Chapter 4: Megan is duped

Chapter - 04

"Sorry, but I haven't graduated yet," Habiba said, "And neither am I from any design school," to the surprise of Megan and Amber, Habiba said.

"Not from design school?" Megan repeated. Hearing Habiba, Megan and Amber looked in confusion, first at Habiba and then towards one another.

"Can you explain?" Amber finally asked Habiba. After all, Amber was the one pushing for Habiba. She did not want any mishaps to fall on her.

"Actually..." Habiba tried to explain but paused under the gaze of Megan and Amber. Hesitant, she looked down and continued, "I am a nursing student, actually."

"Nursing student?" Megan just repeated what Habiba said with a questioning tone.

"Believe me... I was not trying to hide it or anything. I heard from a friend of mine that you wanted to hire a designer for your company and didn't care much about past experience. Taking advantage of that, I sent my designs." Habiba panicked when Megan looked at her intently. She thought Megan might accuse her of fraud or something.

"I have always been fascinated by clothes. Not the one where I go on a shopping spree. I have always wanted to make clothes for others. I wanted all those beautiful girls to wear the clothes I made," Habiba slowed down a bit and tried to explain her dream, "But due to certain reasons, I could never do that."

"But when I got to know about your company, I... To me, it... It was like a god-sent opportunity," Habiba looked up and, with confidence, looked straight into Megan's eyes, "And now I am willing to do whatever it takes to..."

"Relax, hold your horses," Megan interrupted Habiba's emotional and powerful declaration.

"I don't really care what your background is," Megan said, waving her hands.

"... And I certainly don't have the time to hear your miserable history," Megan shook her head.

"... You might be nothing more than a pitiful female lead in your story, but it has nothing to do with me." Compared to the previous friendly vibe Megan was giving, she looked serious.

"Sheesh..." Amber signalled. When she heard Megan, Amber tried to stop her. If this goes on, Habiba was no doubt going to back off.

But Megan raised her hand, signalling Amber to be quiet, "Let me handle this."

"Listen, Alibaba," Shutting up Amber, Megan turned towards Habiba and continued with what she was saying.

"... I don't care if you are some Cinderella or a desert prince with a magic lamp. I want someone to do the job right. If you can do that, you are welcome to the team."

"But..."

'There is always a but,' Habiba could guess where this was heading. She knew that she was very much on the brink of getting rejected. But Habiba had to do something. It was now or never.

"... For that, I need someone with experience." Megan sighed. She did not want to sound heartless, but it was the truth.

"I know I have nothing to show for myself, but believe me, I will work hard and try to learn as fast as I can," Habiba desperately tried to convince Megan and Amber.

"We are sure you will," this time, it was Amber who spoke. She was trying to ease it up for Habiba.

"But we are no more than a shop which has just opened. We have to build everything from scratch. So what we lack the most are resources. Isn't asking me to divert my resources into teaching you a little..." Megan said with a meaningful gaze.

"I will work for half of what you were offering," Habiba suddenly said, and the room went silent. Neither Amber nor Megan spoke a word. The two ladies continued to stare at Habiba. But this silence that followed was what was killing Habiba. Every passing second dropped her hopes of getting the job.

"You are hired," Finally, Megan spoke.

"I know... I am sorry to have wasted your time..." Habiba appologised and was about to stand up. But then she registered Megan's words as she looked at Megan half-standing, "I am sorry, what did you say? I think..."

"Yup, you heard it right. You are hired..." Megan smiled and put her hand forward for a handshake, "We are always looking for enthusiastic and hard-working individuals. Creativity and freshness is something I..."

"A cheapskate..." Amber said in between.

"Cheapskate... No, I mean... It is something... I, as the CEO of this company, like to see in my employees," Megan went on with the flow but quickly corrected herself and eyed Amber to keep it down a notch or two.

"You are really funny. That must be the reason everyone is on a tightrope around you." Megan looked at Amber and said, pursing her lips.

"Humph..." But Amber paid her no head and turned her head away.

"Augh..." When Megan saw her second in command behave that way, she could only sigh helplessly. But there was no time to confront her. Ignoring Amber for the time being, Megan turned towards Habiba. She smiled embarrassedly and asked, "Shall we discuss the terms of your contract?"

Habiba looked at Amber and then towards Megan before nodding slowly.

"Now... You... On your own accord, decided to have a salary cut of half..." Megan started explaining the details to Habiba, only to get glared at by Amber.

"... But, since you are so enthusiastic and willing to work for us, it is not right for us to take advantage of you and make you work for such a small amount," Megan gulped and changed her words.

"... How about seventy-five per cent of the mentioned salary?" Megan offered, but instead of looking at Habiba, she looked at Amber for approval.

"Ahemm..." And true, before Habiba could agree, Amber cleared her throat.

"Eighty-five?" Megan gritted her teeth and unwillingly increased her offer.

"Ahem... Ahem..." Amber did that again.

"Ninty per cent of the offered salary and not a penny more," Megan stood up from her chair and leaned on the table, glaring at Amber. She has had enough of Amber, "I am the one paying for her from my own savings. Can't I try and save a single penny of my own money?" Megan cried out in anger.

"Of course, you can. But why are you yelling at me?" Meanwhile, Amber looked unfazed by Megan's sudden outburst, "What does it have to do with me how you negotiate? I am more concerned about my itchy throat right now. Ahemm... Ahem... You guys carry on with the terms. Don't mind me," Amber said and turned her head away.

"Are you fuc..." Megan was about to lose it. Amber had tricked her into spending more money. She had no doubt Habiba was desperate enough to work for even half the price initially offered.

But now, because of Amber, she got herself Habiba, who had nothing to show in her resume aside from a few decent designs. She was totally duped.

"Fine..." Megan sighed and crashed back into her chair, "You win..." Megan said, and Amber had a big smile on her face. She turned towards Habiba and winked at her. Amber was not trying to make it difficult for Megan, but she believed Habiba was worth it.

"But..." Just as Amber was about to congratulate Habiba, Megan continued and looked at the two of them with a smirk, "I have a few conditions..."

"What is with the new conditions now?" Amber thought the matter was done and dusted, but Megan had already brought in new twists, "Is this some joke to you?" Amber frowned.

"No, not at all..." Megan shook her head, then looked at Habiba, "Alibaba, if you don't have any problem, want to hear me?"

Habiba grew nervous when she looked at the seriousness on Megan's face. She had no idea what was going to happen to her, but she had come too far to back off now. She didn't have the luxury of my way or the highway. All she could do was do what was told to her.

So not wasting much time about it, Habiba nodded.

"Perfect," Megan clapped her hands, "Then let's get started."

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