and wore high heels. They looked fit for the Luxietude brand. They were too busy discussing fashion to even notice anyone.
As for the other applicants, two women sat quietly while fiddling with their phones. There's a crowd of six, a mix of four men and two women, talking about the company's salary and perks of working at Tarra Gona, the parent company of Luxietude.
The applicants were a young bunch of 20-something professionals. Charmaine felt inferior. She had about two years of experience working as a reporter. That felt like a long ago. After a brief stint at Blake News TV5, she moved to Nueva York and hopped from one job to another.
After the breakup with her boyfriend, she began freelancing as a virtual assistant. She has experience with graphic design, online marketing, and social media. She worked for an online media and entertainment company as a writer and was promoted to editor. Compared to these young hopefuls, her resume was thin.
To distract herself from self-deprecating thoughts, she surveyed the office workers milling about in this collaborative workspace. She liked this office. At a distance, she could see Luxietude's tagline on an elaborate poster where the photo of their female CEO graced the space: Luxury is an attitude.
The interior has contemporary industrial decor, art pieces hang on the wall, and radiates a welcoming ambiance. At the corner, there's a pantry and she could smell the aroma of brewed coffee from here. The office's luxurious furniture and fixtures were something to behold. She's seeing some pieces from Luxietude's latest collection. There were adequate spaces and the vibe bespoke freedom and creativity. Luxietude has a mix of millennial and senior employees doing their Friday hustle.
Charmaine felt at ease now.
Suddenly, a newcomer disrupted the scene. She heard a chorus of murmurs and giggles. She turned around only to see the most handsome guy she had ever seen.
He's tall, handsome, and straight out of KPop. Flawless porcelain skin. Impressive jawline. Broad shoulders. Lean but strong physique. It turned out he was an applicant too. Yet he wore an expensive suit with impeccable neatness and rich taste.
They swooned over him because he wasn't just good-looking; he was friendly too. His smile was ready for anyone he happened to gaze upon. But when he and Charmaine were about to lock eyes, she quickly looked away. He was too dazzling for her tender heart!
Even the employees stared at him with admiration. A woman whispered to her colleague that she hoped the man would be in their team. They giggled while the men were sizing up their competition. This guy carried himself with impressive mien. But his sartorial choice was beyond that of a mere employee.
His likability leveled up every time he smiled. You couldn't help but crush on him. Did you see his cute dimples? She heard them comment. But Charmaine's reaction was meh. Why fangirl for someone who would never notice you?
While others would be content admiring him at a distance, the blonde woman with an S-Line figure approached him and quickly introduced herself. The svelte brunette followed suit. The three engaged in small talk. While the rest of the crowd gazed at the trio with curiosity. Then a disapproving murmur echoed from the employees' side. Snide remarks for the two women's audacity and flirtations.
A moment later, the receptionist called on four ladies for the executive assistant interview. The two attractive applicants were among them. They bid adieu to their handsome guy. If appearance were the basis, the two other applicants wouldn't make it. The receptionist accompanied them to the conference room.
When the receptionist returned, she ushered the remaining eight interviewees to another conference room.
They were standing outside the conference room waiting for instructions.
From her spot, Charmaine observed the sky through the glass wall. This morning's clear sky was replaced with dark clouds looming on the horizon indicating an incoming downpour. She mused how unpredictable the weather could become.
But every cloud has a silver lining. There's hope even in a deplorable situation. But first, you must learn how to differentiate the clouds above your head.
"It looks like it's going to rain," a man's mellow voice brought her back from musing.
She turned around to face the speaker. He smiled at her. It was the pretty KPop-worthy applicant who was too close for Charmaine's comfort.
How tall could he be? She looked up to him. His eye smile made her heart flutter. Confirmed. His dimples were cute. Not a single visible pore on his dewy face. He's adorable; like a cute puppy you couldn't help but on the head.
If Charmaine didn't disengage from his spell, her neck would rival that of a giraffe. She felt embarrassed by such closeness. Her forehead was sweating. She could only hope that her makeup didn't melt on her face.
She managed to respond with an awkward "I-I thought so—"
Her mouth went dry and that was the end of it.
The receptionist called the names of the first four applicants, including the handsome guy, and ushered them inside. She wished them good luck but directed her sweetest smile at the handsome guy.
However, a moment later, she emerged from the conference room and called for Charmaine to join them.