Mila's POV
Months had passed so quickly, and there was still nothing from the job profile Maya had set up for me. I was gradually losing hope of ever finding something better than the job I was stuck in.
As always, I went in for my afternoon shift at the coffee shop, dreading every moment I had to spend there.
"Good afternoon, Maya," I greeted as I walked in, making my way straight to the counter to get set up.
"Mila, darling! How are you this fine sunny day?" Maya beamed, her smile wide and almost too cheerful.
"I'm good," I replied, my voice flat, sensing something was off with her unusually bubbly mood.
"Maya... what are you up to?" I asked, narrowing my eyes and scanning her face for any hint of what was going on.
"Nothing, Mila... Can't I just be happy today?" Maya answered too quickly, nervously brushing a stray lock of hair from her face as she turned back to the coffee machine.
I stared at her, unconvinced. Something was definitely up, but I decided to ignore it, focusing on the task at hand. But I couldn't shake the feeling. Every so often, I'd hear her sigh or groan, like she was fighting an internal battle. It was so out of character for her.
I tried to ignore it, but eventually, the tension became unbearable.
"Maya…" I called, my voice softer now. She glanced up, her eyes filled with remorse, clearly torn about something.
"Maya, what's the matter with you?" I asked, arms crossed, worry tightening my chest.
She froze, the only sound the faint clink of a spoon against the counter as she fidgeted with the strings of her apron. Her hands were shaking.
"Maya..." I repeated, this time more urgently.
"Fine, Mila... I've been meaning to tell you something," she admitted, her voice low. "A friend of mine reached out today. They're hiring at Harris Construction Company. I managed to get you an interview there... next Thursday."
My breath hitched. "What...?" I stammered. "An interview at Harris Construction? No... I can't—"
"Mila," she interrupted, her tone firm, "I know what you're thinking, but you have to do this. You need this. This is the only opening in months. You have to take it, whether you like it or not."
"But Harris Construction... They're a big deal. Do you really think they'd want someone like me?" I protested, the doubt creeping into my voice.
Maya didn't hesitate. "Mila, you can't know unless you try. They won't hire you if you don't show up. So just go."
"But..." I tried to argue again, my mind a whirl of doubt.
"Mila, stop. You're going. And that's final," she snapped, her gaze locking with mine. "You don't even know what I had to do to get you that interview. Now get your head in the game and go."
She turned away, diving back into her work, leaving me to process her words.
A Few Days Later…
Thursday arrived in what felt like the blink of an eye. The day of my interview was here, and I could barely sleep the night before. My mind was consumed with a thousand thoughts, doubts, and the ever-present fear of failure. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd actually get an interview at Harris Construction Company, and now here I was, hours away from possibly getting hired.
My mom was practically bouncing with excitement, knocking on my door, urging me to get ready. Maya, too, had sent her best wishes, offering to cover my shift at the coffee shop.
"Everything's going to be fine," I whispered to myself, standing in front of the mirror, mentally preparing. "I can do this."
I rushed through breakfast, barely tasting the food, and hurried out the door, my heart pounding with anticipation. I couldn't shake the feeling that this time might be different.
It took almost half an hour to get to Harris Construction, and I found myself staring up at the towering buildings, feeling both small and insignificant. I took a deep breath, my nerves threatening to choke me, and willed myself to walk through those doors.
I approached the receptionist, doing my best to hold it together.
"Hello, my name is Mila Brown. I'm here for the interview," I said, trying to sound confident, but my voice betrayed me.
The receptionist smiled and nodded, pointing me in the direction of the interview room. My legs shook with nerves as I made my way down the hall, but I kept reminding myself that I had to do this.
I sat down in the waiting area, scanning the room. The polished furniture and elegant lighting were impressive, but they did little to calm my nerves. I was so lost in the beauty of the office that I didn't even notice when they called my name.
"Mila Brown?" the secretary called, and I snapped to attention, my heart racing.
I nodded and quickly stood, following her into the interview room. The woman behind the desk was focused on her computer, her face unreadable.
I took a seat, trying to steady my breath, and answered her questions as best as I could. She asked about my experience, my skills, my goals. I gave her the answers I thought she wanted, but it felt like everything I said could be the wrong answer.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she looked up, her expression neutral.
"That would be all for now, Miss Brown," she said flatly. "We'll be in touch."
I stood there, unsure how to interpret her words. Was that a good sign? Or was I just another candidate who would never hear back? Other companies had been much more upfront, telling me I wasn't what they were looking for. I left the office in a daze, the uncertainty gnawing at me.
I walked straight to the coffee shop, trying to shake off the weight of my thoughts. Maya was there, waiting eagerly for any news. Her hopeful eyes were fixed on me as I walked in.
"So…?" she asked, almost breathless with anticipation.
"They said they'd be in touch," I said quietly, feeling a lump in my throat. I could see the disappointment flicker across her face.
"We wait, then," she said, though her voice wavered slightly.
A Week Later...
The days passed quickly, but with each one, the weight of waiting grew heavier. Every call made my heart skip a beat, hoping it was them, the one I had been waiting for. But it was never them.
Maya continued to encourage me, reminding me not to lose hope, but how could I when it felt like luck was never on my side?
I poured all my energy into my work at the coffee shop, trying to drown out the negative thoughts threatening to overwhelm me.
Maya and I were discussing her latest conquest when I heard the familiar buzz of my phone. My heart leaped into my throat, a thousand thoughts running wild. Could this be the call? Or was it just another reminder of the debt I owed?
I hesitated before answering, my voice barely a whisper. "Mila Brown speaking."
"Hello, is this Mila Brown?" a voice on the other end asked.
"Yes, this is she," I said, my pulse racing.
"Mila, this is Harris Construction. We'd like to offer you the position. Congratulations!"
I froze, my heart soaring. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. "Thank you... Thank you so much!" I squealed, my voice trembling with disbelief.
I ended the call and turned to Maya, who was watching me with wide, hopeful eyes.
"Maya... I got it!" I screamed, bursting into laughter as I jumped in excitement.
Maya's face lit up in pure joy, and she joined me, jumping up and down with excitement.
"I knew you could do it, Mila! I knew it!" she shouted, and for the first time in a long while, everything felt right.
Finally, I knew this was just the beginning of a new adventure. And I couldn't wait to see where it would take me.