🤍 Jessica's POV 🤍
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Life has been... normal. Surprisingly smooth, actually. Ken's survived a day at his new job without getting crushed by a forklift. Rachel hasn't set anything on fire in the bakery since she started helping in baking process.
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And the Wilsons' dinner last night was weirdly perfect.
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Nora's lasagna tasted like a hug, and Jacob told stories about his six sons that made me laugh so hard I snorted milk out my nose.
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It was refreshing—sitting around the table, laughing, talking about everything and nothing.
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But right now? Right now, I'm pretty sure my soul has left my body. Trust me, I ain't even thinking.
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I can hear Rachel and Ken chattering nearby, but their voices sound distant, and muffled, like I'm underwater.
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I'm frozen in my chair at my usual spot at the bakery, laptop open in front of me, staring at the email that just popped up. The subject line mocks me in bold, professional font.
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'Valentus Technologies - Interview Invitation'
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Dear Miss Reed,
We are pleased to inform you that after reviewing your application, we would like to invite you for an interview for the position of Marketing Associate at Valentus Technologies.
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Your interview has been scheduled for Thursday 10th at 10:00 AM at our headquarters in Manhattan. Please find the attached document for further details on the interview process.
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We look forward to meeting you.
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Best regards,
HR Department
Valentus Technologies
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Fuck. I cannot breathe.
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"Jess? Jess?" Rachel's voice sounds distant, like she's yelling and whispering at the same time. Her hands clamp onto my shoulders, shaking me. "Helloooo? Earth to Jessica?"
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"Ken! She's broken"
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Ken vaults over "What'd you do to her?"
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"Nothing. She just... glitched"
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"Let me get some ice water"
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This son of... a lovely woman.
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I manage to croak out a single word "Interview"
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"What?" Rachel looks at my screen, and her eyes widen as a flash of understanding passes through her face.
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Her scream could shatter glass "OH MY GOD YOU GOT AN INTERVIEW!"
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The scream does a very good job at fully bringing me back to earth "I don't even know what to say. What if I'm hallucinating?"
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Ken snorts. "You've been stress-refreshing your inbox for two days. You aren't hallucinating" then he smiles "Congrats for passing the first stage"
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I'm still in disbelief "This can't be real"
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"Oh, it's real, baby" Rachel practically tackles me in a hug, shaking me like a ragdoll. "I knew it! I knew they'd see how amazing you are"
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The bakery door chimes. A customer walks in, blinking at the chaos—Rachel halfway across the counter, me wide-eyed and hyperventilating, Ken holding a butter knife and glass of water like he's prepared to perform an exorcism.
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Rachel straightens, smoothing her apron, and nudging Ken. "Sweetie, go handle that."
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"Why me?"
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Rachel give him a pointed look, whispering "Cause we're busy here, bro"
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With a sigh, he trudges toward the counter, mumbling something under his breath.
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Rachel whirls back to me, eyes manic, and I immediately know what is coming. "Okay, first of all. We need to go shopping. You need an outfit"
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Oh God, here we go again. I roll my eyes.
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But she pulls out a chair next to me, and continues "A power suit. Something that says, 'I'm competent, hire me,' but also 'I could poison your coffee and you'd thank me' kinda vibe"
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"Or I could just wear one of the other many 'suits' I wore to previous interviews... that you bought for me. Remember?"
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"What? When did that ever happen?" She feigns ignorance.
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I laugh and shake my head "I'm not doing this with you, Rach"
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She grabs my hand, looking at me with puppy eyes.
"Oh come on! You can't wear those again! They now carry bad luck, plus they're out of style. We need to be intentional, girlfriend"
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I sigh, rubbing my temples. Rachel can be quite the case sometimes.
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"Think about it, Jessica. You are going for an interview at Valentus Freaking Technologies" She continues, waving her hands here and there in the air "We need to get you something sleek. Classy. A power look!"
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"Yeah yeah. I got it" I concede. I knew this was a conversation I was never going to win. Ever.
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I refused to go 'shopping' for a previous interview. So guess what miss power look over here did.
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She cried fire and brimstone that day. She said I no longer loved her, and refused to eat for two days knowing I would be worried sick about her.
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At my acceptance, she jumps in joy and grins, all teeth "Now you're talking! Come on, let's go get ready. There's no time"
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"We're going... right now?"
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"Uh... Duh" She looks at me like I should have known that "We need to get your outfit and shoes today, so we can dedicate tomorrow for the spa"
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Right. We always went shopping AND spa-ing before every interview.
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"The interview's next tomorrow, incase you forgot. Chop chop, Jess. Imma go grab my wallet"
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I sigh and turn to Ken, who's playing a game on his phone "Sorry, buddy. You're on bakery duty till we get back. I owe you one"
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He gives me a thumbs up.
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•••••
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Two hours later, I'm standing in a dressing room at freaking Vanguard Couture, a store so fancy the hangers are probably gold-plated.
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"Rachel, this is a month's rent!" I hiss through the curtain.
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Her nonchalant voice comes through "Good. It'll motivate you to nail this interview so you can afford two months' rent"
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I poke my head out. She's lounging on a velvet couch with a glass of champagne in her hand, flanked by a salesperson holding three more suits.
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Rachel nods at him, and he leaves. I use this opportunity to run out almost naked, and take a sip of her drink.
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Hmmm. This is good stuff.
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"This is insane. Let's just go to H&M." I plead.
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Rachel gasps, clutching her chest. "H and what? Jessica, you need to look like you've never heard the word 'budget' before"
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I hear the salespersons coming, so I run back.
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Back to peeping through the curtains. His name tag says 'Marcel', and he smiles, showing her the new collection he brought with him.
"This suit is very in this season. Very... dominatrix"
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I blink.
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I'm applying for a marketing job, not auditioning for Fifty Shades of Capitalism.
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Rachel points at Marcel. "We'll take it."
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This girl. "Rachel, I don't like..."
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"Try it first!" she interrupts, tossing the suit over the curtain. "And stop complaining. Or I'm gonna buy that $6000 jumpsuit we saw earlier. Don't dare me, bitch"
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The typical me would have dared her, but I know she's crazy enough to buy it. And my love frugality is greater than my ego, and she knows it.
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So I keep mum, and yank on the navy suit. It's... shockingly good. The fabric feels like a royal handshake—smooth, cold, and vaguely threatening.
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I think this might actually be the one.
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"It's okay" I mutter, staring at my reflection. "I kinda like it"
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"You love it? Oh my God. Then it must be so good" Rachel excitedly says, busting inside.
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"Like, Rach. Like" I correct.
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Immediately her eyes sets on me, she starts screeching for real "YOU LOOK MAGNIFICENT, JESS!"
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"You're such a drama queen" I roll my eyes.
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"For real! This suit was made for you. It even accentuates your ass" She smiles so wide, I worry for her lips "Give me a 360, girl!"
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I do, rather joyfully.
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Rachel rests her chin on my shoulder, her reflection grinning beside mine. "This is the one, Jess! Lets go get shoes"
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I laugh, despite myself. "You're ridiculous. How much is it, by the way?"
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She pretends not to hear me, and runs out.
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She slaps her credit card into Marcel's hand. "Ring it up!"
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Oh God, this shit must be freaking expensive.
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