4
1560 Words
It was a cool evening.
I sat in front of our house enjoying the evening. I was thinking of the next part-time job to go to tomorrow. I had a list of them I ran to when I got broke.
Leo wasn't back from school and Mum was taking a nap in her room. I was left with my thoughts.
“Okay, so I'll go for the delivery service and run a 5-hour shift, then I'll take the ushering job… I mentally fixed my schedule.
I looked at the time. It was almost 6pm.
I stood up and went to the kitchen to fix dinner. Mum had to eat before taking her medication.
Not long after, Leo barged in.
“ Heyyyy sis. Mmm, what's that smell?” he peeped behind me to see what I was making.
“Heh move back, just look at the time you're coming back from school, huh, you're supposed to be back by 5.”
I looked at him, his frame almost covering me. Leo was taller than I, his shoulders broader than they should be at his age. He had quickly hit puberty. It didn't help that he was also really good-looking. Girls wouldn't stop hovering around him, that's why I called him a playboy.
“We had this football practice thing, so I had to stay back for it.” Of course, I knew he was lying.
“Or you had a bunch of girls flocking around you, and you just couldn't resist,” I said with a stern look. I was genuinely worried about him.
“Come on sis, you know they're the ones not leaving me alone, and I can't turn them all away.”
“Then you better be careful, don't get someone's daughter knocked up. We barely feed, we can't provide for a baby either.”
“Am not…” he was about to argue before mum interrupted.
“What are you two bickering about?”
“See, you woke her up with your loud voice,” Leo said with a smirk.
I rolled my eyes.
“Mom, go sit down, I'm done with dinner, and I'm about to serve it before he interrupted.” I eyed him.
He grabbed a bun from the tray. “Hurry up, I'm starving,” he said with his mouth full.
She let out a warm chuckle. “Don't mind him, Chloe, he's just being a boy.”
I quickly plated dinner and served it. Leo kept making jokes, my mom laughed a couple of times and I just mocked Leo.
I felt truly happy looking at my family laughing and eating. I don't want this to change. I said to myself.
I wasn't expecting a call, so when my phone rang the next morning, I almost ignored it.
It was an unknown number.
.
I stared at it for a second before picking it up.
“Hello? Is this Chloe Bennet?”
“Yes.”
“This is from Hale Group. You’re required to come in today.”
My heart skipped.
“Required?”
“Yes. Be here by 10.”
The line cut.
I sat there, staring at my phone.
“What does that even mean?” I muttered.
“You got the job,” Maddie said immediately when I texted her.
“But they didn’t say that.”
“They don’t say it these days anymore, Chloe, and ‘Be here by 10’ is not rejection. And besides, why would they even call you, just to say you didn't get the job.
I wasn’t convinced. But she made sense.
But I still got dressed anyway. Today I put on a simple corporate gown. I wasn't going to stress my brain looking for ‘the perfect outfit.
I stood at the front of the company. It was boldly written Hales Group. The building structure always fascinated me.
It still felt intimidating. But this time, I didn’t stand outside too long.
I walked in.
“Miss Bennet,” the receptionist said. “Go to the top floor.”
Top floor?
My chest tightened a little as I stepped into the elevator.
When the doors opened, a woman walked up to me. “This way.”
She led me to a large office.
“Go in.”
And just like that, she left.
I stood there for a second. Then I knocked.
“Come in.” A deep Baritone voice penetrated the door.
I pushed the door open.
And there he was. Alexander Hale.
Standing by the window like he owned the entire city.
Which… he probably did.
“Close the door,” he said.
I did
“Sit.”
He turned slowly, his eyes landing on me. He had this calm…cold aura around him that made me shiver internally.
“Why are you here,” he said. I raised my eyebrow. I interviewed for a job. I was called to come here. Why else would I be here? I rambled inside my head.
“You asked me to,” I responded quietly.
“That wasn’t a request.”
“Okay.” My face pruned as I spoke.
A small pause.
Then he walked closer.
“You have no experience. No background worth mentioning,” he said, like he was reading straight from my file. “So tell me… why should I hire you?”
There it was.
A direct interview. I built up all the confidence and looked up.
I held his gaze. It was hard, his eyes were intimidating. His grey eyes, for some reason, when he meets my eyes. I felt captivated.
“Because I’ll do the job well sir. If you would just give me a chance."
“That’s not an answer.”
“It is.”
Silence fell between us.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“You’re not intimidated.”
“ I am,” I said honestly. “I’m just not showing it.” That caught him off guard for a second.
“You think being honest will help you here?”
“Pretending won’t help me either.”
He studied me again.
“Have we met before now?” he asked.
“No, I don't recall sir.”
His brow lifted slightly. “Do you think you belong here?”
“ I don’t think I belong here, Sir. But I know I can earn my place here,” I answered with more confidence than before.
He walked past me, slow and defined.
“One mistake and you’re out.”
“Then I won’t make mistakes.”
He raised an eyebrow.“Everyone makes mistakes.”
“I’ll learn fast enough not to repeat them.”
He stopped walking. Then turned.
“You’re confident for someone with nothing.”
That one stung. If I didn't need this job desperately, I would have rained insults on him.
What do they say about the poor having to stay humble?
“I may not have much sir,” I said quietly, “but I know what I’m capable of.”
Silence fell again.
“Why do you need this job?”
Finally, a less stressful question.
I hesitated
“My family,” I said. “My mum is sick. My brother is still in school. I’m the only one working.”
His expression didn’t change.
“I don’t run a charity,” he said.
“I’m not asking for one. I am going to earn every penny I get from your company.”
“You expect me to take a risk on you?”
“Yes.”
“Now tell me. He spoke, his face Stoic as he looked at me. Why should I do that?"
Sweat trickled down my head despite the fact that the AC was on. He was looking straight at me. This spacious office suddenly felt so small.
I lifted my chin up, determined not to coward out, and answered, "Because, Sir, I won't waste it. I believe everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves." I struggled to steady my voice so it won't break.
That did it.
He held my gaze for a few seconds.
Then finally—
“Fine.”
I blinked.
“Fine?” I repeated, as if I hadn't heard him clearly the first time.
“You start tomorrow,” he said without throwing a glance at me.
“Report to HR. You’ll be assigned directly to my office.”
My heart beat faster.
“Thank you sir,” I said, standing up.
“Don’t thank me,” he replied coldly. “You haven’t proven anything yet.”
I nodded.
“I will sir.”
He turned away.
“You're dismissed.”
I walked out. I couldn't control my excitement, I was grinning so hard that some of the staff stared at me. I couldn't care less, I was finally employed.
After all these years... Finally, I got a job.
The tension I felt earlier disappeared, and I was filled with pure joy.
Outside, I called Maddie immediately.
“Well?” she asked, holding her breath.
I took a breath.
“I got it” I burst out.
She screamed.” I told you.”
"Thank you so much Maddie," I said, tears forming in my eyes.
"Even when I didn't want to move anymore, you kept pushing me forward. I love you girl."
That's why I'm your best friend. I love you too.
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