Nico and Prisca had been able to get Audrey to go for the interview, although she was nervous, she somehow managed to remember Prisca's tips, finally going through with the interview.
Audrey was to report to Walton Globals headquarters at exactly eight in the morning, it was put in the message sent that it was expected of those who were applying for the job.
Tapping her index fingers on the bag and checking the time constantly during the ride, Audrey was very nervous, she even had a slight layer of perspiration on her forehead. As Audrey alighted the cab, she checked her phone screen one more time to make sure she wasn't late, even if she had affirmed that multiple times in the cab.
However, she was even more shocked when she finally turned to see the building across the street. Audrey was blown away by how majestic the building stood, the height and how big it was, the architecture, the build, everything. Atop the building sat Walton Globals in big gold letters, since it was too far up, one would need to squint their eyes to properly see the beauty of the building.
The security protocols were far more stringent than Audrey imagined, she along with some of the other people she experienced getting checked were asked their names and confirmed off a list before they entered the building.
Audrey noticed the workers who went in and out of the building looking smart, tidy, and gallant, embodying the prestige of the company. When Audrey entered the building, the interior caused her lower jaw to hang in amazement. The detail was so well thought off, the chandeliers, the chairs, the receiving area, the walls, everything looked sophisticated.
It wasn't just Audrey who marveled at the decor of just the ground floor, the other people who she guessed were also there for the job were also amazed. However, she was seen by someone else who was applying for the job, "hey, aren't you here for the job?", the lady who had just come out of a door labeled with a female sign asked her, " yes, yes I am!", Audrey said caught off guard by the sudden interruption while she was admiring the place.
"Ohh, I'm Julie, and I'm also here for the job, ohh we are being called one by one, so just sit there ", Juliet motioned with her hands as she showed Audrey were a bunch of other people sat. " okay, thank you!", Audrey said before both ladies went to sit down.
They were indeed called one by one by a female, it took some time calling out the interviewees before Audrey realized it wasn't random, but an alphabetical order. She felt even more jittery and stopped checking out the place when she realized she could be called any minute. "Smith Audrey!!", the lady called out again making Audrey have goosebumps.
Suddenly, Prisca's voice reminding her to take deep breaths suddenly popped into her head, " deep breaths Audrey, deep breaths!!", she took deep steady breaths as she walked into the office and shut the door behind her. Inside the office, a man was sitting at a table, looking through some files, but when he heard the door slam shut, he called out, "Smith Audrey, I like the ring of that…have a seat".
The interview commenced and it was nothing like she expected, the man asked her to tell him about herself, not some programmed answer she practiced for days, but a genuine answer. Audrey did just that and the man was impressed, Audrey didn't tell him about all the trophies she bagged in high school, or how brilliant she was she told him about her life, how she didn't finish college, her parents, how she needed the job and how dutiful she would work.
The man felt touched and made an instant decision, she was going to get the job, but he couldn't tell her immediately, she would wait like the others. " Nice to meet you Audrey, My name's Dalton Cohen, and I manage all the branches associated with investment, You can go now!", he said after introducing himself. Audrey followed the instruction, standing up about to leave the office when Mr. Cohen called her again, "and… expect an email!", " yes sir!", Audrey said before leaving his office and the company.
Audrey was oblivious that she was going to get the job, instead, she felt like her story was lame, too pitiful, and undeserving. She went back to the restaurant feeling down and sighing nonstop. Lizzy, Prisca's mother looked up to see if it was another customer who entered, but she was happy Audrey was back early, however, she stopped smiling when she noticed Audrey's mood.
Lizzy was glad they didn't have customers she needed to attend to at that moment so she could have a proper conversation with Audrey. The mother and daughter duo noticed she was downcast than usual since the start of the week, and that was because the debt was weighing on her. Normally, it would have been Prisca talking to her, trying to cheer her up, but she went to get foodstuffs for the restaurant.
"Hey, what happened?", Lizzy asked as Audrey sat down, taking off her heels soon after, " I think I'm not going to get the job", Audrey replied, sullen, "what makes you say that dear?", " Well, the director wanted my life story so far, unlike any other interview I've heard of…", "yeah, so?", " he didn't show any expression on his face when I finished, what if he was bored and didn't feel my story?", "then, that's his loss!", Lizzy said.
"How about waiting for the results before you give out any sad reaction, who knows, it can come out as you want!", Lizzy said, successfully cheering Audrey up.
Prisca walked in through the back door before shouting, " come help me out, I can't bring it all in!", when Audrey was about to stand up to go and help Prisca, Lizzy said, "don't even think about it, go get proper shoes!", she said pointing towards her heels, Audrey giggled sheepishly, running off to get her extra pairs of sandals, finally rendering help to Prisca.