Chapter 58 You're Wearing That to an Interview?
"No? Then how could someone be maliciously targeting you? When your firm opened the branch office here, did you reach out to establish relationships with the major local firms?"
"I think you need to find some well-connected industry heavyweight to make inquiries about what's really going on. Otherwise, at this rate, I'm afraid the firm will have to shut down."
"Yeah, I'm still out, helping Arabella apartment hunt... Okay, got it. Talk later."
Hearing Sophia's phone conversation, Arabella asked with concern, "What's wrong? Is Zachary's firm in trouble?"
"Yes, apparently deals that were supposedly finalized are being broken, his clients are getting poached, and even cases his colleagues were handling are being terminated mid-way." Sophia frowned, looking completely puzzled. "It's so strange—it feels like someone's deliberately trying to crush them."
Having never really entered the professional world, Arabella didn't understand these matters and could only offer a few symbolic words of comfort.
After being out for several hours, she was missing the baby, and Sophia's daughter was getting fussy too, so they decided to part ways and head home.
That evening, Gabriel had a business dinner and specifically texted her saying he'd be home late.
She read it without any reaction whatsoever and didn't reply.
She actually felt more at ease when Gabriel wasn't around.
Holding her laptop, she opened her email to check if any of her submitted résumés had received responses when she suddenly noticed a familiar unread message.
Opening it, she discovered it was indeed from Manuel, who was overseas!
Usually, he only sent emails around New Year's with holiday greetings—why was he reaching out over a month early this year? It was only November, and he was already in touch!
Filled with delighted curiosity, Arabella quickly read through the email content.
Her joy only grew as she read.
Manuel was coming back to the country next month!
Ever since Grandpa passed away and she left her hometown, she'd lost touch with everyone from back home. Learning that Manuel Wright was returning to the States made her feel as if she'd found family again.
After reading the email, she immediately started typing a reply.
[Welcome back home, Manuel! When you get back, make sure to contact me—I'll treat you to dinner as a proper welcome home!]
After sending the message, she realized she'd forgotten to include her contact information, so she sent another email specifically with her phone number.
Her mood brightened momentarily, but then anxiety crept back in as she remembered her financial situation.
She needed to find a job quickly! Otherwise, being broke as a joke, she wouldn't even be able to afford treating someone to dinner, let alone talk about divorce.
Perhaps God heard her prayers, because continuing through her inbox, she actually found an interview invitation.
Reading the email content, she saw it was for a marketing department position at a major real estate development company, primarily handling publicity and marketing strategy.
Arabella was thrilled and immediately called the number provided, scheduling an interview time for the following day.
The next morning, Arabella got up early.
Thinking she needed to look professional for the interview, she searched through her entire walk-in closet and found a business suit she'd bought during college for a debate competition.
Fortunately, she'd bought it oversized back then—otherwise, with her post-nursing bust line expansion, the blazer buttons would have been ready to pop.
She'd originally wanted to do her makeup, but since she hadn't worked these past few years, she felt too embarrassed to use Gabriel's card for cosmetics. Her vanity held only basic skincare products and one lipstick.
Gabriel looked at her outfit today, his eyes darkening as he immediately understood, "You're going to a job interview?"
Arabella was in a good mood and didn't want to rehash old grievances, so she nodded, "Yes, nine o'clock interview."
Gabriel became interested, leaning against the dresser behind her, watching her carefully apply lipstick in the mirror with an amused expression.
He had to admit, her figure after having children was far more attractive than her slender girlish frame from before.
As she leaned forward toward the mirror, her waist naturally curved inward, creating beautiful lines that flowed down her sides, cinching at her waist before expanding outward at her hips. Just her silhouette alone was enough to stir one's blood.
Not to mention her front view, where her blazer looked ready to burst at the seams.
Gabriel swallowed, his gaze shifting to her fair, radiant face reflected in the mirror as he asked quietly, "What company?"
Arabella finished applying her lipstick but thought it looked too bold, almost garish, so she carefully dabbed some off with a cotton swab.
"A real estate company."
"Real estate?" Gabriel pressed, seeming curious. "You're not going to work at Dominic's company, are you?"
The Kingsley family was an old-established real estate dynasty in Luminara.
Several major shopping centers, five-star hotels, and office buildings downtown were all Kingsley family projects.
The Sterling Group, on the other hand, had started in heavy industry, but with their substantial capital, they'd expanded into environmental protection, renewable energy, smart appliances, and other sectors.
William had once said that building houses was too easy, with limited room for innovation—the Sterling family preferred to tackle the most challenging and innovative industries.
So the Sterling family had never ventured into real estate.
Arabella glanced at Gabriel in the mirror, then looked away, "Of course not. I found this one randomly."
"Which company exactly?"
Arabella refused to say.
Gabriel chuckled, "Are you worried I'll sabotage your interview?"
Arabella finished her preparations, stood up to smooth her clothes, and looked at him, "If you insist on doing that, there's nothing I can do about it. But if I can't find work, I'll have nowhere to go when I leave here except the streets. I trust that for the children's sake, you wouldn't destroy me, right?"
Arabella had learned the art of reverse psychology.
Gabriel nodded repeatedly, "Don't worry, I won't need to lift a finger. With your résumé showing two years of a complete work gap, no company will hire you—unless they're interested in you personally."
Arabella fell silent.
She shot Gabriel a glare, too annoyed to respond, and stood up.
But as she passed by Gabriel, he reached out and grabbed her arm.
"What are you doing?" She looked away, her expression turning cold.
Gabriel didn't respond, maintaining his faint smile, but his gaze traveled down from her face, lingering on her chest.
"If you go to the interview dressed like that, you'll have even less chance if the HR person is a woman." Same-sex rivalry—if she encountered someone petty, she'd definitely be rejected outright.
Arabella understood his implication and looked him in the face with annoyance, "This is a perfectly professional business suit. What's wrong with it? If other people have dirty minds and petty hearts, what does that have to do with me?"
"It has nothing to do with you. I'm just telling you about the ugliness and cruelty of society."
Arabella was left speechless.
Though she hadn't worked outside the home these past two years, with the internet so developed, she knew about many things without leaving the house.
Society was advancing rapidly, but malice and prejudice toward women hadn't decreased one bit.
Women faced increasingly difficult and even dangerous situations in the workplace—that was a fact.
"I'll drive you. You're not dressed warmly enough—don't catch a cold." It had been getting colder these past few days, and her thin business suit wouldn't provide enough warmth—Gabriel was being unusually considerate.
"No need. I'll wear a coat over this, so I won't be cold." Unsure whether his sudden kindness was some kind of trap, Arabella instinctively refused.
With that, she pulled free from his grip and walked straight out of the bedroom.
Gabriel remained standing there, the smile on his face slowly fading after Arabella left.