Her Heart Her Terms (Lily and Xavier)

Chapter 6

Lily was prepared for rejection due to lack of work experience but couldn't accept being turned down for shallow reasons.

All this information was already on her resume. Why did they even bother arranging an interview if it was a problem?

"Our company has its hiring policies. You're married without children. You might start planning a family as soon as you're hired. Maternity leave, parental leave... the company can't afford to keep employees who may be frequently absent." The interviewer stood up and motioned for the assistant to escort her out.

Lily chalked it up to bad luck, figuring she was only there to make up the numbers. She then gathered her things and left.

However, she was rejected for the same reason at the second and third companies.

It was even worse when she arrived at the fourth and fifth companies. Their receptionists simply told her that the positions had been filled and rejected her to participate in the interviews.

Her initial confidence had deflated in an instant.

She returned to Maryanne's apartment later that evening.

The aroma of home-cooked food filled the house as she walked in. Maryanne was dancing around with a small chocolate cake in hand. "Congratulations, Ms. Joyner! Here's to landing a job and becoming a great designer! Let Xavier the Hound regret ever letting you go!"

Lily paused while changing her shoes with her face showing a hint of defeat as embarrassment washed over her.

Maryanne sensed something amiss and placed the cake on the table in the foyer before walking to her. "What is it?"

Lily forced a smile and tried to appear unfazed before shaking her head. "You bought the cake for nothing. I didn't get the job."

"How could that be possible?" Maryanne was shocked. "You got to the interviews! That's already halfway to success. Besides, you graduated from a prestigious college. You even won an award. You've got real skills even though you lack work experience. Those companies must be blind not to hire you!"

Lily had slipped on her slippers and pulled her to the table before sitting down. "Maybe it's just bad luck. I have two more interviews on Monday. It takes time to find a job."

However, she couldn't help but feel disheartened. Sarah was around her age and already the vice president of Nova Group while she was struggling just to get her foot in the door.

"Which two companies are you interviewing with on Monday?" Maryanne's eyes lit up with curiosity as she got up to get the little cake in the foyer.

"Voltis and Lupier." These two companies were very famous in Jadeford.

were decent, but they were nothing near the

felt slim after she had faced multiple rejections today, but she had to hold

as she was distracted by her

over the cake and pretended nothing was wrong as

the laughter and small talk to show she

alone in their

too big for her connections to reach. She could

on the other end of the phone. "Maryanne, it's three

staying abroad for the past two years? There'd be no time difference if you'd stayed. Come on, help me out. Lily will be having two interviews with these two companies on Monday. Could you pull a few strings?" "Who?" Terence Devereux's voice suddenly sharpened with alertness. "Lily? She's looking

mention that hound!" Maryanne was exasperated. "Lily's divorcing him. She needs a

Terence asked, "Divorce? Wh..."

Just tell me if you

got it," Terence murmured

that?" Maryanne looked at her

mean

by a phone call

pillow and answered without even checking who was the

door. I made some soup for you and Xavier. Come down and get

other end of the phone made

the screen and realized it

we come over tonight." She stumbled out

would return to Fulton Manor to attend the family

warmly. "Tamara and I have a dinner to attend this evening, and Mom isn't home, so both of you don't need to come over today. The soup had been prepared in advance. I made this soup myself and thought I could bring it for you both." "Well, I'm not home right now. Could

and amiable. He always cooked for

hand, Xavier's mother was strict and

gets, and Lily, thank you for looking after him..." Shane carefully explained everything in detail. He always took on the motherly role in

Lily kindly

family

the upcoming divorce pained her. She

throat tightened when he mentioned taking the

and intimate was still vivid in her