Aurora gave him a look of disapproval."I could never bring myself to exploit workers like that."The three of them exchanged a smile, the atmosphere light and easy.…Meanwhile, Joseph had just learned that Daniel signed the project with Aurora, and his eyes nearly bulged with rage.During this period, he had been under immense pressure from his father and from the company, leaving him barely able to move forward.The business, which had once seemed to be thriving, began to crumble after his fallout with Daniel. Now, many companies had stopped working with them.After all, Daniel controlled most of the projects in Ravenshore. Offending him was equivalent to offending half the companies there.Joseph understood this well, but that didn’t make it any easier to accept.He never expected Daniel would choose Aurora in the end.Lately, he hadn’t even dared to go home to face his parents’ eyes.Both his father and mother had placed their hopes on him, especially his mother.He had once promi
"Alright, I’ll call him over."Aurora heard Ian’s voice and nodded without saying much.Sure enough, running her own studio felt completely different from before.This time, the one who walked in was a man dressed primly in a suit that made him look old-fashioned. He wore black-rimmed glasses and seemed a little rigid.When Ian asked him to introduce himself, he spoke in a serious, methodical way, but his manner was precise and professional.On a sudden impulse, Aurora asked him to talk about company culture and background. To her surprise, he spoke fluently, without hesitation.He even went so far as to bring up the land project in the southern district.Aurora was genuinely a little surprised."How did you know about this project?"The man, whose name was Henry, answered seriously, "I saw it on the official page online. I searched through our studio’s posts and found that Frost & Clear Studio was tagged by the Lewis Group because of securing the land project."So, I’m well aware that
Once Hannah stepped out, everyone noticed the smile still lingering on her face. It was the first time since the last six or seven candidates that anyone had left the room looking remotely pleased.That alone told them everything—they figured she must have been hired.The job posting had made it clear: only two spots were open. With one already taken, the competition instantly felt sharper, the odds slimmer.A ripple of unease passed through the waiting room as the remaining candidates exchanged looks, unsure whether to press on or cut their losses.Some were already tempted to give up.But in the corner, a man sat with calm focus, back straight, eyes fixed on the company brochure in his hands.While the others were busy calculating where to head for their next interview, he was reading every line about Frost & Clear Studio—its story, culture, and most recent project with a major developer.He hadn’t applied to any other company. This was the only one he wanted.If he didn’t make it,
With Ian sitting beside her, steady and seasoned from years of experience, most candidates naturally assumed he was the one in charge. But this girl had looked straight at Aurora and called her “boss.” She hadn’t second-guessed for a moment.Aurora wasn’t foolish—she knew instantly that Hannah had seen through her.“You realize,” Aurora said with a faint smile. “You’re the first one who’s actually recognized me for who I am.”Hannah blinked, caught off guard. “Boss… are you serious?”A shy smile tugged at her lips. Aurora’s presence was undeniable; anyone could sense she wasn’t someone ordinary.“Of course I’m serious,” Aurora replied warmly. “That tells me you have sharp instincts and a way of seeing things others miss. Believe in that. It’s your greatest strength and your most valuable asset.”Hannah’s eyes lit up, sparkling with emotion. It was the first time anyone had ever spoken to her like that.She had grown up with nothing—her father taken early in a freak accident in the mo
So that meant those companies had never really given her a chance at all.The thought made Aurora almost laugh at the absurdity of it.This time, even Megan slammed her hand on the table, her face full of outrage. “That’s outrageous! Then what was the point of all your hard work getting into school?”Startled, Hannah lifted her gaze. She studied the anger on Megan’s face—it didn’t look fake.But soon her eyes dropped again, a faint trace of mockery flickering in them.She’d seen this too many times before—people spouting sympathy to her face, only to mock her behind her back.And even if they did hire her, they’d rope in other colleagues to isolate her. She’d already lived through that in other firms.So as far as Hannah was concerned, this would be no different.Still, life in the city had grown unbearable. If she went back home now, her family would sneer at her for failing and not even managing to earn her keep.At least here she might manage a paycheck—something to carry her throug
The next candidate to walk in was a young woman with a sharp bob cut and a sweet, doll-like face.Her outfit leaned more toward a commanding, professional style, and paired with her tall frame, easily over five foot seven, she carried an undeniable air of presence.At first glance, Aurora’s eyes lit up.Even Megan couldn’t hide her excitement, pinching Aurora’s arm under the table as if to say she liked this one instantly.Aurora shot her a calm-down look. A strong first impression was one thing, but if her professional skills didn’t match up, everything else would be meaningless. Looks were plentiful in the world; competence was what truly mattered.The short-haired woman stepped confidently in front of the panel.With just one glance, she seemed to know exactly who the real decision-maker was.Her voice was clear and steady as she introduced herself. “Hello, my name is Hannah Lane. I graduated from Harker University, with a major in e-commerce.”Aurora’s heart skipped. She hadn’t e