At the billionaire's feet

ChapterTwo

She found herself tossing around the bed throughout the night. She couldn't bring herself to have a proper sleep, she guessed it was because of the interview she was scheduled for the next morning. She was either visiting the toilet or drinking water or standing by the window enjoying the cool fresh air. Even though she was feeling really nervous sleep is what she needed so she made herself sleep for some time.

She woke up to the sound of her roommate stumbling through the door. She picked up her phone that was sitting by the bed. The time was 5:30 a.m. She felt frustrated because her interview was not until nine.. She was wide awake. Her interview was still hours away but she could not sleep. She felt really tense. Her heart was beating fast. She was sweating over. The interview was making her very nervous. So she decided to go for a run. She thought that a run would help calm her nerves before the interview. She had hours, before her interview so she had time to go for a run and get back.

Outside, there was a quietness prevailing in the entire area. She got to see an entirely different view of the city. The morning air was fresh and young, birds chirping and flying from one tree to another. Two street dogs near the garbage are looking for leftovers thrown by people the day before. Transport buses moving at speed on the road, it seems people traveling by bus have moved out early from their homes to catch their transport on time.

When she was done she felt really good. She felt so happy and positive— she prayed she would remain this positive throughout the day.

Her face reflected through the bathroom mirror, her bare face and tired eyes. All that didn't bother her. All that mattered was her interview, that was all she cared about.

“You will kill it today”, she spoke to herself through the mirror with all the confidence she had in her.

She entered the shower immediately, allowing the warm water to wash away the tiredness and sweat of her body. Her mind drifted to the email she got from Rivers’ group 2 weeks ago, “ Your CV has been reviewed and we look forward to meeting you “. She couldn't believe it for 3 days, she read the email every minute, as if she was expecting it to be fake.

After her bath, she ransacked through her closet in search of options of clothes even though she had already picked out her outfit weeks ago when she got the email. She picked out an purple dress that was like the kind of dress people wear to work. It had sleeves and a little slit, at the back. She chose a bag and black shoes with thick heels to go with the dress. The shoes were comfortable so she could walk around easily and climb down the stairs in her apartment. The thought of climbing down the stairs really annoyed her.

She tied her hair in a ponytail. Then she loosened it after a few seconds. She was contemplating a look to pull that will screen professional and still be herself.

Ponytail will be better, Joy said by the door with a smile. She came through the door with a plate of toast bread and a cup of tea and handed it to Julie. “You wouldn't want to go for your interview on an empty stomach, would you?” she said beaming widely.

Tears gathered around Julie's eyes, no one had ever shown this kind of care and concern towards her. She looked towards Joy with a look of gratitude. She was speechless. Joy dropped the breakfast by the table and helped Julie with her ponytail. Julie smiled and thanked her

Her phone rang out, with a notification — interview by 9a.m. You got this! She almost laughed out at the sight of it.

She ate her breakfast fast then she checked her bag to make sure all her documents were inside before she went to the office. The city was now really lively it was noisy and busy which was different from when she was out walking earlier. She thought the office would be a lot quieter, than the city so she was looking forward to getting to the office.

She looked at her phone. Saw that she had one hour before it was nine. She thought it would be an idea to walk to the office. The office was not far from her apartment. She did not want to spend her money on the bus. She did not have a lot of money. Walking to the office seemed like an idea to her. She would walk to the office. The office was close to her apartment. It was not a big deal to walk.

As she walked she thought about the questions she found online that interviewers might ask her. Why should she be employed? What does she have that others don't? Her answers flooded through her mind but then would she be able to say this out loud?, she thought to herself.

She crossed the road among a group of people. Each person with seriousness in them, everyone was rushing somewhere. Men and women in suits, children in their school uniforms. Today was important to them as it was to her

She was standing in front of the Rivers Group building. This was really something. She could not believe her eyes. A time ago she never thought she would be here. The Rivers Group building was very tall it was 287 feet high and it had about 20 floors. The inside of the Rivers Group building looked really nice it was a mix of new styles they used things like shape and light and color and texture and pattern to make it look a certain way. The Rivers Group building was an amazing place.

Inside, the reception was cool. The warm choice of materials gave it a trendy and welcoming ambiance. The receptionist behind her desk placed at a corner, welcomed her with a smile. Julie wrote down her name, then the receptionist asked her to sit down.

The lounge was full of people who were also applying for something. She could feel that everyone was really nervous and tense. The atmosphere in the lounge was very uncomfortable. She let out a sigh as sat down in her seat and waited for them to call out her name. The lounge was still full of applicants and she was getting more and more anxious as she waited for her name to be called.

“Miss Julianna Rose”, the receptionist called her to go in. Fear and panic rushed through her body, her heart was pounding so fast while her legs were shaking, and she found herself sweating profusely. As she stood up, she calmed herself down and whispered to her, “I can do it”. She smiled and walked into the interview room.

She sat down on the only empty seat in the room, She crossed my legs and tried to look as professional as she could. She tapped my lap lightly continuously to ease her tension as her mother taught her. Opposite her was Mr Rivers-the founder, the man behind the Rivers name. She never in her wildest dreams thought she would get the opportunity to meet him in her life. But here he was interviewing her. Fear gripped her body, all she wished was for the earth to swallow her immediately.

He went through my resume with no expression.

“You are inexperienced”, he said finally breaking the awkward silence

Yes sir,. That will not be a problem. I am a hardworking person and I learn things quickly, she said with a lot of confidence. She really believed in her ability to learn things and work very hard.

You are intelligent, top of your class. You say you can learn quickly but are you capable?, he said as he looked up at me, scanning me.

Her throat got all tight. She was just about to say something to the man, when the glass door suddenly swung open.

As he walked in, she tried to recall where she had seen him before.

“What says the time, Williams”, Mr River’s voice echoed through the room interrupting my earlier thoughts.

“I was—”

“Shut your mouth with those excuses of yours”, Mr rivers angrily stomped the table. I didn't suffer to build this company for years to have my irresponsible son destroy it in a day.

She was aghast my that revelation. He was William Rivers, the son of Mr rivers. The only heir to the Rivers Group.

I stared at the table, I was short of words.

“You see her”, Mr rivers continued pointing at me. She is in this interview because she listened, respected the interview time, and was here on time. Something you could never understand.

William bit down on his lips.

I guess I have to hold an emergency board meeting and remind them why you are not good enough.

William remained quiet.

“You start tomorrow morning”, Mr rivers glanced towards me

“Ye-Yes sir”, her voice shaking with surprise. The news that she got the job had not sunk in yet. She was still trying to take it all in that she was actually going to be working.

She stood up hurriedly, her legs shaking. As she glanced at Williams, their eyes locked in.

Just then, she saw pain in his eyes. She had never seen so much pain hidden in one's eyes. He was acting so tough but she could see the pain and shake he was feeling

She looked away first, excusing herself from the office.

When we feel humiliation it really hurts. Our self esteem takes a hit. We feel bad about ourselves. The thing about humiliation is that it happens in front of people. Shame is something we feel alone. Humiliation is something that other people see. Humiliation is a thing that does not happen in private.

She didn't know that witnessing their argument would be the thing that would cause her much trouble, the thing that would be her doom, her own personal disaster.

She wasn't prepared to be tied to him in a way she never imagined

Today, she got her dream job but it seems she also got her dream man.