Hurt me once, shame on you

CHAPTER ONE The Invitation The blank screen of Kate’s laptop stared back at her. The cursor blinked, waiting for her to type something, but her mind had been a mess for days now. “Damn it! This is a disaster,” she said to herself, considering she planned on turning her passion for writing into a career. No matter what she did, she always found her way back to it but unfortunately, it didn’t pay her bills. She needed something steady to keep a roof over her head and the lights on, which is why she had applied to a couple of companies, including Whitmore Global. It was one of the biggest tech companies in Chicago that only accepted the most qualified candidates. If she happened to get the job, that would do a lot for her financially while she still worked on her writing. She quickly refreshed her email, but there was nothing new that she was interested in at the moment. She exhaled heavily before closing her laptop. The sky outside had gotten cloudy and the morning air was stronger and extra chilly, billowing her curtains around her window. She got up quickly and pulled her windows shut, then made her way to her bedroom and did the same. “Maybe I'll function better after a warm shower,” she said, remembering her late mother’s words. Her mother would always tell Kate when she was younger that there was nothing a nice shower could not fix, God rest her soul. Shrugging out of her pajamas, Kate took a look at her reflection in the mirror. The natural glow of her caramel skin was further illuminated under the warm light of the room. Her eyes were tired and her thick, curly hair sat in a messy bun on top of her head. Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the shower humming a catchy pop tune. Thirty minutes later, after she was done and all dressed up in shorts and a sweater, she decided on a quick sandwich for breakfast, but as she sat down to eat, an email notification popped up on her phone screen. She glanced at it briefly, but something caught her attention and she looked again at the preview. Whitmore Global: Dear Miss Jones… With her heart pounding in her chest, she slowly picked her phone and opened the message. It read: Dear Miss Katrina Jones, You have been scheduled for an interview at Whitmore Global Technology for Wednesday the 4th of April… Kate placed her hand over her mouth as she read through the email twice, then slowly the third time just to be sure she was not dreaming. “Oh my God! I really have a shot at this,” she said out loud, and as if it finally sank in, she jumped on her couch and squealed with delight. Waving her arms in the air as she did so. Kate had come across the sales position days ago and applied in passing without really putting much thought into it. Even though it was one of the most sought-after companies in the state, she never really did think she would fit in there, but desperate times called for desperate measures. ‘No s**t! It’s tomorrow,’ she thought, then ran into her room to prepare what she would wear, her breakfast clearly forgotten as both excitement and anxiety washed over her. The Next Morning Kate stood in front of her mirror dressed in a long-sleeved navy blue silk blouse tucked into a cream-coloured pencil skirt. Her dark curls were pinned behind, but that didn't stop a few curls from escaping around her face. At twenty-eight, she still had a youthful look to her. She looked professional, but her appearance didn't stop her nerves from kicking in. ‘What if something goes wrong?’ ‘What if I say the wrong thing and ruin my chances?’ she thought to herself, but she quickly dismissed the thoughts from her head. Working for Whitmore was a great opportunity to grow her career and make important connections. And the pay! Everyone she knew of that worked there always looked their best and seemed to live well. Who wouldn’t want a piece of that? Taking one last look at her reflection, she exhaled before saying out loud, “You’re going to ace this Kate. This is going to be a walk in the park for you. You deserve this.” Then, slipping onto her heels, she stepped out. Kate stopped in front of Whitmore Global, shielding her eyes as she looked up at the tall, impressive building. The cold steel and glass structure stood high up in the sky, reflecting the harsh rays from the morning sun. She took a second to observe the people going in. The women were classy in their trendy fashions, expensive heels and designer bags while the men looked polished in sharp suits. “Do they only hire models here or does this place change you?” Kate wondered, feeling anxious again. She was usually a confident person and could walk into any room with her head high and hold her own, but she couldn’t explain why she was this nervous about this job. Kate couldn’t explain it but for some reason, she kept feeling like her life was about to change. She clutched her tote bag tighter and stepped inside. “Wow!” She whispered as she took in the polished wood and marble floors. The air smelled rich and everyone looked intimidating up close. She squared her shoulders and walked up to the flawless looking receptionist. She was grateful that she ignored the voice that almost made her show up in flats but chose to wear her silk blouse and heels. That sure boosted her confidence. “Good morning. How may I help you?” The receptionist greeted her in a warm tone and Kate gave her a small smile that hid how nervous she really felt. “Good morning. I have an interview by 9’ o clock,” she responded. “Alright. Your name?” the receptionist asked. “It’s Katrina Jones” The receptionist typed fast on her keyboard, confirming her appointment before responding. “You’re early. Please take a seat over there,” she said, gesturing towards the plush chairs in the reception. “I’ll let you know when you can go in.” “Thank you,” Kate replied before taking a seat. She hoped that whoever was to conduct her interview would be in a good mood. She silently prayed that it wouldn’t be the CEO, Eric Whitmore. From the word on the street, the man was cold, ruthless and intimidating and she was already tense enough. She rested her head against the wall and found her thoughts drifting to the popular lyrics of Madonna’s ‘Get into the groove’ Kate smiled as she imagined herself in her bedroom, dancing her heart away to the tune and a sudden warmth spread through her. Music was always her go to when she needed a quick boost, and it never seemed to fail her. “Miss Jones?” She heard the receptionist call out to her after a while. “Mr Whitmore will see you now,” she said, and Kate’s eyes widened. Mr Whitmore, as in CEO Eric Whitmore himself? I get to face him straight away? She thought as she stood, but she masked her fear with a small smile. The receptionist gestured toward the elevator and whispered, “Good luck” as Kate walked past her. “Thanks,” Kate whispered back and stepped into the elevator. The lift man pressed the button once she told him where she was going, and she took deep breaths to calm her nerves. When it came to a stop, he also wished her luck as the doors opened, and she gave a brief nod before grabbing the straps of her bag tight. After saying a quick prayer, Kate stepped out into the corridor. “It’s just an interview,” she murmured as her heels clicked on the tiles, but little did she know that her life was about to change completely as she walked into Eric Whitmore’s office.