Etched

Chapter 4

Stepping out of the cab, I paid as quickly as I could, while struggling to put my jaw in place from where it had been touching the ground. My wide eyes raking through the facade of the magnificent skyscraper. I audibly gulp, blinking a few times to clear my thoughts. 

To say I was stunned would be a huge understatement. The size and beauty of the edifice was mindboggling, making me contemplate whether or not to go in, pessimising my confidence. Assuring me that I was capable of being thrown out. 

The stony black building had double the amount of glass in the perfect proportion with the 'WHITE GOI' silver plated board. A structure so beautiful that you would want to wrap it in bubble wrap instead of leaving it under the mercy of sun and wind. It looked supreme.

Motivating myself through pep talks, I somehow managed to drag my body towards the entrance before giving myself a quick once over. I was wearing a black pencil skirt with a formal white dress shirt paired with black heels which somewhat made me look official and proper. But unfortunately not as amazing as the people entering the building looked. There was something lacking, something incomplete. A presence in the air, of what? I didn't know.

Maybe it had something to do with my hair pulled back in a high ponytail or the minimal jewellery I wore but there was a void. A void I could feel.

But I am who I am and others are who they are, I'm quite comfortable to be in my skin, so the insecurity of not being dressed properly washed away just as soon as it attempted to stain me.

Stepping pass the doors, my eyes lifted from the polished white linoleum flooring and scanned the surroundings. The interior was just as beautiful as the building on the outside was screaming for it to be. It was decently decorated in contrasts of blacks, whites, grays and occasional browns. The colors so smartly incorporated, that they blended with each other mesmerizingly, regardless of the indifferences in the shades.

Attractive glass interior stood proud, furnished with the neat amenities, fitments yelling 'expensive' with the perfection in their designations.

The place was no doubt multinational standard because it really was.

I made my way towards the reception desk. The receptionist threw ugly looks at my direction acknowledging my presence before spitting out the floor of my certain department without caring to guide me a little besides. I thought she was specifically being mean to me and I attempted to ask why, until I saw her doing the same with others there for interview purposes.

I looked around for the elevators to reach level thirty-three in time, finding them towards the right. I rush in, discreetly squeezing between heavily worn perfume bodies. I guess I'll run late. I try calming my nerves down a bit. But it seems like they only seem to be worsening.

Where do the breathe in breathe out mantras fade away when you're needing them the most?

Enough! You are not committing homicide for heavens. It's just a job. If you're selected well and good otherwise you know how to brew coffee, so working in any cafe might be an option too.
With that I smile at myself, rubbing my hands together.

I kept fidgeting with my purse strap all the way in the lift which was filled with immaculately dressed employees. All of them too much in their works and phones to notice my anxiousness.

The elevator pinged and the doors parted when it reaches the thirty third floor. I made my way to greet the receptionist, yet again. But this time, it was a decent looking man other than an overly painted face lady. The man seemed really nice and helpful as he ushered me towards the waiting area where the other candidates sat.