Ashley sat in front of Mr Matthews and she lowered her gaze on the ground. She was nervous, scared and  confused

"Hem Hem" The clearing of the throat startled Ashley. She slowly lifted her eyes from the ground and she  focused them  on  Mr Matthews.
Well, It didn't require a genius to know that he demanded  her full  attention.

" Mrs Simpson" He began and  Ashley swallowed nervously " its crystal clear that you want to become my secretary, if you don't mind may you please hand over your CV to me " he continued in a  very deep professional calm  voice.

Ashley immediately dived into her   hand bag and she drew out an envelope . With shaking hands she  forwarded  it over  to her soon to be boss. Of course if luck stays on her side.

Mr Matthews started perusing through his face blank not giving any hint whether he was interested , appeased or not. Only that made her heart to beat faster.
Many questions roamed  in her head.
Are my documents less?
Wait are they not satisfactory?
Christ...a million questions she also could not answer found  their way into her head.
Ashley Simpson you have survived horrible things  , believe your self you will also  survive this. That's what she told  her self over and over again as the man kept  on turning page per page of her document.

After passing through them, he turned his gaze to her" I see you used to be a secretary of Jasper, Kade and Oscar associates. One thing I have to tell you Mrs Simpson is that this is a very strong , organised and well known firm, implying that things are made different here. But am impressed by your documents and you are included on the promising list. If luck stays on your side, you will be given a call to inform you when to start working. Any query Mrs Simpson"

Ashley's eyes widened , She looked at the man like he had got a third eye. He did  not know that he had   given her so far the best news ever since she came in California.
She didn't even have words to use to express her happiness and as a result she  started stuttering. Urghh .. The way she was making news in this office.

"Sir I ..I..do..don't have any question"

The man looked at her with confusion plastered on his face, had he said anything wrong " Well  if you don't have any questions left Mrs Simpson find your way _"

Quick as lightening before he could finish his words Ashley was already  on her feet. He looked  at her with  amusement. Was she panicking?
Ashley bent down to zip up her bag, on returning back to the sitting posture, she hit her head on the table.

"Ouch" she winced as she touched her fore head. She peeped at the man in front of her only to find him looking back at her with   narrowed eyes, he looked as if he was to ask him whether she was fine in one second and he looked angry in the other. Ashley composed her self and she stood up, she glanced at him and then at the door, she nodded at him and she headed to the door.

"One  last thing Mrs Simpson" She turned  around ready to face whatever thing was  to be thrown in her  way.

With a smile the man said" I didn't introduce my self, I am called Hayden Matthews the owner of Matthews Associates and Auctioneers. " he extended his hands for a handshake, Ashley looked at him, and then his hands, she slowly gave up and she placed her small fingers in his large palms. They looked at each other while shaking hands and slowly without breaking eye contact, they slowly withdrew their hands back.

Hayden then picked something from his table and forwarded it to her,"Also you had left your originals" Ashley shut  her eyes , calmed her self down,opened them and  she got her originals from Hayden "Thank you Mr Matthews" 

Other people opt for perfection on this day and look at her , she was busy making her  self  stupid in front of the man who had her destiny hands, she started doubting her impression because on the scale of 1-10, she gave her self only 5. She came to a conclusion that if she didn't get the job, it would be no one's fault, it would be hers.

" You are welcome Mrs Simpson"

And with that she  hurried  to the door as fast  as her legs could carry carry her.
When she reached outside, she leaned against the wall and she  released   a very long breath she  didn't even know she  was holding.
God, the minutes inside that office were equivalent to ten torturous years.

She found  her way out of the building passing the receptionist who still had a smile . The way they   managed to smile like they had no worries in life, defeated her understanding.

The afternoon warmth hit Ashley's skin as she walked on the streets, she checked her  watch and she realised  it was   already lunch time ,Emma might  be hungry . She noticed a nearby park and she headed there. She looked around for a comfortable place and she decided to sit under the shade of the tree, she got a piece of cloth  from her bag and she laid it down, after she sat down on it facing the road.
She got out her phone and she dialed home" Mommy!!!!!" A loud excited scream erupted through the speaker to the extent that Ashley first removed the phone from her ear and held it at a distance, Emma's happiness washed away all the worry and her body calmed down, She was a calm after the storm.

"Hey my baby, missed mummy"

A genuine smile found her way on  her face she  heard   her grunting in the background. She loved disturbing her, she always complained to her that she  treated  her like a three year old kid.

"  Am hungry. Second I don't miss you " she teased  her.

" Ouch Emma am hurt" Though Emma  could not  see her , Ashley   placed  her hand under her  heart dramatically.

"Mommy you know am kidding but in all seriousness I am hungry bring home something and am eagerly waiting for my great news, now if you don't mind Mrs Simpson am going to hang up on you "  She chuckled  , this girl was  so funny. Ashley produced a loud laugh and she got curious and annoyed glances from other people.
She clasped her hand on her mouth, and she laughed quietly.

"Okay  Little Emma, am coming home soon" She heard   her complaining before she hung up.

After a while she put everything back inside in the bag, stood up and she went to look for what to take home because she was also hungry.

Her spirits were high and a smile never left her face, she just hoped to pass the interviews and she gets the job. She was tired of job hunting because that is the only thing she had done ever since she came in California.
She was ready for a new start, a new life in a new state with her and Emma.

Hey guys😁😁 thx for the support..