Chapter 22: Job Interview and Meeting Lily
The following day, Cassie was the first to wake up. Stacey was still in dreamland even after Cassie had breakfast and went through another round of job applications.
She would admit that some of the fight that previously filled her eyes had dimmed. It wasn’t to the point of feeling despair, but knowing that her background would limit her future opportunities, it was a hard pill to swallow.
Still, she wanted to do her best. She wasn’t defeated yet. She remembered what Max had said the day before. She needed connections, but she had no idea how to go about it. The most she could do was join forums to get to know people.
When she thought about what happened with her and Max, she couldn’t help the light blush that appeared on her face. She hadn’t known him for long, but she actually kissed him, and they almost did...that.
She wasn’t a prude, but she didn’t normally get together with someone so quickly. Then she remembered the length of him. She had to shake her head to forget it.
As she was pouring over job applications, Stacey stepped out of the bedroom.
Sleep was still in her eyes. She walked out naked.
"Morning," she said, voice groggy.
"Morning," Cassie replied. "There’s coffee in the pot. I made some sandwiches if you want them."
Stacey walked sluggishly past Cassie and her computer. She glimpsed the application on the screen.
"Oh yeah. I forgot to ask you about your interview yesterday. When I came back, one of the neighbours said you were wailing like a banshee. I never got to ask you about it."
Cassie bit her lip, and her fingers paused on the keyboard.
She cleared her throat. "It’s...it didn’t go well." Attempting to be nonchalant, she continued. "Apparently I don’t have the background for it. But who cares. If their firm doesn’t hire me, someone will."
Stacey pretended not to hear her voice cracking. She remembered the neighbour’s words yesterday.
The old lady stood before her, a hint of disdain in her eyes. She spoke contemptuously as if Stacey was the last person she wanted to talk to. But she talked for such a long time that she wanted to punch her.
"That friend of yours came up the stairs dragging herself like a dead dog. She looked miserable. She was so listless opening the door, and when the key fell she started going crazy. Just banging on the door and wailing. I thought someone died. If it was the middle of the night, someone might think she was a banshee or a ghost. If the door didn’t hold her up, I think she could have been crawling around the floor. Maybe she’s possessed, who knows..."
There was much more said. The only lady spoke like her mouth was set on continuous trigger. Every word slipped from her lips with the speed and efficiency of a high-speed train.
Stacey sat beside Cassie, as she thought about what the old lady said. Taking a bite of the sandwich, she turned to Cassie.
"If you need a job, you can come work with me. Rent’s due soon. I’ll talk to the manager so you can go for an interview when you need to. Otherwise you’re still going to need money. Unless you have enough savings."
Cassie listened, her eyes still stuck to the screen. She wasn’t sure about working with Stacey. She knew her friend worked at a club, but she was unsure of the details.
"Cassie, little baby Cass. I can already see you’re ready to reject me. Just trust me this once. I’ll help you get the job. Once you find your dream job, you can always stop."
Cassie contemplated the offer. She wasn’t sure. But, hearing she could get in, she was tempted. She really didn’t have that much in savings, and getting an interview might not be any time soon.
As she thought about it, she told Stacey she would give it a try.
"Good. I’m heading in today. You can come with me. It’s already 10, so there’s a lot we need to do."
"Isn’t it just an interview?"
Stacey shot her a wicked grin. "You need to look your best for this interview. Heels are a must, maybe a bodysuit."
Stacey began examining Cassie’s body, and she mumbled to herself, thinking about what to have Cassie wear.
Ten in the morning was a work in progress for the girls, but ten was a wake-up call for Max. He had a lunch date with Liliana.
Unlike the other clients he had, Liliana was the youngest. She was 32 with a bombshell of a body and rich parents that made sure she was well taken care of.
She might sound like a spoiled rich girl, yet she was anything but. She met with a situation a few years ago that made it hard for her to be intimate with people. Max somehow got himself a job being an emotional support human.
They had been going at it for two years. There was no sex involved. They would have a ’date’ once or twice per week. He would go shopping with her, hold her hand, kiss her cheek. Nothing overly sexual.
It actually took Max more than six months to get her to hold his hand. The process was strange for her. It was the first time she made contact with Max without flinching. From there, things became smoother.
Today was their weekly lunch date.
Max dressed carefully. Not fancy, casual. He avoided certain colours and smells because he knew they would trigger her. Nothing earthy; he had to use a lemon-scented shower gel, a soft floral cologne, and the clothes he wore around her were light colours like light cyan and powder blue.
Max checked his appearance in the mirror one last time before he left. As he stepped out, his eyes found the door of apartment 315. He took a glance before heading downstairs.
No one knew what he was thinking. Even he, himself, didn’t allow himself to think much about his reason for the glance.
The taxi was already waiting when he walked out. He got in and made a call.
"Lily, I’m heading there now. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes."
The person on the other end spoke softly, "Okay, I’ll head out now."
After that brief exchange, Max sent his location.
He sighed softly. Liliana was probably the closest thing he had to a normal girlfriend. Contract or not, going to movies, spending time with her parents, spending the night together (not sex), it seemed like a peaceful relationship between two people.
Max couldn’t help thinking that it was too bad it wasn’t real. Liliana was a nice person.
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