Chapter 2 The Interview

The taxi picked me up with only two hours left until my meeting. The trip was long, the hotel wasn't exactly close to the city. It was more like a mansion than a hotel. From the outside, it looked like a huge five-story castle, or maybe more. I felt a shiver run through my body from head to toe. I felt disguised in all these clothes, even the taxi driver looked at me in amazement and I was embarrassed. I had to make myself strong, I couldn't blush at every little thing. I was about to go into a job interview to be inside the hotel of three lustful mobsters. Everything there would be like that, I would have to get used to it and stop feeling like a scared little mouse. I remembered Carl's words, I was the best at my job, asking the right questions to corner people and make them tell me only the truth. I remembered Marie, the last time I saw her. She told me that she was starting a new life, that she had found a way to travel abroad like she had always dreamed of. We went to a bar where she told me about a new job that seemed wonderful. From everything she told me, I never thought it would be something turbulent, because it didn't give any indication of being illegal. She had just graduated as a nurse, she loved her profession. At the entrance, a man in his thirties controlled the electric gate. The taxi dropped me off there, without asking any questions. Anyone knew that in that place you couldn't ask questions. I had worked so hard to make my resume impeccable, meticulously lying with Carl to deceive the recruiter. The guy at the entrance greeted me with a nod. "Good morning, miss. To what do I owe the honor of your presence?" he asked, as if we were in a real castle, in another time. I noticed that he inspected me with his eyes. I felt ridiculously uncomfortable again, these clothes didn't do me any favors. He kept looking at me. That made me embarrassed. Again, I tried to control myself. I was just at the entrance and I was already losing my mind. Pretend, pretend, I told myself. I pinched my arm discreetly to steady myself. "I have an interview with Stella. My name is Cady," I said, pursing my lips slightly. He listened to my words carefully, continuing his inspection with his eyes. He smiled at me. "Well, Cady, come with me." His voice became velvety, kind. He indicated that I could take his arm. I obeyed, I knew it was a courtesy. Apparently in that place they had the manners of the time, as if they lived in a real castle. I smiled, remembering everything we had talked about with Carl. Smiling always made others trust you, made them feel good. "You have a beautiful smile. Tell me, why do you want to work here?" he asked. So I tried to focus on his face, so he would notice my interest. I had to show myself as a confident woman. And a confident person looks directly in the eyes. He had honey-colored eyes, with curly brown hair. He had a suspicious look, nothing escaped him. His job must be to keep a good eye on who comes and goes from there. He wouldn't be a fool. I had to be extremely careful in this conversation. "Because this is the most beautiful place I've ever been. Living here must be a dream come true," I replied, smiling, looking him directly in the eye. I gestured to the surroundings. "When I learned that the people who work here also live in the castle, oh, I almost fainted. This place looks like something out of a story." Hearing me speak so eloquently, the sparkle in his eyes changed. He seemed interested, as if my enthusiasm had struck him as innocent and endearing. He led me inside the castle. The gardens were impressive. The bushes were trimmed in a neat way, with animal shapes. There was also a labyrinth made of rose bushes, with flowers so beautiful that they left me speechless. There was some truth in my words, that place was indeed dreamy. If only it wasn't a nest of mafia monsters. It was a facade, the beauty of the hotel, which was a dream castle, was only the exterior. I would soon know the malice of the interior. "Then I wish you luck, Cady." The guy leaned over to greet me, we were reaching the door. He kissed my cheek, which I found a bit too daring on his part. Good God, I said to myself, I was getting scandalized by anything. It's just that physical contact wasn't my thing, I wanted to get away from all this as soon as possible. I smiled, kissing him on the cheek too, but very close to his mouth, so he would see that I wasn't afraid. I was just a few inches away. He looked at me, widening his eyes, he had liked that. He smiled and let me into the place, opening the door cordially. The entrance was just as impressive, the doors were huge, with stained glass, which added great elegance to the dark cedar wood. The guy told me to enter through the other door. The open door was much smaller, it was next to the large door that had amazed me. I entered a small hall, which was just as luxurious. It must have been a waiting room, where I would wait for the woman to be free to conduct the job interview. The carpet was an exquisite wine color and the sofa had a unique design. I was about to sit down when a voice told me I could come in. The woman called me from the next room. At that moment, my whole body started to shake. My God, I was so nervous. Anxiety took over me completely. It was time to act, I had to keep walking and go in there to face my destiny. "Cady. It's your turn for the interview," the woman said from inside the room. The door opened; another girl came out of there with her face pale as a sheet of paper. Fear was lashing out at me with force. I wondered what the hell had happened in there, the other girl must have been another candidate for the job. The situation was getting the best of me. Marie, think about Marie. I repeated to myself. I had to pretend, I had to fit in there. They had to give me the damn job. What could be the worst? I took a deep breath. Don't be shocked, I told myself, don't blush, Teresa, you're a grown woman. I walked into the room, opened the door and looked down at the floor, my eyes glued to the gleaming tiles. I raised my head, ready to be whatever I needed to be, to be someone else. I smiled, politely, and bowed. I wanted them to see that I had manners. Then my eyes fell on the famous Stella. In my mind, I had imagined her as an older woman with a notebook in her hands, sitting at a desk, asking me questions like in any job interview. That she would judge me with a scowl on her face and that she would have a wool coat that would make her look sterner. I felt completely naive. "Sit down Cady, it's a pleasure to meet you." I blushed on the spot, damn it, I couldn't help it. Meeting her gaze, looking directly at her, I took in all of her. Stella was a young woman, in her thirties, with curly brown hair that hung long past her shoulders. Her skin was pale and dotted with polka dots. And I could see absolutely everything about her because she had no clothes on. No, not even underwear. The woman was just as she was born. With nothing but a golden choker around her neck. The only thing I got right in my interview idea was that she was carrying a notebook in her hands.