1- THE INTERVIEW

        It was late at night and the sky was still thundering because of the storm. And while the weather was bad three big men stood in front of a door, the biggest man in the middle knocked, and a few moments later the door opened and a handsome, tall, with a mustache and color green eyes man appeared.

        "How are you, Zion?" rough questioned the biggest man and he clenched his teeth because of his grip.

        "G-Greg, what are you doing here?" Zion asked in surprise and he also looked at the other two men on its side.

        "What else are we doing here? Isn't it obvious?" the big and pure muscle stated to Zion's left.

        "Pay your debt," said the man on the right, and he grits his teeth.

        "I—um—just come back tomorrow. I don't have any money today. Just come back tomorrow, ah. All right, bye!" Zion replied kindly and he smiled at them. Then, he closed the door.

        But in an unexpected turn of events, the biggest man kicked in the door and tore it down because it was old. Zion's eyes widened and he backed away because the three big men had entered his house.

        "Get all the things that could benefit us!" Greg commanded looking from his peripheral view where the two are.

        The two men next to Greg nodded in response and they began to pull at the objects they saw.

        "Hey! No! Don't do that!" Zion shouted and he went to the living room where a man took their little television.

        "Shut up!" the man said angrily and kicked Zion in the stomach.

        "Brother!" cried the woman sitting on a sofa and hurriedly went to her older brother because she saw him hurt and fell to the floor.

        "I'm fine, Sarah," Zion said softly hiding his true feelings so it wouldn't worry her. But the truth is that his stomach hurt when the man hit her.

        And because Zion was hurt he just let the men take the things they wanted rather than hurt them because he won't let anyone touch his younger sister who has down syndrome.

        "Hey, you! We'll be back next week and when you haven't paid your debt yet, you already know what we're going to do next. Do you understand me?" Greg reminded Zion with a threat and he turns away.

        Then, the three men left the dilapidated house while Zion stood up and pulled his younger sister into their room.

        "Come on, Sarah, and we need to get out of here. We're not safe here anymore," Zion said nervously and started packing their things.

        "Where are we going, Brother?" Sarah innocently asked just standing on the side and watching her brother.

        "Anywhere as long as it's far from here," Zion replied quickly and also pulled out Sarah's belongings which he had placed in large luggage.

        Meanwhile, there is a woman in the bathtub and bathing with music as she relaxes and feels the vibe of a good day. She then went into her large walk-in closet and there she chose expensive clothes to wear as well as a watch, necklace, bracelet, and four rings that she wore on both her index and ring fingers. She also sprayed perfume and before going out she looked at herself in a big mirror to see if she looks good, she smiled at her appearance but then, she became serious and she took an expensive lipstick and applied it to her pink lips. Then, she also put on extra eyelashes, mascara, and draws her eyebrows a little, and puts some powder on her face to lighten up because she looks pale. After all, she went down to the dining room where her parents seemed to be waiting for her for a while who is looking at her sharply.

        "How many hours do you take a bath, Toni? Wait, what time do you wake up? Don't you know you're already late? You still haven't changed," the old woman in front of Toni said rudely.

        "Loren, please, it's early in the morning. At least, she woke up," the old man contradicted his wife who is on his left side, and then he smiled at Toni who is on his right side.

        "Thank you, Dad," Toni said with a smile to her father 'cause he took her side.

        "Warren, stop spoiling your daughter. That's why your daughter is like that, look at her until now she doesn't have a husband, child, and family at the age of 32," Loren mentioned to her husband while lecturing their daughter.

        "Don't pressure her, honey," Warren whispered to his wife to make her stop pressuring their daughter.

        "Too late, Dad. And thank you, Mom, for reminding me. You know what, I've gotta go and I have a business to run. I don't want to sit here all day and do nothing but hear your lecture every single day," Toni plainly said that she lost her appetite and stood up from her chair.

        "Toni, you are a beautiful, wealthy, and very smart woman. You graduated with high honors and became a famous engineer here in Manhattan, New York but who's gonna inherit it all if you don't have a family yet? Who will inherit all of your businesses? Don't expect us, your parents to take your place. I and your Dad are not always here for you, darling. You are our only child and we only want what's best for you that's why we are pressuring you. And so, while it's still early why don't you get a boyfriend and marry him, and then get pregnant and have a family? You know if you are not going to get married this year, I will be the one to arrange your marriage. I, myself will find a man who is suitable for you," Loren reminded her daughter even though she is walking away from them. "Did you hear me, Toni?! Find someone now or you will get old with no one beside you that is going to take care of you!" she shouted after her.

        "I can't hear you, Mom!" Toni replied and she rolled her eyes because she was so tired of hearing her mother's reminders to her every single day that just passed.

        "You can't fool me, Toni! I know you heard me because you wouldn't answer if you didn't hear me!" Loren responded to her daughter even though she could no longer see her.

        "Stop it, honey. Do you know the reason why our daughter doesn't eat with us? Because every day you mentioned to her about her age and marriage. Are you not tired at all?" Warren contradicted his wife again and eat even though their daughter had left them.

        "I have to remind her every day if I have to, or she will never think of having a family of her own. Do you, honey, not want to have a grandchild? Me, I want to have a grandchild but because your daughter is a workaholic, we won't be given one. It's been 32 years since a child was running here at home. I honestly miss hearing a crying baby or giggles. Aren't you?" Loren said sadly and she eat as well.

        "I told you to let's add another baby but you don't want to anymore. You also don't want to adopt so, we don't have a choice but to wait for Toni to have a family of her own," he whispered and he chewed the food in his mouth.

        "Do you even know how hard is it to give birth? Of course not! Because you're a man. You don't give birth. Now, stop annoying me, Warren. I want my own blood grandchildren and not some random child, okay?" Loren annoyingly replied and just ignored him and just eat.

        —

        Toni was driving fast that's why in a matter of 10 minutes she arrived in her own building. Everybody welcomed her warmly as she is walking going to the elevator, meanwhile, in the same building many applicants are queuing to get a job and one of them is Zion who is in good shape.

        "Ms. Wayman is here," said a woman who opened the door to inform the two men inside.

        Immediately the two men stood up and left the room to stand in front of the applicants.

        "Prepare yourself everyone and Ms. Wayman is here. The interview will start in 15 minutes," said the tall man with blonde hair.

        And at that signal, all the applicants sat up straight and prepared themselves including Zion.

        "You can do it, dude. Trust yourself and you will be accepted even if you are just a high school graduate. Show them that you can do more even if you are just a high school graduate. This is for my younger sister and my future," Zion whispered to himself to encourage himself even though his knees were shaking and he was very nervous.

        While Toni got into her office when a woman approached her and handed her a black folder.

        "Good morning, Ms. Wayman, these are the applicants who are waiting in the auditorium now," the woman informed and she bowed to him.

        Toni looked at the resumes of the applicants one by one and her eyebrows raised at what she saw. "Hmm... let's get this over with and I have so many projects on my sleeves right now. I need manpower," she said seriously and got up from her chair to go to the auditorium.

        All applicants in the hallway were practicing their lines including Zion when they suddenly heard the sound of a stiletto which makes them all stop and turn their heads to the sound. Everyone including Zion's eyes sparkled just watching her walk and the way she held her head high with full of confidence makes them admire her in secret.

        "Please, everyone let us welcome the youngest and most famous Engineer, and CEO of Tri-Way Company," announced the lean man but bald and bearded.

        At that signal, all applicants stand up to welcome the owner of the building, and based on their faces they are amused by her.

        "Call the three first applicants," Toni mentioned and she entered the auditorium to start the interview.

        And the interview has begun, one by one the applicants spoke before Toni and just looking at them she can see already if they hey have potential or none at all. After the introduction, the whole room has become quiet as they are all waiting for Toni to say something.

        "I don't have much time for this. So... You two on the sides, hired. Excluded you in the middle. You may now go and my secretary will take you to the other room," Toni announced without any signs of a joke on her face and she passed the two papers to the man on her right and a paper that was rejected by her left.

        The interview continued and Toni didn't waste any more time while the two men on both of her sides were following her without complaining until Zion's opportunity came. He entered the auditorium with two other women and them one by one identified themselves.

        "Good Morning to all of you. First, I want to introduce myself. My name is Zion Rilo, 35 years old and a high school graduate. I will get to the point here. I think you should hire me even though I just finished high school because I have knowledge of this industry and I really need this job. I've been working on a lot of construction sites so, I know the dos and don'ts. You can trust me and I will surely not fail you. I am ready to grow in this company and I promise to give my best and outstanding quality of work in each job I will do," Zion announced without hesitation of himself and his ability.

        "Okay. You two women on the sides, I know that you have a relative here but that does not concern me for you to accept you here. I don't like pretty faces that have attitude and sitting pretty only business here so, it's a no for you two. Except you, you man in the middle. You're hired. Now, get out of here," Toni said without filter and she shoo the three applicants without giving them a second glance.

        "Please, follow me," the secretary woman told Zion and the three applicants went out to her signal.

        Then, the secretary pointed out to Zion where he will go next, so he followed her and entered another room where other applicants were also passed in the interview, while the two women who were not accepted are crying to their relatives, while the others went home because they have nothing to do since the decision have been made.

        "Dad, do something," a woman said to her father.

        "Stop crying, my princess. Don't worry Daddy will talk to the President to give you another chance. Wait here," the old man said who looks rich that has a position in the company, and entered the auditorium to face the CEO. "Good morning, Ms. Wayman, sorry to interrupt you but this girl is my daughter and I would be happy if you accept her here," he nicely mentioned pointing to his daughter who is standing on his right side.

        "Mr. Ray, I know she is your daughter but based on her academics and experience that she doesn't have, she doesn't fit here. Maybe in the restaurant that you managed. She can work there as a Manager but here? I do not think so," Toni directly answered without blinking to let him know that she is the boss and no one else.

        "But I am one of the investors here," the old man added that he used his power to make her daughter enter the company.

        "Yeah, you are. Now if you force your daughter to enter here, you will be the one to resign. But I do not promise that her work here will be easy because what I need here are people who are best and that includes you. The question is, is your daughter good or just a pretty lady? Your choice, Mr. Ray. You or your daughter?" she authoritatively indicated that did not give Mr. Ray a chance to stand against her.

        The old man looked at his daughter and looked like they were talking by the use of their eyes.

        "Make up your mind now, or I will both fire you. Think fast and I have a lot of work to do. You are actually wasting my time. 5. 4. 3. 2–" Toni said giving them an ultimatum but before her counting finished he speak.

        "I'm sorry, Ms. Wayman for wasting your time but I think I am more suitable for this company than my daughter," Mr. Ray honestly replied and lowered his head towards her as if he is asking for apologies.

        "But Dad!" the woman shouted who is not convinced because she did not get what she wants.

        "Good choice. Now, get back to work," Toni announced, dismissing the two and going back to her work.

        Meanwhile, Mr. Ray pulled his daughter outside the room and he talked to her in a whisper. "Stop it, Sasha. I almost lose my job because of you. Listen, I am working here very hard and I do not want to break my image just because of you. You know, she's right. You are all just pretty faces. Now you go home and later we talk. I will go back to my work now and she might throw fire on me," Mr. Ray commented at his daughter and he left her because he was suddenly afraid of his position in the company and his boss.

        Sasha anyways cries more and left the building with stomping feet, however, Zion is very happy because he got in even though he lacked in academics requirements.

        "She is such a good boss because she let me in without looking at my educational attainment. This is the beginning of my success," he happily murmured under his throat that he already imagined himself growing in the company.

        To be continued...