Chapter two:
Morning came sooner than she had expected. She had been up since six am, getting ready. The interview was at seven-thirty, and Jeraldine wanted to be there by seven. She groaned as she crawled out of bed and tottered drowsily to the bathroom. She washed her face, and the benefits proved just as fleeting and no less groggy; she brushed her teeth before taking a shower. It took her 15 minutes to get ready.
She straightened her spine and smoothed her suit. Her dad had always told her of the importance of professional attire, and she was glad to have taken his advice and buy a few things that would fit the purpose. Her red suit was matched with black heels. Her hair straight, and her makeup minimum.
Jeraldine hailed for the taxi, and sat inside. When she told the driver the address, he seemed a little taken back.
She knew the company was big and had a reputation for being the monster corporate, but it couldn’t all be that bad.
‘Are you sure that is where you want to go, ma’am?’ he asked, unsure of himself.
‘Yes,’ she said, growing annoyed. The driver didn’t say anything afterward. But she would occasionally catch him looking at her through the rearview mirror as if he couldn’t believe she was going to such a place.

A few minutes later, she couldn’t hold it in, ‘Excuse me, sir? Why are you looking at me like that? It is considered harassment.’
The man looked even more shocked now.
‘No, ma’am. I was looking at you because I am scared for you.’
‘For what reason?’
‘Ma’am, that place is a horror. And I have a daughter your age. You look like someone kind, and gentle – and that is no place for you.’
Hearing the cab driver’s confession, she closed her eyes, willing herself not to cry. She cursed herself for making everything about her dad.
Everything reminded her of him. Instead of giving a reply to the man, she looked out the window, holding the tears in.
He stopped the car across from the Blackwood industry. When she was about to ask him why he wouldn’t drop her off near the building, he said, ‘Sorry, ma’am, but no taxi is allowed near the building. I have to drop you off here.’
Her mouth shaped into an ‘O’, shaking her head in disbelief. She walked out and readjusted her suit. If anyone could stop and observe her, they would see nervousness oozing off of her.