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Sienna stomped through her apartment, tossed her phone on the bed, her whole world shattering as the receptionist’s words repeated in her head.
Mr. Smithfield is canceling your interview today. He’s already decided on another candidate. He sends his apologies and wishes you all the luck in finding the right opportunity.
She couldn’t believe it. Her heart was racing, her hands were clammy, and she couldn’t catch her breath. Was it a panic attack? Or was this how it felt when you saw your future crumbling?
She’d taken the day off for the interview, which was why she hadn’t spent more time with her aunt and mom yesterday. She was dressed in her best blue suit, circumspect yet elegant, with a short jacket and a blouse that showed a hint of skin above the neckline. She hadn’t wanted to be overtly sexy, but not androgynous either.
Tearing off the jacket, she threw it on the floor, ripped open the blouse, a couple of buttons flying, then yanked on the back zipper of her skirt, letting it fall to the floor where she kicked it aside. Her low-heeled pumps flew into the air as she kicked them off, one of them smashing into the vanity and sending her makeup crashing to the floor.
They’d decided on another candidate before she’d even had her third interview? It didn’t make sense. Companies went through all their candidates, called you back for a second round if they liked you, then, if you really had the spark they wanted, they called you in for a third interview. Yet they’d made their choice without even talking to her again. It wasn’t right.
She’d wanted this job with every fiber of her being. She would have shown her dad how good she was. Next to his firm, Smithfield and Vine was the top investment house in San Francisco. All his disappointment would become a thing of the past.
She clomped to the closet, pulled out her robe, sliding her arms into it and belting it tight. Thank God she hadn’t quit her job, despite being sure she’d had this one in the bag. And thank goodness she’d canceled the hair appointment too. Why cut off her long curls for people who didn’t even want her? Maybe the decision had been a premonition.
She probably needed to get out of town, try L.A., maybe Seattle. Or San Jose, the heart of Silicon Valley?
She made herself a cup of tea, then curled up on the sofa in her postage-stamp living room. At least her apartment had a living room with a separate bedroom and an actual tub in the bathroom instead of a shower stall. It wasn’t a palace, but it was cozy.
Setting her teacup on the side table, she dialed her father. “Hi, Dad.” She tried to sound upbeat even though her heart jammed her throat.
“Hello, Sienna.”
He’d never had a pet name for her, not like he had for her brother, things like buddy or scout, terms of endearment. But never for Sienna.
“How did the interview go?” was his first question.
She shouldn’t have asked him to put in a good word with the senior partner. Then she wouldn’t have needed to tell him she’d failed.
Now she had to admit the truth. “They canceled me even before the interview, saying they’d already made their choice.”
“I’m sorry, Sienna.” His voice was soft, maybe with sympathy. At least he didn’t say he was sorry she wasn’t good enough for the job.
She couldn’t help asking. “Did Mr. Smithfield give you any indication when you talked to him?” It sounded like begging, and she added, “When I go out to interview again, I don’t want to make the same mistakes.” She hated admitting that she must have blown the interview.
“I’m sure they just found someone more…” He paused, as if he’d been about to say something hurtful, and qualified the statement with, “Someone who’s a better fit.”
More. She’d always wanted to be more, but never was.
But this time, she’d believed she was a perfect fit. “Okay. I just thought maybe…” She trailed off.
“I would have told you, Sienna, if there was a problem. You can always come here.” It sounded like a consolation prize, not something he truly wanted.
“Thanks, Dad.” She absolutely couldn’t go there. She’d constantly be proving herself. Even if her brother was two years younger, she’d never live up to him. “But I still want to try it on my own.”
“I’ll keep my eye out.” A hint of annoyance crept into his clipped voice as he said, “Don’t forget about the tasting at the caterers tomorrow.”
She didn’t feel up to it, and she’d have to leave an hour early, not that anyone would notice. She was just a tiny cog in a gigantic wheel. “I’ll be there. No worries.”
After hanging up, she called her brother. Matthew knew all the scuttlebutt. “Hey,” she said when he answered. “I was up for that job at Smithfield and Vine, but I didn’t get it.” She wasn’t as leery of telling her brother now that her dad knew.
“Too bad. Good luck on the next one.” He was terse, as if he was in the middle of something.
“Can you put your ear to the ground and find out what happened? I can’t imagine why they canceled without giving me a chance.”
“They actually canceled the interview?” His voice rose with incredulity.
