Chapter 2
Janet sat on the sofa on the opposite side of the sheikh with her right ankle tucked behind the left one. She had her fingers laced together. The sheikh leaned back in the sofa and sat with his legs wide apart. He was wearing a pair of grey trousers and a white shirt that complemented his physique. Janet was fascinated by the entire situation. She had never met a sheikh before; she had only seen them on the news. However, the ones she had seen on the news were older. This sheikh that was sitting in front of her was young, possibly in his mid-thirties. He had great bone structure and a nice caramel skin tone.
“I am Sheikh El-Masry,” he introduced himself to her. His voice was deep but soft.
“Hello, nice to meet you,” she replied.
“Let’s get right to it,” he said. “Have you worked as a housekeeper before?”
“No, but I have worked at a hotel for several months. My duties involved cleaning, room service and working on reception. I believe that my skills are transferable to this position,” Janet replied.
“If hired, you’ll be trained on how to clean to my standards. ”
“That’s fine. I’m willing to take any training required, and I can assure you that I’m a quick learner.”
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-six years old.”
“Do you have a criminal record?”
“No, I don’t.” But I worked for a criminal organization, Janet thought to herself.
“I will run a background check, anyway,” said the sheikh. He was handsome.
“Okay, that is fair,” she said.
“Have you ever been fired from a position or given a formal warning?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“If hired, you’re required to sign a non-disclosure agreement,” he said. Janet was suddenly wondering if he had something to hide. “It is because I am a sheikh and because of that, people try to sell stories to magazines and newspapers. I need complete privacy for the sake of my six-year-old daughter,” he explained. Janet nodded.
“I would be willing to sign the non-disclosure agreement. When I worked in the hotel, I maintained customer confidentiality. Actually, I have a six-year-old sister. I am so protective of her, and because of that, I would never do anything that would bring harm to your daughter,” Janet replied .
“Mariam will be in touch with you regarding the outcome of the interview.” The sheikh rose to his feet. Janet stood up quickly and extended her hand for a handshake.
“Thank you so much for having me,” she said. The sheikh looked at her hand and then at her face, and then back at her hand. He placed his hand into hers. His hand was soft and warm. “I look forward to hearing back from Mariam with good news. If you hire me, I will work very hard and will not let you down, and I promise you won’t regret it,” she added. Janet was desperate for the job. She felt disappointed by the fact that the interview was so short.
“Mariam will see you out,” said the sheikh. With that, he walked away.
“Um bye,” she called out after him. Janet regretted the words as soon as they came out of her mouth. She didn’t know what else to say. The sheikh made her nervous.
Mariam walked into the room as soon as the sheikh left. “I will show you out,” she said to Janet.
“Yes, thank you,” Janet replied. She followed Mariam out of the living room and into the corridor. As Janet walked behind Mariam, she couldn’t help but analyze her. She was tall and beautiful. Her skin was a nice honey color, and it had a nice glow. She wore a black pencil skirt, a white silk blouse and a pair of red heels. Her jet-black hair was tied into a high ponytail.
Maria opened the door for Janet. “We still have other candidates to interview. I will call you as soon as the sheikh has made his decision. It should be within a few days,” she said. Janet smiled and nodded.
“Alright, I look forward to hearing back from you,” Janet replied before she walked out of the front door. She walked down the long driveway until she reached the gates that opened in front of her.
Janet pulled out her new phone that she had purchased when she fled Corpus Christi from her pocket. She and her mother got rid of their cell phones just in case Pablo tried to contact her or track her down. She went to her recent calls list and called her mother.
“Hello,” her mother answered.
“Hi, Ma,” said Janet.
“How was the interview?”
Janet groaned. “I don’t think it went well,” she cried out.
“Oh, no, what happened?”
“The interview was short. I didn’t get a chance to tell him how wonderful I am and how I am the best candidate for the position.” Janet sighed as she turned a corner .
“Maybe it was short because you impressed him quickly or he’s a busy man. What was he like?”
“He’s a sheikh! I met a sheikh.” Janet was excited about that.
“Really?” her mother gasped.
“I was shocked too. The sheikh was very handsome but cold. He didn’t smile, even when I smiled at him. After the interview, I extended my hand for a handshake. He almost left it hanging.”
“Oh, dear.”
Janet sighed. “His secretary said I’ll hear back within a few days. I’m not going to get my hopes up,” she said.
“Don’t worry, my dear, I’m sure you’ve done your best, and he’ll realize it. You’ve got a great employment history; it’ll be advantageous for you. You’ll see.”
“Thanks, Ma, you always know what to say to make me feel better.”
“I just say the truth,” her mother replied. “What time is your bus?”
Janet looked at her watch. “2:30, I’ll call you later,” she said.
“Alright, my dear, bye. ”
“Bye, Mom.” Janet hung up the phone and headed to the bus station.
When Janet arrived home, she was too tired to do much. The journey from Dallas was a long one. She went straight to bed and just tried to forget that the interview ever happened. She was sure that she wasn’t going to get the job. A short interview often meant that the employer wasn’t interested.