Page 19 of A Win-Win Situation

"Are you sure?" I ask while helping him move towards a chair.

"Yes, I'm fine, but may I please have a glass of water?" he requests, and Clara rushes off to retrieve one for him.

As he settles into the seat, he grasps my hand and says, "Thank you, Mademoiselle."

"Is this yours?" A large man joins us by the chair, and when I say large, I meanhuge,as in the Mountain fromGame of Thrones,huge. My neck cranes as I look at him and then at the paper in his hand

The job ad.

"Oh. Yes, thank you."

The older gentleman scans it. "Are you applying for the job?"

"Ehm, y-yes. Or at least I’m thinking about it," I say with a smile.

"Then why don’t we sit down and have an interview?"

"What do you mean?"

Then the mountain man speaks up, "He’s the owner of the hotel, Mademoiselle."

I’m at a loss for words, and I look back at Clara silently mouthing,"What?"She replies with a soft nod.

How in the world is this happening today? First the job application, and now I save the owner of the hotel. Okay,saveis probably too extreme, but he could have broken a hip or something.

God, if this is all you, don’t be playing jokes. I can’t handle more of them.

"I’m sorry, I don’t understand."

"Jacques?" The owner of the hotel calls, and mountain man looks at him. "Can you help me to the sofa and get our applicant whatever she wants to drink?" Jacques’s eyes snap to mine. He looks at me as if he’s waiting for me to answer.

"Just a black coffee would be great, thank you."Why did I say that?I hate black coffee.

The older man across from me exudes kindness. There’s weathered lines surrounding his dark eyes and mouth, evidence of a happy life, and his smile carries a reassuring warmth. Yet, I still can’t shake the self-consciousness that lingers within me.

I’ve managed to take five sips of my coffee without spitting it out—that’s a win in my book.

"What’s your name?" he asks, looking at me curiously.

"Leora," I finally croak out, taking another sip.

"Leora, that’s a beautiful and unique name," he says with a smile.

"Thank you," I reply, feeling a little more at ease.

"My name is Antoine Ayoub." The warm smile is still on his lips as he continues, "Tell me about yourself, Leora. Where did you work before? " Antoine asks, leaning forward slightly.

I take a deep breath. "Well, I used to work as a marketing assistant. I was responsible for handling campaigns and overseeing projects. I have experience in event planning, and I’ve also worked in retail. Retail was fun, but oh my god, people really doanythingfor a sale." I laugh nervously, scolding myself for that last part. I need to stop myself from rambling, which I tend to do when I'm nervous. I take another sip of my nasty coffee and try my best not to scrunch my nose in disgust.

"I don’t speak French, and I know I haven't worked as a manager before," I add, feeling a little self-conscious, "but I’m driven, and I'm always eager to learn."

"Everybody speaks English here, so there’s not much of a barrier there." Antoine leans back in his chair and smiles at me reassuringly.

"Regarding your previous work experience. While it’s certainly valuable, what's more important is who you are as a person and how you approach your work. You strike me as a driven and determined individual, and with that kind of attitude, I have no doubt that you'll be able to learn. Am I right?"

"I think so," I respond with a nod. "I’ve always considered myself a quick learner, and I'm eager to take on new challenges."

"I'm glad to hear that, Leora. I value individuals who are eager to take on new challenges. Let's move forward with the discussion, I’m excited to learn more about you"

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