Agatha
Drinking coffee feels good. It helps to bring back my senses and it also makes me warm, which is the goal. I'm now inside the store and decided to spend my remaining $3 on a cup of brewed coffee and a newspaper. I held the coffee cup in both my hands and the newspaper was spread on the table. I was tempted to read the latest news and entertainment gossips but I decided against it and went directly to Job Ads.
A five and dime. Doughnuts stand. Cleaning lady. Any job I could land my ass on will be just fine. My eyes darted to the ad that has the most space on the page and I read through it
Wanted: Personal Assistant for $50 per hour. Complete lodging with a meal. The job description will be discussed in the interview.
"Well, well," I told myself and smiled. I've been many things in my life. A cook, dishwasher, delivery girl, etc. But a personal assistant that will be paid $50 per hour? It seems I'm in luck today, despite what I've been through. I asked the shop personnel for a piece of paper and a pen so I can write down the address and contact number.
What does a personal assistant do except being bossed around? That's pretty easy for me. I can do it. So, I decided to take a chance on it and worked on the little luck I still have under my sleeves.
Smiling, I reached out on my pocket to get my phone and felt dismayed remembering I haven't brought it with me. I sigh. Look around me and rolled my eyes. "It seems you have to walk there right now," I told myself again. I've been in a habit of talking to myself lately. I know sooner or later, I'll get insane.
A lady was sitting next to me inside the shop and I talked to her hesitantly "Excuse me." I started. She looked at me and I smiled "Do you happen to know a thrift shop here where I can buy a sweater?" I asked.
The lady looked at me like I've grown a third ear and I remembered, I am in the finest town in New York City, nearest elite places where most people shrug off hand me down clothes. "Never mind," I said.
With a heavy heart, I went outside the cold streets and started walking. "God, please give me the strength to go through today without collapsing on the floor or worst, dying," I whispered and prayed.
Every bone in my body aches due to cold and my muscles are tired now and my head hurts from crying too much. I've been stupid enough to get betrayed and I feel more stupid for shedding tears for both of them. They don't deserve my tears, but here I am, bawling for losing the two people I care about the most, next to my parents.
I looked at the small piece of paper in my hand and read the address again, making sure I'm in the right direction. I've only been here two weeks, but thank God I am educated enough to read signs.
SL Holdings Incorporated
255 High Street, Midtown Manhattan NY
It says on the paper. I can now see the skyscrapers, high rise buildings, and posh restaurants around. I gulped. Felt like an alien but mostly an ant in this huge place I am right now.
I stopped for a while and let the reality sink into me.
I was alone before and I am alone now.
I kept walking. Turned from one street to another. Hoping there's any sign of 255 High Street. I kept looking, wandering like a lost little girl in a world that isn't mine.
After a few more minutes of walking, I stopped in front of a building made of glass. I only stopped because I saw my own reflection and realized how awful I look in my white shirt and legging. I looked up at the building and my eyes went huge when I saw the name above it. SL Holdings Incorporated.
"No!" I exclaimed and cried inside. If the outside of the building is as elegant as this, what more is the inside of it? What chance do I get if I look awful and pitiful? "What should I do?" I asked myself.
I stayed there for a while and remembered what my parents always tell me when they were alive "Never miss an opportunity. It comes only once."
Despite knowing I'd hate myself after this, I still pushed through the glass door and went inside, walked in the marbled floor with my greasy rubber shoes, not paying attention to the looks of people I'm getting.
Everyone has dressed appropriately. Men with their perfectly tailored suit and the women with their fashionable clothes and coats. Well, I have some pretty clothes too that Stacey handed down to me, I just need to survive this day and hopefully be hired, then I'll go back to the apartment with my head held high and will take my belongings with me.
I reached the reception area and take a good look at the blond receptionist behind the marble desk. She's busy typing on her computer and she smiled the moment she noticed me "Good afternoon, how can I help you?" She asked.
I hesitated for a while after I saw how she looked at me from up and down, I feel embarrassed, but I shrugged it off "Good afternoon, I'm here to apply for a personal assistant I saw from the newspaper-"
"Do you have any related job experiences?" she cut me off.
I thought about it "Hum, I've worked in a grocery before, in a diner, in a gasoline-"
"Okay," the girl cut me off again "Miss-"
"Morrison. Agatha Morrison."
"Miss Morrison, the company is looking for the best personal assistant there is, this is a prestige company and we are looking for a well-educated, well-mannered, and well-dressed individual."
"Maybe I'm not well dressed, well-educated, but I am well-mannered. I can assure you, and besides, wouldn't you allow me to go on an interview first?" I defended myself.
"Okay, just, stay right here." She dialed on her phone and looked away.
I waited for her as she talks nonsense on the phone. I know what she's doing, she's buying herself some time and hoping I'd lose patience and leave. Not going to happen.
After a few moments, she gave up and hang up the phone, looked at me, and exhaled "Fine, go straight to the 33rd floor. There's another receptionist there. Talk to her and see if she allows you to go through the interview."
"Thank you," I said and smiled. The lady waved me away as she talks to the next person behind me with a broad smile on her face.
I waited outside the elevator, tapping my foot on the marbled floor and humming the tune of Holding out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler. I also softened the crumpled part of my white shirt as if it'll turn out to be a pretty dress somehow. Ting! The elevator dings and I smiled. I looked up and the elevator door opens, with a good mood, I entered the elevator and breathed heavily.
When it was about to close, a man in a dark gray suit stopped it by putting his arms between the doors. The elevator opened widely again, revealing a huge man in a perfectly tailored Armani suit. To say he's gorgeous is an understatement. A flawless face, slightly tanned, sharp jaw, brown wild hair, perfect brows, and the most beautiful pair of eyes I've seen so far, it was covered with thick long lashes that would draw every damn girl he'd come across. That's for sure.
"Going up?" he asked in a cold and commanding voice. Colder than the winter, chilling than the wind outside or the air-conditioning in the building. I was transfixed for a while when his dark gray smoldering eyes met mine.
"Ye-yes." I stuttered and felt like I have just swallowed my tongue.
He entered and stood close to me. So, close I can feel the heat radiating from his body. He's going to the 33rd floor too.
I studied him. He has a leather bag hanging on his body and a cup of coffee in the other hand. He's a tall man with a well-built body. I suddenly wondered what it looks like under his tailored suit. "Shame on me for having irrelevant thoughts." I cursed myself.
He's too tall for me so it would be impossible to see his face without looking up and looking like a fool so I let it go but decided to make a conversation.
"Are you here to apply for the personal assistant position too?" I asked in a curious tone.
He just stood there immobile "It's none of your business." He said.
Hurt, dismayed, and slightly embarrassed that he turned me down when I just wanted to talk to someone, I crossed my arms over my chest and spite back "Yes, you're right, but you don't need to be an asshole." I muttered.
The arrogant, handsome, self-righteous man stayed silent until the elevator stops. He rushed out the moment the door opens like I have a rare and contagious disease. Rudeness in its finest. I rolled my eyes and hoped to not see him ever again.
Asshole.