Chapter 51
Juliet wondered if Celeste was looking for a daughter or choosing a future daughter–in–law.
She thought about it as she smiled and said, “Everyone’s saying you’re so lucky to have found two charming and well–mannered goddaughters. Now that I’ve seen them, they weren’t exaggerating. So, how’s the experience of raising girls?”
Celeste laughed upon hearing that, and agreed with a smile.
Yvette’s thoughts were exactly the same as Juliet’s. When she heard the Locke family was taking in two goddaughters and letting them stay at the house, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
She had liked Jasper since she was young, yet she only got to visit the Locke residence occasionally. But now, these so–called goddaughters were living there full–time.
Juliet had tried to reassure her, saying they were just country girls and that Jasper wouldn’t be interested. That made her feel a bit better.
But now that she saw them, especially Natalie with a flawless look, she felt uneasy again. Not only that, she also felt a strong sense of crisis. Yvette clutched her glass, her expression stiffening slightly.
Celeste was so focused on helping Natalie find a job that she didn’t notice Juliet’s and Yvette’s reactions. She quickly changed the topic to the job opening at the Art corps.
“Julie, I heard there’s a public enrollment for communication officers in the Art corps. Nate wants to apply. Your sister–in–law works there, doesn’t she? Could ask her if she can give us a few tips on the key topics for the exams?”
you
A flicker of surprise flashed across Juliet’s face. That job was the one Yvette had her eye on.
With her sister–in–law as the deputy director, it seemed practically guaranteed. She only needed to go through the formal exam. She didn’t expect Natalie to be interested either.
Soon, Juliet resumed her composure and replied, “You’re asking the right person! My sister–in–law was just mentioning it over dinner last night. And let me tell you, a lot of people are eyeing that position.
“That’s why they’re holding an open exam to keep things fair. If you ask me, you might want to consider other options for Nate. This role isn’t easy to land. It requires skills in writing, photography, and even a bit of drawing. It would be challenging even for a high school grad.”
Juliet didn’t need to say it outright–Natalie could sense the mockery lurking in her eyes. It was as if she were suggesting that if a high school graduate couldn’t manage this, a country girl like her didn’t stand a chance at all.
Natalie hadn’t mentioned this to Celeste with the hope of using the Locke family’s connections. She knew the open exam included both a written test and an interview. For the written test, she was confident she could easily take first place on her own.
The interview, though, was a different story. It was subjective and depended entirely on the examiner’s mood. There was always room for maneuvering. Natalie wouldn’t rely on connections, but she couldn’t stop others from doing so. The best approach was to make sure the examiners knew she had some connection too, which might make them a little more cautious when scoring.
She had done all she could. The rest was up to fate.
Celeste hadn’t realized the role demanded so many skills. “It doesn’t matter whether you get it or not. Consider it a good experience, and I’ll keep an eye out for other opportunities for you, too.”
Natalie nodded, showing no hint of disappointment.
Juliet looked at her with a hint of surprise. She didn’t expect Natalie to be so calm.
Something came to her mind, and she remarked, “Honestly, I think Nate’s priority shouldn’t just be a job. She is young and should focus on finding a good match.
“Look at Yvette. I tried getting her to meet people when she was 18, but she refused. Now she is 23, there aren’t nearly as many suitors knocking on our door.”
