“Please have a seat. Why didn’t you use your real name?” Natalie was genuinely surprised to see Tasha there. She glanced at the resume and portfolio Tasha had submitted, confirming that she hadn’t used her real name.
Tasha smiled sheepishly and explained, “There were some family issues, and I didn’t want them to know I was looking for a job. Will that affect today’s interview?”
Natalie shook her head with a slight smile and continued reviewing Tasha’s folder. “No, the interview will solely depend on the quality of your work.”
Dolores, noticing that the candidate and Natalie knew each other, narrowed his eyes and asked, “How do you two know each other?”
“We went to the same school. Just relax. I will conduct a fair and impartial interview,” Natalie assured Dolores, knowing that judging Tasha solely on her work was the professional way to proceed. She also understood that this was what Tasha truly desired—to break free from the constraints of marriage and gain recognition for her own design abilities.
Dolores rolled his eyes at Natalie, suspecting that she wanted to hire her friend but pretended not to know her too well. “So, let’s begin the interview now,” Dolores said, scrutinizing Tasha’s resume and portfolio.
In reality, Tasha’s work far surpassed that of her friend’s. Moreover, she had even won several design awards while still in school. Suddenly, Dolores felt a twinge of nervousness.
Natalie was delighted with Tasha’s imp**ssive resume and genuinely believed that even Dolores would recognize her potential. She turned to him and asked, “Well, what do you think, Dolores?”
How could Dolores allow this pregnant woman to be hired when it should have been his own friend? He had promised his friend a position at w Marks. How could he explain this?
“Not bad,” Dolores forced a smile. “Can I ask you a few questions first?”
“Of course,” Natalie nodded enthusiastically, holding Tasha in high regard. Despite being out of the design industry for a few years, it was evident that Tasha still possessed remarkable talent. Additionally, she had won numerous design awards even before graduating, showcasing her exceptional skills.
As Dolores glanced at Tasha’s protruding belly, he asked harshly, “You were a housewife, right? That would explain the gap in your resume. Now, after getting divorced, you’re looking for work. Did your husband leave you?” His question was intentionally rude, clearly aimed at provoking Tasha.
Tasha felt disheartened by Dolores’ unpleasant remarks, which made her appear unfit for the position. She remained silent, unsure of how to defend herself. Just as she attempted to explain, Dolores abruptly interrupted her.
“Besides, you’re pregnant now. Working alone, you’ll be a burden to others, not just yourself. And you haven’t had a job in a long time. Is fashion just a game for you? You know w. Marks is not just a small studio next to the street. People like you will only drag us down,” Dolores exclaimed, causing Natalie’s eyes to widen in shock.
Natalie couldn’t believe Dolores would say something so nasty. Unable to tolerate it any longer, she stood up to prevent Dolores from continuing. “Blacklisting designers who have taken sabbaticals is serious discrimination. There’s no point in asking something like that. No interview. Your bias against this candidate is a blatant violation of w. Marks’ values.”
Dolores was taken aback by Natalie’s reasonable argument and found herself speechless. Tasha, who had been quiet until then, realized how much Natalie cared for her. She mustered the courage to speak up.
“It’s not what you think. It’s true that I was a homemaker for a long time, but I chose to divorce my husband for personal reasons. I really want to return to the fashion industry. I’ve applied to all major studios. Even though I’m pregnant, I can manage, and I don’t mind starting from the bottom. If it brings me closer to my dream, it will all be worth it. I genuinely want to get back to work and immerse myself in the world of fashion. So please give me a chance,” Tasha pleaded, bowing respectfully.
Dolores sneered at Tasha with disdain, unconvinced by her sincerity. “Nope. We need to hire an employee who will help w. Marks grow, not a pregnant woman who will drag us down. You’re not a good fit for our studio. You can leave now.”
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Natalie intervened, her voice filled with determination. “Wait a minute,” she said through clenched teeth, stopping Tasha from leaving. She stared coldly at Dolores and continued, “Tasha is clearly more qualified and talented than the other applicants. Why don’t you want her? Is it really just because she’s pregnant? Or is it because you want your friend to get hired instead of her?”
Her eyes burned with fierce determination. Natalie made it clear that she wouldn’t let this matter go until Dolores provided a reasonable explanation. Dolores was left speechless, gritting her teeth. She pointed a fi**ger at Natalie and yelled, “No! Don’t spout nonsense here! This applicant will have a baby in a few months. Then she’ll ask for maternity leave, and the company will be forced to grant her paid leave. She’s simply trying to cheat the company! Do you think that’s fair? Go out and ask any company if they would accept such employees!”
Tasha stepped in to offer an explanation. “I certainly don’t want to take advantage of the studio. I just want to work as a designer.” Dolores rolled her eyes sarcastically. “Then find another company to work for. Why do you have to work here? Oh, I see how it is. Did you make a deal with Natalie? Did she promise you the job here at w. Marks?”
Not wanting Natalie to get caught in the crossfire, Tasha sighed despondently and said, “Enough, I’ll go.”
Just then, Draco walked into the room, frowning at the heated exchange. “What’s going on here? I could hear you arguing from a mile away,” he questioned, wanting answers.
Dolores eagerly approached Draco, her face filled with concern. “Mr. Wesley, I must bring something to your attention. Natalie had prior knowledge of this candidate, Tasha. How can you conduct a fair interview when there might be bias due to Natalie’s inexperience? I don’t blame her, but I’m saying this for the sake of our studio.”