CHAPTER 6: DISAPPOINTMENT.
Kane was gripped with fear, and he trembled, getting all sweaty all of a sudden. He recognized that the lady he stood before was the same lady he had an altercation with at the club the previous weekend.
What made matters worse was that she was the President of the same establishment he sought employment from.
"Um, excuse Miss Munroe, I don't mean to pry, but do you two know each other?" Mr John asked, looking a bit confused.
"Oh, I think he knows me quite well. Don't you?" Ava responded, glaring at Kane.
"Uh, ma- ma'am, I promise you, what actually happened wasn't what it looked like," Kane said, jittery.
"What are you talking about?" Mr John asked Kane.
Kane scrunched his face, turning it to the left, feeling uncomfortable answering the question.
"Karma sure is a bitch, ain't it?" Ava smirked, finding satisfaction in Kane's predicament.
"Go on, tell him what you did," Ava requested.
Mr John's gaze turned from Ava to Kane, and they both looked intently at Kane waiting for his response.
Kane paused for a bit. Then, he sighed, deciding to respond.
"I coincidentally ran into the President at a club, last Friday. I wasn't thinking straight, so I grabbed her."
"Where was that grabbed?" Ava asked with a bit of fury.
Kane gulped, responding, "By the butt."
"You did what?!" Mr John fumed, raising his voice.
"I truly am sorry. I- I wasn't myself. Please, forgive me," Kane begged.
"I thought you were different. Out of the three interviewees, you're the only one who passed the first stage of the interview. And you seemed well mannered," Mr John sighed, shaking his head disappointedly.
"I am different sir. I am. I was just-"
"Oh, shut it young man!" Mr John interrupted, irked at what he heard.
Ava chuckled softly, swaying from side to side in her chair, tapping her fingers together, still wearing a smirk on her face.
All of the responsibilities Kane had flashed before him, making him even more terrified about losing such a great opportunity as the one right before him. He had never been this close to securing a befitting job before.
"You're disqualified! Mr John declared disappointedly. "We can't be sure the President will be safe around you."
"No, no. Please, give me a chance, and I promise you, I'll give it all it takes. I won't let you down. I swear it on my late father. Please!" Kane begged, dropping to his knees.
"Stop this despicable act and get out of here. You're no longer needed!" Mr John sternly said.
"Please, give me a chance. You won't regret it. Please!" Kane begged further, as tears welled up in his eyes, looking at Ava.
Ava looked coldly at him, saying nothing.
"Are your ears stopped? Get out of here, or I'll have you thrown out of here," Mr John said without empathy.
Tears ran down Kane's cheeks as he bent his head in dismay. He gulped, standing up, holding his bag. As he slowly walked to the door. Ava unlocked the door from the control panel beside her and he walked out slowly.
"I'm truly sorry ma'am. I know seeing him must have stirred up some negative emotions," Mr John said politely.
"Nah, it's okay," Ava responded.
"What nerve he had to even show his face here. Who would ever work with such a pervert?" Mr John said.
"He probably didn't know I was the President of Sky Gate Hotels," she shrugged.
"We'll have to call for another interview. When should it be scheduled, ma'am?" Mr John enquired.
"I'll get back to you on that," Ava replied.
"Alright ma'am," he responded. "I'll be heading back now. If you need me, let me know."
Ava nodded in acknowledgement, and he walked out of her office as well. Ava mused, reminisced on how Kane reacted. He seemed genuinely sorry. He wasn't spiteful as he left, unlike what she expected.
She expected some cursing, or drama, but she saw the total opposite. So it got her thinking.
___________
The doorbell rang and Melanie approached the door. Opening the door, she saw it was her son.
"Hey honey, you're back," she said excitedly.
"Hey mom," Kane cracked up a smile, hugging her, trying his best to not show the pain of his disappointment.
"You look exasperated," Melanie observed, nonetheless.
"So, how did it go? Aced it huh?"
"Yeah. It was okay. We were told they'd get back to us," Kane lied with a straight face.
"Okay. That's hopeful. You'll definitely get it. I have no doubt about it," Melanie smiled.
"Yeah," Kane responded. "I'm exhausted. I'll be in my room."
"Sure honey," she replied, smiling.
As Kane walked to his room, he ran into Stephanie.
"Hey," she greeted.
"Hey," he responded coldly, passing her.
Stephanie turned and looked at him, furrowing her brow.
"What's up with him?" she asked rhetorically. She shrugged, pursing her lips, and continued downstairs.
Kane flung his bag on to the floor, beside his bed. He fell on his bed face up, and sighed.
He looked up at the ceiling fan's blade, watching it slowly spin. A whole lot of things weighed on his mind. Without realizing, tears began running down his eyes.
"I should have never gone out that night. I should have never accepted Johnny's invitation. Look what it has cost me!" Kane scolded himself.
"God damn it!" Kane punched his pillow, angry at himself.
__________
Ava wasn't done with work, but it was time to close. So she had her table arranged, grabbed her bag and began heading to the door. She halted when she got to the door, thinking for a few seconds.
She turned back and grabbed a file from her table, and headed out, being escorted by her security to the parking lot where her driver awaited her.
"Good evening boss," the driver greeted.
"Marty," Ava responded softly.
She hated being addressed as boss, but her driver was used to calling her that, despite her several warnings. But, she just let it slide.
As she was driven home, she flipped through the file she took, keenly. Her driver looked at her through the rear view mirror, wondering what she gave such attention to, even after working hours.
"It must be quite important. Right boss?"
"Can you not be so nosy all the time?" Ava said frustratedly.
"Sorry boss," Marty said politely, looking straight ahead.
Ava looked through Kane's resume, and his interview results. She was impressed at the answers he provided. He even graduated with honors from college.
She pondered upon the matter, as she looked through the window beside her, not really paying attention as they drove through the beautiful streets of New York.
___________
Kane jerked awake from his sorrowful slumber as his phone buzzed beside him. He had cried himself to sleep.
Wiping his eyes and checking the message notification on his phone, he saw that it was a message from Johnny. His sober countenance turned to fury.
Having read through the message, he carelessly tossed the phone aside and was deep in thought.