Chapter five

Interviews

POV: Maddison

Two years ago, I was knee-deep in debt, dropping out of college and almost dreading the birth of my unborn child.

Now, I'm a free woman, newly graduated out of college, childless, and working out every day like I was gunning for the Olympics. All thanks to the ones I loved. I had food on my table, had moved out of my shitty apartment in Brooklyn, and was looking forward to my first interview ever.

After my early morning jog and workout, I had an early breakfast and checked off all the companies that got back to me, separating them from the ones who didn't.

I hopped into my car, strapped myself to the seat, and began playing Taylor Swift all the way to MODEST, the cosmetic company I had previously submitted an application to work as a designer and strategic developer.

The traffic was heavy as hell and I was already running late when I parked my car in the underground parking of the company.

I sat in the car for a few more minutes, practicing my mantra.

All will be well. I will ace this interview. I will get this job. Nothing will stop me.

I was nervous as hell, sitting in the parking lot of the luxury brand cosmetic company, counting my breaths and overthinking everything.

I was nervous as shit.

The sun was scorching and I was sweltering in my car before I finally gathered the strength and courage to climb out. I made my way towards the main building that I was supposed to be interviewed in. 

I walked into the building with all the confidence I could muster. My outfit and mental health were honestly my best hypemen. I made sure I never looked like shit when going anywhere.

"Hi," I approached the receptionist at the front desk, "I'm here for the twelve o'clock interview."

She looked up from typing, her eyes going wide in shock as if she hadn't noticed me standing there.

"The interview? Yeah, you're a bit late." Her fingers flew across the keyboard she was typing on and she was chewing gum noisily. "You are... Maddison Skye?" She asked me.

"Yes," I nodded.

She did a few more taps and grabbed the receiver end of the landline."I have a Maddison Skye at the front desk. She's one of the job applicants. Do I send her in?"

The person on the other line gave their response and she smiled at me, relaying me the information. "They're waiting for you. Keep walking straight, the first door on your right. That's where the interview is being held."

I thanked her and went on my way. I had my interview within such a short period of time and it went well. At least it seemed that way to me. The whole meeting wasn't terrible and I answered the questions carefully, as I had already practiced. 

But then, in life, a lot of things could go horribly wrong and sucker punches you in the gut.

I stopped by a subway sandwich place to get lunch and ordered an avocado and salmon sandwich with a soda.

While I sat and ate, I mentally scratched Modest off the list and thought about all the things I had to do today, the things I had already done. So far, none of the companies had emailed me to approve me. I had been rejected three times already for more qualified people and was at my wit's end on what next to do if I got all rejections.

Deciding not to put all my eggs in one basket, I gathered my phone and looked through the list I had created in my spare time, checking off the companies that had gotten back to me and those that had not. I sent my credentials to a few more companies from ads I had seen on blog spaces and social media, hoping they will hire a skilled person like me. 

I couldn't say for sure if I passed the interview because there was no sign at all. No sign that I did bad and no sign that I did well.

I finished my lunch and walked back to my car. I didn't drive home at first because I wanted to get some groceries but I drove home afterward. On my way home, I received a call.

Glancing at the screen nearly sent me into shock. It was a call from one of the companies that I applied to. ASOS, of all companies.

I picked up the call immediately. "Hello?"

"Hello, am I speaking to Maddison?"

"Yes, you are."

"You applied for a job at the ASOS company. And you are speaking to Adelyne, I'm the acquisition manager, can I know what post you were applying for? You didn't specify in your letter."

"Uh, anything in the Strategic and development department, please."

There was silence for all of five seconds and I decided she was probably verifying my information. "Alright, I'll schedule an interview for you with the rest of the board. Will you be free tomorrow?"

Oh my god! "Yes, yes! Definitely. Thank you very much."

"1 pm. Please be on time, the management doesn't take well to tardiness."

"I won't be late," I promised.

"Do have a good day."

The line went off and I bit back my scream of excitement.

I'd been trying to get an interview with ASOS for a while now but I couldn't. It was the number one underwear brand in the country, I even own a few underwears from ASOS too and I can't describe how comfortable and classy their pieces are. They are a brand that has been existing since about twenty years ago and they never stopped to amaze the customers with their new trends and designs. 

I couldn't help my smile as I put the groceries in the refrigerator and proceeded to take a long bath. This was definitely an omen. A sign from the universe that maybe everything will work out and I'll finally have a job. I mean... to be contacted by ASOS was such a big deal.

Me finding this job isn't because I don't have money or things are hard but because I'm tired of doing nothing, I have a degree and I should make use of it. 

I finished my bath and just collapsed on my bed, drifting to sleep within seconds. I woke up sometime in the middle of the night, insanely thirsty. 

I raised myself and dragged my feet to the kitchen, pouring myself a glass of water.  

The moonlight filtered into my kitchen through the window, bathing the entire kitchen in a pale silver glow. My home was a 3 bedroom condominium in the city and there was nothing I'd change about the apartment. 

I stopped to stare at the moon for a while and for a minute I was mesmerized by a full moon, clear and bright. A voice spoke to my mind, gentle and soft. Like a kiss. Like a promise. That maybe there's something bright and beautiful in store for me, maybe I would finally get a job. Maybe this is the big break I was hoping for. 

I finished the whole glass of water and crawled back into my bed to sleep.

I woke up early feeling very energized and happy. I got up to make myself a nice breakfast of oatmeal and lots of fruit and nuts; I like to eat healthily. I ate my breakfast heartily and went to take a shower. 

I danced out of the bathroom in my robe, I immediately decided that I wanted to look pretty for my interview today. So I picked out a very pretty light blue two-piece suit. I bought it on sale two months ago, I just couldn't pass it by. I parted my hair in the middle and packed it into a low ponytail. I used minimal makeup and black heels. Right, perfume to finish the look, I sprayed a few all over myself. 

I stare at myself in the mirror and damn. Effortless and classy. I looked very business savvy and beautiful at the same time, the suit fit perfectly and went well with the hairstyle.

It was just five minutes past twelve already and getting there would take about ten minutes by car so I wasn't panicked. I got out of the house, locked the door behind me, and walked to the parking lot. I got into my car and I prayed a silent prayer before driving out, on my way to ASOS. 

I got there around 12:25 because there was a little traffic. It still didn't affect my chances, it was a good day after all. I parked my car in their lot, recited my usual mantra for positivity, and stepped out of the car, walking towards the building. 

I met the receptionist at the front desk and showed her the email for my interview.

"Good afternoon ma'am. How may I help you?" She asked politely.

"Good afternoon. I'm here for my interview." I answered and showed her the confirmation email I received yesterday. She scanned through it and looked at me, a gentle smile on her lips.

"Alright ma'am, please come with me." She instructed and I followed her to the elevator.

She pressed the button and we waited a while for the doors to open. When it did we got in and doors were closing until someone blocked it. A man entered the elevator with us andstarted suffocating.

My heart skipped a beat, my stomach lurched, a zing zapped through my spine. I suddenly felt breathless. I leaned against the wall of the elevator, grasping it for support, trying to get over my sudden light-headedness.

The doors closed and i was aware of the receptionist immediately bowing to greet him. "Good afternoon sir" she greeted, a dimple punctuated her cheeks.

I turned to look at the man but found that he was already staring at me with an intensity that threw me off my feet. Cold, hard grey eyes zeroing in on me as if he both remembered my face and forgot where he knew me from.

He had the most chilling eyes, almost too beautiful and a little intimidating. His ethereal eyes coupled with his perfectly symmetrical face and proportioned body made him a little unbelievable. A creature too beautiful to exist.

Suddenly embarrassed, I avoided his gaze and pretended to be interested in something on the floor. My cheeks going red and hot.

Sir? Was he one of the bosses here or something?

The elevator ride seemed long and I felt that he was still staring at me, it made me shiver.

The elevator stopped and we got out, while he remained inside the cab.

I turned to take one last look at him and I caught him staring still. Grey eyes, wide, horrified. His lips moved but I couldn't make out what it said and before I knew it the elevator doors closed.

That was weird. He seemed rather strange. Hot, though.

I quickly shook myself, it wasn't my problem. I couldn't care less how he looked at me or thought of me. I only cared about acing the interview and getting the damn job.

The receptionist stopped in front of a large room and there were other people there as well. She turned to me and I was sure she saw that I was scared.

"It's okay ma'am, some of the people here are getting interviewed for different positions in the company. So don't worry," she smiled.

"Oh thank you," I let out a breath that I didn't realize I was holding.

"You can have a seat here ma'am" the lady pointed to a chair quite far from where other people gathered.

"Thank you," I said to her.

"You're welcome. I already prepared a number for you. You arenumber 8" the woman said.

"But we're more than eight here" I questioned, how can I be number eight?

"As I said earlier, these people are getting interviewed for different positions, so they will be numbered differently. According to the unit they will be interviewed by" she explained.

"Oh I see, so I'm the eighth person to be interviewed for the position I applied for?" I asked for clarification.

"That's right. It's for organizational purposes. It's easier to interview and choose that way" she continued.

"Oh. Thinking about it you're right" I said, slightly nodding in agreement.

"Yeah. So ma'am I'll leave you now." She turned to leave, but almost as if it was a last minute thought, she turned back to smile at me, "Good luck," and began walking away again.

"Thank you" I answered to no one in particular.

I waited for just a few minutes before my number was called. Some other people also came for the interview after me.

A woman with a clipboard walked out from the main interview room. She had occasionally come out to call people in for their interviews.

"Can numbers 8, 9 and 10 come in please?" She asked.

We all got up and went into the room she came out of.Somehow, I felt better confidence now than any other interview I had gone for. Maybe it was my makeup and dress  today.

There were three interviewers in the room and we took our seats across from them.

I took my seat in front of one of the interviewers. A man withthick brown hair, perfectly angular face and lips so pink, Ialmost envied them

"Maddison Skye?" My interviewer, asked. He was sifting through my resumé.

"That's correct, sir," I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

"It says here you graduated from NYU only a few months ago."

"Yes sir."

"That would mean that you don't have a lot of experience as a strategist yet."

I panicked. "N... No. Actually sir, I think I'll be a great fit for this company. I'm a fast learner. I can work under pressure. My schedule can be as flexible as you want it to be."

With shaky hands, I dug into my satchel I carried with me. "I have a bunch of referee that will vouch for me. I'm a very hard worker. Sir," I added as an afterthought.

He took the recommendation letters I handed to him and barely even looked at it, his face, an unimpressed mask.

"What makes you think you'd be a better candidate for the job?"

I froze

Licked my trembling lips. "W... Well, I'm academically qualified for the post-"

"All the other candidates are too." He cut me off. "What would set you apart from the rest of them."

I was desperate now. "Please... Please, I need this job." I practically begged.

Geez Maddie, pathetic much? My subconscious mocked me.

His face turned into a disappointed frown. "That will be all Maddison."

My mouth hung open. I knew I had fucked up. This hadn't gone at all like I'd planned. It went horribly.

My other interviews were not like this. They always started out rough and it was kind of intense but I stayed calm through it all. I answered the questions with a grin plastered on my face and as carefully as I could. I was firm, articulate, almost in control, replying them with a surety that almost shocked me.

But today, I was reduced to a stuttering mess.

I didn't pay attention to the other people that were interviewed, because I wastoo busy reeling from the awful one I just had. Ihad one job and one job only, to came to do my thing and ace this shit. I was glad I had watched all those videos on killing it at an interview; at least today they paid off.

Academically, I knew I was more than qualified for this job. Graduating with a five point O was no small thing but this interview was going to wreck it all. They said the results would be sent to our emails. I went into the elevator and pressed the button to go down. My mood, going down with it.