Nervous

Isabella POV

I wake up to my alarm blazing through the room. I shut it off and go back to sleep again.

Suddenly I remember that I have an interview. I got up from my bed and went to my bathroom to get ready. I brush my teeth and shower quickly. I went out of the room wearing the dress which was chosen by Rayna yesterday.

At the kitchen counter, I see an orange juice glass and coffee in a coffee pot beside the plate of cereal and a sticky note near it. And seeing it made me recall what had happened yesterday after we got to my place after our outing.

Yesterday afternoon

We had a group call with Lisa who was just returning from her trip. We spoke about our night out starting from the dinner and ending at the club drama. I had to explain my family drama again to Lisa thereby bringing up Rayna's idea.

"That's a good idea, Ray," Lisa said making Rayna bubble up like that's the only good idea she has ever thought of. "So why don't you apply with a different last name like Rayna said?"

"Because most businesses require identification of some sort, and all of those have my name on them. I wouldn't get far."

"I got that covered already genius. Do you guys remember Jeb from college?" Rayna said

"The computer guy who rarely left his dorm?"

"Yup. He makes legit fake IDs. What if he made one for you with a different last name?" Rayna said

"I don't know. That sounds illegal."

"Yeah, but what your father is doing to you is closely related to illegal ways too. I mean, this is the twenty-first century. No one does Arranged marriages again." Lisa said.

Rayna shrugged like legality was a minor detail. "You could use your mother's name. It's hard to blacklist someone when he doesn't know what's coming."

"That's another problem, My mother's last name is Rossi."

"What? Doesn't the woman usually take the man's last name?"

"Not when your family lives by midcentury rules and wants their company to stay with the family name. They agreed to let my father run the company as long as he took their last name. I guess he wanted the company more than his legacy."

Not that I blamed him. He was a foster kid with no history who worked his way up at Mariano Shipping, making a name for himself, so it made sense that he would take up the deal.

"Okay … what about your grandmother's last name?" Lisa said

"Hmm…Redley?"

"Love it. Let's do it. Come on," Rayna cajoled.

"What if they recognize me? I mean, I grew up in this world and around all the big names."

"Well, you don't have to work for old money or are they the only place to work.?" Lisa asked

"Nah, girl." Besides, you don't want to work with those old men set in their old-century ways." I laughed as Rayna continued "Remember all the bold, weird ideas you came up with? I said weird because I don't understand it sometimes. You'd get so excited just by coming up with the idea, and hold your precious pearls like your life depended on it." Rayna added

"Shut up," I said, Lisa joined me in laughing.

"Then it's settled," Lisa said

"Come on, good girl. Take your brilliant ideas elsewhere and get to work." Rayna said

Maybe it was desperation to live a little longer before my life was given to someone else.

Maybe it was the fact that I get to go against the rules I have been taught since I was a little girl.

Right then, it didn't matter.

Right then, Rayna's plan sounded d*mn good.

Finishing off my cup of coffee, I smiled at my phone.

Rayna's lips tipped in a slow smile, knowing she'd won me over. A thrill of excitement shot down my spine, washing away any fear that this would have drastic consequences.

I didn't care.

"Okay. Let's make a plan."

"Yay"

"Okay, girls. I'll be back soon"

"You better be," Rayna said as we ended the call

I smiled as my mind comes back to the present. I pick up the sticky note Rayna had stuck to read it.

Isa,

I know you are thinking why I am not here when you got up. I had to leave for a very important event and I didn't want to wake you because you looked so peaceful. So l changed your settings on the alarm so you can sleep a little more and get your mind relaxed. And I wish you good luck doing great in your interview. Also, I made breakfast and had mine before leaving. So bye, love you.

Your best friend

Rayna

I released a breath out and smiled at my best friend's caring self. My eyes darted towards the clock, it is striking three minutes after 8 am. Great, so I still have forty seven minutes left. I had my breakfast and entered my room to pick up my belongings with the necessary documents. After checking that I had everything, I locked the door and went outside of my apartment.

I got into my car. It was a half an hour drive there. I was getting nervous as I was getting near to the building. I went over to the car park to park my car. I got down, got my necessary documents, and made my way to the tall building.

I saw a receptionist sitting there. She looked to be a middle-aged woman. I made my way towards her and asked "Hello madam, I am here for the interview for assistant of project managers."

She looked up from what she was doing and smiled at me.

"Hello dear, yes you can go to the elevator on the right side of yours. You can go to the top floor, there will be a secretary to guide you. I wish you luck." she said, still smiling.

I blushed at her comment and smiled shyly. "Thank you so much ma'am," I said waving at her as I walked towards the elevator.

Getting into the elevator, I saw there were already a few people there, I pressed the top floor button and moved toward the back. It was taking a long time, as it was going up but I was feeling more nervous because it was the first time I was getting interviewed by someone I didn't know.

Yes, I have worked with some of my dad's staff in his company but they always treated me differently because of my status even when I usually shun the preferential treatment.

I signed in relief as the elevator door opened and people went out. I still have five floors left to go. After getting to the top floor, I stepped out of the elevator and looked around the surroundings.

The place was astonishing. And a desk was there with a

woman behind it. I went towards her. She was so busy typing on her laptop that she didn't see me as I stood in front of her. I cleared my throat to catch her attention, she lifted her head and looked surprised to see me.

"Hello, I am Isabella Redley, I am here for an interview for the assistant of the project manager," I said giving her a small smile.

My smile faltered a little as I saw that she was still surprised to see me there. I waved my right hand in front of her face and said 'hello'.

She came back to reality. Clearing her throat "Sorry for my earlier reaction, I was just surprised to see your face and your politeness towards me. Because, " she lifted her hand to cover the side of her mouth as if she wanted to talk in secret, and she leaned towards me and talked in low voice.

"The ones who are attending the interview here are bitchy people. They didn't even glance my way at all and entered directly to the waiting hall like they rule this place. These people are very bad".

I laughed at her words and she joined me in laughing. After calming she said "l am Tracy, secretary for the CEO here" Looking at her watch she continued "And you have reached the exact time, the interview will start in a few minutes. I will call your name when the time comes. Till then please be seated in the waiting hall. Good luck dear. I hope you get the job because I already love your company."

I smiled at her before walking in the direction she had pointed me to. Tracy went to the room which was straight down the hall. As I looked across the room, I saw there were a maximum number of women only.

No, no scratch that.

There are only women. If there was a man here, it would be easy and hard to find. All I could see were individuals in tight-fitting skirts with tight-fitting blouses. Even one of them wore a crop top to a skirt, and that top is barely covering her chest. I think how can they wear such a thing to the official places like this. I shook my head at their attires.

Some of the women glanced at my way and gave a disgusted look towards me. Some whispered also. But I don't care, it's not like they are giving me the job right away.

Tracy came out of the room, stood in the middle, and announced "Good morning everyone, so you'll be going in one by one. And you will be interviewed by the CEO only".

By looking at the list in her hand she called "Elizabeth" A girl raised her hand. "You are the first one, you can go in now"

After saying that Tracy went to her desk.

It's been an hour now, and still, Tracy is calling names and sending them to the CEO's room. I think there had been around 6-13 of them who came out of the office with flushed faces or angered faces, it was actually funny to see them like that.

There are only two girls now, me and some other girl. I tried to talk to her but she just ignored me. And I kept quiet. Tracy called her name and she went inside. After a few minutes, she came out in anger and a flushed face.

Tracy went inside the room, came out calling my name, and assured me to enter the room.

I was more nervous now. I brushed my hands on the dress to remove the sweat in it as I walked in.