A door opens

Adrian looked at the house then stared at her.

“What did you just say?”

“You heard me. I want a lift.”

He watched her walk round the car then jumped in holding her handbag. She put on the seatbelt and sighed.

“We can go.”

He looked at his phone then drove off. Faye looked at him momentarily then turned ahead.

“My mother is married. My dad is a good man. He loves her and goes over and above for us.”

Adrian remained silent trying to digest the situation. He looked at his tattoos on his hands wondering if at the interview that would discredit him. Most probably. It had happened before but he had now leant to keep his hands far away during interviews.

Faye shook her head. “And for you to do those things on my father’s bed! In his house!”

Adrian slowed down then turned the wheels joining the road.

“I am talking to you!”

“I’m going to a barber to get my haircut, you can jump off anywhere between here and there. I’m not responsible for what you saw. Go and confront your mother and tell your father while at it.” Adrian smiled. “I have nothing to lose so I ain’t worried about it. Your mother on the other hand has a lot at stake.”

“Fuck you!”

Adrian chuckled. “You want to jump off?”

“This is my mothers car! I’m not going anywhere. How old are you even? She is 49!”

He drove through a green traffic light. “You are angry at the wrong person. I owe you and your father nothing.”

Tears filled her eyes as she thought of just how much her father would be heart broken. Adrian sighed and minutes later parked his car at a salon.

“Call your mother and confront her. I didn’t go after her, she came after me. Those are 2 different things. She knew she was married. I am sorry your dad is diabetic and can’t perform his sexual duties.”

Faye ’s mouth dropped open. She tried to talk but her lungs seemed to be closing in. She gasped struggling to breathe.

looked at her, he looked around then unclipped her seatbelt pulling to the side of the road.

“What’s wrong?”

Her body tensed the more she struggled to breathe. Adrian ’s brows furrowed as he watched Faye’s hands clutch her handbag. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her eyes widening in panic. She tried to speak, her lips parting, but no words came out, just a desperate wheeze.

“Hey! What’s wrong?” Adrian leaned closer, his heart pounding. “Talk to me!”

She shook her head weakly, her hand trembling as she reached for the zip of her bag. Adrian quickly opened the bag for and looked inside noticing the small inhaler she was struggling to retrieve. His instincts kicked in almost instinctively. He grabbed it, uncapped it, and pressed it into her hand.

“Breathe, dammit!”

Faye tried to hold her inhaler but her fingers were weak, barely able to hold onto it. Without thinking, Adrian guided the inhaler to her mouth and pressed down on the canister. She inhaled shakily, but her breaths were still too shallow, her face paling.

“Shit. Shit shit shit!” He cursed under his breath. This wasn’t working fast enough.

“Hold on.” His voice was tight with urgency.

The tires screeched as he pulled back into the road and sped off overtaking cars. He kept glancing at her, her head was now slumped against the window, her fingers weakly curled.

“Stay with me, Faye.”

Over 15 minutes later, Adrian parked the car at GPH and jumped out. He pulled her into his arms and rushed inside, his voice booming across the waiting area.

“She can’t breathe! She has asthma, she needs help, now!”

A nurse immediately sprang into action, signalling for a wheelchair. Adrian felt his heart hammering against his chest as they wheeled Faye away, disappearing behind the emergency doors.

His hands clenched into fists. His phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out and picked.

“Hello?”

“Good morning Mr Vale, you are speaking to Justin at Urban Logistics. I just wanted to remind you that your interview starts at 8am.”

He looked at the time. Clearly there was no time to crisp his haircut.

“Thanks. I will be there just now.”

“See you soon.”

Adrian quickly walked out.

*

At Urban Logistics, Adrian nervously sat in an office staring at the three people in front of her.

He went over the tips on how to nail an interview while at the same time trying to keep his confident look. The interviewers looked at his CV, the one he had edited. It now wrote he had 4 years experience in logistics.

People lied everyday during interviews, it was not like he didn’t have experience, he did, just not the years he wrote. The female interviewer looked at him.

“So Mr Vale, tell us a little bit about yourself. “

Adrian cleared his throat, straightening his back.

“Well, I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. I started my career as a logistics coordinator and later moved into dispatch operations. I’ve worked on streamlining delivery processes, managing warehouse efficiency, and ensuring timely shipments. I believe my experience aligns well with the role you are offering.”

The interviewers exchanged glances before the man on the right spoke. “According to your CV, you have four years of experience in logistics. Can you tell us about a time you had to handle a major crisis in the supply chain?”

Adrian kept his expression neutral while his heart raced. And no, he had never worked at a logistics company before.

Fuvk! He opened his mouth and begun making up a story. “Certainly. At my previous job, there was an incident where a critical shipment was delayed due to customs clearance issues. It was high-value inventory, and the client was threatening to pull out. I immediately coordinated with our clearance agents, rerouted some shipments to alternative warehouses, and personally handled negotiations with customs. We managed to expedite the process, and the shipment was delivered just in time. The client ended up renewing their contract.”

The female interviewer nodded in approval. “Impressive. So, why do you want to work with Urban Logistics?”

Adrian leaned slightly forward, meeting her gaze. “Urban Logistics has a strong reputation for efficiency and innovation. I see an opportunity to grow and contribute my skills in a challenging, fast-paced environment. I want to be part of a team that values strategic problem-solving and operational excellence.”

The third interviewer, an older man who had been silent until now, finally spoke. “We are looking for someone who can handle high-pressure situations. How do you deal with stress?”

Adrian let out a slight chuckle. “Business, in general, is high-pressure. The key is staying organized and focusing on solutions rather than problems. I prioritize tasks, delegate when necessary, and remain adaptable. Stress is part of the job, but handling it well is what makes the difference.”

The room fell silent for a moment. The female interviewer smiled and set down his CV. “Alright, Mr. Vale, that will be all. Please wait outside, and we will call you once we have made a decision.”

Adrian nodded thanking them, and walked out. He exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

As he stepped into the waiting area, his confidence wavered. Ten more candidates were now seated where he had been. His stomach twisted, and some of them looked sharp, well-dressed, and polished. Immediately, doubt crept in.

Minutes turned into an hour. Then, longer. Every interviewee was now waiting, their eyes darting to the office door every time it creaked open.

Finally, Judith stepped out with a warm but professional smile on her face. She cleared her throat, her eyes scanning the anxious faces before her.

“First, I’d like to thank all of you for taking the time to interview with us today. We appreciate your interest in urban logistics.”

Adrian crossed his arms, bracing himself for disappointment. He wasn’t new to it.

“We are pleased to announce that the position has been offered to… Mr. Adrian Vale.”

The room went silent.

Adrian blinked. His brain took a second to process what she had just said.

Him?

Of all the candidates?

He stared at Judith, then at the others, expecting her to correct herself. But she didn’t.

He got the job!