l

n late in leaving my house— it was no small feat to make Victoria and Anna eat their breakfast, and after that

his interview was my last hope. It was by some miracle that I had happened upon the newspaper in which the classified for this job was listed. And in my quest to read the job description

nd all I had to do was assort the files and manage the paperwork. I took it as my due f

t that I never could get to enjoy the rain like many other people sitting up in their warm houses and looking at the world through their windows, not knowing what it was like to be hungry and miserable with wet c

He was tall and I meant at least two feet taller than me, okay I was small

ed as he said, “Oh no, I am sorry.

son for his horror and apology registered when I felt something wet slithering down inside my clothes, on my skin. I looked down

spent my entire night in altering this shirt for the interview. The soft touch had

will be alright.” I mumbled the words that

ide of the footpath because people had started to notice us standi

d on autopilot, seeing the only chance to turn thin

im with suspicious eyes, he said, “My sister’s boutique is not far fro

s comes strings free. I shook my head. “No thanks. I will

nd said, “I promise I’m not a serial killer.” I looked back down at my clothes and cringed inwardly. Fuck

and said, “I will be

ere are you i

en his eyes lit up, I asked, “Do yo

rection.” I frowned. He turned me around in the direction he was heading to.

e and to keep the two lives that depended on me safe and heal

d, “So how did you get to know about th

g. I am applying for back office

ath and asked, “What ar

because I was accepting his help and then my good senses answered in a resounding yes and I gave i

h of an acad

as an insult and it came to pride but I replied with a very arr

r was a two storey store with glass doors and windows. The tall man pushed one such door open and waited for me to step inside. The store was quite at this time of the morning and I couldn’t even see

a black A-line dress appeared, from out of nowhere and greete

lene. Is my siste

here in twenty minutes

up at him sharply but he didn’t glance at me as he said, “I unintentionally ruined her d

me near the dressing section and then ran off somewhere. After a few minutes she returned holding three dresses. One was a cream colored a-line dress ju

e the changing room. I quickly slipped off my ruined clothes and donned the new ones. The feel of the fabric, soft and cool against my skin had m

waiting outside and I asked

elve hundred and ninety nine.” I was sure that I was close to fainting. No way I could have these clothes. De

your trouble.” With that I turned around, rea

from behind. “Excuse u

e left me alone with th

e your help but I can’t take these

you so why don’t we come to a compromise.” I waited. He said, “You can wear these clothes t

get th

. “I am sur

ding I really needed to be able to score this j

didates who had come for the interview into the waiting area outside the office where the interviews were being held. I sat in the hard metal chair with my

hat back office work didn’t need a degree to assort through files but I was convince

lady came out, she pointed at m

n in high school, I sent a prayer above and entered the office. Just as the door closed behind me, I hear

ared as I met the dark eyes sitting beh

tire for an interview.” The

hed. “

who I was and that you were coming for the interview to me. I guess I wanted to see that s

n’t open it or look at it as he asked, “

a Sm

hy you didn't go to Duke

peated that half truth afraid I won’t get the job otherwise. So I said, “Because my mother has breast cancer. She was diagnosed with

ed up in surprise but he didn’t look at me as he pulled out a file and plucked a stack of papers from it. Sliding those papers toward me, he said, “

re you serious? Are you r

s. “Of course, Miss Elsa. I wouldn't be sitti

“Oh, thank you so much, Mr Mack

partner, but given your job profile I don't think

t my family and right in that moment I couldn't care even if the sky opened u

ruths with half lies and mentioned little of my background except that was truly necessary. When I gave him the papers and thanked him again.

ot, you'll

'll be answering to my partner, the other K i

arched a brow and I huffed, m

rget to

up