CHAPTER TWO

 Out of over two hundred ladies who replied to the ad, Isabel was among the lucky fifty who were selected for the interview.

She was thrilled about the news, and begged her manager for an off day, so she could attend the interview.

After much begging, the man gave her the permit she needed, to not show up at work on that day.

On that day, Isabel dressed her very best, wearing one of Jasmine's hand-me-down tops, and a wide-legged denim she'd purchased for herself about a year ago.

Her attire didn't appear suitable for the interview, but the dress she could've worn was destroyed by Jasmine after she borrowed it weeks ago and did not return it until two days ago.

The strain on the off-white dress, which she didn't know if it was from coffee or makeup, was impossible to wash off, despite all the cleaning agents she used on it.

She had to dump it and wear something else, and although it didn't appear professional, she had no choice.

Before Isabel left home that morning, she prepared breakfast for the entire family, then lied about going to work, as she didn't want to tell them anything about her plans yet.

She arrived at the location for the interview, and unlike how she'd expected it to be an office complex, it was a hospital building.

Not just any hospital, but St. Patrick's Hospital is renowned as the best private hospital in the city.

Isabel was intimidated by the towering height of the building, as she stepped out of the cab.

She might've been lucky to be accepted into the first fifty candidates, but what if they look at how unprofessional she's dressed, and ask her to leave?

What if she doesn't match the standard of what they want?

Whoever this anonymous employer is, he must want the best for his future child, but she's nothing near the best. 

She's plain and mediocre. An orphan who should be lucky she got adopted into a middle-class family like the Hadids.

She has nothing but unhealed childhood traumas, and memories from her unfortunate teenage years, to offer.

What if this billionaire refuses to have someone like her, carry his heir?

"Ma'am, are you having doubt?" The cab driver asked Isabel, pulling her from her pessimistic thoughts immediately.

"Uh?"

"You seem like you're having doubts about your interview?" The man repeated and she nodded nervously.

She hadn't told the man she was coming for an interview, but suspected he must've figured it out himself.

"Trust me, you'll do great." He assured her with a convincing smile, revving the cab's engine to life.

She managed to smile back, feeling a bit better after hearing the man's encouraging words.

"If the job is yours, it's definitely coming to you. Believe that and believe in yourself." Those were his last advice before he drove away.

Isabel stood there and watched his cab drive into the busy street until it was out of sight. 

She let out a sigh of relief, before returning her attention to the gigantic structure in front of her.

"If this job is yours, Isabel, then it'll come to you, no matter what. Believe that and believe in yourself."

She braced herself with those words, singing it as a mantra in her head as she strode towards the building.

  Isabel arrived at the floor where the interview was being held, and she was blown away by the magnificent design.

As she stepped into the opulently furnished room, her eyes widened in awe, her footsteps slowing as if hesitant to disturb the refined atmosphere. The chandeliers' soft glow cast a warm light on her face, but couldn't dispel the hint of intimidation that flickered in her eyes. The plush carpet seemed to swallow her footsteps, making her feel small amidst the grandeur. The elegant decor, the polished furniture, and the sea of unfamiliar faces all seemed to converge upon her, making her feel like an outsider in a world of luxury. She glanced around, her gaze darting from one stranger to the next, her smile faltering for a moment as she struggled to find her footing in this unfamiliar terrain.

Most of the ladies present were dressed like models in a fashion audition, while the rest were draped in professional attires. They all appeared older and more sophisticated than her, which made her feel inferior compared to them. 

It dampened her confidence level, pushing it to rock bottom.

You shouldn't have bothered coming here, Isabel. This is definitely out of your league!

She cajoled herself, avoiding the contemptuous glares from most of the ladies, as she took the seat farthest from everyone.

How do you think you're going to win against all these ladies? Were you not thinking about the type of competitors you'd be having, before coming here?

Isabel was so nervous, her limbs were fidgeting and all she wanted to do was disappear from the presence of these ladies. She wanted to return to her world of mediocrity and comfort, but the thought of her adoptive father's million-dollar debt and becoming a slave to Sebastian Bernadotte, made it impossible for her to accept defeat.

Unless you're comfortable watching your life get worse than it already is, get up now and leave.

It was her conscience tugging her.

Remember, becoming a slave to a coldhearted and conceited mam like Bernadotte is never a bed of roses. That man regards no one, and won't hesitate to pimp you out to his wealthy friends.

You not only become his slave, but a slave to everyone around him, and it doesn't get any better from there. 

Except you're comfortable with that, I'd suggest you suck whatever inferior complex you're feeling compared to these ladies, and wait for your turn to be examined.

With those thoughts, she braced herself up and waited patiently for her turn.

Eventually, it came to Isabel's turn. After her name was announced, she got up from her seat and sauntered past the group of ladies that were remaining. 

She could feel their glares on her as she walked past them, but did not allow herself to think of it.

Her major concern was going in there, and not doing well enough for the interviewers. It was their judgment that mattered to her at that point.

The door opened automatically once she got to the front of it, and she whispered a quick prayer within herself, before going inside the interview room.

Inside the room, which Isabel suspected to be a conference room, because of the setting, there were three people.

A man who seemed to be in his fifties or early sixties, and two women. They should be in their early fifties too. They were dressed corporately and behind them, was a large mirror.

"Ms. Hadid." The first woman, with permed blond hair, addressed Isabel as she approached them, and she gestured for her to take a seat.

The questions began, and while Isabel replied to them as efficiently as she could, she couldn't stop staring at the mirror behind them. Not because she was obsessed about how she looked, but because something felt odd about its positioning.

Something in her guts told her that there was someone behind the mirror and whoever it was, was listening to the interview.

Maybe it is the so-called anonymous employer.

She thought to herself, stealing another glance at the mirror.

Since he doesn't have his identity revealed, he must've decided to stay there and listen to the interview.

"So, Ms. Hadid, you live with your parents in Wellsbury?" The second woman asked her, after scanning through her documents for a while.

"Yes, ma," Isabel replied to her, taking her attention from the mirror to the woman,

"And you were adopted, right?"

"Yes, I was." She answered the woman, keeping her gaze steady on her.

"What about your biological parents?"

"They died when I was six. Car accident." Her tone remained cool, despite the ugly memories that were being resurrected inside her head.

"It's stated here that the Hadid adopted you when you were eight years old."

Isabel didn't know where the woman's questions about her past, were leading, but she still gave her an answer,

"My parent died when I was six and I was taken into foster care. I was moved from a few homes in two years before I met the Hadids and they chose to adopt me."

"How did you feel about that?"

"I was elated then, and I'm still grateful to them till this day. They took me in and raised me like their own when they didn't have to or could've allowed me to get passed on to the next family." She explained to the woman, sounding her most convincing.

"I wouldn't be here today if not for the Hadids."

"So, do they know about this? Because I don't want to believe any loving parents would allow their nineteen-year-old to consider this position, putting the emotional, psychological, and physical impact it would cause her."

Isabel's heart twitched, as she feared the woman might insist she call her parents if she lied that they were aware.

They would act all loving towards her, and reprimand her for ever considering the position, but once they get within closed doors, they would turn into their original wolfish nature, and devour her for not being smart.

"I haven't told my family yet, and I don't intend to tell them anything until I get the position."

"And why is that?"

"Because I wouldn't be allowed to continue. Aside from the monetary benefits, I want to do this because of the fulfillment it comes with. I want to put a smile on this couple's face, just like my parents had put on mine. It's like repaying nature the favors I was granted."

The woman and her team were impressed by her eloquent and well-structured answer, they smiled at her.

"That'll be all for today, Ms. Hadid. Thank you for your time." The man said to her, and she rose from the chair, mouthing you're welcome to them.

Isabel stole one last look at the mirror, before exiting the conference room.

  The man standing behind the mirror smiled within himself, watching Isabel leave the conference room.

Despite all she'd said, he knew the real reason why she was aiming for the position. He needed no soothsayer to tell him why.

Her tenacity intrigued him.

How could someone seem so defenseless and naive, yet so obstinate and feisty?

He still hasn't been able to erase the memory of that night from his head, despite all that has been going wrong in his life.

Her belligerent attitude and smart mouth provoked a part of him that had been lying dormant for years. 

How she'd successfully mask her intimidation with a dauntless outlook against him, still amazed him until now.

He has never encountered such an audacious young lady in his entire life. He has always had people bend to his will, ever since he was a young lad, so he felt really challenged when she refused to. Most ladies would die to accept the proposal he'd offered her, yet she rejected him and chose the high road instead.

He hasn't been able to get that off his mind since.

Now, fate has brought her back to him and he has vowed to make the most of this opportunity.

Just when he thought she was leaving, she turned unexpectedly, staring at the mirror.

"Welcome to the high road, Isabel Hadid."