Chapter 5 You're Hired

Mel woke up the next morning feeling energized, the effect of the anesthesia had completely worn off. She got out of bed and headed to the bathroom, after a warm bath, she had her breakfast consisting of Bread toast, and ham.

It was now time to go Job haunting, Each company she applied to refused to employ her after seeing the reports received from her previous employers. She had a history of getting fired a few days after getting hired. These companies were not looking for a person with such records, and even with her explanation they still did not yield.

It was now afternoon and the sun was scorching hot. Mel stopped by a coffee shop for a little rest, she was frustrated by now, she had been rejected six times that day but giving up was not an option. It was crazy how her life had turned around, she came from a wealthy family and enjoyed all the good things of life, there was nothing she lacked not until her parents got into an accident, they did not die on the spot so all their life savings was used to treat them to make them better. Unfortunately, they couldn’t make it and ended up dying. This happened five years ago, and since then Maya had to fend for herself and her younger sister, Zara who was still in College at the time.

Now Zara had gotten into the university, The deadline for the payment of her tuition fees was drawing nearer and Maya was without a Job neither did she possess even a quarter of the money needed for the fees. These thoughts dampened her spirit

Withdrawing from her thought. Maya made her order”A cup of Maple iced coffee please” She said to the waiter in front of her. Suddenly her eyes caught something on the TV. It was written on the screen that: LIM Footwear and clothing are in need of new heads of departments for the Shoe and Clothing department, come with your CV and most importantly your skills. Time is 2:30 pm.

“Oh my word” Mel exclaimed in Joy, Her insides were lightened, she had been waiting for this opportunity for years. LIM shoes and Clothings was one of the best Shoe companies in the whole country of Jenovia. The last time they hired new workers was 7 years ago. She was still in the university at the time so there was no way she could apply. The joy in her heart was unfathomable. She picked up her phone to check what time it was. She had 20 minutes left before the interview would commence. She quickly gulped down her coffee and left.

Boarding a taxi, she headed straight to LIM. She paid the cab driver and alighted.

Walking briskly into the magnificent building, the first person she saw was the receptionist. “Welcome to LIM, how can we help you,” The receptionist asked brightly

“I heard the company is recruiting new heads of department,” Mel said while observing her surrounding

“Oh, you’re here for the interview, go straight a little bit, and make a sharp turn to your right. You will see a hall filled with the other applicants” the receptionist replied

“Thanks,” Mel said and followed her instructions, she soon came to the hall where the other applicants were. She walked in and assumed a seat beside a young lady.

In the process of trying to sit, Mel’s CV fell and sprawled open revealing a part of her information.

The lady beside her picked it up and handed it over to her after a peek at it “You were fired from four different companies within a month”? You shouldn’t be here, you know right” the lady said in a creepy tone

“And why is that,” Mel asked slightly irritated by her words

“C’mon don’t play the innocent card, there’s little or no chance you would get this job, so why not just leave when you still can rather than staying only to get humiliated.” The lady replied smiling deviously

“No thank you, so many others here have worse situations than mine, I wouldn’t be the first to back out” Mel said calmly, she was trying hard to keep in her anger.

“You seem so confident. I doubt you’re aware about this interview being conducted by the president himself” The lady said trying to scare her off

“What? The president?” Mel asked shivering a bit. She had heard gossips stressing how much of a cold and ruthless person he was to the extent that he even dismissed some of his relatives on the ground incompetence. Mel was a bit scared after the lady’s statement, her fear only showed for a second before she concealed it.

Mel knew the lady was out to see her confidence weaken but she would not give her that satisfaction she desired. Moreover she wasn’t one to back out of a fight.

“You still have a few minutes to leave” the lady said again

“Why are you so consistent in trying to make me leave? Or are you perhaps scared that I would ruin your chances of getting the Job?. “ Mel asked in a mocking tone. This wasn’t the first time she had to deal with a person like this, this type of persons felt so insecure of themselves to the extend of trying hard to bring down the esteem of those around them. Perhaps they thought they would feel better if they did that.

Mel’s tricky question put the lady in a speechless state “I will be sitting on the other side, I can’t stand the bad energy around you and lest I forget, good luck in fighting your way through.” Mel said and walked away before the lady could even come up with a reply.

After walking a little, Mel found a comfortable seat and she settled in.

A few minutes later, Assistant Charles walked into the hall, after a minute of addressing them, he called them into the office of the president in twos.

Ethan did not spend more than five minutes in interviewing each set of two’s that came. Assistant Charles finally calls out the last set of two’s and it turned out to be Mel and Linda. Linda was the lady Mel had just exchanged word’s with. The two ladies looked distatefully at each other as they walked into the President’s office.

Ethan was writing something down when they came in, they both stood in front of his table, non wanting to sit first. He ignored their presence for a while, he was already angry by this time, all those he had previously screened we’re not to his taste. As far as he was concerned this two would not be any different. Lifting up his gaze, his eyes landed on the two women standing in front of him, he couldn’t recognize Mel at first as her head was faced down.

“Hand in your CV first, Ethan said cutting through the silence

Mel lifted her head stretching her CV. Just then she saw his face “Sensei” she exclaimed

Ethan was surprised at her outburst, now seeing her face clearly, he recognized her. “Sensei? He asked arching his brows.

Recalling what the nurse from before addressed him as, Mel discovered that she had been mistaken all this while. It wasn’t a sensei that had saved her, it was president Ethan. “I’m sorry sir, I mistook you for an Instructor. Thanks for saving me the other day President Ethan” she said with a bow

Ethan did not want to say anything that would make her talk more on the topic so he simply nodded

Meanwhile the other lady watched in bewilderment unsure of what Mel was talking about

Ethan turned his attention to the CV in his hand which belonged to the two women, Mel Andrae was the name written on Mel’s CV, his face creased into a frown. Why did this name sound so familiar he wondered.

He brings out a laptop from the drawer beneath him, after starting it, he begins to type out their names, their profiles appear almost immediately. He turned the laptop to face them “Read for yourselves he commanded.” The two ladies did as he said, Mel did not falter as the same information was provided in her CV.

Meanwhile the other lady’s expression drastically changed. It was written on the screen that she had betrayed the company she worked for previously and that was why she got sacked.

“Why did you omit that? Ethan asked calmly.

“I’m so sorry sir, she said in reply, she picked up her CV and scurried out of his office, it was so evident that she felt ashamed. Ethan did not bother trying to stop her. “It had be better you left with her, there isn’t much of a difference in your work records, getting fired four times in a month. How incompetent he said gazing at Mel.

Mel wanted to explain what had led to her getting sacked but Ethan would not hear any of it. “Isn’t it enough that I saved you, You heard I was super rich, so you came here to seduce me, Right? He asked in a defiant tone.

After hearing his statement, Mel could not keep her cool anymore. “it’s the truth that I badly needed this job, I also never knew that my saviour was the president of the company I always dreamt of working in. You don’t believe my words, do you?. Well that’s fine” she blurted out. Stretching her hands, she picked up her CV.

Just then, Ethan’s attention shifted to the scar on her left hand. He squinted his eyes in shock, Why was it looking so familiar? He wondered.

Mel was just about reaching for the door knob when his words stopped her in her tracks “You’re hired” he declared