His Lovable Klutz (Completed)

Segment Eight.

♥ Say What Now? ♥

      Susan ushered the second candidate into the office. The woman had a sturdy, almost imposing body, wearing a mismatched outfit of a too-tight floral dress paired with combat boots. Her hair was pulled back in a severe bun, and her expression was completely void of emotion, making her look like a life-sized doll. She sat down in front of Stefan and Tenzin, her eyes unblinking and fixed straight ahead.

      Stefan felt a shiver run down his spine. The woman's expressionless face was unnerving, and for a moment, he wasn't even sure if she was a woman or a man. He glanced at Tenzin, who looked just as shocked and surprised. They exchanged eye signals, each trying to get the other to take the lead. Finally, Stefan gave up and decided to dive in.

      "Right. Let's get started," Stefan said, his voice a bit shaky. "What's your name?"

      "Lily," the woman replied in a monotone voice.

      Stefan blinked. The name Lily seemed comically ill-suited for someone with such a stern and intimidating appearance. He glanced at Tenzin, who gave him a subtle nod of agreement.

      "Okay, Lily," Stefan said, deciding to skip the usual small talk. "Can you tell us about your work experience?"

      Lily stared at him blankly for a moment before replying, "I was in the military once."

      Stefan blinked, unsure if he had heard her correctly. "The... military?"

      "Yes," Lily said, her voice a flat monotone. "I was strong. Survived wars. Led my team through enemy lines. We faced death every day."

      Stefan exchanged another glance with Tenzin, both men puzzled by the irrelevance of her response.

      Lily launched into a long-winded monologue about her time in the service. "I've seen things you wouldn't believe. I've survived wars, led troops, and seen comrades fall. I once carried a wounded soldier on my back for twenty miles through enemy territory."

      As Lily continued to talk, Stefan and Tenzin's expressions grew increasingly tired and bored as they listened. Tenzin's eyes glazed over, Stefan stole a glance at the clock, realizing she had been talking non-stop for almost an hour. She wasn't just giving her work history; she was narrating her entire life story. Stefan was fighting to keep from yawning. They nodded occasionally, pretending to be interested.

      "And then there was the plane crash," Lily droned on. "We went down in the jungle. I survived for weeks on nothing but rainwater and insects."

      Stefan tried to interrupt, "That's—"

      "Then there was the time I got stung by a scorpion in the desert. My foot swelled up to twice its size. I cut the poison out myself," Lily continued, completely ignoring Stefan's attempt to speak.

      "And I lost a toe once," she added, almost as an afterthought.

      "You lost a toe?" Tenzin asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

      Without missing a beat, Lily pulled her foot out of her boot. She lifted it in front of Stefan, revealing a missing pinky toe. The other toes were dirty and rough, the missing one leaving an oddly shaped gap.

      Stefan recoiled in horror as he saw the missing part of her toes, leaving a noticeable gap. Tenzin's eyes widened in disbelief.

      "Damn", Tenzin muttered under his breath.

      "Yep, it's gone," Lily said matter-of-factly, wiggling her remaining toes for emphasis.

      Stefan had had enough. "Susan!" he yelled, his voice echoing through the office.