Chapter 9 Nine


    After settling in her new home, Isabelle had one more thing to do: find a job. The sooner, the better.


    She was no longer getting any money from her parents, and Jacob’s financial situation wasn’t the best.


    So the sooner she got a job, the better it would be for all of them. Once she found a job, maybe she


    could look for a new apartment to rent. While the house they were living in wasn’t exactly the worst, it


    was practical at best. Living with Jacob in the same room when they were only pretending to be a


    couple had its own share of challenges she wished to fix soon.


    With a good job, she could be able to afford to rent a good apartment where they could each have their


    own rooms. Also, once she found a job, she would have fewer things to worry about and finally focus


    on finding ways to raise funds for Ruth’s medical bill.


    She had high hopes of finding a job quickly. Just the other day, she had received a call for an interview


    from Larson Group, a famous designpany that was renowned in the fashion industry. They


    reached out to her because she had won first ce in a designpetition and received many


    des.


    Isabelle was determined to ace the interview and get the job. Working for Larson Group would be a


    dreame true. As a jewellery designer, it was the most lucrative spot she could hope for in the


    industry. As long as she got a job with them, she would have a decent ie.


    Other than a good pay, she would also get a chance to work with some of the best talents in the


    industry. She would also have ess to the best resources that would help her advance her skills and


    build her experience quickly.


    If she was lucky, she would get to meet thepany’s CEO. Larson Group’s CEO was a legend in the


    industry, but, oddly, not much was known about him. But Isabelle didn’t need to know anything about


    him to know he was someone worth meeting. Leading apany like Larson Group and achieving its


    level of sess and poprity was no mean feat. Meeting and learning from such an aplished


    figure would be an honour.


    She arrived at thepany at half-past eight, half an hour before the time scheduled for her interview.


    That was enough time to gather her wit and ensure she waspletely calm for the interview.


    Interviewing for such apany was surely no joke–she had to be on her A-game. There were


    definitely other talented designers eyeing the same spot, and she couldn’t afford to make any mistake.


    After getting past security at the lobby of thepany building, she got into an elevator to take her to


    the floor where her interview would take ce.


    While she waited for the doors to close, she caught sight of a familiar figure in the lobby. She craned


    her neck, trying to get a clearer look, but he was obstructed by a group of people. She felt like she


    knew him… The doors closed, and she shook her head. She was overthinking. How could she


    recognise anyone from their back?


    At exactly nine o’clock, Isabelle and the other interviewees were led to the interviewing room. It was set


    up like an examination room, and she was directed to take a seat at a desk. She politely greeted the


    interviewers as she took her seat. It wasn’t until after she was seated that she recognised one of the


    panel members.


    It was impossible to forget the girl. Her name was Ann, and they had been ssmates in college.


    Isabelle remembered her well because they had oncepeted for the same schrship. Isabelle won


    the schrship, and since then, Ann had a grudge against her.


    “Hello, Isabelle. It’s so nice to see you here,” Ann greeted as she approached with an examination


    paper in hand. Her bright voice caught Isabelle off-guard. Was this the same girl who had sneered at


    her all the way through college?


    “Hi, it’s nice to see you too, Ann,” she replied, smiling. Ann was probably only being nice because the


    other interviewers were around. She was d for that. Otherwise, it would have been too awkward.


    “Here’s your paper,” Ann said, giving her the paper. “All the best.”


    “Thank you,” Isabelle replied, getting ready to begin the exam.


    When Isabelle was done with the interview, HR told her that the results would be emailed to her. She


    left to go back home, hoping for a positive response. The exam paper, although she had noticed it was


    prepared for more experienced designers, hadn’t been hard on her. She had confidently answered the


    questions and felt that she would pass.


    However, a little worry nudged at the back of her head because of Ann. Having someone who hated


    her on the panel deciding whether to give her a job or not didn’t exactly bring on positive feelings. She


    knew very well that if Ann was influential enough and didn’t want her in thepany, it wouldn’t matter


    how well she did on the paper.


    After Isabelle left the interview room, the panel of interviewers went through her examination paper. It


    didn’t take long for them to realise that she had done exceedingly well on all the questions.


    “Wow, this is amazing,” one of the female interviewersmented after seeing her impressive


    answers. “Ann, you gave her a paper meant for senior experienced designers, but she got everything


    right. Are you guys sure she is just a beginner?”


    Another interviewer nodded. “She won the design championship for junior designers. She is brilliant for


    someone with so little experience. It will be great if we can bring her on board before anotherpany


    snatches her up. I’m already excited to see the pieces she works on.”


    “Guys, I think you are exaggerating,” Ann said from her spot on the panel table. “She is good, but not


    any better than others we have interviewed.”


    The interviewer sitting next to her turned to face her. “You are kidding, right?” he asked. “She managed


    to finish a paper that was above her level on time, and with very good answers. I feel she even did


    better than many senior designers who have taken the same examination. She is definitely above the


    mark among her peers. Personally it’s been a while since I came across such a brilliant interviewee.”


    “Just because she scored well on the paper doesn’t mean she is the right designer for ourpany,”


    Ann argued, hating how her co-workers were praising Isabelle. She hadn’t expected Isabelle to


    no way she was going to let that woman work at Larson Group. Going to the same college with her had


    been unlucky enough.


    “But she essentially passed the interview,” the female interviewer told her. “This examination is


    designed to reveal a designer’s strengths and weaknesses. Someone with poor skill or knowledge


    cannot possibly pass the paper, let alone so well. Also, don’t forget we have managed to find some of


    our best designers in this manner.”


    “If you had given her the right paper for her level,” thest panel member put in, “she would have


    undoubtedly aced it too. Come on, you have to admit she is the kind of person we are looking for. Why


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    exactly do you think she is not a good fit for thepany?”