C3 THE WAIT

Mikayla left Lucas Steele's office with a sense of bewilderment, wondering what had just transpired. She couldn't fathom why Mr. Steele insisted they had a previous encounter, especially when she had no recollection of it. As she exited the imposing building, the city's bustling streets surrounded her, and she couldn't help but feel a bit lost.

The encounter with Mr. Steele had left her rattled, and doubts began to creep into her mind. Had she ruined her chances at the job? He had mentioned something about bruising his ego, she definitely couldn't forget about the gorgeous woman that showed up for the interview and it made her question whether she would ever hear back from his company.

Mikayla boarded a taxi and headed home, her mind still tangled with the perplexing meeting with Mr. Steele. She arrived at her apartment building, paid the driver, and entered her cozy apartment. She dialed her mother's number and waited anxiously for her to pick up. She was fairly new to the city and hadn't had the time to make friends.

"Mikayla, sweetheart, it's been too long," her mother's voice filled the line. "How are you holding up in the city?"

Mikayla let out a sigh, her voice tinged with both relief and concern. "I've been struggling a bit, Mom. It's brutal out here .........And I'm worried about Dad's health and expenses too."

Her mother's gentle tone conveyed understanding. "I know it's not easy, dear. We all miss you here. How's the job hunt going?"

Mikayla hesitated before replying, "I had an interview today, Mom, but it was...strange. The interviewer, Mr. Steele........ Never mind mom, I'm sure it was just a huge misunderstanding"

Her mother's concern deepened. "Misunderstanding? Dear, what happened were you mistreated ?"

Mikayla pondered her reply for a moment. "No, no of course not Mom. I wasn't mistreated, it's nothing..... I'm sorry I shouldn't have brought that up. How's the bakery holding up, she asked trying to change the subject.

Her mother's soothing voice offered comfort. "Well, whatever it is don't dwell on it too much, dear. The bakery is fine, low sales but we still make enough to save up And how's your apartment? Are you taking care of yourself?"

Mikayla smiled faintly at her mother's caring nature. "The apartment is fine, Mom. And yes, I'm doing my best to take care of myself."

"How is dad, is he any better"?? Mikayla asked worriedly

Her mother replied, "Your father's condition is stable for now, though he misses you terribly. Your siblings are growing so fast. They're excited to hear from you"

Mikayla's heart ached with a mix of longing and guilt. "Tell Dad I love him, and I promise I'll visit soon."

"I will, dear. We all love you, Mikayla. Remember, you can always come back home if you need to," her mother reassured her.

As Mikayla ended the call, a sense of nostalgia washed over her. She missed her family more than she had realized.

Mikayla set to work, determined to make the most of her time while she awaited a response from Mr. Steele's company. She knew that putting all her hopes in one job offer wasn't practical, especially given her family's financial situation.

She tidied up her living space, rearranging a few things here and there. It gave her a sense of order amidst the chaos of her uncertain future. Once her apartment was spotless, she turned her attention to her laptop.

With a cup of coffee by her side, she began sending out her resume to various companies in the city, a chance to secure a stable income that would enable her to support her family back home. The urgency of the situation fueled her determination, and she meticulously tailored each resume and cover letter to match the job descriptions.

As she clicked the "Submit" button for the last application, a sense of hope mingled with anxiety welled up inside her. Mikayla knew that landing a job in the competitive city of Sydney was no easy feat, but she couldn't afford to give up.

She understood that at twenty five, it was time for her to stand on her own two feet and provide the support her loved ones needed.

Her father had an early stage colorectal cancer that was caught luckily when he went for a routine colonoscopy check.She remembered vividly when her father had gathered them one evening and told them about it. Everyone had been in shock but grateful that it could be treated.

His huge medical bills had taken a toll on the family savings and insurance, they were barely surviving. So she moved to the big city of Sydney from Adelaide in search of greener pastures and help her mother with the burden of the family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It has been four days since the interview, and four days since she sent her resume to multiple companies. She took on a part-time weekend waitressing job in addition to her weekly job as a bar attendant to raise as much money as she could."

Saturday arrived, and it was unusually busy at the restaurant where Mikayla worked part-time. It seemed like everyone in the city had decided to dine out, filling the restaurant to capacity. The constant flow of customers and the demands of her shift occupied Mikayla's thoughts more than she had anticipated.

With each table she served and every order she took, Mikayla's mind was fully absorbed in her work. The bustling atmosphere and the never-ending list of tasks left little room for her to dwell on the interview with Lucas von Steele. It was as if the chaos of the restaurant had temporarily pushed aside her anxieties.

As the day wore on, Mikayla found herself racing from table to table, balancing trays of food, and coordinating with the kitchen staff. The hours flew by in a blur of activity.

By the time her second shift rolled in, Mikayla was running on fumes. She moved with precision, taking orders, serving meals, and ensuring that every customer had a memorable dining experience. The hours passed in a blur of activity, and her feet ached from the relentless pace and her muscles ached from hours of non-stop movement. But she soldiered on, pushing through the exhaustion, her mind solely focused on her duties.

Finally, as the evening sun dipped below the horizon, signaling the end of her grueling day, Mikayla felt like a human version of a ragged dishrag. She said her goodbyes to her co-workers, her voice a tired whisper, and shuffled out of the restaurant, barely able to muster a smile.

Mikayla's phone chimed incessantly with messages and notifications as she walked back to her small apartment, but she couldn't bring herself to check it. Her body screamed for rest, and her mind was too fogged with fatigue to process anything else.

Upon arriving home, Mikayla didn't even bother to turn on the lights. She kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto her bed, clothes and all. The exhaustion weighed on her like a heavy blanket, and she sighed with relief as she sank into the welcoming embrace of her mattress.

Her phone continued its persistent chimes,But Mikayla was too physically and emotionally drained to care. With a weary heart and heavy eyelids, she closed her eyes and surrendered to the deep, dreamless sleep that embraced her, leaving her phone and the worries about the interview far behind in the quiet darkness of her apartment.