AUNTY
1205 Words
ᗰᗴᖇIՏ
☆
The lobby of the Rayden Group was enormous.
Glass walls , tiled floors and employees in suits going about their business.
Meris stood near the receptionist desk with a thin file in her arms.
Behind the desk sat a pretty but irritated lady whom Meris later learnt was Vivian.
Vivian scanned Meris from head to toe and then finally spoke up.
"You're here for what exactly?". She asked.
“The secretary position,” Meris replied calmly. “I submitted an online application. I came for the supposed interview "
“Education?”
“College certificate.”
Vivian frown widen"
“That position requires a university degree.”
Meris frowned slightly.
The description online said a college certificate would be accepted.”
Vivian shrugged.
"Well things change".
Meris didn't move, instead she stretched out her hands towards her.
"I would still like to submit my file".
Vivian didn't take it .
"You're wasting your time" ,She said flatly .“This company doesn’t hire girls who barely finished school.”
Meris exhaled slowly. She was tired no doubt but she wasn't having it. She wouldn't leave this place unless she participated in the interview.
“I finished college,” she replied. “And the listing clearly said that qualification was acceptable.”
Vivian leaned forward.
“And I’m telling you it’s not.” She said casting Meris a very dirty look.
A few nearby employees glanced over.
Meris stayed calm.
“If the requirements changed,” she said evenly, “then it should be updated online. I simply came for the opportunity that was advertised. At least take a look at my file before you disregard it".
Vivian smiled sharply.
“You really don’t know when to stop talking, do you?”
Before Meris could respond—
The glass doors doors opened.
A tall man and cold looking man walked in.
Employees immediately straightened.
It was Asael Rayden.
Meris recognized him as the man from that night.
But Asael didn’t even glance at her.
His expression was colder than the night she met him.
He walked straight toward the desk.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
Vivian immediately changed her tone.
“Mr. Rayden,” she said quickly. “This woman is causing a scene. She’s trying to pressure me into giving her the secretary job.”
Meris blinked and gasped in disbelief.
“That’s not what happened,” she said immediately.
Vivian casted her an irritated look.
“You raised your voice first!”
“I did not,” Meris shot back.
Asael’s gaze moved between them.
“Enough.”
Both women fell silent.
He looked at Meris for a minute.
Recognition flashed in his eyes for only a second.
Then it disappeared as quick as it came.
He turned back to Vivian.
“The file.”
Vivian hesitated before taking the folder from Meris and handing it over.
Asael opened it and skimmed through the papers.
A moment later he closed it.
“You don’t meet the age requirement,” he said flatly.
Meris’s shoulders dropped slightly.
“I understand,” she said quietly.
Then she took a breath.
“But if there are other openings… even cleaning… I’m willing to work.”
Vivian scoffed
But before she could speak—
The elevator doors opened behind them.
A small voice echoed through the lobby.
“AUNTY!”
A little girl ran out of the elevator.
Employees stared.
It was Haelyn Rayden.
She ran straight toward Meris.
But just before reaching her, she suddenly stopped.
Her arms were still half-raised for a hug.
Meris crouched slightly.
“Haelyn?” she asked gently. “Why did you stop?”
Haelyn looked nervous.
“Daddy said you didn’t like my hug last time, and I made you uncomfortable”
Meris froze.
Then slowly turned to look at Asael.
The look she gave him was half shocked, half annoyed.
Asael’s face remained unreadable.
Meris looked back at Haelyn.
Then she opened her arms.
“Come here.”
Haelyn’s face lit up instantly.
She rushed forward and hugged Meris tightly.
Meris hugged her back.
“I never said I didn’t like it,” Meris said softly. “I like hugging you very much.”
Haelyn grinned.
“Really?”
“Really.”
Meris smiled."And remember the promise I made?”
Haelyn nodded eagerly.“You said we can hug whenever we meet!”
Meris laughed.
“And that promise still stands.”
Haelyn hugged Meris tightly.Meris laughed softly, patting her back.
Behind them, Asael cleared his throat.
“Haelyn.”
“Yes, Daddy?”
He gestured toward the receptionist desk.
“How did you like the other women I sent you?”
Haelyn made a face.
“I don’t like them.”
Asael sighed slightly.
“This is the fifth group of nannies you’ve rejected this week.”
“They’re not nice,” Haelyn insisted.
Her eyes suddenly lit up.
She turned and pointed at Meris.
“I want aunty!”
Before anyone could react, she ran back to Meris and wrapped her arms around her again.
“Aunty, aunty,” she pleaded. “Can you please be my nanny? Please? I really like you.”
Meris blinked in surprise.
“Me?”
Haelyn nodded eagerly.
“I would really love you to be my nanny.”
Meris smiled gently.
“Well… I would love to,” she said carefully. “But that decision isn’t mine.”
She nodded toward Asael.
“It’s up to your dad.”
Haelyn immediately turned around.
“Daddy!” she said loudly. “Please can she be my nanny? You always told me to choose someone I like.”
She grabbed Asael’s arm.
“I picked one now. I like her. I’m comfortable with her.”
The lobby had gone very quiet.
Employees were pretending not to watch.
Vivian looked stunned.
Asael looked at Meris.
His expression remained serious.
“You want a job badly enough to accept a cleaning position,” he said.
Meris nodded, even though she was slightly embarrassed with the way he blurted out her predicament.
“Yes.”
“Then this is better.”
Meris waited.
“You can take care of my daughter.”
Her eyes widened slightly.
“As her nanny.”
Haelyn jumped with excitement.
“Yay!”
But Asael raised a finger.
“Only if you pass the interview.”
Haelyn froze.
“Interview?”
Asael nodded calmly.
“I don’t joke when it comes to my daughter.”
He looked back at Meris.
“You will take a test.”
Meris straightened.
“A test?”
“Yes.”
“A written exam. And a practical interview.”
Vivian looked shocked.
“A nanny exam?”
Asael ignored her completely.
“If you pass,” he continued, “you get the job.”
Meris held his gaze.
“And if I fail?”
“Then you walk out of this building like any other applicant.”
Haelyn grabbed Meris’s hand tightly.
“You won’t fail!” she said confidently.
Meris looked down at her and smiled.Then she looked back at Asael.
“Alright,” she said.
“I’ll take the test.”
- Writer
