The Dreamer

Chapter 44

Sarah dressed up with her usual work attire, always looking professional and very capable of her position. She took a look at herself in the mirror and noticed the emptiness in her face. Was she settling for something she has tried to escape multiple times? Her eyes expressed a sadness that she imagines was there all along every single day of work. People kept her at arms distance and she always felt it was because she herself preferred it that way, or could it be that people saw the emptiness in her eyes and opted for keeping distance?

Whichever it was, here she was ready to return to the corporate world, ready to live in a constant state of competition instead of collaboration. What am I saying? I am only going to check them out and maybe will just come back home without an offer of any kind.

After she received their email, she had a conversation with them over the phone, specifically with the hiring manager. What was his name again? I should have written it down. The person in the email was his assistant; maybe she could email her and ask his name. After their phone conversation where she apologized for no taking his assistant's call when Andrew was missing, they agreed on a meeting a week later.

And now here she is, driving the crowded roads of New York City at eight in the morning. She didn't miss this. I should have just taken the train. Car after car after car stood stagnant behind a red line that crawled slowly but never brought her close enough to skip the light. Once she got into US-495, the ride was smoother. She arrived at the address on Park Avenue after about an hour. It was 8:30 and her interview was set for 9:00.

Sarah sat patiently waiting. People came and went and Sarah just was so uncertain about what she was doing, but she was there already. A text from Ali came in. I hope your gut guides you through this. Just close your eyes and listen within if you are uncertain of something.

"Miss Lewis, Mr. Chaplain will see you now," a woman told her. Sarah recognized her voice from the phone, and if emails could talk, she was sure it would sound exactly as the woman who wrote it.

Sarah nodded and stood up. The assistant guided her through a hall and showed her a door. Sarah thanked her and knocked on the door. A voice invited her in.

Sarah took a deep breath. Listen to your gut. She opened the door and smiled at the man sitting in front of her. He was looking at his screen and stood up as Sarah walked in. They shook hands and he invited her to sit in front of him. Sarah did as told and couldn't help but notice how young he was. There was a large window to the side of the room. Sarah noticed an arrangement of multiple little plants next to the window. There were some flowers, her favorite ones too.

"You like flowers?" he smiled at her.

Sarah didn't know this man, but his smile felt so trusty. She felt she had known him her entire life and they were finally reunited.

"I love them," Sarah stood up and walked closer. She inspected them briefly. "Oh, I am sorry. We are in the middle of an interview."

"Oh we are?" he said. "I was hoping we wouldn't have to go through one of those boring meeting where one person pretends to be the perfect match for the company, and the other person has to fake trust and pretend to be excited to hire someone and pretends to trust them even though all he really knows is the other person professional character." He sat back in his chair and grinned.

Laidback kinda guy? She almost said aloud but stopped herself before doing it. "That doesn't sound like a fun meeting," she agreed.

"Why do you like flowers?" he asked. Sarah noticed for the first time he wasn't wearing what you would call office attire. He wore a simple plain t-shirt and kakis, and even running shoes.