The Woman He Broke

PABLO

Shit! I kicked at my car's tyre, I honestly have no idea what sort of bad luck might have befallen me.

What was I going to do? The same car which I drove last night and a few minutes ago to get gas at the station has abruptly refused to make a sound nor move and by what it seems, I was already running late for my interview.

This interview was my sixth in a space of two months and it seems someone somewhere has sworn that my life was going to be miserable till the end. I didn't want to keep counting my bad luck since according to my dear friend, Miguel, it was a bad omen to talk about ones ill lucks on a Monday morning but with what was going on, I couldn't keep up with that positive vibe.

"Maybe you should try it one more time," Miguel said and I shook my head before folding my hand in front of me.

"This is the hundredth time I have done that and there's still no difference, what do I do?" I asked in utter confusion while tapping my index finger on my lip repeatedly, thinking of what it is I could do.

"You could use my car then." He replied, wiggling the keys of his brand new convertible in the air so that the sound was audible," Or you can be late to your interview and make a perfect first impression." He sassed.

"There is no way I'm launching your car," I told him in a voice that showed I wasn't going to talk about the same thing a second time. He has just bought that car two days ago and hasn't even driven it, it'll kill me to take that from him.

"Not if I drive you there," He winked and I raised my eyes to meet his gaze and a smile played on his lips while he brushed his hair in style, "Let's go then."

"What about you, won't that make you late to work?" I asked him but he narrowed his eyes and raised a brow.

"What am I thinking? Let's go." I said and picking up my CV from the driver's seat of my car and following him to his.

"You know, if you don't get this job, there's always a vacancy in my firm for you anytime, any day." He reminded me and I sighed before nodding. We've had this conversation so many times before and he still doesn't seem to give up on his idea. What was I going to do in a construction company? It just doesn't work that way and besides, I love cooking so much. It keeps me going and even more than that, there's this satisfaction that comes with being able to put a smile on a person's face when they taste your meal.

After we got into the car, he began to drive while I looked through my resumé just in case I'm asked to explain something, "What's the name of that company again?" He asked

"Lidam's Cuisine and Decor," I said without lifting my head from what I was doing.

"Wow, I've heard so much about that place. I hear they deliver top-notch services and they are never behind schedule. Hope you can keep up with that?" He asked.

"Why not?" I shrugged.

My phone blew off and pulling it out of my pocket, I saw that it was Jenny. I've been very bad at maintaining friendships especially if that friend wants something more than it is.

"Who's that?" Miguel asked after noticing that I ignored the call.

"Jenny," I replied in a dry tone while focusing my attention on my resume. I didn't want him to lecture me, and nor did I want him to say anything about it.

"You can just tell her you're no longer interested that should be much more mature than ignoring her calls." He lectured and I hummed a reply, putting the topic to an abrupt end.

After spending a few more minutes on the road, we finally arrived at the premises of the huge company, it was very neat and well decorated with stylishly pruned flowers that spelt 'Lidam' in capital letters.

I gathered my stuff in the car and breathed deeply to help me relax before opening the car's door.

"Hey, whatever happens, always remember that you're the best Chef there is and if they don't see that well-"

"Screw them," we chorused while laughing before giving each other a fist bump. After that was done, I brushed my hand over my suit -one and only out of two- and walked confidently towards the entrance of the building.

Upon entering the building, I found five people already seated on a long sit, neatly dressed and upon enquiry, I discovered they were all there for the interview as well so I joined them.

I watched how most of those who entered the office which was meant for the interview wearing a confident smile on their way in and come out with a grown, looking dejected with sagged shoulders and it bothered me.

"Hi, I'm Alex." The young man sitting right next to me greeted

"Pablo," I responded while extending my hand at him but he just looked at my hand as though they were dirty and then at my face, smiling for what only he knew. I slowly retrieved my hand hoping no one saw what just happened.

"Pablo as in Pablo Picasso or..." he said, making a quotation sign in the air

"No, simply Pablo." I breathed, taking out my phone from my breast pocket. I was already tired of talking and wished he could just stop talking and it seemed my prayer was being answered.

I was about to sigh in relief when he spoke, "I need this job but I honestly just came here for formality's sake because the job is already mine." He said in a confident voice and I smiled.

"That's the spirit, my friend. Stay positive." I told him

"Stay positive?" He scoffed, "It seems you don't get it." He stated and I shook my head, "My brother is the manager at this company and he has already put in a word for me." He said, in a voice filled with pride.

"You can't be so su-"

"Alex Wilberforce!" Someone called through the intercom

"That's me." He winked before leaving the seat and walking to the door ahead of us. So much pride and pomposity in one person.

I thought a little about what he said and was almost going to let it eat me up when I decided to divert my attention to something else.

I continued going through my phone for new cuisines I need to try out or manipulate its recipe with something else. One can never get tired of food, good food, I must say and to keep this age-long need feel new every day, different styles of presentation are used.

Some of the pictures I saw made me salivate and I quickly took a screenshot while making up my mind to try them out before the end of this week. I was going to take pictures of each dish I make and upload them on my Instagram page. It's been a while since the last time I did that.

I was going to take another screenshot when I heard my name through the intercom I calmly got up and took in a long breath before walking to the door but before I could get close, Alex was out of the office wearing a long face and his shoulders sagged.

"Behind that door is Jezebel." He whispered and walked away before I could say anything.