Chapter 3

The hall was bustling with people. They were all hurrying about. Trying to do their various works.

I made my way the receptionist sitting behind the desk. She looked in her early twenties.

'Good morning'. I greeted.

She looked up and surveyed me. She scrunched her nose up in disgust, probably not satisfied with my dress. But I've gotten a lot of that so it doesn't affect me anymore.

'Good morning to you too'.

'How can I help you?'.

'I-uh' I cleared my throat.

'I'm here for an interview for the post of an accountant. Can you kindly lead me to where it's supposed to take place?'.

'This way please'. She led me through a narrow door I didn't notice before and it led into a bigger room where at least fifty people were seated waiting for their turn.

I turned to thank the last for her help but she was gone.

I shrugged and took a sit beside a lady.

Well, you can't say she's a lady if you consider the wrinkles on her face.

'Good morning'. I greeted.

She made a sound similar to that of my step mother's when I greeted her in the morning.

Amazing how people can make such a wonderful sound at someone just trying to be polite. Note the sarcasm.

The lady beside me opened her bag, picked a rosary and started praying rather noisily.

'Uhm-- excuse me'. I tapped her.

'Do you mind reducing your voice a little?'.

She stared at me for a while then: 

'No!'.

'Father Benedict asked me to pray with the rosary if I want to get the job. I won't listen to you'.

'Go away, devil'.

Oh, maybe she went a little too far. I mean, I was just telling her to reduce her voice and not stop praying.

I might be ugly but I'm very sure I don't look like a devil. Thank you.

And from what I heard the devil is pretty.

'I'm going to get the job. You'll see'.

'OK then, let's wait and see'.

She threw me another look then resumed her 'not so silent' prayer.

I sat for another hour hearing people being called for and some leaving with sour faces while others danced out.

Then I heard 'Mrs stone'.

The woman beside me stood up and made her way into the room.

So she was married after all. I wonder who in his right senses will marry someone like that.

Obviously ,someone like her.

Maya rolled her eyes.

I agree. For the first time agreeing with my subconscious self.

I hope she doesn't get the job.

Me too.

And our wish came to pass. Minutes later Mrs whatever they called her came out crying.

Another person was called in, ignoring her wails.

She kept wailing until she got to where I sat then she turned abruptly.

'Don't think you've won. You won't get the job too. Devil'.

She spat and continued to cry her way through.

Another person like her was called and after being rejected she came out and started talking to herself about how the company is bad and won't pity poor single mothers.

After about 2 hours and everyone was almost gone I was starting to wonder if maybe my name wasn't even there after all.

And that's when I heard it : Miss Bakker?'.

'Sir?'. I shot up and almost ran into the room.

Finally.

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'We're sorry miss we won't be able to accept you. We hope you find a job in another company'.

He said the words I've been hearing for the past months.

The door man gave me an apologetic look and I nodded back at him.

The two ladies that remained threw me curious glances.

I ignored the both of them and walked out of the room. I got to the reception area wore a fake smile.

The receptionist shouldn't see me like that.

I knew going out with a forlorn look will make her jest, seeing as she didn't think well of me.

I walked confidently and with my nose in the air towards her and smirked at her.

She looked at me with her mouth hanging open then looked at my dress and shuddered before resuming her work.

Other people walking around the hall too gave me looks. Not me exactly but my dress.

But they're not that old, why the stares.

Of course they're not. You've just had them since you were fifteen. My stupid subconscious self told me.

And what's wrong with that? It's not like I grew bigger or taller than the cloth.

You don't get it do you?

No I don't...

K.. Whatever it's your life...

Exactly, that's why you shouldn't butt in.

She decided not to give me a reply for that one.

I stopped a cab and got in but did not head home. I headed straight to the biggest mansion in the area.

I had seen a vacancy for the job of an assistant cook there while passing the day before but I didn't think I'd apply.

I mean. I'm supposed to be an accountant right?

The cab dropped me at the front of the shiny black gate. I could see some police and bodyguards in front of the house. 

It was a senator's house.

I took a deep breath and whistled drawing the attention of someone in a uniform.

'What do you want here?'.

'Good afternoon to you too, isn't it a wonderful day?'.

He narrowed his eyes at me and made a move to leave but I called him back.

'Are you ready to talk?'.

'Yes, of course sir'.

'So....'.

'What Sir?'.

'Young lady do not waste my time here I have things to do'.

'Yes sir, right away sir'.

He cocked his head.

'Err-- I saw the vacancy for the post of an --err-- a cook?'.

He sized me up.

'And....?'.

'And I want to apply for it, sir'.

'You?'.

'Yes sir? Anything wrong?'.

'No of course not,follow me'.

He opened the gate for me and I entered.

He led me towards the entrance of the house past the waterfall and we stopped at the front of two bodyguards.

He whispered something in their ears and they nodded then one of them walked toward and scanned me with something that was probably an iron detector.

He stopped when the thing made a noise when it got to my belly area.

He made a move for me to raise my shirt and I did, bringing the ring I had pierced into my belly button into full view.

He nodded and the other man led me inside the building.

I followed him into the house and tried my best not to gape at the beauty of mansion.

We finally stopped at what I assumed was the kitchen and he spoke to an older woman who I assumed was the head cook in a language I couldn't identify.

'Come on, young lady'. The woman led me deeper into the kitchen and she stopped at an area where many cupboards were.

She dipped her head into a cupboard and brought out a dress along with a head cap.

'You should begin your work today'.

'OK ma'am'.

'Call me Katherine'. She said and smiled at me.

'What's your name dearie?'.

'Maya'.

'What a lovely name'.

'My mother named me that before she died'. 

'Oh, I'm so sorry dear'. 

'It's fine'.

She took me by the hands and we went back to the main kitchen where the other workers were gathered.

They all introduced their selves to me and I did too.

Some were happy to have me among them while others did not.

But anyways I've finally found a job. A job though different from what I wanted to do initially will earn me enough money to live on my own without any step mother or sisters bearing down my neck.

I've found a permanent job.

Temporary you mean.

Shut up! I told my subconscious self.

I mean, what could probably go wrong?

Plenty.

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