Chapter 8

Wren’s Pov

No one wants me. Maybe there was someone out there who had hexed the name Wren Anderson, because the minute anyone sees the name, they all have the same expression; a blanched look, before they say the same line that I have heard more times than I should.

“We are sorry, we can’t hire you.”

Seven companies, same story, same expression.

It felt like my name was blacklisted.

“This is going to be better; I promise you,” Anna’s voice echoed through the phone. I could tell she was trying so hard to encourage me, but I had lost hope in everything.

“We said the same thing three jobs back and yet we are still searching.”

She hummed, sounded distracted, “yes…yes,” her voice interrupted by the sound of kissing and her giggling.

“Anna?” I frowned, wondering if she had company. “Are you busy or…”

She cleared her throat, I heard a groan, an obvious sound that didn’t belong to her. My eyes widened, “You have a man in your house? Are you dating? Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, unable to hide the excitement in my tone.

After the day I had had, this was something nice to hear. “Is he the one? The one you said was complicated?” I asked remembering the times she had cried about how horrible things were between her and the man.

She hummed, “Yes, I guess we finally worked everything out.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I should have, but you have a lot going on right now, and I just…”

“Anna, don’t you ever dim your light for mine, okay? We cry, we laugh, but we do it together...”

She laughed, “I know, I am sorry.” The sound came again, followed by a stifled moan. “Wren…” Her tone was slightly breathless.

I chuckled, “Okay, I am going to go, I don’t want to hear you moan over the phone,” I ended the call.

With a smile, I grabbed my bag, I had three more places to try and after that, I could try to pay a visit to Elisabeth today. “You can do it,” I whispered the words, even when it sounded like a lie.

***

“I am sorry, Miss Anderson, but we are no longer accepting applications.” The man said with a soft smile on his face guilt tugging in his eyes. They all had the same look, the same guilty look, different faces but said the same words.

I forced a smile, “It is fine, thank you.” I didn’t want to hear what he had to say. Didn’t even ask if I could drop my resume, I knew there was nothing more to be done there.

One down, two more to go.

“Wren Anderson?” I said to the receptionist, my tone breathless. I hope she didn’t take one look at me and send me out the door.

“Second door on your left,” she bit out, loudly popping the chewing gum in her mouth, barely even looking in my direction.

“Thank you?” I whispered, walking away from her.

When I turned to the door on the left, my eyes widened as is tare at the ladies that sat on the chairs that filled the hallway. They looked like models from a freaking Vogue magazine. Hairs straightened; skirts so short it wouldn’t take much to see far down.

“You are up next,” a gruff voice said, pointing to the door.

“Thank you,” I whispered, tugging on my shirt hoping that I looked somewhat presentable.

“Drop your files, your name and tell me what you can do for the company.” The man said the minute I walked in.

Getting right into it, okay.

“Hi, uh, my name is Wren Anderson, I am…” The sound of his phone ringing caught him off guard. He raised his hand signaling me to stay quiet. I nodded, watching as he walked out of the office, closing the door behind him.

I looked around, this should be it, I crossed my fingers behind me, literally begging everything that I knew to give me a second chance. I needed it.

When the door opened, he returned with a look I was familiar with, the same guilty look that every employer has had. “Miss Anderson,” he started in a solemn voice. “I am sorry, but the position has already been filled.”

That was a new line.

“Filled?” I asked.

He nodded, but said nothing. he couldn’t be right. I looked out the door, the ladies were still seated, all with eager faces, “Is this a mistake?”

“Someone will see you out,” he said.

That sucked.

But I wasn’t going to stop. One more, and then I was going to think about the crazy fate that life was throwing at me. I stared at the building before me, Hunt Ventures, a company that dealt with furniture. I knew nothing about carpentry, but what do they say? Beggars can’t be choosers, can they?

There was no secretary, no one to tell me where I had to go. Just a man with a gruff look on his face that looked like he hated the sight of me. “Drop your application there,” he said, didn’t even wait for me to say a word.

“I…”

“We will get back to you,” he said, cutting me off.

I wanted to walk away with the file, I wasn’t going to let anyone have me sit by the phone with bated breath, waiting for the good news that wouldn’t come. With a sigh, I dropped it, there was no harm in trying, was there?

“Thank you,” I said, even though he did nothing for me.

I had an hour to spare, the thought of going home felt distant. I wanted to see Elisabeth, but I couldn’t bring myself to go home, anna would have been the best choice, but recalling the sounds she made over the phone, I knew that I didn’t want to interrupt her.

The nurse smiled softly when I walked in, I could see the pity in her eyes, “Wren, been a minute,” she greeted.

I hummed, unsure of what to say. “Is she….”

“She had an episode, but we got her stabilised, she is sleeping now.”

I knew what that meant, I wouldn’t be allowed to see her.

“Can you let me know when she is awake? Maybe I can…”

“You can come in tomorrow; I won’t guarantee her waking up anything soon.”

I nodded.

“And Wren…”

“I know, I am working on it, give me some time please,” I begged.

“Okay.”

I didn’t wait to hear her next words, I was already out the door, the cold breeze hitting my face as the tears slipped through. My mother wasn’t just selfish, all she would have done would have been to drop maybe a million from her money and run with the rest. But instead, she had left me with a debt and a helpless sister.

My phone dinged. “Hello?”

“You have been hired, you start tomorrow at 8 am, don’t be late.” The call ended.