At a loss
"What is the time?" Sophia asked Dera.
"It's past 2 pm," Dera said.
"But wait, why do you keep asking me for time? Since you have lost your job, all you do is stay indoors and brood over what is lost". Dera complained.
"It is not my fault babe, I just don't know what to do. You know I am down as I can't help you with the bills and all…" Sophia was trying to say more when Dera cut her off.
"You should get up and look for a job rather than wallowing in self-pity" Dera finished her words and dashed out of the room. She came back in and said to Sophia.
"I got a job offer from one of the cafè regulars. I will send you the details later, get dressed and go." She turned away immediately after saying that, but Sophia stopped her.
"Wait Dera," Sophia stood up from the bed, got close to Dera and hugged her.
"Thank you dear, I don't think I can survive without you," Sophia said with a smile.
Dera smiled back and went straight for the door without saying anything.
Sophia was anticipating the message all her life and she kept checking her phone for one. After about 15 minutes since Dera left, the message came in and the shout she gave was really hefty.
Dera had sent it on her way to the cafè she works at.
Sophia got dressed and went straight to the agency Dera sent.
"Hello" Sophia greeted the receptionist.
"Hi, miss Sophia, how may I be of help." The receptionist replied politely with a smile.
"I am here for the job offer that was said to be available at a tycoon house" Sophia responded.
"Oh! That must be at the Carlos mansion" the receptionist responded and started looking for a file that contained the job description.
"Here is the job description," the receptionist handed it to her.
Sophia looked so surprised and the receptionist seemed to understand the look.
"Ms. Sophia, I understand you are wondering why you just have the job description without proper screening from us but then the Carlos mansion is the one in charge of their interviews." The receptionist explained.
"Oh! Okay, I get it now" Sophia responded.
"You will have to be there as early as possible by tomorrow because the space is not open for too long." The receptionist advised her.
"Thank you." Sophia said and turned away.
She went back home and looked through the role, "I am just to work closely with the CEO and the pay is this much?" She said to herself.
Took her phone and started searching about Carlos' mansion. What she saw bewildered her.
She fell into thoughts of how things were for her.
** ** ** ** **
THREE WEEKS BEFORE
Eat rite, New York
"Hello, can you clean up the table?" The customer asked Sophia.
"Yes ma'am," Sophia answered and took a towel to clean the table.
The customer's phone rang and she picked up. "What is it? I thought I told you I am no longer interested in the deal?"
The customer's reaction caused her to shake the table and a cup fell to her feet.
"How dare you throw the cup to my feet?" She screamed at Sophia.
"I am sorry ma'am, but I was only cleaning the table as you instructed and didn't do anything. The cup shook when you hit the table while talking on the phone." Sophia managed to explain.
"What's happening here?" The manager came in as the noise was getting too much.
"I can't believe what your cleaner did. I told her to clean the table and she fell my cup on my feet, spilling my drink and also breaking the glass. I don't think I can come here again." The customer said.
"Sir, it wasn't me who did, it was…" the manager cut Sophia off before she could say more.
"Are you accusing our customer of stealing? She is one of our regulars and a friend to the owner. Now apologize to her." The manager ordered.
"I don't want her apology! I want her fired." The customer said.
"Ah! Ma'am, I wasn't being disrespectful. I really need this job and I will do everything to protect it. Please ma'am, retract your words." Sophia said almost in tears.
The woman took her bag and left the restaurant, hitting Sophia without care.
"I wasn't the one, please." Sophia still said defensively.
"You are still claiming to be right? You don't know what you are into, the decision is final. You are fired!" The manager said and left her standing.
Sophia wept bitterly but had to walk away from the embarrassment.
In the manager's office,
"Sir, it was an honest mistake on my end. I don't have anything to say other than beg for your help so I can keep my job." Sophia pleaded.
"Oh! You didn't know you had a job to keep when you were proving what is not to Mrs. Coker." The manager said.
"Mrs. Coker? The Mrs Coker that we all hear about?" Sophia asked repeatedly, fidgeting.
The manager looked at her with a spiteful look, "yes, the same one we all know about. There's nothing I can do to help you, kindly exit my office".
Sophia just left, not knowing what to do. That was a means of survival to her and she has to look for a way to get employed as soon as possible.
** ** **
Back to present life.
Doorbell rings.
Dera opened the door beaming with a smile, but suddenly stopped.
"I hope this is not how you have sat down since I left without doing anything or even going to the address sent to you?" Dera nags.
Sophia, who had just recovered from her thoughts, opened up.
"Be calm babe, I went there and…" before she could finish, Dera cut in.
"And what?"
"I don't think explaining to you will do. Why not just take a look at this?" Sophia turned to pick up the file and handed it over to Dera.
"Here is the job description, you can go through it yourself and I am going to go there tomorrow so I can do the interview." Sophia explained further.
"Wait, didn't the agency interview you?" Dera asked in bewilderment.
"They didn't. The receptionist said the job was an urgent vacancy and this employer in particular will always interview their employees themselves". Dera nods as she listens to Sophia.
"You must be there as early as possible tomorrow. Let's pick out a dress for you to wear to your interview." Dera said with laughter.
"I think you own this job more than I do. You are so dedicated towards me getting it right," Sophia said with a smile.
"Come on, you are the most hardworking person I know and so humble at the same time. Your old employer just does not appreciate you." Dera responded.
"You are such a sweet soul," Sophia said, embracing Dera.
"Now to your dress, I will go with the flowery patterned skirt and your plain chiffon top. Yes!" Dera calculated.
They both look for the two pieces of clothing and finally find where they were hung.
"You haven't worn this dress in a very long time," Dera teased.
"I couldn't wear them as much as I wanted to for the fear of them getting worn out soon. It is a gift you gave me and I cherish it with my whole life." As Sophia said this, they both had an outburst of laughter.
"Oh! I almost forgot, your shoes and accessories haven't been picked out yet." Dera said and rushed to their shoe rack.
"I think this will do," she said, raising her head to Sophia.
"No, I can't wear that." Sophia responded sadly.
"Why?" Dera asked.
"That was the shoe I wore to the interview at the restaurant. I don't want bad luck." Sophia said, looking so sad.
"I understand girl, how about you wearing my heels?" Dera suggested.
"That is a nice idea! In fact, a great one", Sophia said happily.
"I had picked up a necklace and earrings on my way home, so no need to worry about that." Dera said, smiling at her.
"Thank you so much, I should pay you back by making dinner," Sophia said and dashed into the kitchen before Dera could say anything.
After dinner, they both went to bed but Sophia was disturbed about what the day was going to look like for her.
It's finally morning
"Good morning, Sophia" Dera, who had just woken up and met Sophia dressed, greeted her.
"Good morning, Dera. I made scrambled eggs and bread, you can help yourself when you are finally ready to eat." Sophia responded with a smile.
"Oh! Before I forget, where is the necklace and earrings you bought for me yesterday?" She asked Dera.
"Let me get it for you." Dera said, smiling.
"Here it is," Dera handed it over to her.
"Thank you so much." She said as she was wearing it.
"I have to go now if I will get there early enough. It is about a two hour drive from here." She said as she hugged Dera and headed for the exit door.
"Good luck, Best" Dera screamed on top of her voice.
** ** **
Sophia got to the house exactly two hours and five minutes after she left home. It was really a tiring journey and she can't wait to be accepted.
The mansion was so big right from the view she had on the outside and a map was at the gate with directions to different quarters.
Sophia pressed the gate button.
"Good morning, what are you here for?" A voice came out of nowhere asking her what her purpose was in the house.
"I am here for an interview." Sophia responded even though she was confused.
"Can I see the job description file? Please show it to the camera in front of you." The voice responded.
Sophia quickly brought it out from her bag and showed it to the camera. "Here it is."
"You may go in," the voice said.
The gate opened and she went inside.
"Wow! This is such a magnificent mansion" she thought to herself.
"May I help you to the interview hall?" A voice suddenly said to her.
She turned and it was a lady dressed in a kind of uniform.
"Thank you!" She said and smiled awkwardly.
"You should compose yourself. I know you haven't seen this mansion before but try to compose yourself. We must not lose this job." She spoke to her inner mind.
"Please, follow me." The lady said to her.
They walked across the house to a reception space.
"The boss is coming to interview you." The lady said and turned to move.
"Do you mean the boss himself?" Sophia asked in shock.
"Yes, the boss himself. Do you have a problem with that?" The lady asked.
"No… no…not at all." Sophia responded, trying to feign a smile. The lady left.
"Why would the boss come all the way to interview someone? It has increased my nervousness." She thought to herself holding her skirt tightly with her face squeezed as if she was about to cry.
"Do you have so much fear? If yes, this is not work you can do." A masculine voice out of nowhere said to her.
"Not at all, I can always handle it." Sophia said grinning.
She said inwardly, "I hope I didn't screw up."
"I learnt from the agency yesterday that someone had picked up the job description so I had to wait for the person to come in this morning." The boss said to her.
"I am Jason Carlos, and if you are employed, you will be working directly under me." He continued.
"My reputation is not that good, I am said to be arrogant, proud and a narcissist and I have had about three persons hold this office you are applying for in about three months." He stopped to look at Sophia.
"Are you listening?" He asked her.
"Yes, I am." Sophia responded affirmatively.
"The longest time anyone has worked with me is three months aside from my secretary who has used me for more than two years. Do you think you can do it?" He asked her out of the blues.
"Yes," Sophia responded.
"Then you are hired!" He said.
"What? Hired? Just like that?" Sophia asked several questions in awe.
"I have a few things to say, it is written in your job description but I just need to mention it." He said rubbing his hands together.
"You will be staying here and will be allowed to be visited twice a month and also will be allowed to go out for personal dealings once a month. So if you have any boyfriend you would like to see, you may inform him ahead." He continued rudely.
"Okay" Sophia said.
"You are to resume tomorrow morning. I will advise you to come tonight because your work starts at six o'clock tomorrow morning." He said, stand up and exit the room.
"What an arrogant man!" She said out loud.
"Thank God I wasn't heard" she said as she headed out of the house.
"I am not sure I can take this job. The man looks desperate yet he is arrogant" she sent a text to Dera.
"We talk when we see." Dera responded.
