The following days that ensued after the interview, Vanessa spent anticipating its result. She restlessly waited for the company to call or send an email, but despite her waiting and silent prayers, she got nothing. She was certain her restlessness had more to do with Maya than with the fact that she actually needed the job, or maybe both?
Yes, she wanted the job for herself. She'd be crazy not to desire an incredibly paying job with fabulous allowances that'd settle her money issues as well as Sophia's academics, not to mention the exposure and fulfillment it'll reel in as it was her dream job. But as much as all the things she had listed fascinated her and drew in her hunger for the job, she didn't want to lose to a girl like Maya, who wasn't worthy of having the job.
Vanessa was aware that she probably wasn't the best person for the job, she wasn't a genius, and there could be someone more qualified than her that had also applied for the job. But if Maya got this job simply because she was having an affair with the head of HR, then it wouldn't be fair to her and to all the people who had worked hard to get the job.
With this in mind, Vanessa picked up her phone and dialed Maya's number. She had called her two days ago to inquire about the result, but Maya had informed her she was yet to receive any news from the company.
After a few rings, Maya picked up the call.
"Hello, Van," Maya up chirped with cheer and excitement, which was almost palpable from the other side of the phone where Vanessa stood.
"Hello, Maya." She greeted back, trying to sound as natural as possible. "You sound happy. Any good news?" Vanessa curiously inquired like it was the most natural thing to do like she wasn't hoping this profound happiness wasn't because Maya had gotten the job.
"Yes, there's good news!" The girl squealed excitedly, making Vanessa nervously gulp.
Her senses were fired up and impatiently waiting for Maya to say about this questionable 'good news. It had better not be what she was suspecting
"Really? Tell me what it is?" Vanessa urged, trying to sound as natural as a friend would.
"I got it! I got the job!" Maya chirped excitedly.
'What?!'
"What?" Maya asked in confusion when she heard Vanessa exclaim like that. She didn't know if Vanessa had exclaimed because she was happy for her or because she hadn't heard her.
Vanessa exclaimed in her head, at least that was what she thought until she heard Maya repeat her question. Her emotions got a hold of her —just like always. Her intolerable personality, coupled with the mood swings, made her flare-up. Her countenance turned solemn.
'Maya got the job?' She asked herself in disbelief.
Could someone kindly remind her how unfair the world could be. The rich don't just get richer or the poor poorer, but the universe has conveniently decided to add incompetent opportunists to the mix? How convenient!
There was a literal bias contouring the very existence of this earth. Vanessa was more than sure of it.
Calming herself down, so she doesn't get to sound like an angry bitch who was secretly praying for her 'friend's' downfall or worse, Satan's green-eyed apprentice, she toned down her voice and replied, "Really? That's great news. I'm happy for you," in the most falsified voice she could muster. She sounded like 'Dora' with tonsillitis.
"Thank you." Maya chirped.
"So when are you resuming work?" Vanessa asked.
"Tomorrow. I'll be resuming tomorrow. Van, I'll be having a little celebratory dinner with my friends this weekend. Please come, since you're my friend too. Don't worry. I'll introduce you to my other friends, and I'm sure you'll like them." Maya rambled like she was running out of breath with excitement.
Celebratory party? Was that they were calling it now? A job gotten by spreading eagle on a paunchy man's bed, or should she say, committing adultery —if she was allowed to say it in its real words — was what she was celebrating? Shamelessness was really getting thick-skinned by the day.
She wasn't trying to be an evil person, nor was she jealous or seeking Maya's downfall, but the fact that she knew the truth behind this so-called 'good news' didn't make any of this sit well with her. She just couldn't accept that Maya had gotten the job by having an affair when others like her worked their ass off to pass the interview.
If she hadn't known what she knew now and hadn't overheard Maya's conversation over the phone, she definitely wouldn't be this angry. She might have been slightly disappointed in herself for not working hard enough. She'd have accepted the fact that Maya had done better than her and was deserving of the job, she'd even have accepted her invitation to this 'celebratory party, but right now, she just couldn't bring herself to accept the unfairness of this whole situation.
Faking a defeated sigh, Vanessa said, "Maya, I'd love to, but I don't think I'd be able to make it." She wasn't going to make it because she didn't think she'd still have that job by the weekend, so there'd be no need for any celebration.
"Why?" Maya curiously inquired.
"Because I've got something scheduled for the weekend. Maybe some other time." Vanessa explained. 'Some other time, really?' She should just be plain and say, 'No, thanks.'
But no, she wouldn't do that.
"Oh." Maya sighed. "It's a shame you won't be able to make it, but let's keep in touch, okay?"
she sounded disappointed.
"Sure, we'll definitely keep in touch," Vanessa said with a deeper meaning.
"Alright, Van. Take care"
"Sure, and you too," Vanessa said before disconnecting the call. Her countenance turned grim the moment she ended the call.
She scoffed at the incredulity of this biased situation.
Why was the world full of shameless people? And was it never fair? So someone who didn't know better would be excited about this and call it good news? There was no way this was good news. It was an injustice. And injustice was something she duly frowned upon.
Who would believe a reputable company like Moore Apparel would have staff that behaved in this fashion? But that was none of her business. Shameless staff or not, all she knew was that she would get that job. Others may be more qualified than her, but it was unfortunate they have been chopped out. But having this opportunity to fight for something well-deserving of her skill set only spoke of one thing, that this job was hers. Heaven bears her witness; she was going to get it, not at any cost because, believe her, she has lost far too many things just to hold on to whatever scrap she currently had in her life, but she was going to make this work. She was going to work in that company, and nothing was going to stop her.
Was she going to feel apologetic for taking this job from Maya? The answer was NO!
Vanessa scrolled through her phone and stopped at the pictures she had gotten from Maya. She frowned when she saw the intimate pictures of Maya and the middle-aged man who was old enough to be her father. She felt repulsed every time she saw the pictures. And to think this man had a wife she was sure would be far prettier than Maya or even herself. What did cheating men truly want?
Definitely not sex, because one of the reasons why they got all married was for the procreative exercise, so what?
She wasn't intentionally trying to judge anyone's life or choices. After all, she wasn't a saint, but what were humans but judgemental! It was an innate trait.
Vanessa was sure Maya still had no clue she had these pictures. And fortunately for her, these pictures were her ticket to getting her rightfully deserving job. If Maya could play dirty, then what was stopping her? She has rolled in the mud and lived in the slums, so she could say life has treated her to a free course tutorial on trying to be a bitch.
If the head of HR could give Maya the job because he's having an affair with her, he should be able to take back the job and give it to her if he doesn't want his wife to know of his atrocious act.
This life has never been fair. It always dealt its card harshly and with bias, so it shouldn't fault her for trying to make good use of the cards she had. The world was a violent place, and only the extremely violent with the sole desire to survive could outlive its cruelty.