The Job Hunt

Inside the house, Patricia watched Valerie drag her luggage out of the Watson's residence. Her lips curled to a smile. I've finally gotten rid of that pest, and now no one can ever stop me from being the only favorite daughter of my father.

…

Six years later, Valerie walked into her apartment at Northridge, where she had been living after her stepmother threw her out of the house. It was a small, but comfortable apartment. In her hand was a dismissal letter. 

She just lost her job. This was the third job she got this year, and she just lost it again. Why are men always lusting for my body?

Her employers were always after her body, and each time she refused to succumb to their wishes, she got dismissed.

Unlocking her door, she walked into the disarrayed room, and sat heavily on the couch.

“Is my life always going to be this unfortunate?” 

She picked up the calendar, and stared at it. This was exactly six years since her family threw her out of the house she knew as home. She thought of her Father, and wished she could see him for the last time. She knew he wouldn't let her stepmother throw her out, leaving her with nothing.

“Maybe I should just drink out my sorrows. Life is even worse than it used to be” She smiled dryly.

Valerie grabbed the bottle of whiskey on the small table in front of her. She corked it up, and gulped it down. 

She was already getting so drunk when the door flung open. Andrew walked in with Susan laughing and chatting. The moment they saw how pathetic Valerie looked, they quickly paused the laughter and the chat they were having.

Andrew and Susan happened to be Valerie's best-friends and roommates ever since she moved to Northridge. They became the siblings she never had.

“Hey, Val. What the f*** is this?” Andrew took off his backpack, and sat right beside her. Valerie laughed dryly as tears rolled down her face.

“You promised… you promised that you'd stop drinking and making fun of yourself like this. What happened?” Susan held her hand, sitting by her right side.

“Today marks six years since I was thrown out of the house and my child taken away. It didn't end there, I lost my job today as well because I refused to spend the night with my boss at five-star hotels” Valerie sobbed helplessly.

“That dickhead! Don't tell me you're crying because of him? He doesn't deserve you, and besides we've told you that it is prohibited for you to always remember today or grief about it?” Andrew raised his brow, and Valerie gulped down the last content of the glass she was holding.

“I would rather not be reminded, but my predicament seems to have gotten worse” Valerie cried out.

“Stop it, Val. This isn't the end of the world” Susan grabbed the bottle from her, and headed to the kitchen with it.

“Andy, tell her to give that back” Valerie scratched her head.

“No way! We can't let you keep wasting” Andrew shook his head in disagreement.

“What kind of friends are you guys? You're not even letting me celebrate my misfortunes. I can't believe you!” Valerie staggered up, but Susan grabbed her hand.

“I have good news for you, Valerie. The President/ CEO of the Davison's empire just came back from the States yesterday, and…” Susan was still speaking when Valerie cut her short.

“What does that have to do with me? Whoever the god-damned president or CEO is, that's none of my business” Valerie yelled in anger.

“Come on, you won't even let me finish. Anyway, I was saying there's a job vacancy at the CEO of the Davison's empire's mansion. Trust me, the pay is damn super” Susan winked at her, and she turned her gaze to Susan before shaking her head.

“What is the use of trying? He's definitely going to dismiss me. Do you know how many jobs I've lost in a space of a year?” Valerie cupped her forehead with her palms.

“There's no harm in trying, Valerie. It won't kill you to try it out” Andrew snapped at her.

“Fine! I'll give it a try” Valerie shrugged before walking into the bedroom. Here I come, President Davison.

The next day, Valerie woke up feeling very better. She decided to face the new page of her life, and not to keep remembering anything that would make her feel sad.

“How do I look, Susan?” Valerie walked out of the room in her corporate attire, and Susan smiled at her.

“You look much better, Val” Andy grabbed his backpack. He was already set to leave for work.

“I'm sure you'll get this job. Good luck, Mon Cherie” Susan air kissed her, and she smiled heartily.

“I hope so” 

Thirty minutes later, Valerie was already standing in front of the Davison's mansion gate. She exhaled deeply, and mumbled some inaudible prayer.

She knocked on the gate, and the security through the gate open. Likewise, she peeped through the gate into the magnificent mansion, and couldn't help but marvel in awe. Furthermore, she had never seen such a mansion talk more of getting into it. “This is a dream come true”

“Who are you?” The muscular build security man glared at her. She swallowed hard, holding her purse even tighter.

“I'm here for the job… the job interview” She stuttered, and he nodded before letting her into the house.

“Turn left once you get into the door” He ordered, and she forced a smile at him. The mean security man didn't even glance at her twice. “How cold!”

Her eyes caught with the convoy of sparking cars at the garage. There were assorted cars in the garage, and she wondered why only one person would have so many cars.

The moment she drew closer to the door, the automatic door opened, and she walked into the mansion. “Is this a paradise on Earth?” 

Her family were comfortable, but their duplex was nothing close to the mansion she was in.

“Good day, ma'am” She greeted the elderly lady who took off her glasses, and glared at her.

“You're late” She mumbled, and her heart skipped a beat.

“Sorry” Valerie uttered simply.

“The CEO will be here in no time. You can sit over there, and wait for him to come downstairs” She turned her gaze straight to the desktop in front of her. “Is this a home or an office?”

Valerie settled down on the couch on the other end. She was still saying her prayers, hoping that she would get the job… she really needed it.

The elderly lady made a call with the landline, and she spoke in Chinese. She could speak many languages.

Valerie was still staring around when a little girl rushed downstairs, and almost rolled over the stairs.

“Oh child! You shouldn't run on the stairs, you could get hurt, baby” She helped her up, and the girl glared at her in disgust, slapping off her hands like they were gross.

“I'm not your child. Don't you dare call me baby” She sneered at her.