Chapter 4: Wish me luck
1313 Words
While Anthony craned his neck to get a better glimpse of the woman, one of the airport’s trucks driving through, blocked his view.
He sighed. “No need. Just drive”.
“But—”
“COLWILL!”, Anthony called, glaring at him from the rear view mirror.
“Y-yes, sir”.
Colwill had wanted him to meet Seraphina because she held a striking resemblance to the woman in the photograph Anthony had kept in his office drawer. He always wondered why his boss kept her picture there and never spoke about her, no matter how many times he brought her up. But pushing his luck would only mean trouble so he stepped on the gas and sped off.
“I guess they didn’t see us after all ”, Seraphina told Maternae.
Maternae’s shoulder hung low.
Seraphina crouched to meet her eyes. “What’s wrong, sweetheart? Why do you look so sad?”
“He looked like daddy”, she replied innocently, fiddling with her bucket hat strap.
Seraphina’s eyes widened in disbelief. Her daughter couldn’t have possibly seen Anthony. Besides, she had never met him before.
“Sweetheart”, she called gently, forcing a smile, “that couldn’t have possibly been Daddy. I’m sure you got it mixed up”.
Maternae shook her head, stubbornly. “No, Mommy, I know what I saw. He looked like the man in the picture you hid in our old bedroom”.
Seraphina was quiet. That picture she believed she had tucked away safely. Could she be right?
“You’re thinking too much, sweetheart. Am I no longer enough for you that you want a daddy?”
“No, mommy you’re enough. You’re the best mom in the world!”
“Aww, mommy is so glad to hear that. Come on now, let’s go home with Uncle Mark”.
She buckled Maternae safely into the back seat then strapped herself up in front. Mark reared the engine to life and they zoomed off.
The drive from the airport to Mark’s home was quite a distance. Before they reached, Maternae was already asleep. Seraphina carefully carried her and Mark showed them to their room, then she went downstairs to help him unpack.
The next day was a Saturday. The morning sun was bright and some of the rays filtered in through the open window blinds. They all sat over a breakfast of pancakes, some toasts, and coffee—but Maternae was giving a glass of milk.
While they were yet eating, Seraphina suddenly called out. “Mark?”
“Yes, Sera”.
“Do you know of any companies hiring architects?”
He looked up from his plate. “Take it easy, Seraphina. You only just got here yesterday”.
She sighed. “Come on, Mark. I’ll go crazy if I don’t get something doing soon. Besides, I need to start earning so I can get a place of my own. I don’t want to be a burden to you”.
Mark set his fork down, slightly offended. “Seriously, Seraphina, I believe we’ve gone past this stage. You are not and will never be a burden to me. You and your child need all the help you can get. So allow me to be here for you. Okay?”
His words softened her. “Thank you so much, Mark. I’m sorry if my words hurt you earlier”.
“It’s okay, Seraphina. I know you to be an independent oriented young lady. But sometimes, you’ve got to relax to be taken care of. I’ve got you”, he added, squeezing her hand gently.
“You’re the best, Mark”.
He grinned. “I know right”.
“You”, she chuckled. “Well…can we still…have a look though?”
He rolled his eyes dramatically. “Geez, you’re too stubborn for your own good. Fine. I’ll go grab my laptop”.
“Yay!”, she clapped happily like a kid, which made him chuckle.
Together they searched through different listings. Mark helped her narrow down to five top firms and although they were highly competitive, that wasn’t a problem for Seraphina. She had graduated top of her class and was the best architect in her district with glowing recommendations to prove it.
She drafted applications all afternoon sending them out one by one. Maternae occasionally popped in, checking in on them and offering good luck kisses that made both adults laugh.
Later that same day, Mark took them out for a little tour around the city.
Two weeks later, Seraphina and Maternae were watching a Sci-fi movie when her phone beeped with notifications. She glanced at the screen and froze.
“Mark!” she shouted. “Come here!”
He rushed in. “What is it?”
She shoved the phone in his face instead. “Look!”
He took the phone from her that was popping with email notifications. All five companies had invited her for an interview.
Mark whistled low. “This is fantastic, Seraphina. I know you could get on after all, but all five? That’s massive!”
“I’m so happy but confused. I don’t even know which to go for”.
“They’re all good but if I were you…I’ll go for Serathon. They’re tough but the payoff is worth it”.
Her eyes sparkled. “Then Serathon it is”.
On the day of the interview, Seraphina wore a knee-length pleated dark-blue skirt and a powder-blue blouse. Mark waited by the car with Maternae bouncing on her toes beside him.
“You look good, Seraphina”, Mark said warmly.
“Thanks, Mark”.
“You look very pretty, mommy”.
Seraphina bent down and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, sweetheart”.
They all got in the car and Mark dropped her off at Serathon’s sleek glass building.
“Wish me luck”.
“You don’t need it, Seraphina, you’ve got this. But good luck anyway”.
“Good luck, Mommy. I know you’ll get the job”.
“Thanks my sweet girl. See you guys later”.
Seraphina went in and saw the seats in the lobby were occupied by other applicants—shifting and fidgeting in their seats with their resumes.
She was called in next and she walked in confidently. While she answered the questions thrown at her, the panelists nodded their heads and smiled in satisfaction. They shook hands with her and told her to keep an eye on her email for their final verdict.
Two days later, she received an email: Congratulations. You’ve been accepted into the Serathon Group. Please report to work on Monday.
Seraphina put a hand over her mouth to muffle her scream as she spun around laughing happily. Maternae and Mark joined in squealing in delight. They were happy for her and to celebrate, they went out to have dinner and have some fun.
Monday came and she wore a black corporate gown with a cream collar embroidered with tiny flowers. She finished off by packing her silver hair in a neat bun and joined Mark and Maternae in the car. He dropped her off and went to his art studio with Maternae.
At Serathon, she was shown to her new desk in a bright large office that looked more like a hall than an office with nineteen other desks spaced out. She had a mini flower pot she set at a corner of the table and a framed photo of her and Maternae as a baby.
She was still putting her desk in order when a young woman strutted to her desk, arms crossed and eyes sharp.
“So”, she sneered, “it's you they hired after all huh?”
- Writer
