Chapter Seven
1101 Words
“I'm sorry, ma'am. We do not have any job openings at the moment. All our positions are filled,” the receptionist said, “ but you can leave your contact behind, we'll call you when we get an opening.”
Lies. Alyssa knew they were all lies. She'd gotten that promise countless times from the countless places she'd gone to look for a job. They all promised to call her back but they never did. Right now, she was beginning to see it as their way of getting rid of her.
She should have known that this wasn't the right place for her the moment she stepped into this place. Everything here screamed class and her insecurities had whispered that she wasn't fit to work in a place like this.
But this wasn't the Countryside where one just got a job by showing up at the company. This was New York, where no one cared about anyone.
Her heart was broken into shreds but she managed to smile. Crying here would not give her the job.
“We’ll call you when there's an opening,” she replied. “Drop your contact details with us.” the receptionist said again, interrupting her thoughts.
Alyssa nodded and scribbled her phone number on the paper. As she began to write, she paused and let her eyes roam the building.
“Ma'am, you have to be quick. Our boss will be here soon and he can't meet you here.”
Boss.
An idea struck her. What if she saw the boss and begged him for a job. He'd listen to her, right? She'd beg him to hire her even as a cleaner because that was the only way she could pay her overdue rent, buy food to feed her starving self and give her mother the care she deserved. She was sure working as a cleaner would earn her a modest income.
“Ma'am, you have to be quick.” The receptionist said again.
“What’s going–” A voice interrupted but stopped midway when Alyssa turned.
“Ma'am Catharina,” the receptionist muttered. “Uhm, she's looking for a job here.”
Alyssa came face to face with a lady dressed in a black. Her hair was packed in a ponytail and it made her look stunning like a model, Alyssa was dazed at how beautiful she looked. The woman gasped softly when she saw her and slowly, a frown made it to her face.
“Who are you?” The woman scowled.
Alyssa stepped back. Why was she so rude?
“Uhm… I'm… my name is…” she swallowed hard. The harsh stare from the woman was making her uneasy.
“You know what. I don't care what your name is. Just get out.”
“But,” she murmured. “What did I do?”
She couldn't get what she'd done to make the woman hate her at a first glance. And she couldn't leave because she had not finished writing her number.
“I need a job. I can do anything. I can clean. I can run errands. Anything ma'am, anything.” she tried to beg.
“We don't need low lives like you working for us.”
Alyssa gasped. Did the lady just call her a lowlife?
“I'm not a low life. I have a college degree,” she blurted. She would never let anyone insult her.
“Get out now!”
“I don't get it. Why are you rude to me? What did I do to you?”
Alyssa was surprised because she had never met her. Staring into her eyes, she could see that the woman was jealous but she couldn't get why.
“Oh nothing,” the lady replied. “You just have to leave before my boss sees you.”
“Then may I drop my number?”
“No. Your services won't be needed here.”
“Why?”
“I know ladies like you,” Catharina replied. “You'll do anything to get in the boss's bed.”
With that, she walked away. Alyssa slumped her shoulders and wiped the tears that were trying to form around her eyes.
She hung her head in sadness and began to walk away. She had many expectations when she left her house this morning but she didn't expect to be treated like dirt.
“Come here,” the receptionist whispered. “Write your number quickly. I'll call you when there's an opening, I promise.”
Alyssa walked toward the receptionist. One look into her eyes and she knew she wasn't lying. She quickly wrote her number on the paper and thanked the receptionist.
“Sorry about that,” she said. “I guess she's jealous of you. You're very beautiful. She thinks you'll catch our CEO’s fancy.”
Alyssa did not know what to reply. She nodded and walked home. As she walked home, she tried not to think about what had happened. She didn't want to start crying.
When she got home, she met her landlord outside her door with a huge frown on his face.
“Ms Williams, your rent is overdue,” he snapped at her.
“I know, sir. Give me some time, I'll pay up. I promise.”
“Well, you've been saying that for two months, Ms Williams. How do I believe you this time?”
“I haven't got a job yet, sir. When I do, I'll pay up.”
“So, you won't pay me if you don't get a job in five years?” He asked, sarcasm etched to the tone of his voice.
She tried to speak up but he beat her to it.
“You have two weeks left.” He said, raising his index and middle finger. “Two weeks left to pay and if you don't, I'll throw you out. I do not run a charity. This is prime property.”
Her landlord stomped off, leaving her confused and alone.
Alyssa walked inside the apartment and threw herself on the bed. She had to come up with an idea on how to pay her rent. She removed the complimentary card from her bag and stared at the phone number. She had tried to follow protocols by going to the company to apply for a job but that lady had treated her like dirt. Now, she'd finally call the number and speak to the CEO.
She just hoped he answered her call.
She dialled the number and he answered on the second ring.
“Hello,” she muttered, waiting for his reply.
- Writer
