Sweet Nothing

The sun was out and bright in all it's beautiful glory, the sky was blue, and clouds were fluffy. There was no indication of a single weather change.

And below this beautiful, bright, and sunny weather were the Clintons–huddling together to take a picture with their daughter, Sophie Clinton, who was graduating from college. Mr and Mrs Clinton faces were beaming with smiles, they were super proud that their beautiful daughter had finally graduated from college and would now be an official member of society.

Her two younger siblings were also there, Maria and Alex Clinton who also looked proud of her and happy that she was done with college.

But the happiest of everyone else amongst them was Sophie. She was happy that she was finally done with college, those dreadful nights, those moments that she thought she wouldn't make it out alive, but she weathered the storm and ride the wave and came out on top.

The cameraman told them to smile at the camera, in which they did and then a picture was taken, later to be hanged on the mantle piece, as a reminder of this glorious day.

Sophie was prepared to find a job. A stable job that she could make her some money, so she don't have to depend on her family anymore, and give her experience to be part of the working class.

And nothing was going to stand in her way.

****

It's been three months since Sophie graduated, yet for some reason she just couldn't find a job. She was joking to think that she could get a job within three months of her finishing from college.

All the jobs she applied either wanted her to have working experience or they would say that she doesn't have the required qualification for the job. Which pissed her off, like how do they expect her to have a job experience when she just graduated from college about three months ago.

She felt frustrated, she scrolled through the website that she has been using to apply for job applications. Submitting her resumé and hoping that they deem it worthy for them to call her back.

She heard her phone beep with a notification, rushing to it thinking it was probably one of the companies that she applied for that have finally answered her.

The disappointment on her face when she saw that it was text from her friend Melody, she rolled her eyes and dropped her phone and continued her job searching. Another message was sent to her phone, it was from Melody, again. Sophie picked up her phone to see what she wanted from her.

The message said that Sophie should come see her, that she has something important to tell her. Sophie didn't want to answer it at first, but then she realize maybe it was something important, so she should probably answer her, she asked her where is the place? Melody replied 'at the coffee shop down the street.' Sophie replied, 'I am on my way.'

She pushed back her chair stood up from it and went to her closet, picking out a grey sweatshirt and baggy jeans–it was freezing outside even though it was autumn.

Nobody was home at the moment, so she made sure to lock the door behind her as she made her way to the coffee shop to meet Melody.

On getting to the coffee shop, she open the door, her eyes scanned the small shop to see if she could spot Melody, Melody saw her and waved her hand, Sophie saw her and walked up to her, she sat down on the chair adjacent to Melody.

"So why did you call me here?" Sophie asked.

"Well, good afternoon to you I guess." Melody remarked sarcastically, causing Sophie to roll her eyes at her. "So I called you here cause I have a job opportunity for you." Melody carries her cup of coffee, drinking out of it, she place it back on the table.

"Really you do?" Sophie eyes widened in surprise.

"Yes, but I am not sure if you would like the job description." Melody tuck a strand of her hair behind her ears.

"Well, tell me what is the job description?"

"Well my boss, is currently looking for a..." she paused as if what she was about to say was forbidden. "Well... he is looking for a nanny."

Melody saw the disappointed look on Sophie's face, and she was quick to add: "the pay is good, Sophie. It's even higher than what most graduates earn nowadays."

"So, you called me here to tell me that your boss is looking for a nanny? Is that how low you view me as Mel? You didn't see any other job opportunity to give to me and you are telling me to work as a nanny."

"You haven't even heard how much you would be payed yet." Melody tried to reason with her.

"Nah. No amount of money would make me work as a 'nanny'. It's an insult that a college graduate like me would do such a job."

Sophie stood up was about to turn to leave when Melody stood up also. "You would get 50,000 dollars per month."

"I don't care if it's 100,000 I am not doing that type of shitty ass job."

"It's all I can offer for you right now."

"Don't your boss have any job offerings right now? Or does he need experience staffs to work under him."

"He doesn't need anymore staffs, he said that he isn't hiring. Trust me I asked him."

"Well tell him that I am in no way interested in being a nanny." Sophie walked out of the coffee shop pissed that Melody called her for that type of bullshit.

It's only normal for her to get a job within the first three months of graduating. People always see her as the type that would be successful in any thing she puts her hand in. Plus she is super pretty and have this chic/model look to her.

Not like Sophie saw herself as ugly, she just saw herself as average at best, no defining features in her. And that is what is happening to her at this moment, she was average that is why no company wants her.

Melody telling her that she should be a nanny was just an insult to her, not like being a nanny is bad or anything. Being a nanny is for people that are looking for a quick buck, well to her at least.

Sophie bit her bottom lip till she drew blood, kicking away the leaves that had fallen to the ground. She was mumbling under her breath, and cursing at anything and anyone. She was so lost in her thoughts that she bumped into someone, she apologized to the person and kept on cursing under her breath.

She would rather keep on searching for a job even though it takes months, than work as a nanny.

A month has passed since Sophie turned down the nanny job, and things aren't getting any better for her apparently. She was starting to wonder if the universe was against her.

Nowadays she does the same routine all day, wake up, check her email to see if any job send her a message–she usual gets none, sadly, take a shower, eat, apply for more jobs, and then scroll through her phone to waste some time, and the she sleep, only to start it all over again.

Okey

This cycle was repeating itself, and nothing seems to change. And she was starting to feel like her parents were getting tired of her.

Just last night at the dinner table, her mom made a comment about her unemployment issue, she said 'if you aren't getting a job, at least get married so that I can have grandchildren.' Everyone laugh, including her, but what she said hurt her badly.

She rubbed her face with her hands, it seems like all her hard work was put to waste, maybe being a nanny is not that much of a bad idea.

She picked up her phone, stared at it for a reasonably long time, she sighed, and called Melody.

The call went to voicemail and Sophie cut the call, she was probably at work. She would call her again later on in the day.

She went to the kitchen to try and get something to eat, opening the fridge she brought out a container of Mac and cheese, heating up in the microwave, she carried it upstairs to her room, plopping down on her bed, she ate out of the mac and cheese. She heard her phone ring, she picked it up and saw that it was Melody calling.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Sophie. You called me not quite long ago, sorry I didn't pick up the call, I was kind of busy."

"Ah no problem, I actually called you to ask if the nanny job is still available?"

"Yes it is still very much available. Do you want to try it out?"

Sophie took sometime before she answered, she was really running low on cash and she can't depend on her parents anymore, ever since that statement, last night, so she really didn't have a choice.

"Yes, I do want to try it out."

"Oh that's splendid. Meet me at the same coffee shop tomorrow, ok."

"Ok, would do that."

****

Sophie didn't actually know what she should wear for an interview as a nanny, so she decided for something more casual. A checkered t-shirt, with jeans and boots that was what she opted for.

It was a humid Saturday morning, and all the people were going about their regular day. Sophie checked the time, Melody was already 8 minutes late, and Sophie was starting to get anxious, she began tapping her feet, creating a sound that made the person next to her to give her a look.

Melody came inside the coffee shop, dressed in a white chiffon shirt tucked in a pair of jeans, her hair was put in a bun. On her entering the shop, she got the attention of some patrons, who gave her a once over.

She spotted Sophie and walked up to her. "Are you ready to go?" Sophie nodded her head, whilst standing up, with Melody leading the way, while Sophie was following her behind, she caught a whiff of her perfume. It smelt expensive.

They both went outside and Melody was trying to hail a taxi, she could have just called an Uber instead, but she would rather do things the old fashioned way.

A taxi pull up to the curb, the both of them got in the backseat. Melody told him the direction they were heading, and the driver drove down the road. Sophie looked outside the car window trying to distract herself with the passerby's and buildings on each block.

The song being played in the background was an Opera song, the rich vocals deeply penetrating Sophie's earbuds as it seems to make her feel dizzy, the sound wasn't loud, it was just effective enough to make her feel like she was high on something.

The Soprano singer had entered a higher note, while the alto singers backup. She felt her throat becoming dry, her fingers became cold, her feet became numb, and her brain became lost for thoughts.

She didn't even notice when they got to the place of the interview, cause Sophie was lost in thoughts, Melody snapped her fingers in her face, Sophie managed to get out of her reverie and realized that they were here already.

They got out of the car, Melody paid the driver his money, Sophie eyes marveled at the sight of the place that they were in. The gates looked tall and towered over them with a domineering presence.

She couldn't really see the inside but it looks like there was fountain in the middle of the house. Sophie clutch her bag closer to her chest, she was beyond nervous. She was terrified.

Melody walked up to the gate and pressed the intercom and a voice came through asking who they were? Melody answered that she was here for the interview, then the gates slowly began to open. Someone was waiting for them at the other side of the gates. It was man who looked to be about 6'2 or there about, he had a full hair of luscious grey hair, he had on what seems to be a jacket with a tailcoat at the end.

"Good day ladies," he greeted them. "Follow me," he turn around and began walking to the direction of the front door, which seems like a very long way.

Sophie looked at the well trimmed bushes, some of them were trimmed to look like animals, the fountain had a sculpture of a lady who was holding a bucket of water and was pouring it out from the bucket into the fountain. It looked lovely.

Sophie eyes darted to the mansion and one of the windows, she could have sworn she saw the curtains closed quicker than the speed of light. Someone had taken notice of their presence.

The man opened the double doors and both Sophie and Melody let out a small gasp, the inside was just as pretty, if not prettier than the outside.

The ground was decorated with marble tiles, a chandelier lit up the room, the walls were made of marble too, with paintings hanging on them, there was a couch by the side of the room, and a staircase with rail which was painted in gold that led to the upper chambers of the house.

The man told them to take a sit, while he go and calls the owner of the house, so that the interview can begin.

He went up the stairs and disappeared into it. Sophie legs were closed tightly, and her hands were placed on her legs, with it opening and closing every now and then, she didn't even know why she was nervous for some reason. She saw Melody's place her hands on Sophie's as a means of telling her that she is here too.

Sophie appreciates the effort. The sound of footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs, Sophie heart started racing as she looked down at her hands, clasping them tighter than usual, she can't explain why she feels nervous.

When she left the house she felt confident, it's not even her first time doing a one on one interview, so she honestly don't know where all these nervousness was coming from.

She could tell that he was at the bottom of the stairs, her eyes went up to look at the person that was about to interview her.

What she did not expect was seeing someone that had a very familiar face.

Sophie's eyes widened in recognition, her expression was one of somebody that was star struck.

Wearing a brown sweatshirt, tucked in a pair of black slacks, his hair was styled to perfection and his face radiate a charming aura around him, was none other than David Welch.

Now you might be wondering who the heck is David Welch? Well David Welch was a popular actor around the early year of 2010/2011 timeline, during that time and period he was in his early twenties. And Sophie had a huge crush on him back then.

But after the early 2011 he just dipped from the industry and never acted any role ever since then. Sophie was surprised that he was Melody's boss and he lives in this big mansion.

"Hello there ladies, good morning." He extended his hand to shake Melody, which Melody accepted quickly, he came to Sophie who looked a bit lost, looking at David with so much adoration, which made David a bit worried.

"Um... is she ok?" He furrowed his eyebrow in confusion.

"Oh, I do not know what is wrong with her." Melody came closer to Sophie to snap her out of her little daydream. When Sophie came back to reality, she realized what she did and the tip of her ears became red, indicating that she was embarrassed.

"I... I am so sorry, um," she stretched her hands out for him to shake, which he took, he then let go.

"So shall we begin the interview. Um... follow me to my office would you."

David walked towards the stairs, Sophie followed him upstairs, her nerves were kicking at her in more ways than one. She finally realized why she was nervous, she just didn't know why her nerves reacted that way.

They walked down a long corridor that was lit up with ceiling lights, David stopped at a door, turning the lights on, he entered inside his office, Sophie followed him inside.

David left the door opened. The office was a bit cluttered, with files, and books littering the desk, the lamp on the was a bit askew, his jacket was around his chair.

"My apologies for not clearing out my desk, um... let's use the couch shall we," he pointed to the black leather couch. Sophie said a small 'ok.'

They both sat across from each other, David asked for her resumé which she gave to him. He flipped through the pages, then he began asking questions.

"Full name?"

"Sophie Camille Clinton."

"How old are you?"

"21 years of age, sir."

"You graduated from Rhodes College right?"

"Yes sir."

The questions went back and forth and then David dropped her resumé on the coffee table, he rubbed his chin, while staring at her with those grey eyes of his, which made her squirm under his gaze.

He cleared his throat, "Well, to be fair you are quite young, too young if I may say. Your credentials are perfect for any job. Why ruin it with this one?"

"Money. I need money."

"Well the pay is high, the salary is too much even for an average office worker. But I need my daughter to be taken good care of, hence the large amount."

Silence. Then David said, "you know instead of working as a glorified babysitter, you should push harder and try harder, the job that you wish for would definitely come." David stood up. "That's all for the interview, you are not getting this job."

He walked towards his desk and took a sit, his face was almost hidden by the files stacked on his desk.

It took Sophie sometime to realize that she was rejected from the job as a nanny, when it hit her, she stood up and walk towards his desk.

"Um, did you just say that I am not qualified for this job?"

"Yes, yes I did. Now if you don't mind using the door." He pointed his hand towards the door, as a means to tell her that she should leave.

Sophie sighed. "Ok look sir, maybe I did not explain my condition to you. Let me lay more emphasis on it. I am broke, I am so broke that my bank account is literally 0.00 dollars right now." She was exaggerating a bit, she wasn't that broke ok.

"And now you are telling me that because you feel that I have the qualification for another job, that this job isn't the job for me? It's honestly not my fault that the government do not provide employment opportunities, the employment rate is dropping dead to the ground every single day, graduates barely even see any good job opportunity without the companies asking for a ludicrous amount of years spent working."

Sophie took in a deep breath, "sir, Mr David, if this was a normal setting, I would have been fan-girling over you by now, because I used to watch your movies back in the days, but sadly it's not a normal setting. I really and desperately need this job, please sir. I am begging you."

David looked at her long and hard, it was like he wasn't even staring at her, but at the wall behind her. Then after a while he said, "you're hired then."

"I am hired?"

"Yes you are very much hired. You start your job on Monday. You know your way down the stairs right?"

Sophie nodded her head, she felt exhilarated and relived. She walked out of the door, then stopped, she turn around and asked him. "Sir what time should I come on Monday."

"5 or 6am in the morning." He answered.

Sophie continues her walk towards the door, opening it, before she closed the door she told David, "thank you very much sir." David wave his hands in dismissal.

Sophie closed the door and started giggling and jumping around. She began skipping down the the corridor towards the staircase, she arrived at the bottom of the stairs and met up with Melody.

"Melody, I got the job." She said in chirpy manner.

"Oh that I great, super even. So shall we leave?"

"Yes, yes we shall leave."

The two women took their leave, with Sophie being happy that she is finally doing something that would take her out of her house all the time.

She couldn't wait for Monday.