The city heat clung to my skin like desperation. I had walked into more offices than i cared to count that month,handing out CV's with a forced smile and silently praying someone,anyone would take a chance on me. Rent was due, my stomach was tight with hunger and anxiety,and all i had left was one last call to make
"๐บ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐," Sienna said over the phone."๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐,๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.๐ฐ'๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐."
"๐พ๐๐๐... ๐น๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐? ๐จ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐?" My voice trembled slightly. "๐ป๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐."
"๐ป๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐,"
She said ,her tone smug." ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐ฑ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐."
I paused,standing under the shade of a rusty signboard, heart suddenly racing."๐พ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐?" She hesitated."๐ฒ๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐. ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐."
My gut twisted.I'd heard of him...ambitious, cold and unfortunately devastatingly attractive. The thought of meeting him gave me a sleepless night. In the morning i work up so early and kept practicing in the mirror how i will present myself to the great Mr Kian Rono without lossing it. I also reached early at the building ready for my sentence.
The office smelled like fresh paint and imported leather-too clean,too pristine and completely out of Sasha's league. She adjusted her thrift store blous,palms sweating despite the air-conditioned reception. Her reflection in the glass wall mocked her nerves-chin-up,eyes sharp,but heart pounding like a guilty drum.
"๐๐๐'๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐," Alani said, her childhood friend who now worked in the accounts department of the same company. "๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ . ๐ฑ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐,๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐."
Alani's version of encouragement wasn't always comforting, but it got Sasha through the door.
"๐ด๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐ ๐?" a voice called out.
She rose quickly, knees a little weak.The secretary smiled stiffly and gestured toward the long corridor.
"๐ท๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐.๐ด๐.๐ฒ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐."
Mr.Kian. The name already felt like an institution.
As she walked the silent hallway,Sasha straightened her posture.No fear. No flinching. This job could change everything. Help her support her younger sister,pay rent on time,and maybe even breathe again.
She knocked once.
"๐ช๐๐๐ ๐๐," came the voice. Deep. Crisp. Impatient. Sasha stepped inside.
The man behind the desk didn't look up immediately
He was reviewing a document, brow furrowed,pen tapping lightly against his bottom lip.Hair tousled in a way that looked expensive. His shirt sleeves were rolled up,forearms flexing as he turned the page.
Then he looked up. And paused.
There was a flicker of something in his expression, recognition, surprise,curiosity? Whatever it was,it passed quickly.
"๐๐๐'๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐," he said simply.
"๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ," Sasha replied, holiding his gaze.
kian stood ,offering a handshake."๐ฒ๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐. ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. "
She took his hand,surprised by the firm grip and how warm his palm felt.
"๐บ๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐ ๐.๐ต๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐."
Kian gestured for her to sit."๐๐๐'๐๐ ๐ช๐ฝ'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐. ๐บ๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐,๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐,๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐?"
Straight to the point.
"๐ฐ'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ."
A smirk tugged at his lips."๐ป๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐."
He echoed."๐ป๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐."
"๐ฐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐."
She said,then regretted it. Too bold? But Kian didn't seem offended.Instead,he leaned back in his chair,studying her like she was a puzzle,he wanted to solve or dismantle.
"๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.๐ป๐๐๐๐'๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ต๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐."
"๐ฐ'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐," Sasha said.
Their eyes locked for a moment, silence filled the room again-but it wasn't awkward.
It was loaded.Charged.
"๐ฐ'๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐,"
He said after a beat."๐บ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐,๐๐๐'๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐."
"๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ."Sasha said firmly.
" ๐บ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐,"he added,almost amused.
"๐ฐ ๐ ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐," she shot back.
Kian's smile returned-faint,unreadable.He tapped his pen again."๐พ๐'๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐."
As she stood to leave,her heart still thudding he called after her.
" ๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐?"
"๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.๐ท๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐".
Sasha blinked.So he knew.
" ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐".
"๐บ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐," he said, then returned to his file.
outside the office ,Sasha exhaled deeply. Her knees felt like jelly.It wasn't just the interview, it was him. There was something in the way he looked at her that didn't feel professional. And deep down,something about it thrilled her The hallway felt colder than before,quieter too.Sasha walked briskly, her heels clicking against the polished floor as she tried to collect her thoughts.She'd handled herself well.Professional. Composed.But God...
What was that tension? That stare. That sublte burn behind his words. The kind of man who saw through surface answers and pressed for more-not because he liked control.
She hated that it had rattled her.
Even more she hated that somewhere beneath the irritation...she was intrigued.
"๐ฏ๐๐!" a voice called out. She tunned,startled, to see her friend Alani.
Alani walked to her all bubbly and hugged her dramatically lifting one of her leg up.
"๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐...๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ".
Sasha's eyes widen up in disbelief." ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ," just then her phone screen lit up with an email that was confirming her acceptance at the Rono Group Company.
She hugged Alani jumping up in joy and almost immediately Alani pulked her at a secluded corner to avoid dtwing attention from the other workers.
Once at the corner they started awuicking like squirrels holding hands.
After their short celebration Sasha webt direct to Sienna's place to thank her for such a huge favour. Sienna hugged her and congratulated her as if she's not the one who connected her to the job. Sasha then promised to give her a treate with her first salary as gratitude to such a save.
Once at her place the first thing she did was kneel down and thanking God for such blessings and asking for strength and wisdom to conqure this one.
That night she barely slept enough, she was too exicted that she saw the night too long.
With her clothes ironed crisp,her heels shiney,her bag all packed up with her essential from her lip oil,hand cream,wipes,pocket tissue,emergency pad,pocket deodorant and cologne. She knew she was ready for tomorrow like no one else.