"Hear what!" Evelyn still wanted to die on the hill.
"The interview is tomorrow afternoon. We both got calls just now. Now we just wait for Stella to get hers." Emily wrapped her arm around Stella's shoulder.
"Maybe mine won't come!" Stella smiled.
"How is that possible? We all submitted our resumes together!"
"Submitting together doesn't mean we have the same chance. It's fine. If I can't get into Sterling Group, I'll go somewhere else. I've sent out so many applications. One of them has to work out!" Stella was very open about it.
"Wait a little longer. Maybe the call will come this afternoon." Evelyn tried to comfort her.
"I'm okay. Congratulations to you two first. I hope you both crush the interview and get in!" Stella said with a smile.
"If I get in, I'll treat you both to a huge meal!" Emily declared boldly.
Evelyn wanted to say the same thing, that if she failed, she would treat them. But she realized that might hurt Stella's feelings, so she kept quiet.
"Deal. I'm waiting for that meal!" Stella nodded.
Later that day, Evelyn and Emily went to the Sterling Group interview together. Stella never got a call from them, but she did get an interview invitation from another company. So even though they weren't going to the same place, they all had a shot.
Because of this, Emily dragged Evelyn out to buy clothes that afternoon.
They needed to find proper business suits.
Evelyn said she already had two sets ready, but Emily insisted they needed something more formal for the Sterling Group interview. The old ones were too cheap-looking.
Evelyn smiled and asked, "What counts as 'cheap-looking'?"
"At least it can't look like it came from a street stall! We have to know how to package ourselves. It's like a blind date. You make yourself look outstanding to attract the other person, right?" Emily explained.
"But isn't being truly outstanding more important?" Evelyn asked hesitantly.
"You have to catch their eye first before you can show them how outstanding you are. If you can't even get through the door, it doesn't matter how good you are!" Emily lectured.
"You have a point." Evelyn nodded.
"So we need to buy a decent suit. Wear it to the interview tomorrow. Our chances will be much higher!"
"Okay!" Evelyn nodded again.
She had never bought a professional suit before, so she was happy to go shopping.
Stella didn't come with them. She had something to do in the afternoon.
The two of them went straight to the mall where all the brand-name stores were.
Emily found several suits she really liked. She tried them on, and they looked great.
But then she saw the price tag. She deflated like a popped balloon.
"Why are all the good-looking clothes so expensive?" Emily grabbed Evelyn's hand and dragged her out of the store, looking depressed.
"If they were expensive and ugly, would you buy them?" Evelyn laughed.
"True. But I can't afford these!" Emily said.
"Forget it. When would I ever have the money to pay you back? I'd better buy something cheaper."
"Didn't you say that the Buddha needs gold leaf, and people need nice clothes?" Evelyn teased.
"That only works if it fits your status. I'm just a regular student. If I showed up to an interview in a Chanel suit carrying a LV bag, they'd be scared of me. Would they even hire me?"
"We don't need luxury brands. Just something a little better than what we usually wear. Something that looks dignified and professional." Evelyn suggested.
"I agree. We'll find the right one if we keep looking." Emily nodded.
Evelyn continued walking with Emily.
She wasn't picky. As long as it fit well and looked formal enough.
She didn't care about the brand.
"Evelyn, Evelyn! Look! Isn't that the boss of Sterling Group?" Emily suddenly grabbed Evelyn's arm excitedly and pointed across the way.
Evelyn followed her gaze. Several people were standing on the opposite corridor, talking.
One of them was Alexander Sterling. He was explaining something to the people around him.
"Yeah." Evelyn said slowly.
"Should we go say hi?" Emily asked.
"No. They look busy. We shouldn't disturb them." Evelyn said quickly.
Just then, Alexander turned his head as if he sensed something. His eyes met Evelyn's.
Evelyn gave him an awkward smile, then pulled Emily away like a thief.
"Evelyn, what are you doing?" Emily asked.
"We should keep shopping. You still haven't bought your suit!" Evelyn said awkwardly.
"Ugh. We finally had a chance to see the big boss, and you just blew it!" Emily sighed.
"He won't be in charge of hiring interns anyway." Evelyn blurted out.
"How do you know?" Emily asked, surprised.
"Think about it. If he handled everything himself, he wouldn't have time to do anything else!" Evelyn said, trying to sound convincing.
Actually, Alexander had told her that himself.
"You have a point." Emily nodded.
Evelyn breathed a sigh of relief.
"Let's buy a suit as soon as possible. Otherwise, we'll never get anything done!"
"It's not easy for me to buy one. Mainly because I don't have any money!" Emily rolled her eyes.
"You can use my card first." Evelyn smiled.
"No way. I hate owing people money." Emily shook her head.
"Then I'll just give it to you."
"That's even worse. Let's keep looking." Emily said, pulling Evelyn into another women's clothing store.
"Evelyn, I've noticed you've gotten a lot more generous this semester." Emily said as she looked at the clothes.
"Huh?" Evelyn looked at her, confused.
"You never used to be this willing to spend money. Especially when your family was going bankrupt. Did your family get rich again?" Emily laughed.
"No. I just never saved much before. And I'm not wasting money now." Evelyn answered, feeling guilty.
Alexander had given her a card. She had used it to buy him gifts before, and now she used it for her living expenses. She never seemed to run out of money.
Now that Emily mentioned it, Evelyn realized she didn't even know how much was on that card!
"But I always feel like you're not short on cash anymore." Emily replied.
"As long as I have enough to get by, that's fine." Evelyn answered with a dry smile.
She needed to find a chance to check the balance on that card!
Later, Emily bought a suit for over a thousand dollars. According to her, she had never worn anything so expensive. She was really splurging for tomorrow's interview.
Evelyn also bought a white suit. It was a little cheaper than Emily's.
It looked nice and formal. She really liked it.