Blackwood industry stared down at her. The building was huge. It was large, vast, and intimidating. She carefully strode past a security guard at the entrance and into the building. She was met with many people strolling around in their expensive, neat clothes, and she felt self-conscious of what she was wearing. Maybe, she was overdressed?
The whole atmosphere was tense. Jeraldine went up to the receptionist. She was a redhead woman, dressed in a yellow sundress. Everything about her was prim and proper.
‘The coffee shop is down the street, ma’am,’ she said, and Jeraldine hinted a slight Italian accent.
‘What?’ she asked, confused.
The receptionist stared at Jeraldine as if she was stupid. ‘Isn’t that where you want to go?’
‘No. I’m here for an interview.’
The ginger hair receptionist looked taken back. ‘Oh?’ Sizing Jeraldine up again and down, she clicked her tongue before meeting Jeraldine’s gaze again.
Jeraldine was used to this. People looking down on her. It was what her father had always told her to work on. But she could not change how people perceived her.
The receptionist inhaled dramatically, ‘Twentieth floor. Take the first right, and you’ll find yourself among the lot that is here for the interview.’
‘Thanks,’ Jeraldine said.
‘Good….’ She stared up and down at her again, her face turning upside down. ‘….luck.’

Jeraldine felt nervous, but she tried to calm herself down and made her way to the elevator. She waited a few seconds before it slid open, and she quickly rushed inside. But before it could close, Jeraldine heard a woman sobbing. She looked at the same age as Jeraldine and was being dragged out by the guards.
‘No!’ she shouted. ‘You can’t do this to me! I have been a loyal, and hardworking employee for the last five years!’ Jeraldine watched as she tried to struggle against the security guard. ‘You can’t do this to me!’

The elevator closed, and Jeraldine let out a sigh. Her heartbeat accelerated, and she was sorry for the woman.
Her back hit the wall, and she closed her eyes. Doubt creeping up at the back of her mind, was this such a good idea after all? She was doing this for dad; Jeraldine had to remind herself. She had a reason – a motive, and she could not back away from it now.
Tightening her eyes, she hoped this interview would be a success. She couldn’t afford to mess it up. You can’t, Jeraldine. You have to believe in yourself, just like your father did. This was a mantra she was repeating in her mind again and again.