IV

Mr. Ethan explained all the information about the branch office in New York. I paid close attention to each of Mr. Ethan's explanations. Any information ranging from the history of CBL News, all CBL News branch offices in each country, the job hierarchy, and a glimpse of the job desk of the Executive Assistant, the position that is currently needed. The explanations given are many but I know this information will be useful in the future. I also believe that I'm not the only one who thinks so. To be sure, I looked around. Many of them took notes, took pictures through cell phone cameras, and recorded them through voice recording machines. As the saying goes, to defeat the enemy, we must know them well.

"Any question?" Mr. Ethan's voice broke the silence. He scanned every corner of the room to see every raised hand.

"Sir, I have a question," I suggested.

"Yes, Claretta. You can ask now," said Mr. Ethan.

"What kind of test we will do as the candidates?"

Mr. Ethan turned around and wrote on a white chalkboard. He drew a schematic from the first stage to the final stage. After he drew a schematic, he re-explained the schedule for the selection process for the executive assistant position.

"First, register online through our company's website, namely CBLNews.com. From there, you will fill out a registration form and there will be a further explanation regarding what documents we will submit then…." explained Mr. Ethan.

I also took notes and recorded his voice through the cell phone that was placed on the table. Luckily, the position where I sat was very close to Mr. Ethan so I could record his voice well.

"Sir, may I ask a question?" asked a woman. Her voice was very high with a pressing tone. She is Sinta. A colleague and my toughest rival. She is very beautiful, sociable and smart.

"Yes, Sinta, I let you ask," replied Mr. Ethan.

"After hearing your explanation, the selection process for this position took three months from registration to the final interview in Los Angeles?"

"That's right."

Not wanting to lose, I asked the question again.

"Is there a schedule regarding registration for this position already?" I asked with burning enthusiasm.

I don't want to lose to Sinta. Seeing the look in Sinta's eyes that pays attention to Mr. Ethan and asks critical questions is proof that Sinta will be serious about pursuing this position. And sure enough, after I asked Mr. Ethan the second question, I felt a heat directed at me from Sinta's direction. Luckily, Mr. Ethan answered my question so the atmosphere became a little cooler.

"Because we need to prepare some documents, registration will start next week. If based on the announcement, the test will be held a week later. However, for further certainty. You can check our company website, CBL News regularly," replied Mr. Ethan.

"Are there any other questions?" continued Mr. Ethan.

No hands raised. We all fell silent and looked at each other. Things started to heat up again. I can feel the ambition of everyone in this meeting room.

"Okay, because there are no other questions, I'm disbanding this meeting," suggested Mr. Ethan.

All meeting participants immediately got up from the bench and headed to their respective work rooms.

***

Three months later, LAX Airport,

I passed seven stages of testing for the position of executive assistant. It's a long journey to a dream position. However, I know my struggle has paid off.

Step! Step!

I was walking towards the LAX airport arrival gate. The main airport in the city of Los Angeles, California. After traveling for forty hours including transit in Hong Kong for a few hours, I can breathe the air in the country where Hollywood artists are.

"We have arrived in America, Hollywood! It's perfect for singing Miley Cyrus' song with the title Party in The USA," said Sinta cheerfully.

I saw Sinta take out her headset and plug it into her cell phone. Then, she put the headset to her ears while singing the lyrics to the song Miley Cyrus - Party In The USA. Hearing Sinta's chatter, I was a little surprised because I didn't know that she had a bit of a cheerful personality. So far, we are not close because we compete with each other. At the CBL News Jakarta office, she always shows her arrogant, critical nature and spreads an aura of pressure. To be honest, I'm a little surprised by her character being revealed now. Since I didn't want to have any further contact with Sinta, I was engrossed in taking pictures of the scenery around the airport until I was left far from her.

***

Click!

"Wow, the results are great! Later I will send it to my family and friends to make them jealous," I said with a small laugh.

I still didn't realize that Sinta left behind me. Maybe because of the busy airport, I thought that in front of me was Sinta. Then, I ran over and patted her on the shoulder.

"Sin, wait for me. Don't go too fast!" I asked the woman in front of me.

"Sin, what are you talking about?" replied the woman in a surprised tone.

I feel ashamed because of the wrong person. From behind, the woman looks very much like Sinta who has shiny black hair that reaches her waist. In addition, the female figure is also exactly like Sinta.

"I really am sorry, I think you are my coworker. You both are similar," I said pleadingly to her.

"That is fine. I understand your situation. Are you from here?" she asked.

"No… I am foreign here. I am from Indonesia. It's my very first time landed here and I am Lil bit lost."

"Do you need any help?"

"Am I bothering you?"

I looked at the woman suspiciously. I watched her from top to bottom. From behind, she looks like Sinta but what sets her apart is that this woman is prettier and whiter. At first, I thought that this woman's figure was like Sinta, but it turns out that this woman is sexier. She also wears Lala's branded clothes and wears a Ginca bag that costs hundreds of millions.

"No, of course not. You are lost in a foreign country. If I, were you, I would freak out. What is your name?"

"I am Claretta. What about you?" I answered with a suspicious look.

"I am Cecilia. Oh, for the first time, before you landed in a foreign country, you must stay in line at the immigration gate. Do you want to go together?"

I bit my index finger and walked to the right and left. I'm really careless. The immigration gate requires a passport and a visa to attach the arrival stamp. At first, I had my passport and visa in my hand. However, to simplify and speed up the immigration queue. I and Sinta, who passed the interview in Los Angeles left it to Joe's secretary. Secretary Joe will give us visas and passports right at the immigration queue to get our stamps. Besides taking care of all the paperwork, Secretary Joe also guided us while in Los Angeles.

"Dang! My passport and my visa are in my guide. I separated from him too. I bet he is with my friend," I panicked.

"Don't panic! I will help you go to the information desk," comforted Cecilia.

I followed Cecilia's advice and followed Cecilia to the information desk. After a few meters of walking, Cecilia paused for a moment. She waved to someone. "Dad! I am here!" Cecilia shouted.

Then, he approached us. He was a man who was about one hundred and eighty-five centimeters tall with a sturdy build roughly in his mid-fifty years. I see brown hair adorned with some gray hair on various sides. Actually, I'm quite surprised because Cecilia is Asian but the man she calls her father is a pure Caucasian.