1.New Job

Monday Morning 9 Am

Mike was in his apartment getting ready for his interview. He wants to crack this interview at any cost. He was in desperate need of a job now. It's been 3 months since he has moved from Texas to New York for a good job opportunity but no job has fit into his shoes. Sometimes the job profile description and the actual job don't match his skillsets, other times the pay is too low, sometimes the company is not as per the standard. But now it's high time. He somehow needs to get this job.

Mike looked at the wall clock and almost shouted " Shit I have to skip breakfast else I will be late."

His roomie Jeff who is lying lazily on the bed has just woken up from sleep. Still half asleep he murmured to Mike "Just check the g****e map bro. Why are you so tense?"

Mike takes the phone in his hand and checks g****e map. He cried "Damn the whole route is showing red. I am going to be late."

"Don't you think you should have skipped last night movie to sleep early?" Jeff said still lying on bed.

"I am already late Jeff. I am not in the mood to listen to your bullshit." Mike Replied throwing a pillow on Jeff's head.

Mike wear his black wristwatch, took out his polished shoes from the rack, and wear them. He was dressed in a crisp white shirt, black formal pants, shiny belt. He went in front of the mirror and looked at himself. Perfect. He thought. left his apartment.

Mike is an IT consultant who has graduated last year. He was working in Texas for some time but he didn't like the job much so he thought of quitting it and moving to New York - the city of dreams.

Mike sat in the cab and asked the driver to take him to Broadway 8th avenue...

Damn, there is so much traffic. I am going to be late. He thought. He opened the g****e map and started searching for an alternative route.

He found another short cut and asked the driver to take this route. The driver nodded and they started going ahead from the shortcut route.

The short cut route goes through a narrow deserted road having trees on both sides where there was no vehicle at all.

The driver's face grew confused expression. He asked Mike "Sir are you sure this is the correct route?"

Mike replied "Yes this is the route map says. It should be correct"

Driver says Ok

After some time they saw a car on the road standing still on the side of the road and there was a girl standing beside the car. She was looking puzzled and annoyed. She was kicking the flat tire of the car.

Seeing the car she waved to them and asked for a lift.

Mike asked the driver to stop the car. The driver stopped the car and he opened the window pane.

"Hi, I am Catherine. Actually, my car is not starting and I have to reach the office. I have an urgent meeting. Can you please give me a lift?"

Mike looked at her. She was wearing a pink pencil skirt and top with a white classy jacket and high heels shoes. She was 5 feet 7 inches, with an oval face, pink lips, blue eyes, pointed nose, and silky brown hairs.

Damn, she is drop-dead gorgeous. Mike thought

Mike told instantly "sure why not but I am in a rush too. So I hope your destination is not so far from mine.

Where do you want to go?" He asked

"I need to go to Broadway 8th avenue" she replied.

"Oh, What a coincidence. I am going to the same place. Please come. Let me drop you." Mike told

"Thank You," Catherine said.

They rode towards broadway 8th avenue.

Catherine initiated the conversation asking Mike "So Do you work at Broadway 8th avenue?"

Mike politely replied "Actually I am going for an interview there. What about you?"

Catherine replied casually "Yes It's my office."

Mike was a bit happy hearing this. "Great."

Catherine further asked him "So what's your name?"

 "I am Michael. You can call me Mike. So Catherine what do you do?"

"I am into public relations activities. I worked with XYZ company. "

"Wow that's so cool. Media and public relations. Quite glamorous."

"Well not as exciting as you think. what about you?"

"Actually I am having an interview with XYZ company for the technical IT department for a software developer position."

"Oh wow. Best of luck with the interview."

Thanks. So how long have you been working with them?"

 "It's been 3 years."

"Wow that like too much time."

"Yeah I guess."

"So how is the company overall?"

"It's the best. I mean they pay you well, give you appraisals on time, leave policy is good, you get to go to a lot of celebrity parties and a lot of socializing and events happen. So what else you need then?"

 "Ya you are right."

This is the only thing which is my priority now-money to pay the rental of my apartment and take care of daily needs. I being a shy guy was never too interested in parties or socializing and events but the way she was describing it means she really loves her job and has a lot of good connections via the company.

"Oh. see we have reached the office. So how much is the share for the cab?"

" Oh don't be silly. I was anyway coming. so no big deal. I will pay."

"ok. I think I owe you a coffee then later." she told

Mike smiled and said, "Yeah if I get this job then definitely sometime would love to catch up with you on coffee."

Mike gave the money to the cab driver and he left. Mike faced towards the building.

He saw a huge glass building in front of him. On top of it, There was a banner saying "XYZ Corporates"

Both of them entered the building and reached the lobby. The lobby has 4 lifts and a sitting area. the sitting area is beautifully decorated with some fake plants, an artificial vertical garden theme, a large mirror, and few couches. Mike saw a few people sitting and sipping coffee and chatting in the sitting area, few girls clicking their selfies in front of the mirror. They reached near the lift and waited for it to come. Mike had to go to the HR department on the 8th floor.

As soon as the lift door opened, they entered. He pressed the 8th floor and she pressed the 6th floor?

 "Oh seems like you don't sit on the same floor like others."

"Yes media PRs department is located on a different floor. But we all have a common cafeteria though."

"Oh great."

As soon as the 6th floor came, the lift opened and she looked at him and said "Best of luck with the interview. I will see you around." She waved him goodbye.

Mike smiled thankfully as she left and then soon reached the 8th floor.

So Will Mike get this job? What this job has in store for Mike? Who is Catherine actually?