CHAPTER 4

Ava's POV

Five years had passed, but being back in New York still felt strange.

The cab moved down Flatbush Avenue while I looked out the window. Damien sat beside me, holding my hand with one hand and eating the muffin Mom bought him with the other.

“Mom,” he said, his mouth full. “Are there parks here?”

“Of course.” I smiled. “Bigger than the one we had in Montana.”

His eyes lit up. “With swings?”

“Yes. With swings.”

Mom chuckled beside me, “Don't get him too excited. You need to focus. It's only an interview, Ava.”

“I know.” I looked at the building ahead. “But it's the start we need.”

The cab stopped in front of a tall glass building.

I looked up at it. This was it.

Mom touched my arm.

“We'll wait at the café across the street. Take your time.”

I kissed Damien's forehead.

“Be good for Grandma.”

“I will.”

I got out of the cab and walked toward the building.

I kept my head high.

Whatever happened today, I was going to handle it.

I reached the reception desk and smiled.

“I'm here for the interview.”

The receptionist smiled back.

“Name?”

“Ava Morales.”

She checked her list.

“Research Analyst position. Conference Room B, tenth floor. Take the elevator to your left.”

“Thank you.”

I headed toward the elevator, and I stepped inside.

I looked at my reflection in the silver wall and adjusted my bag.

I could do this. The elevator began to rise.

Halfway up, it stopped.

The doors opened.

Two men in black suits stepped inside.

Then he walked in.

Liam Reynolds.

For a second, I couldn't believe it.

Five years had passed, but I knew him immediately.

He looked almost the same. Tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in a dark suit.

I didn't panic. I simply stood there and reminded myself that he didn't know me.

He didn't even look my way. His eyes remained fixed ahead.

I let out a quiet breath.

Good.

I wasn't here for him. I was here for my son and my future.

I glanced at him once. The same strong jaw. The same serious expression.

But he looked different too.

I looked away before he could notice.

The elevator reached the next floor, and the two men stepped out with Liam.

He walked away without looking back.

I waited until the doors closed again before letting myself relax.

I checked the paper in my hand and focused on the interview.

This was about me. Not Liam.

I tried not to think about Liam.

There was no reason for him to be part of my interview.

At least, that's what I thought.

When I entered the conference room, I stopped for a moment.

Liam was sitting at the head of the table.

Of course.

Two men sat beside him, while a woman with glasses looked through a folder.

I took a breath and walked in.

“Ms. Morales,” the woman said. “Please take a seat.”

I sat down.

“Tell us about your background. What makes you suitable for this role?”

I straightened in my chair.

“I studied business administration. For the past few years, I've been working freelance, mostly on research projects. I collect data, analyze reports, and prepare presentations. I'm detail-oriented, and I'm used to working with tight deadlines.”

She nodded and wrote something down.

One of the men leaned forward.

“Can you give us an example of a project you handled under pressure?”

“Yes. A logistics firm needed market research on competitors before launching a new service. They gave me three days. I collected the data, organized it into a report, and highlighted the key risks. The company used my recommendations before the launch.”

The man nodded and took some notes.

Then Liam spoke.

“Market research isn't just about collecting data. It's about interpretation. What would you do if two reports gave you conflicting results?”

I looked directly at him.

“I'd go back to the sources and check their reliability. I'd also look at the context and how the information was collected. Sometimes the problem isn't the data. It's the questions behind it. I'd identify the gaps before reaching a conclusion.”

He studied me.

I held his gaze.

The woman asked the next question.

“This role requires working closely with executives. You'll handle confidential information. How do you deal with pressure from authority figures?”

“By staying professional. Pressure is part of the job, but the work still needs to be accurate. I focus on the result, not the position of the person asking.”

“Even if it's the CEO himself?” she asked, glancing at Liam.

“Even then.”

The two men exchanged a look.

Liam leaned back and asked, “What if the CEO disagreed with your findings?”

“Then I'd explain my findings and stand by my work.”

“And if you were wrong?”

“I'd admit it.”

“And if you weren't?”

I looked at him confidently, “Then I'd defend my work respectfully.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, “So you would challenge authority?”

“If the facts support me, yes.”

The room went quiet for a moment.

The woman quickly wrote something down.

One of the men cleared his throat, “Last question. Why should we choose you over other candidates?”

I opened my mouth. Before I could answer, the door opened.

“Daddy!”

I turned and saw a little girl ran into the room.

My heart stopped for a second.

Dark hair, bright eyes. That smile.

Diana. My daughter.

She ran straight to Liam, and he caught her easily.

“I told you to wait with Clara, princess,” he said.

His voice was softer than I'd ever heard it.

“She was on the phone,” Diana said. “I wanted to see you.”

Liam sighed, “Alright. But you need to be quiet. I'm in a meeting.”

Diana looked around the room. Then her eyes landed on me.

She stared at me and I stared back.

My chest tightened, but I kept my expression under control.

I couldn't fall apart here. Not now.

The woman cleared her throat, “Mr. Reynolds, should we...”

“It's fine,” Liam said. He placed Diana beside his chair, “We'll continue.”

I took a quiet breath.

The man repeated his question.

“Why should we choose you, Ms. Morales?”

I looked at the panel.

“I don't stop when things get difficult. I adapt, I learn quickly, and I work until the job is done properly.” I paused and then “I've had to start over before. I know how to handle pressure, and I know how to keep moving forward.”

My voice remained steady.

Liam watched me closely.

“Take a moment, Ms. Morales,” he said.

“I’m fine.” I gave him a small nod before continuing, “I know how to work under pressure, and I know how to turn that pressure into results.”

The woman closed her folder.

“Thank you, Ms. Morales. We'll discuss everything and get back to you.”

“No need.”

Everyone looked at Liam.

“She’s hired.”

The room went still.

The woman blinked, “Mr. Reynolds...”

“I said she's hired.” His tone was final.

I didn't let my surprise show. I got the job. Just like that.

The others eventually nodded.

Liam stood and lifted Diana into his arms.

“Report to HR this afternoon.”

I stood.

“Thank you.”

Diana rested her head against his shoulder, but her eyes stayed on me.

I held her gaze for a moment before turning away.

I walked out of the room with my head held high.

Seeing Diana had hurt more than I wanted to admit. But I couldn't let that stop me.

I was here for a reason.

I had a job now. And I was going to do it.

Even if my new boss was Liam Reynolds.