Chapter 6

Lily was prepared for rejection due to lack of work experience but couldn't accept being turned down for shallow reasons. All this information was already on her resume. Why did they even bother arranging an interview if it was a problem? "Our company has its hiring policies. You're married without children. You might start planning a family as soon as you're hired. Maternity leave, parental leave… the company can't afford to keep employees who may be frequently absent." The interviewer stood up and motioned for the assistant to escort her out. Lily chalked it up to bad luck, figuring she was only there to make up the numbers. She then gathered her things and left. However, she was rejected for the same reason at the second and third companies. It was even worse when she arrived at the fourth and fifth companies. Their receptionists simply told her that the positions had been filled and rejected her to participate in the interviews. Her initial confidence had deflated in an instant. She returned to Maryanne's apartment later that evening. The aroma of home-cooked food filled the house as she walked in. Maryanne was dancing around with a small chocolate cake in hand. "Congratulations, Ms. Joyner! Here's to landing a job and becoming a great designer! Let Xavier the Hound regret ever letting you go!" Lily paused while changing her shoes with her face showing a hint of defeat as embarrassment washed over her. Maryanne sensed something amiss and placed the cake on the table in the foyer before walking to her. "What is it?" Lily forced a smile and tried to appear unfazed before shaking her head. "You bought the cake for nothing. I didn't get the job." "How could that be possible?" Maryanne was shocked. "You got to the interviews! That's already halfway to success. Besides, you graduated from a prestigious college. You even won an award. You've got real skills even though you lack work experience. Those companies must be blind not to hire you!" Lily had slipped on her slippers and pulled her to the table before sitting down. "Maybe it's just bad luck. I have two more interviews on Monday. It takes time to find a job." However, she couldn't help but feel disheartened. Sarah was around her age and already the vice president of Nova Group while she was struggling just to get her foot in the door. "Which two companies are you interviewing with on Monday?" Maryanne's eyes lit up with curiosity as she got up to get the little cake in the foyer. "Voltis and Lupier." These two companies were very famous in Jadeford. The companies Lily visited today were decent, but they were nothing near the level of these two giants. Her hope felt slim after she had faced multiple rejections today, but she had to hold onto it. She failed to notice Maryanne's odd behaviors as she was distracted by her low spirits. Maryanne carried over the cake and pretended nothing was wrong as she cheered her up. Lily joined in the laughter and small talk to show she was fine. Maryanne quickly took out her phone and dialed a number once they were alone in their rooms. "Terence, do you know the boss of either Voltis or Lupier?" The two companies were too big for her connections to reach. She could only call in a favor. A man's gentle and sleepy voice came through on the other end of the phone. "Maryanne, it's three in the morning over here." Maryanne pouted. "Whose fault is that for staying abroad for the past two years? There'd be no time difference if you'd stayed. Come on, help me out. Lily will be having two interviews with these two companies on Monday. Could you pull a few strings?" "Who?" Terence Devereux's voice suddenly sharpened with alertness. "Lily? She's looking for a job? Would Xavier even allow that?" "Don't mention that hound!" Maryanne was exasperated. "Lily's divorcing him. She needs a job." Terence asked, "Divorce? Wh…" Maryanne was running out of patience. "Stop asking questions! Just tell me if you can help me or not!" "I got it," Terence murmured earnestly before hanging up. "What did you mean by that?" Maryanne looked at her slowly dimming screen and was puzzled. Did that mean he agreed? … Lily was jolted awake by a phone call early Saturday morning. She grabbed her phone from under her pillow and answered without even checking who was the person calling. "Who is it?" "Lily, I'm at your front door. I made some soup for you and Xavier. Come down and get it." The familiar voice on the other end of the phone made her open her eyes instantly. She looked at the screen and realized it was Xavier's father, Shane Fulton. "Shane, you didn't have to bring it yourself. We'll drink it when we come over tonight." She stumbled out of bed with her messy hair and scrambling mind. She and Xavier would return to Fulton Manor to attend the family dinner every Saturday. Shane smiled warmly. "Tamara and I have a dinner to attend this evening, and Mom isn't home, so both of you don't need to come over today. The soup had been prepared in advance. I made this soup myself and thought I could bring it for you both." "Well, I'm not home right now. Could you leave it at the door?" Lily got out of the bed and headed to the cloakroom. Her voice was shaky with the little white lie. Xavier was nothing like his father. Shane was gentle, elegant, and amiable. He always cooked for them at the family dinner every Saturday. On the other hand, Xavier's mother was strict and never smiled. "Alright. I've also left a document for you to take to Nova Group. Remind Xavier to look after himself no matter how busy he gets, and Lily, thank you for looking after him…" Shane carefully explained everything in detail. He always took on the motherly role in the family and was often concerned about Xavier's health. He treated Lily kindly too. Everyone in the Fulton family treated her quite well. The thought of the upcoming divorce pained her. She didn't know how to tell them. Her throat tightened when he mentioned taking the item to Nova Group. She didn't immediately agree. The scene of Xavier and Sarah being so close and intimate was still vivid in her mind. She had no desire to see that again. However, she couldn't refuse if she didn't want them to notice the problem between her and Xavier. "Lily, are you listening?" Shane called out to her when she didn't respond. Lily quickly responded, "Yes, Shane. I heard you. I'll head to Nova Group now and bring him the document." Shane remained a few seconds of silence at her words before asking, "What are you up to so early? Is something wrong? Isn't Xavier with you?" "I… A friend of mine needed some help. Xavier is busy, so I didn't want to bother him." She hadn't expected him to be so attentive. It caught her off guard. But what startled her even more was his next question. "Your car is at home. How did you get out?" Lily swallowed nervously and quickly replied, "My friend came to pick me up." There was a moment of silence on the line. Shane finally said after a moment, "Alright then. You don't need to freak out. I was just asking in case there was something you felt uncomfortable telling us." "Everything's fine." She breathed a sigh of relief and ended the call. After changing her clothes and freshening up, she hurried to the house she shared with Xavier to collect the thermos and the document before heading to Nova Group. She had taken a cab there. The driver waited for her outside the villa before driving her to Nova Group. The driver saw her carrying the thermos and the document and asked, "Young lady, are you the housekeeper here?" "Something like that." There was a hint of self-depreciation in her tone. She noticed earlier that the car she often drove was parked in the yard. It was already covered in a layer of dust after only a few days. Soon, it would be nothing but a piece of worthless scrap metal. Xavier would rather let it rust than let her have it. Perhaps she meant even less to him than a housekeeper. They had arrived at the Nova Group building before she knew it.