Clara burst through the door with a grin plastered across her face, catching the interviewers off guard.
âSorry to interrupt, but thereâs something you just need to know!â
Ivy shot up from her seat, her heart sinking with a bad feeling. âClara, what are you up to now?â
With a sly smirk, Clara glanced at Ivy before turning to the interviewers. âI just canât bear to see you weary souls go through the trouble of interviewing all these stellar candidates, only to hire someone whoâd drag the good name of the Harris Group through the mud.â
The interviewers exchanged puzzled looks until the one in the center spoke up. âWhat do you mean?
Why shouldnât we hire Ivy? She seems to fit the requirements perfectly.â
âOh, Ivy?â Clara chuckled darkly. âSheâs no simple girl. Sheâs got a sordid past, defied her parentsâ
wishes, cut ties with them, and now sheâs involved with a married man!â
The interviewers were visibly shaken by Claraâs allegations, their gaze shifting to Ivy with newfound suspicion.
Ivy, seeing her hard-earned opportunity slipping away, was seething. âThatâs not true! Iâm not involved with any married man. Donât listen to her nonsense!â
âReally?â Claraâs smile widened. âThen explain how you, jobless as you are, managed to flaunt three million dollars in front of your parents demanding a break from them. Unless you were being kept as a mistress, whoâd give you that kind of money?â
Ivy struggled to contain her urge to lash out at Claraâs outrageous lies, knowing she couldnât drag Balfour into this.
Claraâs smugness only grew as Ivy remained speechless. âSee? Lost for words? Admit it, that money came from playing mistress!â
âMistress?â
âIf this gets out, itâll tarnish our companyâs reputation!â
âHow did someone like her even end up here?â
The room buzzed with disbelief and relief that Ivy hadnât been officially hired yet.
âPlease, let me explain,â Ivy pleaded, desperation clear in her voice. âClara is my half-sister, but everything sheâs said is a lie. Yes, I took three million dollars to sever ties, but thatâs because my family has always exploited me. I canât go into details; itâs personal. But I assure you, my parents have always favored her and wanted to use me for her gain. Thatâs why I cut them off. The money was loaned to me, and Iâm looking for work to pay it back. I swear, Iâve never done anything immoral!â
Clara crossed her arms and scoffed. âFor my gain? Please, Ivy. I have my own career, a bit of a name in the arts. Do you really think | need a jobless sister for gain? Youâve wrecked a home, played the mistress, and the wife even showed up at our doorstep. If it werenât for our parentsâ settling with money, do you think youâd still be unscathed?â
Ivy fell silent, her situation a textbook case of being tongue-tied.
Clara would say anything to ruin Ivyâs chances of getting a job!