This wasn't the best plan Vanessa could come up with, but given the time and circumstances, this would have to suffice, and it would be just as effective as any other plan she would possibly come up with at a more relaxed time. She couldn't imagine going home without making any effort to accomplish what she had come here for today. She had tried the friendly and polite approach, but they called her bluff. Well, this was definitely not a game of being nice anymore. After all, what has been nice gotten anyone in this world? You try to be reasonable; the unreasonable ones trample you and use you as a stepping stone. So there was no way she'd take that road twice or wait for them to see reasons and know she wasn't joking. She'd have to go the extra mile and do the necessary not just for her but for the family she has left.
If Maya and her lover were trying to be shameless by being thick-skinned, then she'd show them she was just as thick-skinned as they could be and even more.
"Let's see who gets the last laugh." She sneered as she made her way to the elevator lobby.
What was the best way to create a scene? Vanessa reasoned to herself. From all her experience, she'd say creating drama and playing the victim card was the best way to go. Google didn't even have this answer, but her few years of experience were way better than a search engine on this facet. She had been embarrassed enough since her father died to know how these things played out.
The thugs her father owed had played the victim card by acting like her father had borrowed and embezzled money meant for palliatives for a whole nation, making the bystanders look at her like she deserved all the humiliation her family could ever get. Speak about an unfair world again. She has sacrificed for the consequences of a sin she didn't commit. So why should she hold back? If the thugs could do it, why couldn't she?
Today, she was going to make a big scene in front of the company till they gave her her job, and that was it.
When Vanessa stepped out of the elevator on the ground floor, the look on her face was gloomy, like she had just engaged in the biggest brawl of her life, and her steps were heavy as she stormed toward the receptionist.
"I'd like to see the CEO." She demanded as she arrived at the reception.
"The CEO is–" The receptionist slurred when she looked up and saw Vanessa's face. She had recognized her earlier when she approached her desk with a pleasant smile.
"Miss, are you okay?" The receptionist asked with concern when she saw the displeased look on Vanessa's face. She wondered who or what could have angered the smiling lady she had seen minutes ago.
Distorting her face into a deeper frown, Vanessa sighed, "I'm not fine. I'm angry and bitter, and I want to see the CEO." She said in an angry yet polite tone. The last thing she wanted was to ruin her chances of getting back her job by being rude to the receptionist, who was vital in getting the CEO's attention.
"Erm, miss–" The receptionist dragged when she realized she didn't know the woman's name.
"Vanessa," Vanessa told her.
"I'm sorry, Miss Vanessa, but the CEO is not available at the moment, but you can leave a message if it's really important," The receptionist politely replied.
"But I really have to see him now. It's necessary." Vanessa pressed.
Not sure what had happened to her, the receptionist felt sympathetic towards her. She looked like a lovely lady. "I'm sorry, Ms. Vanessa, but you can't see the CEO now," The receptionist said apologetically.
"Really? I can't see him?" She asked while the receptionist nodded affirmatively.
Vanessa exaggeratively sighed. "I don't think today can get any worse." She lamented. "First I came here for an interview, and then I got rejected because someone is having an affair with the head of HR? Isn't that wrong?" She asked the receptionist in a pained voice, who was shocked to hear what she had just said.
"I mean, how can this happen? I thought Moore was a reputable company, but I was wrong! To think I worked hard and studied hard to pass the aptitude test, and this is what I get? — a rejection simply because someone is warming the head of HR's bed? And to think she didn't even sit for the aptitude test, yet she gets the job and brags about it. Is she even qualified for it? I don't think this is fair, and now you say I can't even see the CEO? Where's the justice?!" She half yelled, her voice echoing across the lobby as she bitterly complained. Her outburst attracted the attention of a few staff members who were resuming work for the day.
The receptionist was stunned when she heard Vanessa's voice go a few notches higher. Judging by the look on Vanessa's face and her tone, she could tell Vanessa was pained and vexed.
"Miss Vanessa, I'm sorry you can't do this here. I'd advise you to calm down and not make a scene. The CEO will be here shortly, and then you can fix an appointment with him to settle out your grievances." The receptionist tried to placate her.
"Grievances? Scene?" Vanessa scoffed with incredulity as she let out an fiendish round of laughter
"I'm sorry, dear, but I'm actually here to make a scene and a massive one at that!" She coldly snapped. "And I'd make one till the head of HR comes out and tell me why his mistress got the job that I or the others who truly worked hard deserves!" Vanessa roared, her eyes turning angry and fierce with every word she muttered. The anger in her was seeping through her pores.
"That damn man dares to give her the job because she's his mistress? She didn't even take the aptitude test, yet she gets the job? Is this what the world has turned into? Is this how they behave at Moore? Why then call for an interview if mistresses of employees are the only people qualified to get the job? I thought we all had equal chances, but I was wrong, and it's making me angry. I AM LIVID!" Vanessa slammed her hand on the counter as she raged, her voice increased with each word she spoke, and the displeased look on her face was as strong as her words.
Passersby couldn't help but look at her, wondering why a lady as beautiful as she was was throwing a tantrum at the company.
Vanessa turned towards the direction of the elevator, her fingers pointing towards it, and her voice kept increasing in volume. "I put it to Mr. James that Maya doesn't deserve the job. I deserve it! Even if not me, but anyone other than Maya." She stated fearlessly.
"Who is she, and who is the Maya she is referring to?" A beautiful lady on her way to resuming work asked the man standing by her side as they watched the angry girl rant non-stop, but the man shrugged as he was just as clueless as she was.
"Is she a staff here?"
"Which Mr. James is she talking about? The head of HR?" Another bystander asked.
Vanessa noticed the attention she had garnered, which fueled her to carry on. She was going to expose those two shameless idiots and drag them out until she got her job. She had no intention of leaving till they did the needful.
"I want my job, and I deserve it!"
The receptionist getting quite flustered by the ruckus Vanessa was causing, walked around the counter and approached her. She had to handle this before the CEO walked in any moment now.
"Miss Vanessa, you're making a scene. Please calm down, or I will be forced to call the security."
"Security?" Vanessa asked in disbelief.
"Yes." The receptionist nodded, making Vanessa chuckle.
"The security should be throwing that bimbo out of here and not me. She is the one you should be calling the security for!" Vanessa declared.
"Call the CEO and tell him there's a big issue that requires his attention, or else I'm not stepping a foot out of this place, at least not until I get my employment letter. Call the police, FBI, and Interpol. I really don't care. Even the SWAT team can take a swing at it, but I'm not stepping a foot out of this place!"
Left with nothing to say, the receptionist turned towards the security that was standing at bay, but just then, she saw him approaching.