Strange Woman

Kevin was left speechless for a minute and couldn't hide his confused expression. Should he be happy, flattered, intrigued or scared, worried, and leave? He couldn't decide because his confusion had take over. He could only stare at the woman next to him before she gave a soft laugh, amused by his expression.

"Don't worry, I'm not here to hurt you. I would simply like to speak with you." She said with a soft smile.

Kevin still didn't know what to say or do. When it came to talking to woman, he truly didn't know a thing about it. He knew he was supposed to speak normally and not make a fool of himself but he had already thrown both those away with not uttering a word and just staring at her like she was an alien. Why was she there? Why had she been watching him?

"Why?" He finally asked. After thinking about all the things he could have said, that's the only thing he could muster. He felt like a huge fool. He felt his face heat up from embarrassment.

"Ah, well… I noticed you about an hour ago. You were walking into shop after shop and I wanted to know what you were doing. Then I saw you sitting here, looking sad and discontent so here I am." She replied softly. The way she spoke was as if Kevin was a child that was lost and they needed to find his parents.

"I've had a long day…" Kevin said sadly. If he could he'd probably cry in front of her but he still had some sense of dignity.

"Tell me about it?" She asked, looking at him with the same smile that hadn't wavered. Kevin didn't know why, maybe it was his lack of communication with others, maybe he was lonely or perhaps he really just needed to get everything off his shoulders because he told her everything that happened.

"If you don't mind me asking, why were you fired?" She asked patiently, after hearing his story.

"Why I was fired… I have no idea either. I think the reason is this; the bosses son had been looking for work but he no longer required employees. He couldn't afford having another person on his payroll so he decided to let one go, it just so happened to be me…" Kevin let out a sigh, clearly frustrated. He had tried so hard to keep that job too. It was a factory job that had to do with food, he'd been lucky to work there for a month. The longest he's kept a job.

After a brief period of silence, he looks at her and he can see in her eyes the pity, something he'd gotten used too but wished people didn't give him. He sighed and shook his head before speaking again.

"It's really not a big deal. I just need to find another job that I can keep so I won't have to worry again for next months rent." He said it wasn't a big deal but knew full well it was a huge deal. If he couldn't get a job soon, then he could say goodbye to his shabby little apartment and hello to the rats on the streets.

The woman cleared her throat as if to get his attention back to her. When he looked at her, she was smiling still. He couldn't understand why she insisted on smiling when he knew with the look in her eyes, she didn't want to.

"What if I told you, I can give you a job and I can give it to you today?" She asked with a serious tone.

A job? Today? Kevin thought it crazy, if she just gave it to him he'd feel terrible. Yes, he needed and wanted a job desperately but he didn't want it to be handed to him like he was some charity case yet with all things considered, he needed it. This would possibly be the luckiest thing he'd receive in his lifetime so he might as well agree to whatever she planned to offer.

"I'd take it. No matter the difficulty, I would accept whatever job you give me." He finally replied. Beggars can't be choosers.

She nodded and looked off as if she was thinking about something, she was thinking about the job she was about to give to this man she had just met. She didn't even know his name, he didn't know hers but she was about to give something to him so easily. She had felt terrible when he told her everything that had happened in one day. She had tried not to feel pity for the man but she couldn't help it. He was truly the unluckiest person she had ever come across and she wanted to give him some form of luck in his life and if it was the job she was going to give him, then so be it. Her boss would accept him but she hadn't the slightest idea if her boss would keep him. The best thing she could offer was the job, not the stay.

"The job is to be the secretary to the CEO of Lu Fashion," She finally said. She didn't look at him, she simply replied. Her voice calm and unwavering like what she said was absolutely reasonable.

Kevin couldn't believe his ears, secretary for the CEO of Lu Fashion? He knew Lu Fashion was huge, they owned the most wanted fashion items. Lu fashion was the one of the biggest corporations and everyone knew them. He had tried to obtain a job at one of their many stores but like always, he'd been turned down. He didn't know a thing about the CEO, he just knew about the company. Was the CEO a man or woman?

"Me? But why?" He knew he was asking a not so smart question so he quickly rephrased it. "Doesn't one need to know a lot to be a secretary? I thought it was pretty difficult to get that position? How are you just giving me such a big job out of nowhere?"

The woman looked at him with the same smile, "I need to go somewhere for a few months. He, the CEO, asked me to find a replacement because he trusts me so much. He doesn't want just anyone the company gives him so he's entrusted me with this one task. I was having trouble finding someone qualified but I met you," she said meeting his eyes.

So the CEO was a man he thought before what she said hit him. If Kevin wasn't taken aback before, he definitely was now, "Wait. You're the secretary for the CEO??" What luck he had today. It definitely was a great day, he had suddenly forgotten about all the troubles he'd been through with this unexpected meeting.

She sighed, "Yes. Now I need to know, will you still accept the job or not? If you are, I'm glad. If not, I'll keep on searching." She had already spent the last week searching for a perfect candidate and it was going terribly. She was just giving this man the job out of pity but he seemed to be the devoted type and she had hope he learned quickly, "it's really not that hard of a job. You just need to do whatever Mr. Lu asks and be there when he needs you. Nothing huge."

Kevin nodded thinking about it. If he accepted the job, he wouldn't have to look anymore. If he denied it, who knew how long it'd take to fine another, "I'll take it. It sounds simple enough."

The woman's smile widen, "Give me your phone number? So I can send you information about when you're going to start."

Kevin gave her his number but still couldn't get the fact he had no idea what her name was out of his head, "My name's Kevin Lee." He said without thinking.

She looked at him for a second, "Sarah Hu," she stuck out her hand and Kevin took it. It was a nice friendly handshake, then she spoke again, "Kevin. I need to go. Remember, I'll contact you later in the week about the job."

She got up with her goodbye and walked off. She didn't know if she had made a huge mistake or not but she did know she was relieved because she no longer had to look.

Kevin sat in silence, he looked at the dead trees and smiled slightly hoping that he wouldn't screw up this job quickly, "Ah… I hope Mr. Lu isn't one of those strict, stingy CEO types…" he said out loud before getting up, dusting off any possible dust particles or dead leaves on his pants and starting walking back to his apartment. " His mood a thousand times better than it was when he had left earlier.

"…I forgot to thank Sarah…eh… I'll thank her when she contacts me!" He laughed to himself, shaking his head.