The dirt on jewel

Chapter 7

As soon as my name got called,I got up from my seat and started to move towards the door which led into the conference hall. By now almost half of the people had already had their interviews taken;some were disappointed,few cried,and others remained nervous,even after the interview.

As I walked into the room which I had been quite familiar with,as Samantha came here almost twice a day and brought me here to help her too. It was a long hall with a table of 32 people. The room was usually dimly lit and on the wall opposite to the door was the multimedia wall,as we call it. Today apart from me there were three other people in the room,all dressed up in suits and all men.

About 15 minutes later I came out into the light and noise of the lounge. I do not know how well or worse I had performed ,neither did I understand anything from the interviewers expressions.

Before leaving the lounge I turned back to catch a glimpse of Aldwin Hellard,before he entered the conference hall,himself.

It was 12pm and I still had time left before I had to start my waitress's job at the Cafe de Bistro. Later at 7 I would have to go to the the petrol pump to work there and then do the dishes at Restaurant Marina. So I decided to go home and rest a bit,eat lunch and then set off for another day's work.

Today is Wednesday so mom is out with her only friend,Mrs.Mallcot for a yoga class. I go through the fridge to see if there are some leftovers I could eat,but unluckily there's nothing in there. So I just eat some ready-to eat noodles and gulp it down with orange juice. I get up to go to my room when I hear the doorbell ring,lazily I turn to open the door. Surprisingly,it's Jaun,my brother. The reason we both have Spanish names is because our mother spent 16 years in Spain,to her Spain is like the most homely place in the world. Also,the first time my mother and father met each other,they were in a Spanish restaurant. So Jaun and I both have Spanish names though we never went there and neither did my parents,after getting married.

"Jaun?"

"Ayana,is mom home?" He asked.

"No she is out and I don't know when she will come back,so there's no reason for you to stay and wait for her." I said it all at once because I wanted to end this conversation as soon as possible.

"That's okay! But can I talk to you for a bit?"

"I am sorry but I want to rest!" I said while closing the door.

He quickly put his hand to stop the door from closing and stepped inside the house.

"What do you think you are doing? This is my house and if you barge in like that I could call the police!" I had no better way of reacting to the situation.

"Ayana,please you need to listen to me." He pleaded.

"Alright!" I gave in because I always do when people plead which is very stubborn of me,of course.

We sat down on the floor our heads resting on the couch. It seemed like the old days when dad was alive and things were normal. When mom used to make us fish and chips and we played on the play station. But like seasons come and go,happiness came and left too.

"I won't say I am innocent but I won't plead guilty either. The past years may have brought storms for you but things weren't all good for me. Life is not Disney and it won't ever be. When I left,I never expected that even a goodbye would become so hard.

There were times,Ayana when I was beaten and tortured because I had to pay back the loans I had taken to come to Taiwan." He said very cautiously.

"I payed every penny for those loans!Staying hungry,working as much as possible,studying to get good scores. I earned that money." How can it be that he tried paying back loans when I was the one the loans sharks were after.

"I know, it's because the guy who was taking the money for me to New York,was a fraud. He cheated me,when he knew how hard it was to earn that money. Those days were never easy,Ayana. Never! I felt like I was exiled,only,I had too many responsibilities on my shoulder. Dad told me that he had a friend in Taiwan who would help me,at first he did but then even he turned his back on me."

"Why didn't you come? Why is that after 2 years you are coming back to tell me this?" By now I was tearing up because it seemed I was a fool to work day and night.

"I couldn't,it wouldn't have been less of a mess if I did and truthfully,I didn't have any money either."

"Jaun you will never know my side of the story though. The anger,anguish,agony,hurt and betrayal,I will live and survive with it all alone." I got up and started to go to my room,the last time I cried was in my father's funeral and now after seeing so much in life I didn't want to cry,because it was the weakest feeling I had went through.

The next day my mother asked Jaun to move in with us,he had to sleep on the couch but it was better to have him stay with us. What happened the other day was by no means the end to this story because I was still betrayed!

Also now he had started looking up for jobs,my mother was slightly more cheerful than before and the house was no more the place of mourning and loneliness.

It took 3 more days before I got a call from MJ to come to the office. I did not know the results and I am no person to run to conclusions,so I just calmly walked by the streets as I reached the office. I quickly went back to the 7th floor where I had had my interview a few days back. As soon as the guy in the black suit saw me he told me to come to the conference hall.

I entered back into the gloomy hall and saw the same three interviewers I had met that day.

"Ayana Adams?" The one in the middle said.

"Good morning! I am Ayana Adams."

"Alright,so a few days back we had an interview with you. We were really amazed by the passion and devotion you showed towards the work. Also we see you have knowledge of the workings in the firm." The one on the right side,in grey suit said.

"But there were a lot of candidates who were definitely more competent." The one who had been quiet up till now spoke up.

"So we have concluded that we won't be giving you this job,seeing that you work in a lot of part-time jobs and are also studying." The grey suit interviewer said.

"But, we have decided that you have potential and instead of a trainee as the assistant we will pick you as the trainee who will work side by side with Arnold,the General Secretary." The middle one spoke again.

"Thank you! I really hope to full fill my duties." I exclaimed in amazement and relieve.

"Well as for the trainee's job we have decided on Rae Martin and Aldwin Hellard.

You may leave now. Good luck!"The interviewer on the right said.

I was relived and excited,this was the first time in years when I was happy,the feeling had become unique. But happiness had found it's way back to me!