*
I woke up first thing this morning with a positive mindset, I was set on making that secretary position mine now more than ever. I had told my family about the secretary position I was applying for and my father's specific words were...
"No child of mine would ever work anything less than an executive position talk less of a servant position..."
So I'm certain that today I'm going to get that servant position just to spite my father and frankly, I just need this job. I called Smith to come to pick me up early before breakfast so I could eat at Penny's.
The conversation and support I got from just riding with Mr Smith were about enough to get me through the day but it was the whole family's fuss about my wellbeing and how much they believed in me that was going to get me that job. If I was ever honest with myself, one of the reasons I stuck around was because of how much this family felt more like home to me than my actual family.
"Oh my sweet girl, I know it's been less than a week but you're family now and whatever happens you can come right back." Penny said with a hand on my face. I gripped her hand firmly so she could feel me smile into it.
"Nonsense Penny, she's going to ace that interview and get the job because I'll be right there in front of whatever building it's going to take place and if they dare not give her that job-"
"Yes Smithy, we want her to get to a job not sued for bringing a mad fatherly figure." Nancy said cutting her father off. Such a lovely family.
I ate all the while the Longman family kept feeding me food, sweets and support, in a long while, I definitely felt loved.
"Goodness me, look at the time, you better start heading out love." Penny said, regardless of her blindness Penny was ever time conscious. According to Nancy, she had a strict daily routine that helped her keep time.
"Oh, it's already 8:30, you need to go champ." Nancy said.
"Thank you very much for having me, and I'm sorry for troubling you so early in the morning." I said my thanks.
"Don't worry about it love, you're welcome anytime, just bring back the good news." I hugged Penny in her life dress that just seemed to make her look younger.
"You better look that boss in the eye and tell'em why this job belongs to you. Go get'em, tiger." I hugged Nancy too.
"We best be leaving now." Smith said holding the door.
I said one last goodbye before leaving with Smith. The trip to the company was rather dangerous as Smith made it his sole mission to run over every traffic light into till we got to the building the interview was scheduled at.
"Good luck my dear." Smith said with a smile as I came down from he's taxi.
The building looked like an old hotel and given that construction hadn't started yet, it's no wonder it looked abandoned, I looked back one more and Smith gave me thumbs up which helped calmed my nerves somehow.
I placed my hand on the dusty door which I felt was unacceptable, I might be late but I can't ignore a cry for help from dirty furniture, somewhere along the line, I cleaned a lot whenever I was being treated badly at home so now it's a part of me.
And would I call it dumb luck that a bucket of cleaning wares was just by the side. I took my jacket off and set it aside properly with my files, rolled up my sleeves and started cleaning the glass door.
"Cyra!? What are you doing girl, you're going to be late." Smith shouted from he's taxi.
"If I'm going to work here or not I should at least make it presentable." I answered with a smile so Smith wouldn't have to worry.
"Of all the young ladies I've met in this life you my dear are the most unique." Smith said arriving beside me.
"Is that your way of telling me I'm weird?" I smiled up at the old man.
"Get in there girl, I'll hold the fort out here for you." Smith said taking the rag out of my hand.
With a grateful smile, I picked up my things and dashed into the building, the first hall was empty but I did notice the sign that pointed forward and the crooked dusty painting on the wall. I know Smith said to go in but...
I dashed and arranged all paintings in order, filed some messy files, as well as repositioned the welcome mat that I seemed to have missed earlier, by the time I was done, I dashed into the next room to meet the other candidates. I went to the woman at the desk in the farthest part of the room.
"Good morning, I'm here for the interview." I said to the woman typing. She stopped what she was doing and gave me a run-over.
"Name?" She asked uninterestedly.
"Cyra Hudson." I said, this time she stopped totally to look at me as if she had recognised the name.
After what seemed like the longest pause ever, she took my files and gave me a number.
"I'd clean up a bit if I were you." She said standing up.
"Oh, thank you."
"Washrooms at the left corner." She said before disappearing behind a white door, and don't think I overlooked how neat this room was compared to the front door and the first room.
I found my way into the wash room now I knew something was wrong, the whole washroom was super neat except for the individual mirrors that stood over the sinks.
Since I was already here and couldn't get any later than this, I decided to give the place a quick wipe down, I checked each stall in case I would stumble over any cleaning wares and thankfully there were some in the last stall.
I wiped down all the windows to the last corner and when I was satisfied with how sparkling they looked I noticed how I had stained myself with dust and smut. Thanks to me roughing it up in the states, I could handle anything thrown at me at this point.
I noticed the detergent in the bucket of cleaning solutions and decided to get as much dirt off as I could so I could look presentable, besides it's their fault for not keeping the place property in the first place.
I took off my shirt and then picked up the soap from the bucket, I washed over the areas that were stained so I could have a neat shirt again, but just as I was washing my shirt I heard a click sound, like the door being locked or something.
I dried my shirt on one of the toilet stall doors and tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge, I tried again but it was clear now that the door had been locked from outside.
"Is someone there!? I seemed to have been locked in the washroom! Is anyone there!?" I called out but no one answered.
I tried screaming out loud but the washroom was a bit away from the waiting room, it'd be a miracle if someone could hear me. After screaming for a while, I rushed back to my purse then I remembered I left the bag at the reception table. I was definitely doomed now.
Standing there in my purple lace bra and black skirt, I looked into the mirror totally defeated, there was no hope for me now. Then I remembered my father's words.
"No child of mine would ever work anything less than an executive position talk less of a servant position. You'd be better off working as a junior staff at the office."
No way was I going to let the old man win, I can't give up now, I opened the tap splashing water on my face, thank God for the waterproof makeup I purchased online. I picked up my shirt and tried drying it under the automatic hand drier by the first mirror, I thought no matter what happened, someone would definitely come to the washroom, one way or another.
After drying the shirt as much as I could, I put it back up and washed my hands. There was nothing I could do now than rehearse any possible interview questions as I tried to pass time. When I got tired I arranged every toilet ware where they were supposed to be and then I flipped over the bucket, washed my hand again and sat down.
I was already falling asleep and woken up, it felt like I had already been here for hours, I looked at my watch and saw that it was already a quarter to 11. Then I heard it, the door clicked, I jumped towards the door throwing it open when I fell face-first into something hard.
I felt hands holding me steady, as I realised that I hadn't really fallen to the ground, from where I stood, I was in front of a well-built man in a really expensive suit, tailor-made from the looks of it, my eyes slowly travelled up an I studied he's well-shaped and shaved face, he's brown hair and Icey blue eyes that seemed to draw me in.
He cleared his throat as he looked away, only then had I realised that I had been staring and more importantly, I was standing in front of a man half naked. I didn't want to make it a big deal, so I quietly turned around and walked back into the washroom to put my clothes back on.
I know it was rude of me not even say thanks to my saviour but, it was embarrassing enough that he caught me in a bad position, appreciating he then would be like putting myself out there.
When I was done I opened the door and found that the man I had bumped into earlier was leaning beside the wall with his phone in his hand, I cleared my voice before walking up to him to get his attention.
"I'm sorry about earlier, you caught me in an embarrassing position which I believe would have made you uncomfortable, and no you don't have to apologize, it's my fault. And thank you for saving me, I had been locked in there for over 2 hours. Thank you." I finished and the man said nothing in response yet he just stared at me making me feel awkward. I cleared my throat again.
"I believe I owe you one. Now, since that's out of the way, I believe I'm late for an interview. Thank you once again." I said walking away.
"It's over. The interview." I felt my heart drop into my stomach, as the words I had feared the most were just uttered.
"Oh dear, I need to talk to the receptionist, I was locked in the washroom, I really need this job." I said about to hurry away when a hand held my wrist, I looked back at the handsome stranger that held me back.
"No need. You're hired."