Ilena and the Mate that Nearly Broke Her

Hello, my name is Ilena and this is how I died.   "I am twenty-three, I just graduated from college with a bachelors in Business. I would be very interested in joining your company, even if it’s an entry level position. I know sometimes you have to work your way up from the bottom." I said trying to sound enthusiastic from the very uncomfortable chair I was sitting in, it was clearly made for twig girls and I just plain and simply wasn't one, I was a size seventeen. I had just moved to the city and was in desperate need of a job, my studio apartment was small but in the center of downtown so of course it was expensive and crappy, but my friends had insisted that it would be the best place for me. I'm beginning to think moving here, at all, was a bad idea.   I could see the man behind his desk in his fancy suit, pretending to study my resume, but in reality, I could practically see him looking around the paper to look at my waist. He was judging me by my size, instead of by my qualifications. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford to tell him off for it, I really needed a job. I had medical, tuition, and rental bills all piling up and no way to pay them.   "I'm sorry Ms. Lyken we don't have any positions open right now but we'll call you if one opens up." He said politely as he passed me back my resume over the desk.   "Right, thank you anyway. Please keep me in mind if you do." I said standing and shaking his hand. I grabbed my coat and leather briefcase and headed out of his office.   No sooner had the cold air chill my cheeks had my phone started ringing.   "Hey mom." I said into the phone as I started walking back to the subway.   "Hey, how did the interview go?" She asked, but there wasn't any hope in her voice.   "He said they didn't have any positions open but would keep me in mind." I said full of sarcasm.   "Well don't count this day as a loss yet. Can you meet me and a friend for lunch in about an hour?" She asked now sounding hopeful.   "Um sure, I didn't know you were in the city, where do you want me to meet you?" I asked stopping just before entering the subway tunnel.   "I came in this morning because I got a call from an old friend that could have a job opening for you or knows someone who might. Either way she is very connected and I thought it would be at least worth an hour of our time and I know you could use a good meal, I'm buying." She said pleadingly. She was right, I've only been here a month and I've already lost fifteen pounds due to lack of food. I eat ramen for dinner most nights and eggs for breakfast, lunch was a foreign concept in my home.   "Fine at least I’ll get a decent meal even if it’s a total bust. Where to?" I called over the sounds of the subway line.   "Fredrick’s, downtown, at noon, please don't be late, you’re dressed nicely, right?" She asked frantically.   "I just came from a failed job attempt for a secretarial position, of course I’m dressed nicely and I won’t be late, I’m getting on the subway now, I’ll be there in thirty. Love you, see you soon." I said and hung up the phone as I got on the train.   A half an hour later I was walking up Main Street, Fredrick’s was only a block away and my apartment was only a block behind me. I could go home for a bit, drop off my briefcase but instead I decided it would be nice to window shop. There were tons of clothing shops, jewelry stores and all other manner of businesses in this part of town. I casually walked from store window to store window, there was tons of walking traffic at this time of day, I hope we had a reservation otherwise we would never get a table at this hour.   I stopped at a jewelry store window and inside was the most beautiful set of solid metal drop earrings with matching bracelet, silver in front with a back piece that was copper. Go big or go home I always say, sort of anyway.   "Those would look beautiful on you." A man said from behind me. I turned to see him, he looked like he walked right out of GQ quarterly or something. Damn, why did God have to tease me so?   "Oh, you think so?" I said shyly.   "Yes, I do. You are a beautiful woman, don't let anyone let you think otherwise." He said lifting my hand and kissing it. "You have a wonderful day." He said and then he was gone. What the hell was that? I check to make sure everything was still in place; he hadn't robbed me. Matter of fact, I pulled my hand out of my pocket to find a card with what I assumed was his phone number on it. Weird! Guys like that didn't hit on girls like me. I shoved the card back into my pocket and made my way up to Fredrick’s. I would have to over analyze this later, I had business to attend to.   Five minutes later I walked into Fredrick’s, fifteen minutes after that my mom walked in with a tall blond woman. The blond woman walked directly up to the hostess and asked for a table, which we were promptly taken to.   "Ilena, this is Detra Hollen, Detra this is my daughter Ilena." My mother introduced, we shook hands and sat down around a small round table.   "Your mother speaks very highly of you; I understand you have a bachelors in business that's ambitious for a woman your age." She said.   "Oh, well I started my associates online half way through my senior year of high school and finished it before my scholarship program started, in which I went to Stanford to complete my bachelors, I thought about going for my masters but wanted to get some real-world experience before I decided what I wanted the degree to be in." I explained as I studied her, she was too perfect. She was tall, perfect white teeth, beautiful perfectly styled blond hair and skinny too she must be a size four if I had to guess. Her clothes were expensive and beautiful, even her nails and makeup were perfectly done.   "I know what you’re thinking. What does this woman have in common with me that she would want to help me? Right, don't look so confused I used to be just like you, except I was a size twenty. When I walked into my boss’s office my first thought was, of course it’s another male that's probably going to see how big my waist is before seeing how high my IQ is. But instead, he helped me, gave me a job that suited my qualifications and helped me lose the weight, even helped me get treatment for some medical problems I had been having and paid for it all." She exclaimed happily.   "No offence, but that's sounds a little too good to be true." I said skeptically, and my mother swatted my arm. I know I shouldn't nip at the hand trying to feed me but it didn't seem like it could be true.   "I know but it is true, I was skeptical at first too. But trust me once you meet him it will be a whole different story." She said excitedly and handed me a piece of paper with an address and phone number on it. "Look just give it a shot, what have you got to lose. Just be at this address at five o'clock tomorrow afternoon, I promise it will be worth your while."   I smiled weakly, "Absolutely, what do I have to lose right. Thank you." I said sincerely, we spent the rest of the meal chatting about regular things but when I tried to ask her more about the job, she either shrugged it off or just said it was secretarial work.   Two hours later I was walking into my little studio apartment, I had a little kitchenette and small dining table off to one side, a little T.V. placed against the opposite wall with a beat-up loveseat placed in front of it, at the end of the room was my bed and next to it a tiny bathroom. I made my way into the back of the room and stripped my clothes throwing them into a hamper and jumped into the shower. After I dried and dressed in my pajamas, I pulled the guy's number out of my jacket pocket, should I call him? I sat on my couch and thought about it while I flipped through the channels. It couldn't really do any harm could it? Worse I could do is embarrass myself and if I never saw him again did it really matter? So, I dialed the number.   Ring.   Ring.   Ring.   Ring.   You've reached the voice mail box of NOLAN CREEK, leave your message after the beep.   Beep.   "Hey this is the jewelry store girl, just thought you would like to know my name, its Ilena." I said and hung up quickly. I will never leave a better voice mail response than that for the rest of my life, guaranteed. I smiled satisfied with myself.