Chapter 2. Have you found her...?
1132 Words
Entering the room after the lady, Edythe saw the man already seated in-between two others. A responsible man in corporate wear at his right and another female at his left. They were all sitting behind a giant desk with lots and lots of files on it.
The young lady who had called her in then sat beside the desk.
"Have a seat," the other man said to Edythe as he pointed to a chair opposite them. Then he turned to the boss who fixed his eyes on the files without looking at the person who had entered the office for the interview. "Sir, should I proceed with the interview or you would like to do it yourself?"
It was then he raised his face from looking at the files to looking at the applicant. Actually, he was not supposed to be there but Edythe's attitude earlier warranted him to come over. He knew she was an applicant from the beginning and had come to see that she did not get the job because he never imagined how such a person would work in the hotel. His name is Mason Heron.
As he looked up at Edythe she knew from those eyes that all was not going to go well, so she first spoke remorsefully. "I'm sorry sir… I shouldn't have acted the way I did earlier… Please, pardon me. I was in a rush."
Her apologies got the other administratives confused as they did not know what she was talking about.
On the other other hand, Mason Heron was dumbfounded with his mouth slightly opened and his eyes popped wider than normal. He was full of surprises and none could tell what was the reason behind his surprise.
For the next five minutes the office was very quiet with no one uttering a word. All eyes were on Mason.
Even Edythe did not know what to say anymore, she was as surprised as the other administratives. She was expecting him to ask her out of the office, but it was taking forever for him to say something.
"What is your name?" Mason finally broke the long silence as he blinked his eyes twice as though his spirit had been in a trance and just returned.
"My name is Edythe Reed, sir."
"Can you please excuse us, Edythe Reed?"
So she gently stood up and left the office. She did not insist on pleading any further because she knew that had ruined her getting the job from the beginning. At least, she had learnt a lesson.
She was angry and happy at the same time while she left the office. She was angry that she did not get the job. And was happy that the man did not cause a scene, he was gentle even while he asked her out of the office. That way, the other administratives may not know what had conspired between them. Even though they later found out, she would be long gone and they may not see her again.
Even after she left the office, Mason was still in a confused state and it showed clearly in his face causing the others to wonder what was going on.
"Can I see her documents? The documents of the lady that I just asked out." Mason asked at random.
Then the lady beside him quickly located the application of Edythe and handed it over to him.
"Is there any problem, sir?" The other man asked as he could tell that something was troubling his mind.
But Mason kept him quiet as he opened the application. His surprise was increased at this moment when he realized that she had applied as a cleaner and there was no certificate attached to the application other than a previous work experience as a cleaner for the past several years. Those years of experience surely told that she was quantified for the job but that wasn't what Mason was looking for. "Was this the only thing submitted?"
"Yes sir. That's all."
"Confirm that this is all she submitted and get back to me. In the meantime, carry on with the interviewing of other applicants." Mason got up with the application of Edythe and left the office.
*****
Hours later, Mason Heron was sitting in his office deep in thoughts, when he heard a knock on the office door.
"The door is open."
Then the other man from the interview room worked in.
"What is it, John?"
"Sir, you asked me to confirm if there were any other documents submitted by Edythe."
"So did you find any?"
"I'm sorry sir, that was all we could find belonging to her."
"Okay. Thank you very much." Mason returns to his contemplation as he expects John to leave the office.
But John takes notice of his boss' worries, "Sir, is everything alright? You don't look bright at all."
"Umm… it's nothing. None that I should bother you about."
"It's okay sir, maybe I could help."
"Not this time, John."
Then he turns to leave the office. Just before he opens the door, Mason said, "Include Edythe amongst those who passed the interview."
"Yes sir," John concurred and then left the office.
After he had left, Mason was once again alone in the office. He returns to his thoughts and after a couple of minutes, he realizes that continuous thinking would not fetch him the answer he was searching for, so he picks his cell phone from the desk and dials a number.
"Hello Mason," a male voice sounded through the phone.
"Hello sir."
"Come on, quit the crap, I've told you we're brothers."
"Sorry Hamilton."
"Apology accepted. So how are things going over there?"
"Nothing much. We just concluded the screening of the applicants. Soon the hotel will start functioning fully."
"That's good to hear."
"You know that I will never disappoint you?"
"Of course. You don't even need to remind me. Actually, I was busy when you called, so I'll have to go now."
"Umm…. There is something I wanted to ask you that was why I called,"
"Alright..."
"I wanted to know the name of that girl who you always told me about."
"Edythe, her name."
"What was her last name?"
"Edythe Reg. Is there a problem...? Have you found her...?"
"No, I haven't. I wish I had."
"Then why ask?"
"Actually I thought I had seen her today but it turns out I was wrong, the both names are not the same." Mason explained.
"Buddy, I'm coming over first thing in the morning. You'll take me to her so I can confirm for myself."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Of course. Just get someone to pick me up from the airport tomorrow morning."
"Yes I will," then he hangs up the call as he exhales heavily.
- Writer
