Chapter 5 The multi-billion dollar oil company is recruiting!

"I kind of have good news, but I was waiting for the right moment"

Tessy says with a wink. "Come on babe, what moment would be better than this?"

I say as my eyes light up. Good news could help at this moment. As long as it required money, it was the one thing I needed badly considering that I was broke.

Belladonna oil company is currently recruiting graduates, your dream company!" My eyes light up in extreme excitement, and I jump up and scream. Finally! Heaven knows I have been waiting for them to recruit new graduates this year. It was amongst my everyday prayers with Dare. Heaven knows that Dare was only interested In the money.

"But girl, how do you know? I mean, I've been following them for a long time now."

"Did you check your mail today? Or let me ask when was the last time you checked your mail?"

I rub my hands on my chin. "Last week, I guess"

"Alright, that's not even the point, girl, you have a big shot. Imagine getting a job at Belladonna Oil Company, that is everyone's dream!"

We hold each other's hands and scream louder this time.

"I know right? This is the best thing I have heard in a while. But getting employed is very competitive. I mean there are thousands and millions of people applying as we speak now. People who are more qualified than me." I say as I start to feel a cloud of self-doubt slowly creep into my mind. I feel my self-esteem shrink.

"Don't even go there right now, Maria, you are a smart woman, I'm very sure without any doubt that you will ace the assessments and interviews. You have got this baby!" Tessy says with a grin and a thumbs up.

"When is the interview?" I ask with curiosity lurking in my eyes

"Oh, about that, let's confirm."

Tessy brings out her phone from her purse, I hold her shoulders in anticipation.

"Oh, Lord please let it not be on Monday."

"According to what it says here, the interview is three days after the application closes, so we are looking at next week's ending."

"Oh no, that is too soon, I say. " I need to do my hair; I don't have a new dress to wear."

"Maria, I think at this point you shouldn't be concerned about what to wear but how to pass the interview."

"You are right, girl," I say and hit my forehead, how silly of me. Passing the interview was the top most important thing to worry about.

"Uhm, I have another good news," Tessy says as she gives me that naughty look, the look she gives me when she's about to make me confess when she suspects that I'm hiding something from her.

"What is it? Don't keep me in suspense, girl." I pause, still trying to read some meaning from her expressionless face.

"Okay okay, the CEO of the multi-billion oil company has just retired and he handed the company to his son, the heir, Michael Coleman. He is the most attractive man on earth. Tessy says as her cheek flushed pink.

I burst into loud and hysterical laughter. Tessy sits there confused.

"What is funny?"

"Are you kidding me? You are seriously describing the young man as though you have met him before."

"Well not entirely, I mean, I have seen his face in magazines and he's quite a fashionista," Tessy says with a wink.

"Alright he's a fashionista and he's the new CEO, how is that good news?" I say as I roll my eyes, totally uninterested in the cute and fashionable young man, all I just need is the job to get back on my feet.

"So here's the thing, the former CEO, his father, is a disciplinarian, a very serious man, he interviews the applicants himself. But his young son, the current CEO might not just care much."

Tessy says with all seriousness. She was right, though my chance might just be sixty over a hundred.

"That point makes sense," I say to Tessy as I rub my chin slowly nodding my head in agreement.

"How about we start preparing you for D-day?"

In a flash, I remember that I'm pregnant. I hold my chest as my heart starts racing uncontrollably.

I try to comfort myself so that Tessy won't notice it; well I failed because she did notice me.

"What is the matter?"

"Are you okay?" She asks with a rather worried tone

"No, you are not."

"What are you thinking about now?"

I give Tessy a serious look, I know she's acting clueless and she knows that I'm pregnant and I just remembered, but I act as if I don't know that she knows.

I ignore her question and hold my stomach. I look up at my best friend and she's smiling.

"I didn't forget, let us just focus on getting you the job first, we will figure out something later, we always do.

"Thank you," I say as we settle into a warm embrace.

"Okay, before we start anything. I think we should take care of this place first"

Tessy says as she uses her eyes to scan the room. Clothes and shoes on the floor, burnt pots in the kitchen, dark wall from the smoke remnant. This house is in an actual mess, I say to myself as if I was just noticing it for the first.

"Good idea," I say as I stand up and pick up the brush and mop stick, I hand over the brush to Tessy.

Seeing the eagerness and readiness in her eyes just warms my heart. I'm indeed blessed to have a supportive friend like her. I mop the floor with all my strength. Everywhere Dare must have stepped his foot on. After mopping, I bring out my deodorant from my wardrobe and spray it everywhere at every corner. I see Tessy giving me a puzzled look.

She collects the perfume from my hand and funnily twists her mouth, to pronounce the name.

"Roselle" I correct her

"Okay, whatever, I think you have used enough already."

****

I close the door behind Tessy and slump on my bed. I reminisce of moments of pain and emptiness.

"No"

I replace those thoughts with optimism and Joy. I have my dream job to secure a better life ahead.