The Apple of My Eye

Chapter 502 Interview

"It's all right," Sheryl said as she hugged Shirley closer to her. She gently passed her fingers through

Shirley's hair and asked her with a smile,"Why do you ask me this suddenly, Shirley?" She maintained

a smile on her face and looked at her daughter's face, trying to read her mind.

"They all have a daddy, but I don't," said Shirley softly as she lifted her face to look at Sheryl. Sheryl

could see it coming. And no matter how much you prepare for such questions, you can't save yourself

from the awkwardness of the situation. Sheryl kept looking at Shirley patiently as Shirley

continued,"They say daddy and mommy should be married. So if you marry Tony, I will have a daddy,

too." For a little girl of her age, Shirley couldn't definitely understand what the word marry meant. She

just thought it to be a kind of a bridge that will make her equal to her peers.

Even at this tender age she could make out that she was different from the other kids. And she even

knew the fact that it was just a daddy that was needed to complete her family. And for getting daddy

home, her mommy had to get married to one.

"So do you really like Tony or not?" Sheryl asked Shirley as she held her tight on her lap. Anthony had Content is property © NôvelDrama.Org.

proposed her several times in the last few years, but every time she hesitated. She didn't have the

courage to say yes. Every time, she ended up refusing him.

But Anthony didn't give up. He had been kind to them all the time. He had been like a support for them

all these years. He was ready to wait for her to say yes.

"Tony is nice to me. I want him to be my daddy." Shirley sounded very clear and confident as she

spoke. Sheryl couldn't help being amazed at the clarity of mind her little girl exhibited.

It is so surprising how observant the kids are. Shirley was very well aware of the fact that Anthony was

not her real father. However, she realized that it would be good for her and Sheryl if they got married.

She could even see how Sheryl worked hard to make the ends meet and remained tired most of the

time.

In her small little heart, Shirley seemed to be planning for her mommy's future. Sheryl could not stop

admiring her little one for the sensitivity and concern she showed towards her.

However, what Shirley demanded was a difficult target to be achieved. Because no matter how much

the situation seemed to be getting better if she agreed to marry Anthony, it would not be possible.

Simply because, Sheryl had no feelings towards him.

Hence, she listened to Shirley patiently and ended the discussion saying,"It's late, sweetie. Time for

you to go to bed." Sheryl pulled the quilt for her and patted her good night.

Mornings are usually super busy for mothers and more so if you are a single mother. The next day

started with Sheryl diligently readying Shirley for her kindergarten. After she dropped Shirley to the

kindergarten, she headed towards an interview of BM Corporation.

It was grand spring-summer fashion show that was being organized by BM Corporation. Sheryl and her

friend Sue had made an appointment for that interview.

Sue had been a constant support for Sheryl ever since. Sheryl landed in this foreign land with a baby in

her arm. The two women from eastern origin felt like finding a home in each other in an unknown

country. By the time Sheryl reached BM Corporation's office, Sue was already waiting for her.

"You're late, Sher. Is everything alright?" Sue said with a sigh of relief when she saw Sheryl entering

the office. "Thank God, you have come! You're the next. Come on, make it fast!"

Sheryl hastened to check her papers. "Sorry to be late. I sent Shirley to the kindergarten, but then I got

stuck in the traffic jam." Sheryl awkwardly explained to Sue with an apologetic look on her face. She

really looked worked up for being late.

"Next one, Sheryl Xia, please." She hadn't yet finished giving her explanation to Sue and she heard her

name being called. She looked startled at the lady in the front office and then looked at Sue once

again. She had her mouth half open as if she wanted to say something to Sue. But since her name had

been called, she had no choice than to leave the conversation in the middle and go ahead for the

interview. She just took a deep breath and said to Sue,"Wish me luck! Talk to you later."

Sue raised her thumb and said,"Good Luck." Sue spoke with a wide smile on her face and tried to

cheer her up. Sheryl smiled and took long strides ahead.

As Sheryl walked towards the office, multiple thoughts crossed her mind. A lot depended on this

interview. Hence, she was also a bit nervous. She made a lot of money from her career as a model, but

she spent most of it on Shirley. She was her only child and like every mother she wanted to give her all

the happiness in the world and also protect her with all her might. More so, she had played the role of a

father as well as a mother.

She could not say no to Shirley for anything. Hence, no matter how much money she made through

modelling, she could hardly save a penny.

She had been swimming against the tide ever since she landed in this country. She was determined to

crack the interview no matter what. Clearing this interview would mean getting the job that would free

her of any financial worries for a period of time.

Hence, she straightened up her spine, took a deep breath and strode ahead with all her determination.

The modeling world has very tough rules. It is a place where the new faces get more preferences.

Sheryl did not have the best figure. Nor did was she the youngest. Rather she had all these factors that

could work against her whenever she went for a modelling assignment. But just because some of these

pull back factors, she could not afford to quit. If not for her own self, she had to keep trying for Shirley.

She could never forget her first stage performance when she had to sport a bikini. She still

remembered the awkwardness of standing on the stage only with a bikini and how she was rebuked

and fired when she tried to cover herself a bit. It felt like a whip on her bare skin. She could never forget

the humiliation and embarrassment.

She was so discouraged and she thought that she would never stand on a stage. That was when she

met Sue. Sue came across as a strong and independent girl who gave her a lot of courage to face all

the predicaments on her way. With her help and encouragement Sheryl got over all the roadblocks one

by one.

As Autumn walked into the room, she found three interviewers. As she greeted them one by one, she

spotted the one sitting in the middle to be an Asian.

He stared at Sheryl with a piercing look. from top to bottom which made her a little uncomfortable.

Sheryl answered all the questions they asked in English. Then the interviewer in the middle suddenly

spoke to her in Chinese. He asked her in an intriguing tone,"So, your name's Sheryl Xia. Right?"

"Yes, it is." Sheryl paused for a while and replied with conviction.

The man had his gaze fixed on her face as he nodded and continued,"The show is going to be held at

Y City. So I wonder if it's okay for you. I hope you don't have a problem travelling for a business trip?"

Sheryl was not in a position to choose. She had the responsibility of her daughter. She always tried to

avoid any job that required her to leave Shirley alone but this time, the situation was different. This job

offered a pay package that she could not ignore.

The question about travelling to Y city put her in a momentary dilemma. In one moment, the innocent

face of Shirley flashed in front of her eyes making her heart mellow. But the next moment she

straightened herself up and looked at the practical side of it. She thought to herself, 'I can't miss this

chance. Shirley and I really need this money. I can ask Anthony to look after Shirley for a few days till I

am back.'

So she nodded and said yes.

"Well, that's all right, then." He turned to the other two interviewers and the three of them whispered

something among themselves. Sheryl looked at them with butterflies fluttering inside her stomach.

Every passing moment felt like a long time. Then they finally stared at Sheryl and declared that she had

been selected.

The moment she heard them saying that she was in, Sheryl could hardly conceal her excitement. But

she had to pretend to be cool and composed in front of them. But the moment she came out, she

showed a victory sign towards Sue and cheered.

Sue was next in line after Sheryl. Fortunately, even she got selected for the show. The two friends

planned to celebrate their achievement. Nobody could ever understand what this opportunity meant for

them.

They headed towards a Chinese restaurant. As they placed the order and waited for the food to appear

on the table, Sue asked Sheryl,"So, how is it with Anthony these days?" Sheryl smiled and said,"Don't

know. He seems to be very busy of late."

Sheryl didn't like to ask too much about Anthony's private life. Moreover, she didn't even have asked

him either, because he would always tell her everything. Sue had been telling her that it was very silly

of her not accepting Anthony's marriage proposals. "If I were in your place, I would have definitely

married him by now. But look at you, Sheryl, you don't have any interest in him."

In Sue's words, it was the typical case of a full man knew no hunger.

Sheryl just chose to smile and avoided the topic every time Sue brought it up. Even this time, she just

smiled and waited for the topic to change.

Sheryl could never express her thoughts to anyone. Hence she just kept them at the bottom of her

heart in a way that no one would ever be able to even touch them.

Sue could see love for Sheryl in Anthony's eyes. But she never understood what made Sheryl so cold

towards him. She often tried to convince Sheryl to get married to Anthony. But whenever she brought

this topic up, Sheryl avoided the discussion in a very diplomatic manner. Sue felt concerned about

Sheryl and her daughter. She felt that Anthony was the answer for all their troubles. She feared that if

Sheryl kept procrastinating her decision to marry Anthony, she might lose him to some other woman

and end up regretting all her life.

Sheryl looked at Sue with knitted eyebrows and said,"Mimi, if you like him so much, I'd like to give him

to you."

"What?" Sue exclaimed. "Come on, a friend's wife is not to be bullied, nor a friend's husband, either. I

have strong sense of justice. So how can I keep thinking about your boyfriend?" Mimi was the

nickname that Sheryl lovingly called Sue. Sue was a model with an excellent figure, but her face was a

little bit round. The dresser was always teasing saying her that she needed more cosmetics.

So Sheryl was called Mimi which literally meant a little fat kitty.

Sue frowned at Sheryl and said,"I'm just worried about you. It's not easy to look after Shirley all by

yourself. If you get married to Anthony, he can help you with your burden. Then you won't have to work

so hard. I just don't understand why you wouldn't accept that. Why?"