Chapter 8

LILY’s POV

                        A Mess

Another sunny day, the summer is currently hitting hard. There was no plan for Lily today as she had decided to take a needed one-day break following the funeral, job interview and the will.  

Rolling off the bed like a little child, Lily finally decides to check her phone lazily. She remembers she got a beep and was too tired to check whatever was up.

“Let’s check my texts”, she had muttered to herself a habit she had formed over time since she stayed alone. Scrolling through her text, an unknown number draws her attention.

“Hello Lily, I know you don’t know me but I think you should take up Mr.Holland’s offer. I think the enterprise would be the best for you to achieve whatever dreams you have as a business administrator. 

I’m looking forward to seeing you. Damson needs you. From Fin”

Who was Fin? was what ran through Lily’s mind. Damson needs her for what? Confusion runs through her. 

Lily cannot deny that working at the company would do more good for her career path but she felt indebted to Mr.Holland also seeing that it was his wish she felt terrible. 

She knew accepting the 10% company shares was a no-go area for her but fulfilling Mr.Holland’s wish of becoming a staff at the company has captured her mind. 

In her thoughts, she had gotten an email with her phone still in her hand, with anxiousness she had hurriedly opened it, reading;

 “ Miss Lilly, we appreciate you taking this step to apply for a role in our company, we think you are overqualified for the role you applied for. We hope you find the right company to work with, sorry you didn’t get the job”

She didn’t know how to react. Overqualified was that a term? Shouldn’t that make her the best choice? Lily couldn’t help but break down in tears. Her dreams seemed to be drifting far away from her, her plans to help the children were now looking impossible. Her mum and brother Philip deserve everything good. The tears continued to run as she could put no stop to it.

Lily’s phone rings. It's Justin. He always calls at the right time, she had muttered amidst tears.

“Hello Justin, how are you doing?” she says with a breaking voice.

“Are you good, meow?” Justin had asked her, she could hear the worry in his voice. 

“I’m okay, it’s nothing serious”’ Lily replied.

“I’m coming over”, " Justin had replied, hanging up almost immediately.

A few minutes later, there was a knock on her door. She knew that was Justin, he knew something was wrong. She did not want to worry him but she needed him to comfort her.

Opening the door, Justin catches her hand as he stares at her wet face, he pulls her quickly into a hug. She needed that to break down again. She cried and eventually finally stopped when she felt better.

“Justin, I didn’t get the job. I was looking forward to it. I couldn’t believe it. They said I was overqualified. What did they mean?” She said to Justin in a low tone.

Hugging her again.

“You know, you deserve better. You’ll get a better offer, trust me. Your dreams will come true and I’m sure you’ll smile when that happens. Justin had said to her.

Did he read her mind?

She was so insecure about what the future had in store for her but now realizing that she had always had great people who have constantly believed in her from Mr Holland to Justin, to Clara, to her mama and even the unknown Fin. Maybe it was time to let go of her fears and embrace the moment. 

Hugging Justin tight, she smiled. 

“Thank you, Justin, I needed that but…” she said with a sad face.

“But what?” Justin asked.

“I want Ice cream and a burger” Lily had said sheepishly.

Her best friend could not help but laugh at her antics as she put on a supposed cute face if she were to describe it as that.

“Let’s go get it then”, Justin said.

Throwing a big hoodie on her shorts, Lily was ready to go out, more excitement ran through her as she thought of this as a date with Justin. Her cheeks were on a constant natural blush with her teeth exhibiting their best features by shining.

They had strolled to the nearest restaurant ordering her cravings. He ensured she ate and was well fed before they took a stroll in the now beautiful night in the city of Milan holding hands.

No conversation as they took the stroll, the thoughts of taking up the offer to work at Holland's company had become stronger. The answer to the question of whether or not she should take the offer now seems clear.

I get to do this for him, a repayment then leave after some time, she thought, finally accepting that she would take up the offer.

Getting back to her home, she thanked Justin for the day. Justin had returned the gesture this time adding a peck to her cheeks which sent a blush to her cheeks she had said goodbye hurriedly to avoid getting caught.

                              ***

The previous night's memory flashed through her head as she smiled in her sleep which was cut abruptly by her mama’s call. 

“Hello mama” she said with a husky voice which signified that she had just woken up.

“Hello pumpkin, how are you doing?” I just said to check up on you.

“I’m good, ma, just a little sleepy.”

“Oh, okay. Any response from the interview yet.”, her mama asked.

“Yes mama, they rejected me, they said I was overqualified,” Lily informed her.

“Overqualified? Isn’t that supposed to be good? Don’t mind them, you are a stand-out graduate and I’m sure better jobs are waiting for you.”

“If only”, her mama pauses for a while,

 If only you could just accept Mr Holland’s offer, it would make things easier for you in your career.”

“Okay mama, I’ll accept.”

Lily had said finally accepting her decision to work at the company.

Her mama couldn’t hold her joy in as she prayed and rejoiced on the phone.

She was still confused about how to go about it but she was relieved the job hunt was on pause for now.

                             ***

Her day had gone normal, with nothing serious to do, she revamped her CV and was good to go whenever the company needed it for her approval.

She still didn’t know who to reach out to, she wanted to handle it herself without stressing her mama. Guess she would reach out to the lawyer then she thought.

A beep sounds, and the word again flies past her mouth, opening the text “ Come with your credentials to the company tomorrow, unfailingly”.

Who sent that? Damson? the unknown Fin or who? She was stuck.