I kept expecting Michelle to ring me back during the next interview, but my phone remained silent. She can’t ignore me. This is her problem, not just mine, she has to see that. I try to imagine what must’ve gone through her mind, if she has already seen my message.

Olivia did little to hide that she was less enthusiastic about Claire. She didn’t even make eye contact with Claire for half the time, keeping her eyes fixed mostly on her CV in front of her, like she was still appraising it. I felt really sorry for her, she would’ve been preparing for this interview all week, and she would’ve been sweating about it last night, if she was anything like how I was when I was her age. The way how Olivia spoke to her, it could . . . it could damage her confidence for years. I hate that Olivia seems to think it’s best to go for the person who has the most experience, sometimes it isn’t. The door shuts as Claire leaves the room; Olivia scribbles a couple of notes onto her CV, before clicking the top of her pen, and stretching her arms into the air.

‘Right, well, I think William’s certainly the better candidate out of the two of them, don’t you think?’

She’s looking at me with a warm smile. ‘Are you sure?’ I ask, my heart thudding against my chest.  

Olivia frowns at me. ‘Of course, he has far much more experience and was a lot more confident. Claire’s a lovely girl; perhaps if another position comes up in the future, I might consider giving her a ring.’

I resist the urge to curl my fists. There’s no way, if I was in Claire’s position, that I would accept Olivia’s offer, if she ever does ring, after the little enthusiasm Olivia showed her. There’s no way I would’ve wanted to work for Olivia if that’s how she’d come across when I had my interview.

‘Erm, I think you should look at them both closely again before you offer anyone the role. Perhaps call them both in for a second interview.'

Olivia shakes her head. ‘No, no, my minds made up. I told William I’d call him by the end of the week, but I see no reason why we can’t let him know this afternoon.’

Dread curls at the bottom of my spine. Picking up the two mugs of coffee, I follow Olivia back into reception. Kirsty’s back at her desk now, typing furiously on her keyboard. I check my phone as I follow Olivia back over to the lift, the cups clinking in my hand. There’s still nothing from Michelle. Has she even read my messages yet? Back when I knew her she worked for herself, so she often called and texted me during the day, even though I’ve always worked in an office. She never could quite grasp that I only had a set time for my lunch break and couldn’t be on my phone all the time.

We step into the lift and travel up to the office in silence. I keep trying to think of ways how to try and persuade Olivia not to offer the role to William, but everything I think of sounds ridiculous.

‘I’ll let you know once I’ve spoken to William,’ Olivia says, as we step out of the lift.

‘Sure, OK.’

I watch her stride back to her office. I head to the kitchen, keeping my head down, not wanting to meet anyone in the eye and start up a conversation. If someone starts talking to me now, I fear everything that’s bubbling up inside my head might come tumbling out. I submerge my hands in soapy water and wash the cups in the sink; it’s as I’m about to place them on the drying up rack, that my phone starts ringing, almost making me drop them. I pull my phone out of my pocket, and let out a gasp when I see Michelle’s name flashing up on the screen. I swipe the answer phone button across, checking through the window in the kitchen door to make sure no one else is heading in this direction.

Michelle doesn’t even give me a chance to speak. The same whispery tone I remember from years ago, like nothing has changed, appears on the line. ‘Well, Angela, what on earth have you done?’

************************

Character List:

Angela Watkins - Protagonist 

Paul Watkins - Angela's husband

Rebecca Watkins - Angela's daughter 

Michelle Blake - Angela's former best friend 

Kirsty - Receptionist (Angela's friend) 

Olivia - Angela's boss

William Harris - Angela's former friend 

Caroline (Caz) - Angela's friend 

Hayley - Angela's former friend

Lauren - Angela's former friend