Chapter 9 The Job opportunity

Leela McCartney

I patiently and carefully listen to her tell me all she has been through. From all that she said, she was fearless. I think this was what drew me to her.

I wondered why people were still discriminating against black at this time. For my son's own, I can understand because the woman my ex-husband left us for was black, so maybe he is now pouring out all his frustration on every black the person he meets.

I looked at this lady as she talked, and I kept asking myself what prompted me to sit down here with her.

I would never do this, and I was just too busy for this. She told me everything she had been through from her mother's house down to here, and I must say she stood up for herself pretty well.

I like this lady, I like the kind of spirit she carries, and I want to see her again. I wonder what I can do to make sure that I see her again. Maybe I should give her the job of my assistant in my company.

No, I don't think that is the best idea. I want her around my house constantly. I like her, and I think she will be good for my son. If I give her the work of my assistant, then my son would not get to see much of her because she will be mostly in my office. I should give her the work of a maid in my house.

For a lady with the kind of degree and qualifications that she has, I don't think she will accept my offer, but if she did, then I was going to triple whatever she felt maids earned. I hope that she agrees to become my maid. At least that way, she will get to be around my son always, and maybe, they will get to be together.

She continues talking, and I keep staring at her while I nod my head so she will be sure that I am listening to her. I would not want to give her the impression that she was bugging me with her story, so I had to look very attentive.

The smell of pizza from the next shop was powerful and friendly. It immediately filled the space where we were seated. I heard her stomach growl, and I think maybe it was because of the scent.

She looked flustered when her stomach made the sound, and I honestly wanted to laugh not because her stomach growled but because of the look on her face.

It was so funny. I wanted to send my driver to get us some pizza, but he was a bit far from us, and before I could move to stand up to meet him, she had already started talking again.

She told me all that she had to say, and to be honest. I was utterly shocked. Despite all that she went through, she still loved her color and didn't even regret being born black. That is one of the characteristics of a virtuous woman.

At this point, I was very sure that she had all the qualities I needed in a wife for my son. I took a deep breath and muttered a simple "wow!" when she finished.

"Your story is very touching, I must say, and you are very courageous. I don't even think I would be able to face all you went through and still stand this strong,"

I told her and then chuckled a little. Deep down, I knew what I just said was not true because I faced even more than she was now when my husband left me, but I could still pick myself up and look at myself now I'm doing so well.

"I think I can help you. I have an offer for you, and I believe that it will help your present situation." I tell her, and when I look at her, I see the joy in her eyes. You could tell that she was delighted.

"Mind my manners. I didn't even introduce myself to you. I'm Leela McCartney," I say as I stretch my hands for a handshake, and she does the same. "Well, I'm looking for a maid in my house, and I think you will be interested," I say to her.

Just as I was about to ask her if she was interested in taking my offer, my driver rushed to me with my phone ringing. I must have dropped the phone when I was rushing out. It was my son calling, and that was when I realized I had to run now to see him.

I didn't bother picking up the call since I was already in the company, so I quickly brought out my card from my purse and handed it over to her.

"I will be expecting your call. My number is on the card, so please do well to call her if you are interested in my offer. I have to go now. It was nice talking to you, and I wish to see you again,"

I tell her as I get up, put my glasses back on and walk through the entrance of my son's company. "Good morning, ma," the receptionist greeted me.

"Thank you, is my son on the seat?" I ask her.

"Yes, he is," she replies, and I nod my head and continue walking.

I scan everywhere as I continue walking to his office with my head up as I receive greetings from different angles in the room from my son's workers. It had been a while since I last came here and that must be why I was getting stares from some new workers in the company, I suppose.

Jocelyn "A maid?" I ask myself as I stare at the card in my hand, still feeling embarrassed. After everything I told this woman and all the qualifications I told her I had, all she could offer me was to be a maid in her house. I had just wasted my time talking to this woman.

I felt she would have something good for me because of the way she was looking, not knowing that all she had to offer was the position of a maid in her house. I sigh heavily as I throw the card into my bag and pick up my things. I was hungry, so I had to get something to eat fast. I bring out my purse and retake a good look at it.

I was running short of cash and needed to do something speedy. With what I had left, all that I could afford to eat was still junk, and I could tell that my stomach was already getting tired of it, but that was what I could afford. I stroll into a restaurant and order my regular fries and coke.

I wait patiently as the woman attending to me returns with my order. I take one fry and put it in my mouth, and then I immediately remember my stepfather. I began to blame all that was happening to me now on him.

I start to curse the saying he ever set foot in my mother's house as my stepfather. What kind of stepfather tries to take advantage of his stepdaughter. He is a dog. I curse him as I slam my hands on the table.

I immediately remembered that I was in a public place, and I looked around to see if anyone had noticed what I had just done, but they were all busy with their food and whatever they were doing. I blame my mum also for not believing me, her daughter, and instead of thinking of a man that she just met and barely even knows.

I look down at my food on the table and realize that I have entirely lost appetite for the meal. I decided to take the food home and eat it instead of wasting it. I will be hungry later on, and I didn't have that kind of money to be tiring.

I signal a waiter in the restaurant and ask her to package the food for me. I stood up from my seat when the waiter returned with my meal, and I left the restaurant. I stand by the side and wait for a cab to come. I was already tired, and all I wanted to do now was lay down on my bed and sleep. I'm relieved when I see a cab approaching me.

He stops by my side, and I bend down to tell him my destination. I'm amazed when I see a good-looking guy in the driver's seat. He was black and had a well-structured face. I got into the car's back seat, and I still couldn't stop staring at him

I continued looking at him from the mirror at the top. From the way he talked, you could tell that he was well educated. What was a good-looking guy like him doing as a cabman, I ask myself?

From what I was going through now, I could tell that maybe he went through the same thing. Who knows how long he looked for a job before resorting to being a cabman. The treatment of blacks in this country was just unfair.

"We have reached your destination," he said, breaking me out of my thoughts. I couldn't help but look down at his lips.

He had very nice and succulent lips. He was very handsome. I dip my hand into my bag and pay him his money before stepping out of the car. I watched as he drove away and wished that we would cross paths again.

I walked over to my door and opened it with my key. I didn't bother to check if Jane was around because I was tired. I get into my room and toss my bag in frustration, not minding where it landed.

I placed my food on the table, and I managed to dress my bed to make it comfortable enough for me to lie on.

I jumped on my bed and immediately I began to feel hungry again, so I took the fries and the cook from the table and ate it hungrily.

After that, I washed it down with my bottle of coke and threw the empty things into the trash can, and got back to my bed to sleep.