Interview

Alicia woke up at 6:00 am, before the clock rang; she had slept very little because of her nerves. She got out of bed, took a shower, and when she got out of the shower, she looked for an outfit for the interview. She didn't know what to wear, so she grabbed a black skirt and a white long-sleeved blouse. She looked for some shoes, finding some she hardly ever wore. These were black with a bit of a heel. She dried her hair and then brushed it. She also looked through her things for some makeup and sighed when she only found blush, eyeliner, and a burnt red lipstick. Without thinking twice, she put it on. Alicia didn't like to put on makeup, she wasn't used to doing it, that's why there was so little product; she finally finished getting ready around 7:30. She looked in the mirror, not really liking what she saw, especially when those words echoed in her head.

"You've changed."

She lowered her gaze a little disappointed.

--I can't do anything, that's just the way I am.

She whispered a little.

She took the resume that was on the nightstand; she glanced at it to see if she had put everything in correctly; it was actually almost empty. She poured herself a cup of coffee along with a piece of toast, and when she bit into it, the bread reminded her that she hadn't eaten anything for almost two days; she hadn't noticed because of the sadness she felt. She tried not to think about her misfortune anymore, so she finished her bread and her coffee. Alicia took a backpack and put some clothes in it for her daughter. Finally she left the house to take the bus.

There was Alicia in front of this very large company. The building was the head office, located in downtown Los Angeles, California.

"Caballeros Tours" was one of the largest travel companies, founded and run by Mr. Rodrigo Caballero, but two years ago he had died in an accident. His eldest son, Axel Caballero, had taken the reins of the business and was looking for expansion.

Alicia entered and asked at the reception about the interviews for the secretary position. The girl who was answering told her that they were on the 4th floor. Before thanking her, a voice called her.

— Alicia.

Alicia turned around and saw that tall man, black hair, equally black and intense eyes. It was Luis and he was still a very handsome man.

—Hello, Luis. How long has it been since I saw you?

Alicia answered with a smile.

Luis was there waiting for Alicia to arrive to explain things to her about the company; besides, he had a desire to see her. It had been 10 years since he had seen her; at that time she was his best friend's girlfriend, and later she became his wife. A memory came to his mind: that rainy night where he found her sitting in the rain waiting for Gabriel. His memory was interrupted when he heard that voice asking about the interviews. It was Alicia; she looked very changed; she had changed in these 10 years. She looked fatter; She had lost a bit of those curves of her youth, but she still maintained her beauty. That look, those thick lips, he turned towards her and greeted her. As soon as she responded with a smile, her heart trembled and accelerated.

—Yes, you came!

Luis said very effusively.

—Yes, the truth is I doubted it, but I do want to work.

Alicia answered shyly.

—That's good, look, let's go, the interviews are on the 4th floor.

—Ah, ok.

Alicia and Luis were already heading towards the stairs.

— Wait.

He turned to the receptionist.

—Thank you very much!

He said and smiled; the receptionist smiled back. Alicia turned to Luis and they began to climb the stairs.

—Now we will go up the stairs because the elevator is not working.

Luis clarified to Alicia.

—Oh, yes, don't worry.

When they reached the fourth floor, there were several girls sitting waiting for their turn for the interview.

—Where do I leave my resume?

Alicia asked Luis.

—There, with the lady who is there.

Luis pointed.

Alicia walked a little and, when she got to the desk, she left the resume next to the others. The secretary asked her to wait her turn. Alicia returned to where Luis was.

—Don't be nervous, it will go well.

Luis encouraged Alicia.

—You told me that they fired the secretary yesterday, right?

—Yes, I don't know the reason, but in the last two weeks they have fired 10 secretaries.

—10, in two weeks?

—That's right.

Luis answered; at that moment the secretary who was receiving the resumes spoke.

—Miss Torres?

—Yes, it's me!

Alicia answered timidly.

—After Miss Gonzalez, it would be your turn.

—Oh, okay, thank you very much.

Alicia smiled.

—Miss Torres? Didn't you say that you were married?

Luis asked, somewhat bewildered.

Alicia just lowered her gaze in shame; Luis understood the situation.

—Ah, I understand.

Luis said trying not to embarrass Alicia.

—Alicia, I have to leave you, I have to go back to my office. I work on the first floor, in the accounting area, but I'll see you later to see how it went, okay?

Alicia looked up again and nodded softly; when Luis left, she sighed in shame. She hadn't denied the "Mrs. Cruz" thing the day before and now he found out that she was returning with her maiden name. She hadn't finished that thought when her phone rang insistently; it was Gabriel who was calling.

She went to a hallway so they wouldn't hear the call.

"Yes, Gabriel?"

"Alicia. Where are you? I came to the house and you weren't there."

Alicia was glad that he was worried about her.

"I'm on business, nothing important. Did you go to the house to look for me? Do you want to see me? If you want, I'll go…

"To look for you?"

Gabriel started to laugh.

"No, I came for some documents I need, they were left here. It felt strange not to see you here, as you're always at home doing nothing."

Those words hurt Alicia.

"Why did he cling to humiliate her? Why had he changed like that?"

Alicia held back her tears.

"Well, then why are you talking to me?"

"Because we need to come to an agreement to talk to Abril about our divorce. I know she's at my mother's house, what do you think if we talk to her tomorrow?"

"Are you sure? Do you want us to tell her that we won't be together anymore?"

Alicia answered with pain in her voice.

"Yes, I already told you."

He answered angrily.

"Why don't you understand? You keep clinging on, understand, I don't love you anymore, I don't want to be with you anymore, you don't do anything to me, you're ordinary to me."

Gabriel's words pierced her heart.

"Okay, tomorrow we'll talk to her. Goodbye."

She hung up before he could continue speaking; she couldn't hold back her tears anymore, they were about to burst forth. She went to the bathroom, where she locked herself in a cubicle, and as she sat on the closed toilet, she began to cry. After a while she remembered where she was, so she wiped her tears. As she left that cubicle, she went to the mirror and saw her eyes, which were a little swollen. She left the bathroom to continue waiting for her turn, thinking that the Gonzalez girl had already taken a while for her interview.

Finally, she left the office. That girl was tall, she was wearing a miniskirt, some gold sneakers, she was beautiful. Then Alicia turned to see the others and they were the same; they dressed beautifully. "Maybe she was ordinary?" She was regretting being there, she thought about leaving, but just before that someone called her.

"Miss Torres, you go on."

That secretary said, so there was no other choice; she would go in and give her best.

"Ah, yes, thank you."

Alicia entered that office that was very elegant. There was that man standing, looking at the window with his hands behind his back. He was tall, although Alicia assumed that with her height any man was tall, but he was 1.89. His hair was dark brown and for someone in charge of a company he had no styling products; it looked silky and beautiful, it had volume because of the type of broken hair he had, he was very young. Alicia had read when she was looking for information about the company that the new boss of "Caballeros Tours" was between 35 years old, but it was the only information there was about him and she didn't investigate further.

"Miss, take a seat."

The man's voice ordered. Alicia took a seat as ordered and waited for him to turn and look at her. When he did, she saw those dark brown eyes and that mouth, those slightly pink lips. His profiled nose, his face was perfect; he was extremely attractive. He was the son of the old boss. He was Axel Caballero.

— Mmm… So, it says here that you are 29 years old and that you have never worked even once in your life. Is that right?

—That's right, but…

She was interrupted by him.

—If you haven't worked, why do you want to work? You don't even have any studies; I need someone competent. I don't know if you are competent because of your background; it doesn't seem like that to me. The only thing in your favor is that you speak English, because you were born here, but most people speak it like that, which isn't so special either.

He continued without a hint of kindness.

Alicia got up from her chair at that moment; she was fed up, first her husband trying to trample her and then this man who didn't know her wanted to do it too. Alicia was always very shy, she never answered anyone in her life, but that morning she was already tired.

—Yes! I haven't worked. And yes, I didn't finish my studies! But that doesn't come with my competition, sir. Do you think that because you have a high position you are going to try to offend me? Well, you're wrong!

The man was surprised.

— Ma'am...

He didn't finish when he was interrupted by her.

—I'm not finished yet. I'm very competent, I like work, I know I learn quickly, but you don't know that... It was a pleasure meeting you, sir; have a great day.

Alicia turned around and at that very moment she regretted having said such things, but it was done. She was about to open the door when the man's voice rang out again.

—Miss Torres, do you really think you are competent and capable of doing this job?

Alicia turned around with a mocking laugh.

—Not just this job, but any job I want.

She didn't know why she kept answering like that, but that man had gotten on her nerves.

—Okay, you're going to prove it to me, then I'm going to hire you. You start tomorrow morning... See you later.

Alicia was shocked and didn't move.

—Well, are you going to retire or not?

Alicia shook her head.

—See you tomorrow, sir.

Alicia left that office still not understanding why he had hired her if she behaved so rude, but she was happy, since she would start working. She thought about apologizing the next day. Alicia said goodbye to the secretary and went down the stairs; at that moment Luis stopped her.

__ How did it go?

Luis asked.

—Okay, now we'll be coworkers.

Alicia smiled; Luis couldn't help but smile at her too.

—Do you want to have a coffee?

Luis asked smiling.

—I can't, excuse me, I have to go run some errands, but I promise tomorrow, since I have a job because of you. Thank you very much.

—OK, but you already said tomorrow.

—Yes, I promise, I'm leaving. Goodbye.

—Goodbye, see you tomorrow.

Luis said as Alicia left that building.