Chapter 32
Curtis’s innocent trust made her heart ache. “Okay, 111 wait for your he chirped happily
But someone else in the room wasn’t so easily convinced. Bradley, sitting nearby, glanced up from his laptop. Melissa’s carefully composed tone didn’t fool him for a second.
He caught the strain in her voice, the way she forced each word, and his lips curled into a knowing smirk. He was just waiting for his moment
When Curtis’s call time ended, Bradley took the phone, his voice casual but laced with mockery. “So, the job hunt–bet it’s going great right?”
Melissa’s jaw clenched. She knew this was bait, but she wasn’t about to let him win. “Not bad. I’m just taking my time, finding the right st
His smirk deepened. “Taking your time, huh? Just remember, you’ve only got 14 days. Don’t get too picky.”
Her grip on the phone tightened. 1 don’t need your reminders”
Bradley’s
‘s voice turned unug. “You know, my company’s hiring. Great pay, excellent benefits, Sure, your skills aren’t anything special, but for Curtis’s sake, I could give you a shot. You’d have to follow my rules, though. What do you think!”
Melissa’s laugh was cold and sharp. “Work for you? Not in this lifetime”
Without waiting for his response, she hung up, her hands trembling with Frustration. What had been a sweet moment with Curus had been completely ruined by Bradley’s meddling.
Determined to channel her anger productively, she reopened her laptop, scanning job boards with renewed focus. She’d found a lead–a job fair happening the next day. It wasn’t ideal, but it was worth a shot.
Refusing to waste money on a cab. Melissa woke before dawn, grabbed her neatly printed resumes, and squeezed onto the first crowded bus of the morning.
The morning rush hour train was pure chaos. Packed to the brim, Melissa struggled to stay upright in her high heels as she was jostled around like pinball
Her front and back were pressed so tightly against strangers she could barely breathe. The sweltering summer heat didn’t help. Even with the air conditioning blasting, the train reeked of sweat and stale air. And to top it off, the guy next to her recked so badly she had to fight the urge to gag every time she turned her head.
By the time she finally stumbled off the bus, she was drenched in sweat, her legs shaky. She stood on the curb, taking deep breaths to steady herself. After a few moments, she smoothed her hair, adjusted her blazer, and took off toward the job fair.
The fair was buzzing with people, all eager to impress the many companies in attendance. This one was specifically for the fashion industry, and Melissa wove through the crowd handing out her carefully prepared resumes.
Yesterday’s string of rejections still stung, but she gritted her teeth and pushed on. If the last few days had taught her anything, it was that professional experience mattered more than accolades
The “Outstanding Graduate label she’d once flaunted was now meaningless. Even her bachelor’s degree, something she had taken pride in, felt bughably inadequate in a city like Silou, where master’s degrees were the standard.
Those three quiet years in a small town had made her soft. Now she was back in the real world, where the competition was cathless, and survival was anything but easy.
Still, the day wasn’t a complete loss–two companies showed interest and scheduled her for Interviews. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to reignite a flicker of hope.
“Wow, if it isn’t Melissa Bush.” A shrill, mocking voice cut through the noise like a knife-
Melissa froze, her heart sinking as she turned to see Hannah strutting toward her with a smug grin plastered across her face.
Melissa’s jaw tightened. Of all people why her?
Hannah closed the distance, her eyes sweeping Melissa from head to toe, talking in her slightly disheveled appearance. “Well, well, look who’s here. Our little campus genius is out pounding the pavement for a job. Didn’t think I’d ever see the day
Melissa didn’t rise to the bait. She’d already wasted too much time and energy on Hannah back in college. Without a word, she turned to leave, but Hannah stepped in her path, blocking her escape.
“Oh, don’t run off so fast,” Hannah said, her tone dripping with fake sweetness. Before Melissa could react, Hannah snatched a resume out of her hands. She held it up dramatically and began reading it out loud, her voice full of mockery.
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Chapter 32
“Outstanding Graduate three time winner of campus design competitions, a three–month internship at a renowned fashion company” She burst into exaggerated laughter. “Wow, Melissa. Why not add your gold stars from kindergarten to the list? Might as well pad it out”
Melissa’s face burned with embarrassment as people nearby began to glance their way. Gritting her teeth, she reached out to grab the resume, bur Hannah, ever the drama queen, let it flatter to the ground like it was trash
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