CHAPTER:7

I am woken up by the vibration of my shoulders. I open my eyes to Anna, who is gripping my upper arms and shaking me rather violently. Oh! my God. Just when I thought tomorrow would never arrive. Wait is it tomorrow already? I doubt it. I sit up, rubbing at my eyes with a back of my hand. I still want to sleep so bad, yet the light coming in through the window is not doing me much justice in this case. "Alexandria,get out of bed. I'm not letting you get late for this interview." she speaks, her voice calm but an ever so slight tinge of impatience to it. So it is tomorrow already. "Could I sleep for a few minutes more please, Christiana?" I plead.

"Absolutely not. You have a lot of prep to do before you leave."

 "Could you help me with it?" I inquire and she looks at me like she wants to say no but she sighs instead, "Fine. Where's your phone?" "Why?" "I need to transfer a number of things to a new one." "Why do I need a new one?" "Because I do not need you reveling in your past with your old one." I want to tell her that I don't really care about my past anymore but I just keep my mouth shut on that matter. "I think it's in the black case. The one under the bed." I respond and throw myself back down on the bed so I can sleep more. I feel the mattress aty side rise and soon after, I hear the sound of something being dragged across the floor. "So I can go back for a while?" I ask, already to it. "Yes, you can. Only for a few minutes, though. So don't make yourself too comfortable,you hear me?" of course I hear her. I'm just too exhausted to respond. After a moment, I hear the sound of her footsteps fade as she leaves the bedroom and I let myself drift back into my world of care free.

          "Morgan, wake up. You have slept long enough I hear her say her voice still calm as it was the first time she woke me but very contrary to the way she is shaking me. "It has only been about two seconds, not minutes." "It's been more than a few minutes. Forty five, to be exact." then she pauses, "This is the first job you have agreed to trying. Do not be late for this one thing." she finishes and as soon as she does, she hauls the duvet off, exposing me to the coldness that lies beyond it. A shiver works its way through me at the sudden change in temperature. She somewhat makes a point. This is, in fact the one time I have agreed to do anything this big. I sit up and look at her through my blurry eyes, leaning against the headboard. "What is left for me to do. Other than freshening up and all that." "Well nothing really. I have already taken the liberty of packing a number of clothes for you and..." "Clothes?" I interrupt. "For what reason do I need clothes? I thought I was going for an interview?" "Indeed you are, but if you get the job, which you will, you are going to have to stay there." she says, lowering her tone towards the end of the statement. "You said it was nothing nanny related." "It's not."

"Then why do I have to stay?" I ask. I'm so confused right now. "I don't know the answer to that one. The interviewer said details, any further ones, go to the actual person taking the job," she points to herself, "not the proxy." Why am I finding about this now?" At my question, she shrugs, "You did not let me give you any details, remember?" she points out and I want to retaliate but the bitter fact is that I did tell her that. I look, concentrate on her face and see she's still holding the same expression on it. How the hell someone manage to hold the same look for a long time, I don't know. I let out a partially exhausted, partially exasperated-at I do not know what-sigh. I run a hand through my messy hair. "Fine. You get out. I'll go," I point to the bathroom, "freshen up." I say and push to the opposite side of the bed and let my legs fall to the ground as I rise from the bed. I wince at the violent change in temperature. I drag myself across the room until I am inside the bathroom and shut the door behind me.

        The drive to wherever we are headed is quiet, No one offering to start up a conversation. Honestly, I have the energy to talk. I just don't want to depleat it. I spend the entire journey looking out the window and part of it is shielding my eyes from the sun. I don't understand why it is so bright outside. The trees and buildings I'm looking at suddenly stop moving and I realize that the car has pulled to a stop. Christiana steps out of the car and I do the same. I look around at my surroundings and nothing looks like an office or anything of the sort around here. All I see is a Coffee shop and a restaurant a few meters to its right and a gym a few to the left. Hold on! Am I going to be a gym instructor? S***. What have I gotten myself into?

I'm about to strongly protest on the matter of the job as I walk behind her but then I realize we are not heading toward the ym or the restaurant but rather to the coffee shop. "Why are we at Starbucks? Aren't we supposed to be for my..." I ask as we walk through the door, but she responds even before I finish my statement, "We are but I already took care of most of the interview details at the office. This is the last part and since he wanted to see the possible employee first, he's scheduled it here. You know, since it's not that big of a deal that requires a formal surrounding." she tells me and I am offended by the last statement she makes. What does she mean 'Not a big deal'. I could literally decide to walk away from here and all the way home, but I am already this far and the journey back would be exhausting. Besides, the person just wants to see me. How hard could 'seeing' be? No questions involved. I think.

I see Anna's eyes scan room for a moment before they settle on one specific booth. "Come on." she tells me and takes my hand and heads for the booth. The person in the seat turns, as though sensing someone approaching and he rises from his seat just when we arrive and exchanges a handshake with Anna, then me, tossing a friendly smile before he motions for us to sit across from him. "Good afternoon, Mr. McGurdy." She greets intertwining her fingers on the table, seemingly formally. "To you the same, miss Morgan."he turns to me "And to you as well." I nod, a greeting I hope is appropriate. "So is this the lady you were telling me about? For the job,I mean. I'm assuming that is in fact what you are here for." he starts all business. "She is, and I assure you that you will not find anyone better if not her." Christiana speaks, her voice at the verge of exploding with confidence. Mr. McGurdy looks at me, nodding in silent approval.Other than the fact that she is a tad too thin," he turns to Christiana, "she is perfect." he turns back to me a kind eager smile glazing his face "You are perfect, Ms...."

"Ms. Morgan." I inform.