Chapter 12

Isabelle

A surge of happiness flooded me as I woke, which showed in the way I leapt off the mattress, despite a few cranky joints.

Today was going to be different. It had to be. I felt a whole lot stronger and refreshed, considering the pains and stress I went through yesterday.

Yesterday, when I had returned home, I could barely lift my arms. All I did was chew a few slices of bread, take my medication, and sink into the mattress, fading into a deep sleep in seconds.

I checked the time on my phone. 9.00 a.m. already?

Panic set in as I rushed to get ready, hurrying through the room into the bathroom. I ran through the shower within minutes, dried my body with a towel, and raced back to the bedroom to dress for the interview today.

At exactly 10 a.m., I walked into Maya's Cosmetic store, greeted by the sight of neat, tiled floors and rows of gleaming counters displaying an array of cosmetics.

A shop attendant, a bright-eyed young woman with a lovely smile, stood nearby, chatting with a customer, a pack of perfume in hand. The sweet scent of perfumes filled the air and soft music played in the background, creating a welcoming atmosphere. The store's interior was well-illiminated, highlighting the colors of the products on display.

I approached the attendant when she returned to her desk, after finishing with the customer.

"Good morning ma'am. I'm Isabelle and I came for an interview. Could you direct me to the interview room?"

Her head snapped up from her computer, a bit startled. "Oh, that? Mrs Maya did mention it. Hold on. Let me inform her of your arrival."

She picked up a telephone and dialed the office line. "Good day ma'am. Miss Isabelle is here for the interview."

She paused for a moment. "She should come in?" "Oh okay, I'll let her in right away."

After dropping the telephone, she raised her head and gave a small smile. "Follow me please."

I nodded. She led me through a passage, lined with counters towering above us on both sides, filled with neatly arranged products. I couldn't help but admire the precision at which things were organized here.

"Here we are." The attendant smiled again as we stopped in front of a large, metal door which radiated with gold shimmers. A tag placed above said: The Director.

I smiled brightly at her. "Thank you, ma'am."

"Oh, it's no issue. And I'm Genevieve. Gen for short."

I dipped my head in response and she waved me off, disappearing within split seconds. I pressed the doorbell and pulled the door open.

A rush of cold air from air-conditioner hit into me as I strode in, sending shivers down my spine.

"You're here. Finally."

My eyes snapped in the direction of the voice which sounded familiar. Seated behind a large pine desk, was Mrs Maya, dressed in a light, peach gown that fit her perfectly, staring at me through a pair of glasses.

Wow. Such a beauty.

"You're five minutes late, Isabelle." Her voice was sharp, draining every sense of laxity within me.

"I apologize ma'am. I had to wait for the shop attendant. Eh…Gen, to finish with the customers."

Tension rose in the air, as her eyes raked over me, scanning, scrutinizing. This was definitely not the woman I met yesterday.

"Understood. Please sit."

She pointed at one of the black, leather chairs which sat opposite her table.

I had barely settled when her voice rang with a question. "Why do you think you'd be able to do the job of a receptionist well?"

I turned it over in my mind, carefully considering my answer. "I would do this job well because I have good communication skills which is very important for this position. Again, I am flexible so I'd be able to withstand stress. Also, I'm thick-skinned so I'd face every customer with a smile, no matter their attitude. I'm ready to learn, adapt and give respect and premium service to our customers."

She nodded, revealing a hint of approval before her expression reverted to that blank look.

"I hope you do understand that this is not a matter of fancy words. I have a vision for my business and you must work to help me achieve that. Do you get me?"

She paused, sending a piercing gaze that had me squirming in my chair. Damn. Why was this woman so intimidating?

"I understand you totally, ma'am."

"Good. Then, I'd love to see you practice. Just 30 minutes please. Let's see how well you'll handle our customers."

The air in the room thinned at her words and my eyes widened. Wait what? I didn't prepare for this.

My heart thumped in my chest, my hands trembling at my sides as we made our way to the receptionist desk. Pressure tightened in my chest, making it hard to breathe.

"There comes your first customer." She said, patting my shoulder. Before I knew what was going on, she had disappeared.

What? Sneaky woman!

I thought she was going to stand over my shoulder and watch me attend to them. It seemed she had other plans.

I took a deep breath, cleared my throat and spoke. "Good morning Ma'am. Welcome to Maya's Cosmetics. How can we help?"

I made sure to showcase my set of thirty two teeth with a well-practiced smile.

"What is good about this morning?"

My breath caught in my throat. Not today. Please.

"I'm here about the app. Why would there be features that would put me through stress? Do you think it is right for a lady of my age to come out here because I need beauty products? Why isn't delivery swift and efficient? What do you have to say about this?"

An elderly woman with a small frame, stood before me, face wrinkled, eyes questioning, body shaking in rage.

My whole body went cold and my smile froze in place. What the actual hell?