Chapter 3: Friends
"What can I say, Aldine have been a blessing. Having her in my life, sure makes it a lot easier, I won't even lie." Steve chuckled happily. "Now, enough of my love life. To what do I owe such a pleasant surprise?" He asked, taking his seat.
Philomena shined her sparkly white and well shaped set of thirty-two, a clear evidence that she is prudent with her dental appointments. She cleared her throat calmly before adopting a serious face.
"Steve, I'm in a fix right now," she started, "and I was wondering if your company is hiring. I need a job, I need a stable source of income." She paused. "I can fit into any available post. If It requires learning, I can learn on the job. I'm a fast learner." She added.
"What's the problem?" Steve asked, concerned. "Did something happen?"
He could vividly recall that before leaving Lilycity, Philomena was at the top of her career in the industry. She was gradually making a name for herself, until she suddenly quit her job and decided to relocate to her hometown at Eathenmore, with no tangible reason.
After a few seconds of silence, Philo finally spoke up.
"I encountered some difficulty over the years that affected me financially. My mum, she…., she was terminally ill. She was battling cancer, and hid it from me all along. So I found out quite late." She explained.
"Was that the reason for your sudden relocation to Eathenmore?" He asked, and Philo nodded in response.
"How is she now?" He asked again.
She shook her head in response. "She's... she didn't make it. I lost her a couple of months ago. She was already at the end stage when I found out, so I decided that it was best to spend her last moments with her. After everything she has been through just to provide for me, I owe her that much." She replied.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry, Mena," Steve said, genuinely feeling sorry for her. "I feel your pain. Loosing a loved one is never easy. I lost my mother too, it's been two years now and I'm yet to get over the pain. Accept my condolence." He added.
"Thank you." She replied, fighting the little tears that were crowding her tear gland."I'm so sorry about your mom. She was such a nice person."
"Thank you." He said. "So, tell me, what exactly do you need?"
"Well, I got back to Lilycity some months ago, and I tried getting back to my previous job at JB, but I was unlucky. Also, not so many firms seem interested in hiring me either, due to the gap in years that I've been without a good job." She explained. Steve nodded in reply.
"I've been roaming the job hunting scene for some months now, until yesterday, I decided to reach out to you." She added. "I didn't want to bother you at first, but I'm at my wit's end."
Steve heaved a deep sigh. He knows Philomena well enough, she always had her shit together, and rarely ask for help. But seeing her now, looking helpless, almost broke his heart.
All through their years in school, she struggled to cater for herself. Designing outfits and doing other menial jobs just to survive and not to mention that she was only able to attend Brims university because she was on scholarship.
Philo cleared her throat sharply and sat up. She looked at her best friend and saw the sadness and pity in his eyes. She hated it when people feel pity for her, it made her feel like a mis-fit.
"Why didn't you tell me? Why did you have to bear the burden all alone? I thought we were friends?" Steve asked, overwhelmed by his own emotion. "Your ego have always been a problem."
"It's really not an ego thing." She whispered. "I just didn't want to be seen as a charity case…."
"And who said you will be viewed as such If you confided in someone, Mena?" Steve interrupted.
"I wanted to avoid being the friend that was always asking for help." She continued.
"Friends are meant to be there for each other, to help each other, that's what friends are suppose to do. I believe that's the whole essence of friendship. You could have brought your mum to Lilycity, It would have been easier. The healthcare here is quite extensive..."
"And extremely expensive." Philo interrupted. "I didn't have all the money in the world."
"I would have given you the money. Even Chester would have given you all the money you needed if you had told him."
Philo shrugged in resignation. She didn't come all the way to talk about Chester, her previous love life was not part of her reason for coming.
"How much do you need now? I'll wire it to you. You can take care of your pressing needs, while I look into getting a good offer for you." He told her reassuringly."
"I... I just need a job, Steve. That's all I need" She replied, rubbing her knuckles gently. "I don't think I'll be able to repay you on time, if you lend me money, and I can't even say how long it will take to pay you back." She explained.
"I'm not asking you to pay back." Steve started. "Have you forgotten all the sacrifices you made for me back in school?" He asked, looking at his friend, speechless.
"Mena, giving you some money is something I can do. It is no big deal. Allow me to do this for you. For once, just accept help from someone." Steve lamented.
She nodded slowly. She needed the money, but she just wasn't ready to be labelled as someone's charity case. If there was anything she didn't want, it was to remain indebted to someone for the rest of her life.
"What about the job?" She asked, changing the topic to the real reason she came.
"I should have something for you before the weekend. Even if it's not here, I can easily get you a space in a friend's company, or even at my brothers." He said to her.
This gave her a touch of reassurance, and she felt happy and hopeful. She needed a job, so she didn't really mind where the job was going to come from. Even if she were to end up working for Chester, it wouldn't be so bad, as long as she will get paid at the end of each month.
In normal conditions, she would have rejected the suggestion abruptly, but there was nothing normal about her being broke, without a job. One thing was certain, she needed money.
"You don't have to stress so much about the job description." She started. "At this point, believe me, I can do anything." She said shyly.
Philo didn't see the need for a top job position. All she required was a monthly inflow of cash, while she continued designing outfits for people during her spare time.
She already planned to continue displaying her designs on social media, and maybe become a ready to wear brand as well, if she eventually work out a good schedule for that, since it seem to be a good way to make extra cash.
She had great plans to gain financial freedom, but in order to achieve this, she will need an inflow of cash, and a conducive living environment. Hence her reason for hunting tirelessly for a job. Getting a job will help foot her housing expenses, feeding and other household related issues, including funding her side-hustle.
"Not to worry, I'll get you something befitting. Something you wouldn't have to struggle in order to fit in." Steve stated clearly.
"All right." She said knowing her friend's capability.
"So, where are you staying currently?" he asked.
"A short-let apartment in the outskirts of town."
"Are you comfortable there. I have some properties lying empty in town. It will be lovely to have someone occupy at least one of them." He said, trying to convince her to stay in one of the numerous properties owned by his family.
"Oh no, that won't be necessary." Philo started. "I already paid for an apartment and will be moving in soon." She lied.
"Okay then, I'll talk to you by evening, just to find out how you're doing." He told her.
Philomena nodded with a smile. She stood up and looked up happily at Steve. "I'll take my leave now." She announced.
"Call me when you get home, will you?"
"I definitely will. Thank you so much, Steve." She said before making her exit.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone