Chapter Two: Pride And Prejudice
1089 Words
Chloe’s POV
“I disqualified you because you didn’t fit into what I wanted in my secretary,” he said bluntly.
I was in pain. Not only because he had rejected me based on physical prejudice, but because he was being cocky about it.
“I think it is unfair, Mr Thorne, that you didn’t give me a chance to participate in your questioning at all.”
For the second time this month, I was daring. I noticed how every eye in the room turned towards me and the tension that hung heavily in the air multiplied. Earlier this month, I had publicly disgraced my previous boss by providing evidence of his s****l harassment when he tried to gaslight me into believing I was the one that tried to seduce him.
I watched with satisfaction as Mr Thorne’s furrowed brow eased. For a split second, I noticed the defeated expression he wore before his expression turned unreadable again. This wasn’t what I thought it would be. I wasn’t going to quit a toxic workplace, only to walk straight into another toxicity.
Even if I was offered this job, I was definitely not going to work for this jerk, but for the record, I wasn’t going to let him get away with belittling me either.
“Would it matter if you responded to my question? After all, the ultimate decision lies with me.”
“I would rather take the chance,” I said confidently and took my seat.
My eyes met with the younger interviewer, and she smiled at me.
“If I were to keep a confidential document in your care as your boss and the government request that you tender as evidence against the company, what would you do?” Mr Thorne questioned keenly.
I let out a deep breath. The humidity in the room intensified. I adjusted my seat and started analyzing the possible scenarios that the question could play out.
“……in conclusion, I would act on the situation based on my logical reasoning and what the situation warrants.”
Silence again! Awkward silence filled the room. My gaze never wavered from Mr Thorne and he never left mine. For a split second, I almost believed I had proved him wrong until he got up on his feet and declared.
“Let us take a short recess.”
As he walked out of the room, the other interviewers started murmuring amongst themselves. The youngest interviewer turned to face me and winked at me. I could tell she liked that I stood up to that annoying jerk too.
We waited endlessly in the waiting room. My stomach grumbled from hunger. I had left my breakfast on the dining table this morning in a hurry to meet up for the interview. Right now, I regret skipping breakfast.
At about 12pm, we were called back into the interview room and three other new batches of candidates joined us to fill up the space of the ones the jerk had disqualified. I knew someone was going to fill my seat too very soon.
The rest of the interviewers were already on seats, and we were all waiting patiently for the star of the interview, CEO Thorne. He came in not long afterward but contrary to his first entrant, he acknowledged our greeting.
“Sorry that I was late, I had to wrap up some work on my table.” He looked over towards me. “Are you angry?”
“No, Mr Thorne,” I responded calmly.
“That being said, the interview is over, she has been hired,” he said to the other interviewers as he pointed a ball pen in my direction.
“Mr Thorne but…” the older woman started, but he cut her off.
“Felicity, I said I chose her. The rest of the candidates should return to their homes.” He turned towards me with a huge smile on his face. “Congratulations Miss.”
I was confused! Didn’t he just blatantly refuse me earlier?
“You can all leave now, okay.” He turned the ball pen in my direction again. “And you! I will mail you the appointment letter soon.”
“Mr Thorne, forgive my rudeness but… I mean… we do not just pick a person and not….” The lanky man protested.
“Probably you are going to employ the rest of them by yourself, Jack.” Liam interjected sharply.
He smiled cockily and stood up on his feet. He came toward me and held out his hand to shake mine. I reluctantly took his handshake and afterward he strolled out of the interview room humming a song to himself.
***
It wouldn’t be past six hours after my return home that the appointment letter dropped in my mailbox. I reluctantly clicked it up, but my mind had been made up already. When I scanned through the benefits. I was tempted to click on the accept button when a memory surged back into my head, the darkness that was evident in his eyes. His cold stare. I couldn’t stand it.
I was declining this juicy offer! And that is final.
One of my sisters, Kate, rushed into the room screaming out my name. I closed down the laptop and followed her out, only to see my mother on the floor totally unconscious. I rushed over to her side and dialed the emergency contact.
The ambulance showed up soon, and we were rushed to the nearest hospital. She was instantly hospitalized, and several tests were run on her. My stepdad showed up a little later and we both made for the doctor’s office only to hear some heart-wrenching news.
My mother was suffering from stage two cancer, and she had kept it hidden from the rest of us. An emergency surgery was to be scheduled for her and, as far as the bills go, her insurance policy couldn’t cover it all.
I became teary. My stepdad’s business had failed a long time ago. My mum had always been the breadwinner until I started working after college to support her with what I could.
I returned home that night to look after my siblings while my stepdad stayed with mum. I reopened my laptop and switched it on. I stared blankly at the appointment letter sitting lazily in my mailbox and let out a deep breath.
“This was going to be a long bumpy ride!” I said as I punched on the accept button, succumbing to fate.
- Writer
