CHAPTER 3: AN UNFORTUNATE ENCOUNTER

Zachary had gone back to his highly owed and barely livable apartment to spend the rest of his night after he had managed to put the quiet and possibly traumatized woman in a cab back to her home. It didn’t take long for the next day to come, and the sun rays to filter in through his flimsy curtain, but he had thought on what the woman had said through the remainder of the night so much that he barely had any time to sleep. Zachary got up from his bed and rushed to the door. He didn't bother to shower or eat. He had already prepared hours ago for the former and had nothing to eat for the latter, so he was ready to leave.

Zachary rushed through the streets of California opting to have a light jog towards the mansion where the job interview was to take place. After all, who didn't know where the elusive and extravagant Moore's lived. It took a bit more time than he expected before he could see the gold and pearly gates come into view. Once he got closer, his jaws dropped at the sight. Of course, he knew where his crush's family lived because they were the talk of the town but being able to actually go inside was a whole different thing. He had never even seen the place from the outside, especially when he was never invited to any of the parties that Jessica threw. 

The wrap around garden was the first thing he noticed about the enormous and massive mansion. The beautiful and somewhat rare flowers were in bloom as they surrounded an amazing and realistic fountain showing the depiction of a mermaid longing lovingly at the feet of a sailor who held an anchor on his shoulders. Confusing, he knew but how could he judge the taste of the rich when he had nothing in his name to speak of? 

Expensive and top of the line cars and motorcycles lined the drive way coating the left side of the mansion in even more luxury. Zachary couldn't help but think of how his life would have been if he was born into the world with a silver spoon not to talk of a diamond one which Jessica Moore seemed to have. As he stood in awe, frozen behind the gates of the mansion, his amazement was cut short when he heard a rude voice call out to him.

"Oy. Oy, you!" The voice rang.

Zachary turned towards the sound, wondering if the anger in the voice was directed at him. A man wearing all black clothing and holding an X Lock Tactical pistol tightly by his hip, strode closer to him from the opposite side of the gate.

"Step away from the gate rascal. Move along."

"No, wait I can explain." Zachary said, moving closer to the man.

"I said, move away!" The guard exclaimed before drawing his gun from his holster and pointing it at Zachary.

Zachary raised his hands in surrender and backed off. He had been beaten and mistreated, but he had never been pointed a gun point blank.

"Whoa, hold on. I was invited here. I pose no threat."

The guard scoffed, not believing what the wanna be guest was saying.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" The man reluctantly asked after looking Zachary up and down.

"My name's Zachary. I'm here for the job interview."

Despite the tense situation Zachary thought that he was in with the guard, the man dropped his gun a few inches and belted out in laughter, so much so that another guard emerged from the pillars of the gates and chuckled at what he overheard.

"You are here for an interview?"

Zachary gave the man a nod, not knowing if he should drop his hands at this point.

"The Moore's don't have a job opening and even if they did, they wouldn't hire the likes of you. Skedaddle."

"What do you mean, the likes of me?" Zachary asked, already taking offense to the man's words.

"Are you seriously asking him that?" The other guard shouted out. "Look at yourself. A street rat like you could never work in a place like this. Even if the world was burning, they would never take in a sorry excuse for an applicant."

Zachary eyed his clothes. Jeans and a simple top that read 'release the zombies'. It wasn't much, he knew but he wouldn't say that he looked like a street rat. He put his hands down, forming a fist as the guards mockingly laughed at him. Unlike the other times that he had stood up for himself and was beating for it, he was sure that this time, he would be gunned down. Nevertheless, he opened his mouth to speak up but was interrupted by a woman's voice, he knew all too well.

"What's going on there?"

The guards ended their laugh and shouted out.

"Nothing for you to concern yourself with Hannah. Go back inside the house. We'll deal with it."

Hannah came closer to the gate, her face mortified, when she saw the pulled-out guns and the person who stood outside the gate. Zachary sighed in relief. It was the woman who he had saved yesterday.

"Mason and Kyle! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

The men were about to speak, no doubt to berate the woman and send her back but Zachary was shocked when he heard the woman speak.

"Get back to your post and opened the gate for this man to enter."

"But Hannah..." One of the men began to say.

"Back to your post sergeant." She ordered them with a strict face on. Zachary pouted. Wasn’t she just a cleaner here?

The men obeyed her and moved on but not before giving Zachary one last glare. 

A second later, a buzz filled the air and the gates slowly but surely opened, allowing Zachary to pass through. Hannah smiled at him and began to lead him towards the mansion. 

"Sorry for that. The security can be less than nice when an unwanted guest comes around."

"It's no problem. I'm used to the treatment." Zachary spoke in a nonchalant manner which caused the woman to shoot him a concerned look. 

She led him into the house and towards the room where the interview would take place. Just like earlier, Zachary was amazed by all the things they had inside the house rather than outside, but his sightseeing was cut short when Hannah spoke as she opened a large oak door.

"Here we are."

Zachary walked into the lavish room with Hannah in front of him. His once enthusiastic face morphed into one of pure horror and disbelief. In the room, stood twenty men and women who looked toned and able to rip a person in half if they willed it. He gaped at them.

"This is the room where the interview will be held. You have to wait here until the organizer comes in. Good luck."

Zachary turned around to ask Hannah something but all he saw was the door closed behind him. Great. He was trapped in here. He causally walked deeper into the room as most of them stared at him like he was the dirt underneath their shoes. Zachary found a deserted corner and made a beeline for it. He got there and wanted to sink into the wall. Looking around he could feel dread creep up his spine. How was he supposed to compete with these people? From the looks of it, he would be trampled under them literally. The only thing he really was hoping on was that blue light and voice that helped him the night before, but could he depend on what he didn't even know to be real? He sighed and stared at his shoes. Even if he failed epically today, at least he attempted the interview.

"Asswipe Zach. Is that you?"

Zachary froze, sweat beginning to drop from his forehead. No. Anyone but him. A buff guy walked up to Zachary and held his shoulders, commanding the attention of the room.

"Wasn't I talking to you asswipe?" The guy shouted out as he raised Zachary's head to meet him.

Zachary gulped in fear. Gordon Finch. His undying and ever persistent bully from middle school to college. The guy never seemed to let Zachary out of his sight.

"He...Hey Gordon." Zachary managed to spit out.

What are you doing here twerp? Did the Moore's give you a pity job as the towel boy?"

"Uh, actually I came for the interview. For the job."

Gordon frowned and then laughed in his face. The two goons behind him, who Zachary had not noticed until that moment, followed suit. Zachary shrunk into himself again. He didn't want this. He didn't want to be publicly humiliated before everyone before he had a chance to prove himself. Gordon stopped laughing and stared at Zachary.

"Oh my God, you're serious? You really came here to fight for the job? You?"

Gordon raised his fists and tried to punch Zachary but stopped halfway. He feigned it but Zachary still flinched. Gordon laughed again and so did the rest of the occupants of the room this time. 

"Couldn't even take a punch. Like I said pathetic."

Zachary could feel tears welling up in his eyes, but he kept it all in when he was somewhat saved by another voice that day.

"In your place! The interview is about to begin."

Gordon looked down condescendingly at Zachary before sneering and walking away to take a spot in the room just like the rest of them. Zachary took a deep breath and centered himself. He looked up at the man who shouted out exchanging looks of uncertainty. The man who wore nerdy wiry square glasses but was fully dressed in exquisite clothes and matching jewelry stood before him. Was he the instructor? Zachary managed to get to a spot through the chuckles that filled his ears. He stood still which allowed the man to continue.

"My name is Malachi Moore. Let's begin shall we."