Chapter 1
Claire's alarm rang from her phone for the third time that morning and as she lifted her head and snoozed it again- making it the fourth snooze of the morning- she paused for thought.
She actually had a job interview today. It was already past six and though, this was not the usual time she got up- a bad habit from when she lost her job two months ago- she had a job prospect now. She had to make a good impression. She couldn't wind up at her potential employer's late and a mess. She grumbled her way out of bed.
A few weeks ago, she wouldn't have considered this job; but a few weeks ago, she wasn't near going broke, so there's her motivation. She would have turned such an offer down. She knew her friends from college were employed in firms or working towards that, or were probably jobless but they weren't doing or planning to do nanny/babysitting jobs anytime soon.
But just two days ago, she had met a friend of hers who worked as the personal assistant to a popular socialite and fashion brand owner, Mrs, Kimbery Rex. The woman was currently in need of a babysitter for her little grand daughter who was going to be staying with her for some time... And Claire was the lucky scapegoat.
Yesterday, she had talked with Mrs Kimberly Rex and the woman had set up this interview today.
I know, I know, Claire told herself as she made her way to the bathroom to brush her teeth. It's only been two months, but this lethargy is killing me.
So she did need a job...even if it was a babysitting job; at least for the time being. But not just for that reason. She was due to pay rent in the apartment she shared with her roommate, Regina, and a select assortment of bills awaited her attention.
There it was again: the noise from the alarm ringtone she had snoozed and in Claire's current mood, it sounded as grating as two spoons having a wresting match. She finished her brushing and stepped inside the bedroom to end the alarm.
She stretched and slid dismiss on her phone screen and the noise stopped from the alarm. A wave of tiredness washed over her and she contemplated going back to the bed but shrugged it off. It was amazing how sapping a day before of doing nothing is.
She headed for the small living room where her roommate was putting on her flats to go to work. Regina worked at a bank as a teller.
Claire imagined a job as a teller, only for a few seconds. She was happy for her friend and roommate; for her respectable job, but left for Claire, she would rather not work at all, but have money coming in. If wishes were horses...
Claire sighed deeply. Presently, she was running low on cash and she did not want to call her parents- they'll tell me to come back home to LA like they were going to have a feast for her or something- and she wasn't really interested in moving back in with them. She would have to work. But babysitting...urggh.
"Good morning," Claire mumbled to Regina.
"Bright and early," Regina replied. "Someone is excited for her job interview today."
Claire groaned internally. "I just want to go back to sleep," she said.
Regina humored her, chuckling slightly. "Me too. But we have to work- you and me."
Claire let out a huge sigh. "I miss my old job," she whined.
It had been very exhilarating for her when fresh out of college, she had hit her first job at a firm. It had been a nice one year of employment until the company began to go downhill and they needed to reduce their costs in order to recover and rebuild. Many of the workers had to go- the ones with lesser experience, easy pick.
"Sorry dear," Regina said sympathetically. "You'll get a better job. This is just temporary- to help you make some cash and settle your bills. How long did the woman say your contract would last?"
"I think she said something about two or three months-" Claire answered. "I was too busy being depressed and didn't pay much attention. She said we would discuss more if I am given the job. There's even a selection process? I had thought yesterday. How convenient. Now I'm nervous."
Regina chuckled at her roommate's dramatic tone. "It'll be okay. How hard can a babysitter job be?"
She took up her cup of coffee and downed it and then picked up her purse as she straightened her skirt.
"Well, I'll see you soon. I have to go now," Regina said. "But make sure to update me on how it goes. I know you'll get the job."
"I have to," Claire said. " I have a lot of bills."
"Just do your best," Regina said.
"Sure," Claire replied. "I'll try my best."
"I know you will," Regina said. "Bye Claire."
After her roommate left, Claire had a light breakfast as she pressed on her phone and checked her mails for messages from her previous firm. Hopefully, they wanted her back: her and all thirty-five of them who were laid off.
Claire sighed and her gaze lazily went to the clock on the wall when she saw it was already quarter to seven. She rushed to the room to have a bath and dress up.
She thought of what to wear. She was actually going for an interview to be a babysitter, and for the first time, in her mind, jeans and a T-shirt was not going to cut it despite the nature of the job. She was going to be interviewed by a woman from one of Chicago's billionaire families. The Rex family are owners of large shares in multinational companies, their own shipping and logistics companies and various boutiques across the country.
Claire felt ridiculous, but she opted for a shirt and straight office skirt and black flats after she finshed with her bath. The shirt was peach and the skirt, black. She rolled her black hair in a smooth and neat doughnut bun on her head, applied mascara to her dark, long lashes, eye liner and lip gloss. Her small but full lips shimmered with the gloss. She was ready to go in another fifteen minutes.
She had a good feeling about today. She always had good feelings whenever she put on makeup. If she could put in the effort to apply makeup, she was definitely going to put in her best. She had to. Her bank account balance was running on the red.
