Unknowingly, Theressa’s eyes remained fixed on him as he neared the exit. Just when it seemed he was about to leave, he turned back to her, his gaze once more bearing down upon her like a relentless storm, and then, without a word, he walked out of the room. The enigmatic man’s questions and his abrupt departure left Theressa with more questions than answers, and she couldn’t help but wonder about the deeper connection between her past and this perplexing interview.
“I’m sorry, Theressa, but I don’t think you are fit for this job,” one of the interviewers stated with a face that bore the weight of pity. The words cut deep, and Theressa felt her hope shatter into a thousand pieces. She managed to force a smile, a facade to mask the disappointment, and she nodded politely to the panel before turning her back to leave the office. A solitary tear slipped down her cheek, her disappointment welling up within her.
Theressa, just like every other dejected candidate before her, her head was bowed low. The collective anxiety of her fellow applicants hung heavy in the air, a shared sense of defeat that seemed to shadow them all.
Then, as she lifted her head, her gaze met the CEO’s once more. He had been the one to introduce chaos into her interview, and she couldn’t help but resent him. Theressa knew better than to confront such a high-ranking figure, the head of the largest car production company. But her disappointment fueled a fire within her. She couldn’t ignore the suspicion that this man’s hands might not be as clean as they seemed. He likely had his secrets, his own transgressions.
Without any hesitation, she marched up to him as he steeped inside the elevator, there were guards at his side. The same black suit as always. She chuckled and smirked. “Who knew a robber could also be a CEO” Her mind warned to stop but she just couldn’t she wanted to give this man a piece of her mind. But before she could pour out another word. The man spoke up first.
“Excuse us,” the man ordered, his tone seeping with authority, a deep and piercing command that left no room for defiance. The guards, who had accompanied them into the elevator, instantly obeyed, marching out and forming a protective phalanx behind Theressa. She watched them fall in line behind her, her confusion evident in the furrowed brows that knitted together.
“Get in,” the man ordered, and Theressa hesitated. She didn’t want to appear rude, but she also didn’t want to give in to the whims of this mysterious figure. Yet, that dominant tone, with its spine-tingling effect, compelled her to obey. She reluctantly stepped inside the elevator, frustrated with herself for capitulating to this enigmatic stranger.
“With all due respect, sir,” Theressa couldn’t help but question, her voice laced with frustration, “why are you doing this to me?” As the elevator doors began to close, the man responded not with words but with a sardonic chuckle that only served to further infuriate Theressa. She had tried her best to be polite, but this man continued to push her to the brink.
“Can’t you just look past what happened?” Theressa’s question hung in the air, bringing a momentary pause to the man’s chuckle. Finally, he turned to face her, his gaze intense as if he were meticulously assessing every aspect of her.
“You still wouldn’t have gotten the job without my presence,” he stated matter-of-factly. Confusion swept over Theressa. She had been confident in her performance, acing every question during the interview. The panel had appeared satisfied, so what was this enigmatic man insinuating?
“What do you mean?” she asked, her eyes reflecting her perplexity.
“Did you not get fired from your previous job because you refused to sleep with your boss?” he inquired with nonchalance, as if discussing the weather. Theressa’s eyes widened in shock. How did he know about her past, and where was he going with this line of questioning?
“You would have been expected to do the same here to secure your job,” he continued, his tone unaffected. “So, let’s just say I helped you.”
Theressa’s emotions swirled in a chaotic mix of confusion, doubt, and fury. She couldn’t fathom what this man was offering or why.
“In case you still want the job, you can contact this number,” he said, handing her a business card. Leaning closer, he whispered in her ear, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine and a sensation she couldn’t quite define coursing through her. Her knees felt unsteady, her heart raced in a way it had never done for a stranger.
“The choice is in your hands,” he declared before exiting the elevator, where his guards stood in a stoic line, ready to accompany him. As the doors closed behind him, Theressa was left standing there, holding the business card, and contemplating the inexplicable encounter that had just transpired.
Theressa was still reeling from the shock of the encounter in the elevator. She couldn’t believe that such a situation had even been suggested as a means of employment. It was not only morally wrong but also potentially illegal. She couldn’t fathom how one’s professional qualifications should be tied to personal relationships of that nature. As she stepped out of the company building, she could feel the collective gaze of the people in the lobby on her. It was as if they viewed her as some peculiar spectacle, a pawn in a surreal game.
Theressa’s brow furrowed as she walked away from that place, pondering their continued scrutiny. However, she was not going to trade one toxic environment for another. She was determined to find a job that valued her skills and character without any inappropriate expectations.
She huffed out a deep breath, struggling to hold back her tears. This wasn’t the end for her. She clung to the hope of securing a job where she could maintain her dignity. She hailed a taxi, shared her destination with the driver, and watched the world pass by outside the window. Her heart ached at the thought of seeing her mother in the hospital. She steeled herself, pushing back her tears, and tried to distract herself by observing the pedestrians on the street.
As the taxi pulled up to the hospital, Theressa felt a pang of sadness when she saw the dwindling amount of cash she had left. She paid the fare and walked through the hospital corridors, offering greetings to the nurses she passed. She took a deep breath before entering her mother’s ward. She needed the strength to face whatever challenges lay ahead, and the sight of her mother lying there served as a poignant reminder of the battles she was fighting for both of them.