Chapter 3 CHAPTER 3

Pam stands true to her word, she makes Nadia s day enjoyable. They visit notable places in Manhattan, both girls enjoy the tour. They enter into ice cream, trying out a different mix of flavors, they finally order their choices. While the assistant packs their orders, Pam picks up a flyer on the counter, that reads– Are you smart, young, and good looking, in need of a temporary job? Dial this number………… Pam skims through the advert and shoves it in her jeans pocket. ****** "Nadia just dial the number" Pam prompts "Easy for you to say, Pam, you are not the one to be hurled away to work in God knows where" both girls keep staring at the flyer that might launch Nadia out into independence. "Just do it! Nike doesn t have that slogan for nothing." Pam Said giving Nadia a smile and a mild elbow jab "How did you get to be so smart? And to say I m older than you." Nadia stares incredulously at her 16-year-old cousin. "All thanks to Nana" Pam smiles. She picks her phone to dial but drops it. She stands from the bed where she is sitting with Pam, then strolls to the colorful window blinds, wondering if she is ready to take the leap, it is a new phase that fate has thrown her, and she must make a choice. Her parents thought her to be independent, maybe not exactly like her cousin but she is also a piece of an old mold. She smiles ruefully remembering her Mother s sayings- "Yesterday is not ours to recover but tomorrow is ours to win or lose." Nadia s parents might have been of the lower class but they instilled good values in their daughter, and if those were the only monument she has of them? She is wearing it as a badge of honor, so no matter what happens, she must ensure she does not compromise her values, even if it is only for the purpose of keeping their legacies alive. She was brought back from her broodings by Pam s conversation on the phone. "Good morning, I saw a job opening advert, listing your number and I like to…… Nadia rushes back to her cousin lying on her stomach, her legs dangling playfully, snatching the phone from her. Sorry" she says into the phone, "that was my meddling cousin." Pam stares at Nadia, the expression on her face is like that of a cat that s got the cream. "Ok, so……" the voice queried "I m interested in the opening" she interjected. Yes! Pam mutters throwing one fist in the air like she just scored a much-needed goal in a football match. "Ok, so come to the office tomorrow for a chat, write down the address." ?The voice at the other end instructed. Nadia jots down with her shoulder holding the phone to her ear, scribbling on the other hand. "See you tomorrow at 9 am." She ends the call. "Well someone s got a job!" Pam teases "You can t be sure yet," Nadia responds in self-doubt "They must be crazy not to give you the job; you ve got all they required," Pam says to her in confidence. Nadia looks with love at her younger cousin, who has come to mean so much to her in the past months and gives her a tight hug.? "I don t know what I would do without you." "And I, you" the two girls hug each other, finding a kindred spirit. ****** Tracy walks into her office, her stilettos making a rhythm on the laminate floor. As the MD of Destiny events, she must dress the part. Business is good thanks to her high profile alliances. She is booked full for the month, but some of the events she can delegate by sending out her competent staff to take it on, but some of these bookings she cannot afford to delegate, one of such is The Sebastian Corporation s party. She must handle everything to the smallest details, which is why she has scheduled to meet with the candidates that have been selected for the job in person. The waiters and waitresses must be smart, articulate, and very good looking- that is one quality that must not be compromised at these parties. She enters into her reception in all her designer s glory, spine straight, and heads held high, she is proud of what she has achieved and makes sure everyone around knows it. Shelby, her secretary is all, ready with the names and data of all the candidates. Although they have been shortlisted, the boss still likes to see each person s profile before meeting them in person, so she can select only those that appeal to her. "Good morning, Miss Duncan" Shelby welcomes her boss. She responds with a nod, not missing a step. Shelby is used to Tracy s way of greeting, she reminds her of Meryl Steep's character in The Devil wears Prada. Tracy is very satisfied with her secretary, she is not the type that is generous with compliments, but she must admit that Shelby knows her job. Like now her tea is already waiting for her just the way she likes it, and the candidate files already waiting to be perused. Most importantly she condones her excesses. Shelby s intercom shrills "I will be ready to see the candidates in 20 minutes" Tracy barks into the phone. "Ok Boss" Shelby responds rolling her eyes in resignation. Tracy likes the sound of that; it makes her feel like "The Boss" **** Nadia has been waiting with the other candidates in the visitor s area, wondering when it will be her turn to see the boss. She is glad to be at the final stage of the job selection process. The office space spelled money!? Both the exterior and the interior will be glad if she can bag the job, then she will not be too dependent on her guardian. She has written 18 years on her application, although it will be official in a couple of weeks, she can then set the path for her life. Thank God for her natural endowments, she can pass for a twenty-year-old lady. Tracy is now getting desperate. She is not at all impressed with the physical appearances of most of the ladies and she has seen like 5 of them, they seem to be smart enough but she needs more. The secretary shows Nadia the Boss s office and she opens the Door with sweaty palms, the only outward sign of her nervousness. Tracy chair rotates backing the entrance, so she does not see Nadia comes in. she knows another boring looking candidate is in. "You can have a seat," she says her back to Nadia. "Alright, thank you," Nadia responds, taking her seat on the soft leather chair that almost swallowed her. "Ok, let s do this" Tracy rolls her chair to face the next candidate, and a satisfactory smile spread across her face. "Whoops what takes you so long" you are just what I have been waiting for, "Pardon me, ma am?" Nadia asks anxiously, thinking she has done something wrong. "Nothing my dear, can you introduce yourself?" Tracy asks with an interesting look on her face. "Don t you look slightly familiar?" Tracy requests piercing Nadia with her signature Boss lady look. "I don t think I met you before, would remember if I did ma am." She explains to her soon to be boss. "Aren t you the sly one?" Tracy chuckles in amusement. Nadia smiles and launches into her brief introduction, ensuring to inform Tracy that she is new in Manhattan. Tracy requests Nadia to stand and walk to the door. It is embarrassing parading herself, but she does anyway. Tracy must be satisfied with what she saw because she tells her, "You are hired!" in Donald Trump s voice in The Apprentice. But that will come to be the gravest mistake, she ever made, because unknowingly, Tracy just shot herself in the foot. ************** "Come try on this dress, I really want to see how this looks on you," Pam suggests, dangling a knee-length red sequence dress before Nadia. "You seem to forget I m only going to work and not to party," Nadia rebuffs. "Really Nadia, you can be a ninny at times." Pam whines. "I will wear this dress when I have a real party to attend." Nadia put on a comfortable black slack, that did nothing to hide her curves and a white plaid shirt, her hair pulled in a ponytail atop her head, she complements her appearance with gold loops and red lipstick. She looks simple but beautiful. Nadia turns to her self acclaimed assistant, "So how do I look?" ?"You look gorgeous; no cloth looks boring on you not even white and black," Pam says with an ok signal and a wink. And who knows you might just catch the eye of one of those crème de la crème. "I don t think so; they have enough babes in their league to choose from," Nadia interjects "I better hurry up, or I have a field day with the Boss lady." Nadia rushes out of the room, planting a kiss on Mrs. Darrel s and Pam s cheeks before dashing out to get a cab. "Wish me luck." she throws over her shoulder before the door closes behind her. Pablo issues command to the waiters, like a commander of a battalion- One of the reasons Tracy likes to put him in charge of most of their important clients events. He has been working with Tracy for years; his opinion holds water in Tracy s decision making. Tracy s only job at these kinds of parties is to mingle and make contacts. Every other thing is left in Pablo s care. Pablo likes Nadia at first sight, claiming she has exotic blood. He believes that one can not be that fine and not have a mixed heritage. Nadia always tells him differently. Which is why she has the best spot to serve at the party.