10 Jobhunting

Evina immediately searched for The Elysian Inc on the internet. She was familiar with the giant corporation, but she was unacquainted with the people behind the hierarchy. She must have vast knowledge of the company if she wants to be a part of it.

"The Elysian Inc. offers a huge choice of software for many purposes. Their software is by far the most used operating system in the country. With an acquired revenue of $107.8 million, the dominating software industry remains The Elysian Inc. The company was founded in 1965 by founder Chairman Rafael Yang."

"Pretty impressive," Evina nodded her head as she scrolled down the page. However, what caught her eye was the picture of the founder of the remarkable corporation.

"I think he looks familiar," She zoomed in to the picture of Chairman Yang, which was also in the webpage that she was looking at.

He looks very attractive for a man his age. His aquiline nose was very prominent over his chiseled, angular face. His coal hair was brushed up, revealing his nice skin even at his time of life.

"Wait, are his eyes green?" Her fingers flew to her lips as she now recalled who he looks like. He resembled the man that she encountered in the parking lot! The arrogant owner of the luxury car!

"No, it cannot be! That man was one of the bosses in Sapphire Co!" she assured herself as her fingers frantically searched for "son of Chairman Yang" in her search engines.

She hoped that the man whom he owed was indeed a part of her former employer's company and not her future one.

With his personality, she wouldn't want to work near him. Much less, to work for him!

Her heart thudded loudly within her rib cage. The page was about to reveal who the Chairman's son was, when someone knocked on her door.

"Hello, Evina." Her visitor flashed his teeth as he lifted the bouquet of flowers that he must have picked up along the way.

Evina was not expecting him to visit at this moment. Nor any moment in her life at all.

"Hello, Julian. Come in," Evina said in an uninterested voice. She didn't even fix her messy hair and wash her face. With a sullen expression, she pointed to the sofa and immediately turned her back to him. She didn't even receive the flowers that he gave her.

Julian's shoulders shrugged up as he tilted his head to Maria, who was at her back. Maria did the same. She took the first step to walk inside the dragon's lair.

"He insisted," Maria defended herself.

Hearing the voice of her older sister, Evina immediately pivoted to face them. Her eyes widened in surprise as her eyes darted from her sister to her visitor. Maria was sheepishly grinning at her, while Julian was smiling from ear to ear with a proud stance.

Evina couldn't help but roll her eyes and crossed her arms as she sat herself on the sofa. It was as clear as day that Maria was setting her up with him again.

"Come on, Evina. Julian's here because he got good news for you," Maria gave her one of her sweetest smiles.

Maria knew how peeved she was with Julian. He was Maria's classmate during college. Evina and Julian met one time when they had a group project at their house. And he has not stopped bugging her ever since.

She already refused his passes outrightly. Even before, she told him that he has no chance of having her as his girlfriend.

It's not that he's bad looking. With his height and confidence, he was a sight to behold in any street he would walk on. However, for Evina, he was just like any other men who were motivated by their selfishness and greed.

Julian was a known womanizer. She has no idea why he was still pursuing her until now they were already with their respective careers.

"Listen, there's this new job opening in our company that needs a replacement as soon as possible. Maybe you would like to apply. I could take you there now if you want," He offered to Evina with a hopeful smile as he laid down the flowers on the table in front of her.

"Try it, Evina. You need this," Her older sister encouraged her.

Evina drew in a deep breath as she contemplated it. She already passed on her resume to other online firms. Cynthia would also refer her to The Elysian Inc.

As The Elysian Inc. crossed her mind, her brown eyes brightened up as she recalled what she was doing before they barged in. She peeked at her laptop and checked on who the son of Chairman Yang was.

"Oh, no," Evina's shoulders dropped in dismay as she saw who he was. It was indeed the haughty executive who was also sort of her creditor.

If she had problems with her previous employers, how much more if she would work with him? She has a bad temper against domineering, unjust bosses. And he seemed to be the king of them all. Plus the fact that she has done something offensive to him.

She could probably work there for three days at most before getting fired again!

"Is there a problem, Evie?" Maria's anxious face blurred her thoughts away. Even with their distance, she probably felt the anxiety in her heart at that time. She was her sister, after all.

"No, no. Everything's fine. All right. Let's try it. Give me five minutes." She grinned at them before standing up to change her clothes.

"Thank you, Julian."

"It's my pleasure."

Evina heard her visitors say to each other as she walked away.

If this was another occasion, she would reject it right away. But with her situation right now, she needed all the help she could get. It is not just her who needs the money, but her sister's family as well.

"And Dad," she muttered to herself after giving out a long sigh. Her heart was filled with hatred for him. But she secretly sent him money every month, even if she doubted that he was using it in a good way.

Since Evina was the low-maintenance type, she had already fixed herself in just a few minutes' time.

She wore a beige khaki coat over her white ruffled blouse, which she tucked under her black fitted pants. Her face had nothing on but face powder and a red lipstick. She pulled her scarlet hair into a low ponytail, adding to her sophisticated style.

"You're hired," Julian exclaimed as he stood up immediately after seeing her change. His eyes admiringly gazed at her from head to foot. Maria snickered as she was thrilled at his compliment. Then she looked at Evina approvingly as well.

However, it had no effect on Evina as she responded, "Thanks for the compliment. But I hope your company does not base on appearance alone. Or else, I'm doomed."

Evina couldn't help but glance at the mirror that was just near the door. Others may flatter her. But she knew the real deal. To her, she was just ordinary looking.

She was not tall. Her body frame was not big nor slim either. Her nose was not as pointed as the celebrities in TVs. The only thing that she was proud of was her porcelain complexion and her round dark brown eyes covered by her thick eyelashes, which she got from her Mom.

And those who flatter her? They just need something from her.

"Of course. Beauty and brains. What company would dare ignore you?" Julian commented, his lips crinkled up in a mysterious smile, as he led the two sisters out of the unit and to his car.

They accompanied Maria to work as it was also along the way. Personally, Evina was glad that she didn't have to wallow in poverty for a long time. She feared not for her own comfort. But more importantly, her family.

Maria was not asking for her help. But she gave her financial assistance saying that she has lots of money and those were just excess. But in reality, she was giving her almost all her salary. She just saved some for her daily needs and for something to send to their father.

Her lips curved up as she felt relieved that everything would stay just the way it was. She was about to face Julian and thank him when she noticed something different in the building that they were just entering.

As far as she knew, Julian was working as an architect at a construction company. This could be one of their projects as it looked like it was not finished at all. However, an eerie feeling crept up Evina's heart, which got creepier the moment the car stopped.

The parking lot has ragged holes in the wall, bleeding mouse-chewed insulation. Spiderwebs were hanging on old light fixtures, which emitted blinking flashes of light, illuminating the dark lot. She didn't dare open the door as she felt that she would be suffocated by dirt and dust.

"Are we in the right place?" Evina asked as she unbuckled her seatbelt. Her eyes searched around if there were other people in the area, and there were none.

She turned to Julian as he didn't respond. To her horror, his lustful eyes were gawking at her from head to toe.

*************************

We must not judge people with their outward appearance.

Sometimes those who seemed to have a rude exterior,

have a heart of gold.

And those who has a kind exterior,

Has a heart that is filled with evil untold.