Chapter 5

Mel woke up the next morning feeling energized. The effects of the anesthesia had completely worn off.

She got out of bed headed to the bathroom and ran the water for a warm bath. The steam filled the room and enveloped her in a comforting embrace. She emerged from the bath feeling renewed and refreshed.

For breakfast, she toasted some bread and cooked up some ham. The smell of sizzling meat wafted through the air and made her stomach rumble with anticipation.

After finishing her meal, Mel picked up her bag and set out for a day of job hunting. She had applied to several companies, but each one had turned her down after receiving unfavorable reports from her previous employers. She had a history of being fired shortly after being hired, and these companies were not interested in someone with such a track record. She tried to explain the circumstances, but they wouldn't listen.

By midday, Mel had been rejected by six companies. She was feeling discouraged and tired, and the sun was beating down on her relentlessly. She decided to take a break and ducked into a coffee shop for some respite. As she waited for her order, she glanced up at the TV screen and saw a message that caught her eye: LIM Footwear and Clothing was hiring new heads of department for shoe designing and clothing. The time of the interview was 2:30 pm.

Mel couldn't believe her luck. LIM was one of the most prestigious shoe companies in the country, and they hadn't hired anyone new in seven years. She had been waiting for an opportunity like this for years. She checked her phone and saw that she had twenty minutes to get there.

She finished her coffee and rushed out to hail a taxi. As she rode towards the company, she couldn't help but feel a mix of nervousness and excitement coursing through her veins. She paid the driver and stepped out of the car, her heels clicking on the pavement.

Mel strode confidently into the building and was greeted by a friendly receptionist. "Welcome to LIM. Are you here for the interview?" she asked and Mel nodded. The receptionist then directed her towards a hall where the other applicants were waiting. She took a seat beside a young lady, but as she sat down, her CV fell and scattered open on the floor.

The lady picked it up and glanced at it before sneering. "You were sacked from four different companies within a month? You shouldn't be here, you know."

Mel was taken aback by the woman's venomous tone. She tried to stay calm and replied, "And why is that?"

The woman's smile turned sinister. "There's little or no chance you would get this job, so why not just leave now rather than staying and getting humiliated?"

Mel could feel her blood boiling, but she took a deep breath and replied evenly, "No thank you. So many others here have worse situations than mine, and I wouldn't be the first to back out."

The woman didn't give up. "You seem so confident. I doubt you're aware that this interview is being conducted by the president himself."

Mel felt a wave of panic wash over her at the mention of the company president. She had heard rumors about how ruthless and cold he was, and the thought of facing him made her feel sick. But she refused to let the woman see her fear.

She could feel a prickling sensation on the back of her neck as the woman's gaze lingered on her for a few seconds longer than necessary. She squared her shoulders, determined not to let the other woman intimidate her.

"You still have a few minutes to leave," the woman repeated, her voice laced with a hint of condescension.

Mel raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "And I suppose you're going to make sure I do?"

The woman smiled, her lips thinning. "I'm just looking out for the company's best interests. We wouldn't want any troublemakers around here, would we?"

Mel felt a flash of anger. She had worked hard to get to this interview, and she wasn't about to let this woman ruin her chances. "Why are you so consistent in trying to make me leave? Or are you perhaps scared that I would ruin your chances of getting the job?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

She knew her words had hit home when the woman's expression faltered for a moment. Mel had seen this type of person before - someone who felt so insecure about themselves that they had to try and bring others down to feel better. It was a pitiful way to live, really.

"I will be sitting on the other side, I can't stand the bad energy around you and lest I forget, good luck in fighting your way through." Mel said and walked away before the lady could even come up with a reply.

She made her way to a comfortable seat settling into a plush cushion, crossing her legs and smoothing down her skirt.

As she waited, Assistant Charles strode into the hall and addressed the group before calling them into the president's office in pairs. Ethan, the president, was already seated at his desk, his eyes fixed on the papers in front of him as he waited for the next two candidates to arrive.

Mel and Linda entered the room, their eyes locking in a silent exchange of animosity. Ethan barely glanced up from his papers, his frustration mounting as he considered the lackluster candidates he had seen so far. His gaze finally flickered up to the two women before him, and he barely recognized Mel as she stood before him with her head down.

"Hand in your CV first," Ethan demanded, cutting through the silence.

Mel's heart raced as she lifted her head to hand over her CV, only to find herself face to face with the man who had saved her life a few days ago. "Sensei," she exclaimed without thinking, her surprise evident on her face.

Ethan looked up from the papers on his desk, confused by her sudden outburst. As he looked more closely, he realized he recognized her from the incident at the park. "Sensei?" he repeated, arching his brows.

Mel's eyes widened as she realized her mistake. "I'm sorry sir, I mistook you for an Instructor," she quickly corrected herself, bowing in apology. "Thanks for saving me the other day, President Ethan."

Ethan nodded curtly, unwilling to dwell on the topic. Meanwhile, Linda watched the exchange in bewilderment, unsure of what was happening.

Ethan focused on the CVs and recognized the name on Mel's. "Mel Andrae" he muttered furrowing his brow as he pulled out his laptop from the drawer, typing in their names and bringing up their profiles. He presented the screen to them and instructed them to read it themselves. Mel did not flinch as she saw her information on the screen.

In contrast, the other woman's expression shifted dramatically. The laptop revealed that she had betrayed her previous employer, leading to her dismissal.

"Why did you leave that out?" Ethan asked calmly.

"I'm sorry, sir," the woman apologized repeatedly before grabbing her CV and leaving Ethan's office in a hurry. Mel watched as she left, wondering if she was embarrassed or truly sorry.

Ethan paid no attention to Linda's departure. Instead he turned his attention to Mel urging her to do the same. "It had be better you left with her, there isn't much of a difference in your work records, getting fired four times in a month. How incompetent he said referring to Mel.

Mel does not give up easily as she tried explaining what had led to her getting sacked but Ethan would not hear any of it. "Isn't it enough that I saved you? You heard I was super rich, so you came here to seduce me, Right?" He asked in a defiant tone.

After hearing his statement, Mel could not keep her cool anymore, how could he easily accuse her of something that had never crossed her mind "it's the truth that I badly needed this job, I also never knew that my saviour was the president of the company I always dreamt of working in. You don't believe my words, do you?. Well that's fine" she blurted out. Stretching her hands, she picked up her CV.

Just then, Ethan's attention shifted to the scar on her left hand. He squinted his eyes in shock, Why was it looking so familiar? He wondered.

Mel was just about reaching for the door knob when his words stopped her in her tracks "You're hired" he declared leaving Mel in a confused state.