𝑴𝒚 𝑶𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝑩𝒐𝒔𝒔

Three

When I had made it to the office there wasn't anyone there. I was glad, I didn't want to be seen amongst a crowd. I skipped up to the building and had let myself in. It probably took my four knocks to realize that nobody was going to come to my aid.

It was strange, but that's Belower Town for you. I took in the ground floor of the house. The furniture is all a dark bronze, almost close to mahogany.

There're double stairs leading to a second floor and it smelled nice inside. Again, there was nobody around. Absolutely no one. Not a security in sight. I didn't think that was safe at all. He's the Mayor. Sure it's safe here in Belower Town but...one can never be so sure.

I searched around the ground floor, looking at the empty walls. I noticed three doors on the ground floor and only one was open. That one lead to a living room with a vintage look to it.

It was ugly.

The other two doors I had knocked on but they were locked. I finally reached double doors and I thought to myself, this is it. I'm here.

I made sure I looked okay before knocking. There was silence and the door opened momentarily. I was taken aback when I noticed-

"Good afternoon, Axel Pone, former Mayor of Belower Town." He says extending a hand.

"Good afternoon." I was hesitant but I still shook his hand. I'm nervous. I gazed over to see him, Asher Allen, current Mayor. His red hair looks darker today, his eyes sharp and a deep color of blue and not to mention how lean he looks.

His eyes drifted to my attire and I wanted to run right back out of those doors.

"I'll leave this one to you. Good luck." Axel stepped out, shutting the door closed behind him. The slam of the door made me jump out of my skin. I looked back, my heart beating in my chest.

What does he mean by "I'll leave this one to you?" I'm scared. I can't do this. Not when there's no one around. What if he's not so nice after all? Then what?

I heard a clear of the throat. "Um...your name?" I over at Asher and nearly slapped myself. I nearly forgot what I came here for.

"Yes, s-sorry." I scurried over and took a seat on the chair in front of the desk, setting my folder down. There's nothing much in the folder at all, just a resume of the one job I ever worked at as a cashier.

How pathetic.

I was hesitant but I held out my hand to greet. He was hesitant, but still shook my hand. The shake didn't last more than three seconds before he pulled his hand away.

"Okay, Ms.Young, let's get into it shall we?" I nod.

"Um, yes."

He searched my folder seeming very surprised about the one thing that was inside. He shot me a look and I could feel the embarrassment bar rise. Sympathize with me. Just give me the job.

"Ms.Young, do you own a car?"

"I do not. I walked here, sir." Sit? Should I call him that? Maybe that is the best choice for right now.

"Hm. Do you have any kids?"

"No sir."

"Do you think you'd be fit for the job?"

"Yes, I do." Bad idea.

"Really? How so? Exactly what is it that you can bring to the table as a team player?"

He really said let's go easy before it gets hard. I had studied a few questions prior to this interview but nothing ever mentioned that one.

"New ideas...um..I can help with whatever it is I can when it comes to the safety of Belower Town. Also for the kids. To make them smile we could fix the Juju Ground up Inston. I saw that it was mentioned in an article I read before moving here."

He moved on to the next question.

___

"Where are you from?" I felt like I was digging into something more personal. I haven't asked this much questions to the other women that came by.

"Um...the US but I am originally from Nigeria."

"Oh." I knew there was an accent. Not as full, but there nonetheless. I've grown to lose mine over the years myself. But that's far from here...very far. I can only wonder why she chose here. I know I've never seen her around and I've been here for five years.

"It says on your resume," If I could even call it that "that you've only ever worked as a cashier. Why exactly do you think you're fit for this position?"

She stammered. She doesn't have nothing to give, really. No experience, she's not confident as the others even if they came here to flash me their cleavage.

No thank you. But her...something about her that intrigues me.

"I...I am always open to learn new things." She says softly. Jasmine avoided her gaze just like she's been doing for most of this interview. And that's all she gave. That is all she gave.

"You lack a lot of skill, Ms.Young." I examiner her resume once more and only saw an email stated. No cellphone number or house number.

"There isn't a cellphone here."

Quieter. "I don't have one. Sorry."

My eyes drift to her and she's still looking down. But I did have one last question as much as I hated this entire idea of getting help.

"Why here of all places?"

Finally she looked up at me and her face is a bright red. Her eyes, those beautiful lavender eyes...what are you here for, Jasmine?

"It's far...it's safe."

Belower Town, far? Safe? I gazed off, thinking of her answer. It's far, it's safe. Everything about that answer was more than true. Belower Town is a safe place to be, and it's nearly non-existent to the bigger world. To the cities of cities.

"This interview is over, Ms.Young."

__

Oop