Contracted Heart

CHAPTER 5

Emily woke up early in the morning as she stared at herself in the mirror and her big green orbs stared back at her from the mirror. Since Olivia told her about the job interview with GOLD JEWELRY INCORPORATIONS COMPANY, she has been restless.

The past two days she has been talking to herself in the mirror as she practiced what to say when she gets on the stage for the interview. The thought of different pairs of eyeballs fixed on her made her jittery.

“It's nice to be here," she smiled, “My name is Emily Parker and I have extensive experience in jewelry designs. It's my pleasure to work with this noble company as I derive joy in creative works. Umm….” her words cut in her throat.

“Oh damn!" She cursed trying to calm herself as she gave a long exhale with her eyes closed.

“Come on Emily you’ve got this. I got this ,” she assured herself patting herself back.

She quickly rushed out of her bedroom as she headed into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. "I think a cup of coffee would make me feel more bold and make me feel better about this whole new feeling of the interview.

She would have kissed the interview goodbye because she hasn't climbed on a stage with spotlights since she became a full-grown woman. The thought of it alone made her armpits sweaty.

When Olivia sent her the details about the interview she decided to carry out her research about the company before she could go there in person, and she found out all those aspiring to be the top artist of the company would be featured on stage. A stuff she is very afraid of. A frown creased her face at the thought of it.

After much contemplation, she had to go hard or go home. “I need this job and I think this is my time to shine," she encouraged herself.

She made herself a cup of coffee as she sipped from it lost in her thoughts. After a moment, she was brought back to the moment when she heard someone called, “Emily," in a mellifluous voice and she almost gasped.

The door to the kitchen was pushed open slowly just for her to see Olivia. Olivia gave her a confused look, “Don't tell me you are feeling nervous about the interview," she rolled her eyes.

Emily heaved a deep sigh as she cringed her head in reply.

******** ******** ********

Emily and Olivia sat in the cab, on their way to the Silver jewelry incorporation company.

“So tell me why did you run away from the hospital that day you got knocked down by the car?" Olivia started up a conversation.

"I wasn't knocked down, I passed out," Emily corrected her, averting her face. The thought of the man she woke up and saw at the hospital popped into her head and for a minute she saw herself thinking about him.

“I was scared because I couldn't afford to pay for the medical bills,” Emily said casually looking out through the window, her actions and the way she talked earned a chuckle from her Olivia

After a twenty-minute drive in one of the busy streets in New York, the cab halted at a very beautiful gate.

The driver tilted his head at them, “We have reached your destination. I am ending the trip right away.”

Emily nodded, "Sure.”

Olivia paid the driver his tip and they got down from the cab as they stared in awe at the grand building which stood tall in the sky.

Emily stood clutching her portfolio as she stared around astoundedly one more time, before she could grasp what was going on, someone yanked the portfolio in her hand curtly, and she turned abruptly to see who the hell did that just to see a person running away with her portfolio in his hand at a very high speed filled with a lot of energy.

She screamed, “Heyyyyy!” kicking her legs, and immediately she ran after the dude but her running after the dude was short-lived. She stood confused not knowing how she was feeling.

“What happened?” Olivia asked as curiosity got the best of her, her breath coming in heavy gasps when she ran to her.

Emily stared at her with her eyes welled up as her heart clogged with emotions not uttering a word. If Emily had said a word, Emily or her tears would have burst out. It took her a lot of energy to hold everything in as her heart tugged with pain like it was squeezed into a rounded shape like a piece of paper.

Why is her life like this? Every opportunity she sees as a step up in her life will always end up crumbling to her feet. “What the f*ck is going on in my life?” she questioned herself in her dilemma and tears only shimmered down her cheeks like it was the answer to her questions.

Olivia walked to her with worry etched on her face as she pulled her close into a warm hug. Emily sniffled as her hands engulfed Olivia tightly. Olivia rubbed her back soothing her, Emily never knew she needed a hug so badly until Olivia gave her one and she felt better, she was calm.

“Let's go home,” Emily said in a hoarse voice.

“No girl,” Olivia blurted, "we are here already. Common,”

"My designs for the interview are gone?" Emily shot back.

After some persuasion from Olivia, Emily concluded since she was at the venue she would try talking to the people concerned. Even though it didn't sound sensitive she just had to.

She showed the guards her digital ticket on her phone at the gate and they were granted access into the company.

“GOLD JEWELRY INCORPORATIONS” The big scripted words stared at them as they looked at it for a moment before making their way towards the entrance.

What Emily was expecting the interview setup to be was different from what she thought. There was no climbing on stage or spotlights. That alone made her heave a deep sigh of relief. But she wasn't complete.

All of them who showed up for the interview were sitting in the waiting room as a lady was calling them into the room of the board of directors.

Her gaze scanned the people sitting in the row with her and all of them had their portfolios with them, her eyes welled up again at the thought of how she lost hers.

“Emily Parker,” Emily looked up. The lady continued, “Come with me." Emily stood up and followed her, hoping she wouldn't be kicked out when she got to the interviewers as her heart pounded in her chest.

She got into the room and different eyeballs were on her and she gulped nervously, her heart in apprehension that she might be sent away. One of the interviewers pointed to a seat, “Have a seat Ms."

"Thank you,” she muttered, bringing herself to smile but the smile vanished in the blink of an eye.

“Can we see some of your works?" An interviewer asked, looking her in the eyes.

Emily's heart went blank at the question, and she let a lump down her throat, feeling nervous. She didn't know where to start.

“Umm! Umm!" Her chest heaved.

The room was filled with awkward silence as the interviewers communicated through eye contact.

“Ms Emily it's since you aren't prepared for this, you may leave."

Her heart hammered in her chest as she heard those words.

“Allow her to show us what she can do by coming up

with a design from scratch," a masculine voice came quickly full of authority.

Her eyes moved in the direction to see you’ve got her back and she was startled at who she saw.