The sun shimmered brightly through the slightly opened glass window, parting the glimmering white curtains. The keen rays of light hit the puffy eyes of Elvira.
She groaned, wanting to sleep more, rubbing her swollen eyelids. She had been wide awake the whole night, watching a series of heartbreaking Korean dramas to relieve her pain.
The alarm clock started blaring into her ears. She sat up straight without opening her eyes, wiping her dry lips. Slightly opening one eye, she looked outside and sighed.
She slowly rolled out of bed, making her way to wash up and complete her usual morning routine. Mornings in Breemank Vale were nothing compared to any other city—loud yet cheerful.
Elvira specifically hated waking up every day to the sound of a junk truck outside her apartment. But today was Saturday, and the truck would come later, fortunately, after Elvira would be out or fully awake to bear its grumbling shrieks.
She took a quick shower to fade away the lingering smell of cheap beer she had drunk the night before in an attempt to forget what had happened earlier in the day. Woefully, her theories about those ads she watched—which claimed they would take all your emptiness away—were all lies.
She knew it, but somehow last night, she didn’t want to believe the knowledge based on scientific facts. Yesterday, she had quit her job out of anger, a decision she was now gravely regretting. Grinding her skin with a scrubbing brush was her only form of self-punishment.
“I’m so stupid!” she yelled, banging her fist against the wall.
She was stupid to quit her exclusive job, where she had been a head chef, a chief in command of others. Elvira was notone to take rash decisions, but after the heart-wrenching incident, she had lost her mind.
She rubbed body oil with the exquisite scent of lilies and wet sand onto her burning skin. Looking into the mirror, she confronted her own insecurities.
“Am I not beautiful?”
Of course she was a complete beauty. Her deadly green eyes with freckles on her cheeks, plump, glossy lips, and that jawline were more than enough to make men lose their minds. She had those little curls in her ginger hair. How could she think she wasn’t enough with those extraordinary features?
With those insecure thoughts in mind, she left the bathroom. Looking around her messy apartment, she cursed herself under her breath before she actually started cleaning up.
“What is this?” she asked herself, scanning a beautifully folded courier.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
“Oh, it’s that job offer,” she suddenly remembered, opening the letter inside.
It was a special offer for her after the CEO of Adkins Hotel Chain had tasted her dishes personally. She had received the offer almost a month ago but had rejected it without thinking twice in the joy of her future, which was now so obviously shattered.
“Maybe I should ask them if they still have a job available. But the place is really far,” she sighed, looking at the location of the hotel: Rouchguay Coast at Lower North Glirbiac Boulevard, practically fourteen hours away from where she was living.
She sighed and looked at the album full of fond memories in front of her. “I do need a break from this place,” she convinced herself and dialed the number given in the letter.
“Oh hello, am I speaking to the Adkins Hotel staff?” Elvira spoke fluently.
“Yes, ma’am, may I assist you with anything?” The elegant young voice came from the other side of the line.
“Yes. Actually, I’m Elvira Pearce. I received a job offer a month ago for the position of head chef at the Adkins Hotel at Rouchguay Coast. I would like to know if this offer is still valid.” Elvira voiced her concerns clearly.
“Would you please give me a moment, ma’am? I will confirm with the HR manager,” the girl said, putting Elvira on hold.
The time started ticking, making Elvira more anxious about the answer. ‘What if it is no longer available? I would be unemployed. How am I going to pay my bills and rent?’
“Hello, ma’am. Are you there?” the girl spoke exactly after a minute.
“Yes,” Elvira said, straightening her back.
“I’m really sorry to tell you that your offer for head chef has been rescinded, as we were in a hurry and there were other candidates interested.” She said the words Elvira was most afraid to hear. For a moment, Elvira lost all hope until the girl spoke again.
“But the HR manager has provided another option for you. Would you like to join as an assistant head chef?” she said, bringing a glimmer of light into Elvira’s dark world.
A glimpse of joy jolted her mind after everything she had endured; she finally smiled.
“Yes, I would love to,” Elvira’s excitement was more than she had imagined. She was a critical thinker; for her, anything was better than nothing.
“Great! The HR team will be in contact with you. They will fill you in on all the details and formalities,” the girl returned the same vibe of joy to Elvira, making her think the staff were nice to newcomers.
But was it really the case?
Elvira got the job and was asked to join a day after she arrived at the hotel. Because she lived far from the beach, she was provided a room in the hotel under special staff requirements by the HR team.
She packed her bags and called her parents, telling them she was moving away for a more stable and worthy job. Her parents weren’t entirely on board with her moving to another side of the country for a mere job offer, but their daughter’s happiness came first for them.
Elvira got on the plane, murmuring a last goodbye to her painful life in Breemank Vale. She had once loved that life, but after March 21st, she was exhausted and heartbroken.
“Hello, my new life,” she inhaled deeply, savouring the rustic air of Rouchguay Coast. Her first step on this land was to welcome the storms ahead in her new life.