Ask me that again!

In the next few days,Hazel was already fond of Casper in such a way that one could think that they have known each other long before. As if her pleas to restabilize her life has reached the heavens,the HR of Bart advertisement company sent her an email to come for an interview the next morning. Having being on the look out for such great opportunity,her excitement knew no bound.

She prepared a simple dish and invited Casper over for lunch. He arrived in a short while and they started eating. Hazel couldn't wait to share the good news as she cleared her throat noisily.

" Are you okay?" Casper asked,handing her a glass of water.

" A glass of wine should taste better." Hazel teased, without taking the glass of water.

Casper seized the opportunity to make fun of her. " Really? Then tell me,do you have one here?" The both of them burst into laughter.

" Alright. Casper,guess what?" Hazel started.

" I would rather not guess. I'm not good,sorry." Casper inferred half-heartedly.

" You boring ass! I have good news!" Hazel uttered with a voice laced with enthusiasm.

" I have been invited for an interview. "

" Wow. You are getting a job!" Casper nodded,a huge smile forming on his lips.

" Is that confidence I sense? I am not even that confident myself..." Hazel gazed at him.

Casper nodded slightly as he insisted, " I know. As a matter of fact,there is no big company out there that wouldn't want your service. I am saying,no one can turn you down. Have you taken time out to look at yourself in the mirror? Your shape like an hourglass figure... Honestly,if I am to own a company,I would employ you as my own personal secretary...' Casper rattled non-stop.

Hazel raised an eyebrow, feeling slightly irritated." Ok. Ok,stop. I mean,are you insinuating that I have only but my looks to offer?"

" Do you need me to spell it out, Hazel? Let's forget that you're the epitome of beauty.. You are very intelligent and brilliant... What's more- I just have a hunch that no one else gets that position except you." Casper continued to incite.

" I'm quite optimistic but I would rather not get my hopes high. Country F is filled with bright and intelligent people who can surpass me even without unleashing their full potentials." Hazel implied.

" It's okay. You just have to fuel your beliefs. You believe you can do it and nothing stops you." Casper added with a smile.

" You also need someone like me who can vouch for you from anywhere in the world. Although, someone like me is not easy to come by."

Hazel just rolled her eyes as she focused on the meal. Casper lingered in Hazel's place until dusk. As Hazel bade him goodbye, he turned around and persuaded. " Go to sleep now. Tomorrow, you have to deal with an interview, you don't want to be late."

" Sure." Hazel smiled and banged the door.

In the blink of an eye,she has already spent two weeks in country F and thanks to Casper,it has been nothing but ethereal. Before going to bed,she ransacked her wardrobe and brought out the best of her blouses. A white coloured blouse and a black pantsuit with a pair of short heels was on the menu for her interview. It was already late so after putting them aside,she laid on the bed, glancing at Xavier's last birthday pictures and fell asleep while at it.

Hazel had a nightmare that her son was taken away from her by a mystical creature. No matter how she wailed,it took him away without turning back. She opened her eyes gasping from the shock of the dream.she quickly dialed her mother's phone. It had felt so real that even after picking up the phone, her voice was shaky and for a split second,she couldn't just form words out of her mouth.

" Waking up someone, especially your mother for no reason is the height of it. Call back when you have something reasonable to say. " Zoey hung up in an instant. Hazel rubbed her temples with a long sigh. She had almost never had this kind of dream before so before it could get into her head,she shoved it to the back of her mind,afterall Xavier was with her mom and probably would never go missing in this lifetime. She made her bed,while listening to her daily inspiration recite in her ears. It was already something she could recite offhand. She had a warm relaxing bath. Afterwards, she stood in front of the mirror in her bath towel combing her hair,she recited the daily inspirational quotes again. She quickly styled her hair and completed her skincare routine, putting on a subtle,yet glamorous makeup. She dressed up and looked at herself in the mirror with an air of content.

Time to make breakfast... She scurried to the kitchen and hurriedly made avacado egg toast and ate before heading out of the house with her bag in hand.

At the door,she bumped into Casper,he smiled sheepishly as he asked plainly," Are you going to get a job or are you going to sweep the company boss off their feet?..

" Casper,good morning!" Hazel plastered a sweet smile.

" Yeah. I mean,you look ravishing... " Casper uttered as he bit his lower lip seductively.

" You can flatter me all you want later,but now..I really have to run." Hazel said as she turned to leave but Casper stood hindrance on her way.

" I told you you'll get this job. If you really get it,you have to give me a nice treat, promise?" Casper raised an eyebrow. Hazel seemed to think of something,then after a split second,she smiled. " Perfect. A nice treat!"

Before Casper could say anything again,Hazel had already slipped away. He smiled as he shouted to her hearing, " Good luck!"

Hazel got on a taxi and arrived the Bart advertisement company. She had heard about this place before but this happened to be the first ever time she was visiting. She said a couple of silent prayers to herself before going to the receptionist.

" Ma'am,do you have any appointments?"

" Yes. My name is Hazel Anderson and I have an appointment with the HR Manager." Hazel briefed.

" Very well then. Ma'am, please have a seat, I'll inform the HR about your arrival." The front desk spoke politely.

A glimmer of hope seems to shine in Hazel's eyes as she sat and waited patiently.

A few moments later,after the receptionist have made a call,Hazel was given directions to the HR manager's office. She got on the elevator with a young lady with dark long hair tied in a ponytail. Her dress extraordinarily exquisite and her slender legs gave out the the realm of a real life model.She has always looked in the mirror and commended her own beauty however, the woman by her side now, emitting the glow of the mediterranean goddess with her slightly hooked lips, Hazel's heart giggled. This was sure a sight for sore eyes. She managed to whisper in her heart.

The lady glanced at Hazel, but without making a meaning out of it, she sneered and got out of the elevator. Hazel didn't realize the elevator had stopped until the lady disappeared out of sight then somehow finally,she also got out and managed to find the office of the HR manager.

After the interview,Hazel was pretty exhausted. She has not just had her hope of earning for herself as a single mom dashed,but she practically failed.

She left the office and coincided with a handsome figure standing a few metres away. The tall dashing young man in black Armani suit had his back to her and she couldn't help but notice as another employee called him " Mr President." Her lips curled with admiration. She just happened to see successful young people with a level of admiration as it was what she had also wanted to achieve three years ago before that man ruined it all.

However,all that extreme admiration and excitement disappeared the moment,he,who had been having his back to her suddenly turned and it turned out to be the person she least wanted to see. She scoffed inwardly,but saved all the energy for when she would get home.

A part of her seemed to be disappointed that she couldn't do well with a simple interview while another part of her was relieved that she did not get the job offer because it could never have gone well with her working in the same space as him- the almighty Logan Bart,the richly spoilt brat!

Hazel arrived home pretty tired and showered.

***

Meanwhile,at the office, president Logan was having a discussion with his employee.

" What is her flaw? I heard she is a first class graduate,you didn't hire her?" His husky voice sounded.

" Well,sir,in all honesty,her credentials are pretty great but I think in this position,we need someone who is well off. A person with some level of experience and not some newbie." The HR manager explained.

Logan hummed as though he was following thoroughly.

" If she's that good,we might as well train her to have experience. " He implied as he gave the orders, "Call her and inform her that she has been offered a spot for internship."

" Sir,why should we offer her a spot for internship. She didn't apply, is this some special recruitment? " The middle aged HR manager mustered up courage and asked curiously.

" Ask me that again!" Logan uttered with a warning look,making him shiver. The president,known for his domineering presence and dictatorship almost made everyone pee their panties just by giving them that long look. In any case,he was still the women's hearthrob, respected and adored by all the women in the company but fazed by his expressionless face. The only person that could dare to spit him remains the old master Bart,his grandfather.

Hazel was having dinner with Casper when the call came through. Casper had asked her how the interview went,she told him about how the HR manager refused to hire her because she lacked work experience but seeing the phone ring with unknown number now, Casper seems to be more than joyful.

" Take your call." He said with a sheepish grin.

Hazel took the phone and put it on speaker. " This is Mr Gunter,from the HR department of Bart advertisement company. Congratulations, your application for internship has been reviewed. You can start working tomorrow. " The voice sounded.

Hazel was completely at a loss for words. She knew she didn't apply for any internship but all of a sudden, she has been hired as a new intern in such prestigious company that seems to be on par with several big companies outside country F. If it were other days, she would have jumped up, thanking the person profusely but she just couldn't make of what to say now, not after she saw that bast*rd, Logan, not merely seeing him by chance but he turns out to be the overhyped big boss. How would she work, having to look into that creepy, dirty, unscrupulous and callous face every time?

" Miss Anderson,are you there?" The voice sounding from the other end of the phone brought Hazel out of her trance as she gazed at Casper as if asking his opinion.

" Hazel,you are getting there!" Casper incited. The smile on his face made Hazel unable to spill whatever she had gathered to say. In the end,she could only agree with his line.

She was getting there.

And not until she got there,she couldn't afford to back out for any reason whatsoever.

At worst, she'll have to meet with Logan every day but infact,they were never going to have anything to do with each other again,not to mention that she has become a different woman after those three solid years.

" Thank you sir. I'll resume work tomorrow morning sir." Hazel appreciated with a smile that seemed distant and cold from her usually charming smile.

As soon as the call hung up, Casper darted his eyes to Hazel. She seemed lost in her own little world.

" You can do it." He uttered abruptly. His masculine voice echoed in her ears. She forced on a smile as she watched him cut some steak for her,his mouth filled with congratulations for her but the fact that she couldn't even be happy for herself made it more or less complicated.