The Interview

Chapter Two

It was only a few minutes shy of eight o'clock, when Glinda at long last shut and locked the door of the office building that housed the small financial brokerage firm she was now working for. It was still bright enough, but that didn't make her feel any less worn-out. As the most junior member, still in the process of familiarising herself with clients, the local market and other specifics, she stayed behind on a nearly daily basis, even though most her colleagues had left hours ago. All beginnings were hard, she knew. It would pass, she hoped and straightened herself, adjusting the strap of her handbag.

The next stop was only around the corner, and she was lucky enough to catch the tram that had just arrived. Sitting down, she melted into her seat. Her lids grew heavy, tempting her to close them for but a moment. Her flat, however, was only a couple of minutes away - too easy to miss if she didn't pay attention. Distracted, she reached for the key in her bag. As she pulled it out, she also found a chewing gum and a tattered piece of paper. The writing on it had rubbed off a little over the last few weeks in her overcrowded purse, yet she didn't need to read the name above the ten-digit number to remember what it said.

She sighed. She popped the chewing gum into her mouth, held the key firmly in her left hand, but let the note drop back into the bag. After more than two months at her now not-so-new-anymore work place, the promised lunch was terribly overdue. There was no easy explanation for her reluctance to meet up, after she had been so enthusiastic back then, asking for a phone number she was perhaps not going to use after all. Settling in after getting the job had been stressful, of course, but it wasn't like she had never left the house since then. In fact, going out with friends had been one of the best ways for her to put work off her mind whenever possible. A female voice announced the next stop through the speaker system, and Glinda was a little startled to recognise the name of her street. She pulled herself up with the help of the handrail next to her seat, absolutely ready to kick off her heels.

Peace and quiet was all she longed for when she finally set foot into to the kind of stylish, yet also rather clattered apartment. Unfortunately, her flatmates Tibbett and Crope around, peace and quiet were in rare supply. The first greeted her from the kitchen on the other end of the narrow entrance hall; the latter ambushed her before she could even take off her shoes.

"Hey Glin!" he cried, bumping into her and bestowing a noisy kiss on her cheek. "You're late, darling," he remarked with an affected pout. "Did you remember bringing the spice mix Tibbs asked you to get from the Quadling store? He's already almost finished cooking the sauce."

Not appreciating such a boisterous welcome, Glinda stomped past him with an irritated flick of her blonde curls. She produced a brown paper bag from her purse and almost slammed it onto the kitchen bench before turning on her heels, headed for the bathroom. The door clicked shut, dipping the room in darkness. She didn't bother flicking the switch; the little light that filtered through the narrow gap below was enough to find all she needed. The lack of visual stimuli was cathartic.

A few minutes later, her mood had improved a little. She still tried avoiding the boys as best she could when she joined them in the kitchen to prepare a pack of instant noodles.

"Sweetie," singsonged Crope, who was now sitting on the counter, legs dangling, "Who is" – he squinted as he tried to read – "El-pha-ba?"

Glinda's head shot up. She nearly dropped her spoon, almost spilt her dinner.

Crope and Tibbett exchanged amused looks.

"A potential suitor?" Tibbett asked, his eyes twinkling cheekily.

"I thought I'd never see the day," Crope added as he slid off his high perch to go and hug Glinda.

The blonde swiftly snatched the note from his fingers and freed herself from the unwanted embrace.