Chapter 4 An appointment with KROST

6th Feb,

She walked out of her room, into her medium sized living room, taking a seat on the biggest cushion.

"This feels good," Ava said, resting her head on the soft furs of the magnificent cushion. Ever since she got the chair from the makers, she no longer sits on the rest of the cushion.

That day, she had planned to visit a mini-market not too far from her house.

"I'd be back before evening and make dinner," She thought that morning on the bed when she woke up.

However, it all changed when she was called that afternoon.

"Hello?" She answered, waiting for the caller to speak.

"Hi." A more professional voice spoke into her ears. "Ava Smith?"

"Yes, please." She said, "Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon, ma'am." The caller greeted. "We are calling you from KROST."

"KR..." She was about to say something but was cut short.

"You applied to work with us sometime last year."

"Yes, I did."

"Perfect!" The lady's voice echoed. "We've seen your profile and would like to have an interview with you."

"Ohhh, okay." Ava said. She was hiding her excitement.

"Do you have a hard copy of your CV, Miss?" The lady asked again.

"Yes, I do," Ava answered. "Yes, I do," She repeated, just in case she wasn't heard the first time.

"Perfect," The lady said, making a noise from her location. Ava thought it sounded like a computer keyboard.

"We'd be expecting you soon," The lady finally said after a short silence. "10AM."

"10AM," Ava repeated, scribbling something down on a piece of paper.

"Thank you," She greeted before the call ended.

"Yes!" She screamed excitedly, placing the paper on her reading table.

"Yes!" Ava screamed again. If she had a neighbour, she'd be questioned.

She had run back into her room the moment the lady on the phone introduced herself as a staff member from her dream company. Placing a pen and a paper on her laps, just in case there was something she should have written.

She wrote something, though.

"Mom!" She screamed over the phone at Mrs. Smith.

"What has happened?" The old woman queried.

"Guess!" Ava answered, standing on her feet to close the door of her room.

"Okay..." Mrs. Smith muttered. "This is getting serious."

"I was called for an interview!" She announced happily.

"You what?" Mrs. Smith was almost screaming. "Honey?" She called her husband, Ava's Father.

"I'm so happy." Ava confessed, sitting back on her bed. "I thought I lost this opportunity."

"No, honey," Mrs. Smith said. "Ava was called for an interview."

"You don't say!" Mr. Smith said, his voice telling excitement.

"Yes, Dad." She said, hoping he could hear her.

"Ohhh!" Mr. Smith said. "Now, that's my daughter."

"Thank you, Dad." She greeted.

"When is it, honey?" Mrs. Smith asked.

"In three days time, Mom."

"Congratulations, dear," Mr. Smith greeted. "I can't wait to receive your first fruits."

"What are the first fruits?" Grace asked.

"Alright!" Ava said, bringing back their attention to her. "I've got to go."

"Bye, honey." Her parents said almost the same time before the call ended.

"Bye!" Ava said, although the call ended seconds ago. "Yes!" She said, laying on her bed.

She had a cold bath later in the day, all dressed to leave for the market she scheduled earlier.

-

By morning, Ava had a hot bath, putting on a slim fitted gown. She walked out of her apartment after locking her door.

"Hello." She greeted the lady at the receptionist corner.

"Good morning, Miss," The lady greeted back.

"I'm here to get a few dresses for my wardrobe upgrade." She said, moving closer to the desk. "Official purposes."

"Lisa?" The receptionist called another lady who was in a uniform.

"Yes, Miss?"

"Handle her needs." The receptionist ordered, facing her desk.

"Shall we?" Lisa asked.

"Yes!" Ava answered, walking closely behind her.

She was taken to a section of official clothing, shoes and bags.

"I like this," She'd say, picking the item and throwing it into the cart.

She was done with her tour in 50 minutes. She needed to be well dressed for this interview, she thought.

"Here," She said, placing her cart close to the receptionist for scrutiny.

The receptionist began another tour, calculating and packaging the already bought items.

"Thank you for shopping with us," The receptionist greeted after she was done at the boutique.

-

9th Feb, Thursday:

She stirred up on the medium sized bed in her bedroom, opening her eyes in a split second.

"Thursday!" She reminded herself, her hands in search of her phone.

"8:14," She said, nodding her head in approval. At least, she woke up early on the day of her appointment with KROST.

She got down from the bed, saying a few prayers on her knees.

"Amen!" She said, concluding her prayers.

She walked to her bathroom, and walked out again to pick her towel.

"Yayyyy!" Ava screamed, standing still while the cold water from the shower splashed on her body.

"Ohhhh!" She cried, remembering she didn't use a shower cap.

She'd have to use the drier that morning.

Ava grabbed her sponge and soap from the hanger where it was, rubbing the two together, she scrubbed her body.

She should glow today, she thought. She had always waited for this day.

Although, she had thought she wouldn't get the opportunity anymore.

Satisfied with the job done on her skin, she turned on the shower again, causing water to touch every part of her.

Now, she faced her hair. Her hair shampoo stays in the bathroom. It was easy to get.

Satisfied with the job done on her hair, she remembered she didn't polish her nails the night before. There was not much time left.

"8:49!" She exclaimed when she walked out of the bathroom.

She hurriedly went to a corner, struggling with her hand drier.

She turned the device on, and was grateful the next minute for the power supply.

"Ouch!" Ava cried at the hotness of the drier. What could she do? She should be done in minutes, she has an interview.

In minutes, she finished with her hair. She took the next step on another journey to her wardrobe.

"This is perfect!" She said aloud, holding a purple gown she bought from the store recently.

"Here," She said again, picking a black shoe she had bought, placing the gown on her bed and the shoe on the floor.

She walked to one of the tables in her room, the smaller table. Applying body cream on her skin, and coconut oil on her hair. Her hair dried minutes ago, thanks to the hair drier.

"And..." She said, combing her hair finally. She decided she won't cut her hair again.

She'd let it grow long so she'd look prettier.

"Haircut looks prettier on me," She said to her hearing, putting on the purple gown.

"I thought so," Ava said again, wearing her black shoes.

"This will also do," She thought, walking to a corner to grab a handbag from her bag shelf.

"I am pretty," Ava boasted. She was standing in front of a full-length mirror, a thin smile spreading on her lips.

She hurriedly wore her wristwatch, wearing perfumes, and her necklace.

"KROST," She whispered, walking to her reading table to get the hardcopy of her CV.

Before she left the house, she quickly kissed her pet, Bek.

"No no no," She cautioned when the little parlour dog tried jumping at her. "Ava has an appointment, okay?"

Just as if it understood what she had said, Bek walked away, squatting on the floor.

"Bye!" She said again to Bek, walking to the door, shutting and locking behind her.

The next thing on her mind was to get to KROST, she thought, waving at a taxi she saw approaching.

"Good morning, Miss." The man with a bald head greeted.

"Good morning, gentleman." She said, returning his greetings.

"Where are you off to?" The man asked.

"KROST," She answered, making emphasis on the company's name.

"Hop in," He said, opening the door from where he sat.

"Automatic," Ava complimented, sitting at the back.

"Yeah," The man answered. "My life savings."

"It's nice," She said, smiling at him although he could not see her.

"You work at KROST?"

"Not yet," She answered, looking at her handbag to be sure she had put her CV in.

"It's an interview."

"Amazing," The man said, smiling. She could see him from where she sat at the back.

"Thank you," She greeted.

"Here," The driver said after minutes of driving from Ava's compound.

"Thank you," She said, hopping down from the car in excitement.

"Ma'am?" The man called when he saw she was walking away.

"Yes?" She turned to see his face one last time for today.

"You forgot to pay." He said, smiling.

"Ohhh!" Ava said, laughing. He joined her in laughing.

"I'm so sorry," She brought her purse out of her handbag. "I'm sorry."

"Nah." The bald headed man said, stretching his hand to receive his pay.

"I totally understand."

"Thank you," She smiled, walking away and hearing the sound of his engine. He drove away already.

Ava walked into the big compound of the popular organisation, taking in the magnificent buildings allocated in different corners.

"I could get lost here," She thought, looking around with a smile boldly written on her face.

"Eatery," She muttered to herself, looking in a particular direction.

She looked around one more time before proceeding to a door with "MAIN HOUSE," boldly scribbled on a thick plate at the top.

She pushed the big door, entering into the reception of the big organisation. She turned back again to watch the door close itself, automatically.

"Good morning," A lady sitting on the right from where she was greeted. The other lady was making calls.

"Good morning," Ava greeted, looking at her watch to be sure she came early.

"How may we help you?" The lady asked, calming Ava's nerves with a warm smile.

The time was 9:41AM.

"I'm here for an interview," She confessed, standing straight, her full height visible to anyone who looked at her.

"You have an appointment?" She was asked.

"Yes, I do," She answered, wondering if this lady of the receptionist is deaf.

"Hold on," She was told, going through the system before her.

"Ava Smith?" The lady called. "You're Ava Smith."

"Yes, I am," Ava answered, smiling.

"Welcome to KROST."

"Thank you."

"I'd let you know when you should go in," The receptionist said, looking away, back to her system.

"Right." Ava muttered, sitting in a chair she found close to a door she assumed was the Manager's office.

....9:49AM

....9:56AM.

"If she doesn't call me, I'd call her myself," Ava concluded, looking at the receptionist at intervals, waiting to be called.

"9:58AM." Ava murmured, impatiently.

"Ava Smith?" The lady called, finally.

"Miss," She answered, standing on her feet.

"You may go in," She heard the receptionist say.

She grabbed her handbag and started a journey, walking to the office she assumed was the Manager's.

"No," The receptionist said, smiling. "It's upstairs."

"Ohhh," Ava said, smiling. "Thank you."

"Welcome to KROST," The lady said again, her eyes back to her system.

She started her journey again, smiling while she walked the stairs.

"Hello," A young man greeted, smiling.

"Good morning." She said to him, smiling. The people here smile a lot, she thought to herself.

"Ava Smith?" She heard a voice ask when she knocked at Manager's office door.

"Err...yes," She answered, waiting to be called in.

"Come on in," The voice ordered again. She opened the door.

"Good day," She greeted, walking into the office.

"Take a seat," He urged, watching her sit. "Good day."

"Welcome to KROST," He said, smiling. "Shall we?"

"Sure," She answered after taking a deep breath. The manager noticed.

"I am Mr. Hayden," He introduced himself. "The current Manager at KROST."

"My pleasure meeting with you," She said, wearing her smile.

"We've gone through your profile," He started, demonstrating with his hands.

"Thank you," Ava greeted, unsure of the exact words to use.

"I'd say nothing else but how impressed we are at the CV you sent via email, Miss."

She blushed.

"Are you here with your hardcopy?"

"Yes," She answered, bringing out a file from her bag. She handed it to him.

He took a glance at the file he was given, nodding his head at intervals.

"Good," He commented, returning the file to her. "Thank you."

She simply nodded her head, returning the file to its rightful place in her bag.

"We've decided to employ you as one of our staff in this organisation." Mr. Hayden said.

That was all she wanted to hear, she thought, her heart racing.

"Thank you, Mr. Hayden." She heard herself say.

This is a dream come true, she cried in her heart of hearts.

"13th," Mr. Hayden said, looking at her. "You'd resume on the 13th."

"Yes," She replied, smiling.

"Is 13th okay by you?" Mr. Hayden asked.

Okay? She laughed inside her. More than okay.

"Yes," She said, smiling.

"Good, then." He said, making a movement with his hand. "We're done here, I guess."

"Thank you, Mr. Hayden," Ava greeted, standing at her feet.

"Thank you, Miss Smith." He greeted back, stretching his hand for a handshake.

"Congratulations!" He said while she accepted his hand.

"Thank you," She said again, walking to the door.

She stopped outside the moment she shut the door behind her, her hand on her chest.

"Good Lord," She said quietly, walking carefully down the stairs.

"Positive?" The receptionist asked when she got close to the desk.

Smiling at the lady, she nodded her head. "Yes."

"Great,!" The lady said, smiling. "Congrats, Miss."

"Congratulations." The other lady greeted Ava like she knew what they were discussing. Although, she knew.

"Thank you," She greeted again, walking to the door.

She walked through the reception door, stopping at the middle of the large compound to take a last glance for the day.

"Yeah," She said, smiling. Dream came true, she thought.

Walking away from the organisation's premises, she flagged down a taxi.

Hopping down to get into her house, her phone made a noise.

"What's up?" She read a text from Maya.

She had told Maya that morning about her interview, Maya had been dropping loads of text since she got to KROST.

She'd call her the moment she's inside her house, she thought.

"11:16AM!" Ava exclaimed, wondering how long she spent at KROST.