Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Holding onto my shoulder straps, I walked back down to the bus stop. Partway there my stomach rumbled loudly and I reached into my backpack to pull out a granola bar. Opening the wrapper, I took a bite, and slowed my steps as I checked the open bus schedule in my hands.
According to the timetable, I had a few minutes and it was only up the road.
Besides, who ever heard of the buses in this city running early?
When I approached the bus stop, my chewing slowed and my eyes widened as I watched a bus pull away.
Was that…?
No. It couldn’t be.
I checked the lit display above the window. My granola bar hung from my fingers, my mouth agape, and I inwardly laughed.
Sure. Of course.
Well, that was great.
Because why not?
Just great.
My eyes closed in sheer disappointment as I watched my bus glide farther and farther away from me.
Well, it seemed I did have some luck after all.
Unfortunately for me, it was of the ‘bad’ variety.
With a light huff, I sat on the bench, took out my long dark hair and ran my fingers through it before tying it into a high ponytail. I pushed my glasses up the bridge of my nose before squinting into the sunlight. The morning sun felt like a balm on my soul and closing my eyes, I took a deep breath in then let it out slowly.
What else could go wrong?
I had more than an hour before the next bus and my short legs swung from the bench in annoyance. I frowned to myself. This finding a job gig was harder than I thought. Don’t get me wrong—I didn’t expect miracles, but I expected something. And so far, all I got was bupkis.
So when I focused my squinting eyes on a building across the street, my brows lowered in disbelief.
MAX Talent and Recruitment.
Hello there.
For an insane second, I actually thought about going in there.
But… was it bad form to put your resume into one recruitment agency while waiting on another to find you work?
Perhaps it was, but I was running out of ideas here.
I mean, really, what could it hurt?
At the end of the day if Leah called me, I’d race back there in a heartbeat. She’d never even have to know.
I was on my feet before I could talk myself out of it. Looking both ways, I ran across the road, my denim backpack slapping me on the lower back with every step I took. I was a little sweaty and I could feel the rosy flush in my cheeks, so I paused and took a moment, licked my lips, and then put my hands to the glass and pushed the door open.
The second I walked in, the pretty woman behind the desk looked me over. “You here for the interview?”
Huh?
My ears perked. A bright, blinding light shone around the woman as if she were a deity and in the background, angel song.
Do I dare?
It was miracle. Some higher power was giving me a sign, an opportunity here. I could feel it in my bones.
It’s dishonest.
I’d be an idiot to pass it up.
You don’t even know what the job is.
Who cares what the job is? It was a job! And Nanna always said beggars could not be choosers.
Lips parted, I nodded, and she muttered a bored sounding, “Name?”
I swallowed hard and peeped out, “Emily Aldrich.”
The woman went over the list then frowned at me. “You got a resume? What agency sent you?”
Oh no. I was had!
Liar.
Yeah. I was a terrible person. But as I thought about it, I asked myself what being a good person had got me in life thus far.
The answer came fast.
Nothing.
A whole load of steaming-hot nothing, that’s what.
Terrible person or not, I decided to go for it. My heart began to race but somehow I got out, “I was sent by Leah at The Edge. It’s just down the street.” I reached into my backpack, pulling out a nicely creased resume. “Here you go.”
Although the woman glared down at the wrinkled papers, she took them before shooting me another curious look. “Head on up. You’re number twelve.”
Oh my God, she bought it, I inwardly crowed. She actually bought it.
My feet carried me up the steps as fast as they could take me.
My luck was about to change. I would make sure of it.
I just had to.
The door opened and when a pretty, young woman stepped out, I smiled at her. She hesitated, looked me up and down, and then smiled back, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
Suddenly self-conscious, I dipped my chin, peering down at my hands neatly resting in my lap. And this was my everlasting experience with beautiful people.
My chest began to twinge.
You don’t belong here, my brain hissed at me, and I took a moment to regroup.
What did I care if I didn’t fit in?