Hello, brat

JANICE

"What happened?"

I sat across from the interviewer, my fingers loosely clasped in my lap. My posture was still straight, but it was no longer stiff.

"...and that's when I realized the system they were using was a completely outdated one," I laughed lightly. "I mean, I spent more time fixing the errors it caused than doing the actual job I was being paid for."

Mr Coleman, my interviewer, chuckled. "You'd be surprised how many companies still run like that."

Would I?

"I don't think so," I replied, a small smile tugging at my lips. "I'm here to fix all those problems."

"You really think you can do that?" Mr Coleman leaned back in his chair, studying me with clear interest. He had his pen wedged against his lips.

"Of course I can. I've done this job before."

Mr Coleman nodded slowly. "I like that. I really do."

Hope bloomed in my chest. I might actually get this job. We spoke for a few more minutes, the conversation flowing easily and naturally. By the time I stood to leave, my mouth was already hurting from how hard I was smiling.

"Thank you for coming in, Miss Cross," he said, shaking my hand. "We'll be in touch."

By the time I got to the hospital, the weight I'd been carrying for days was gone. Nancy was awake when I walked in.

"Someone looks happy," she narrowed her eyes playfully at me.

"Oh, shush you."

"Spill the good news, Jan."

I couldn't help but laugh softly, dropping my bag onto the chair. "Once I have good news, you'll be the first one I tell."

Nancy's entire face lit up at that. She was so easy to please.

We talked for a while—about nothing important. I filled her in on the interview, leaving out the other aspects of it that couldn't stop tugging at my brain. The fear that Aiden might actually do what he said.

At some point, exhaustion crept up on me. I shifted in the chair, intending to just rest my eyes for a minute...

And the next thing I knew, sunlight was filtering through the window.

"Woah..." I blinked slowly. My neck ached from the awkward angle I had subjected it all through the night. I couldn't even feel my arm.

Nancy was still asleep.

My eyes drifted to the clock at the other end of the room. Eight fifteen am.

Shit. Shit!

I straightened slightly, rubbing my face. Come on, Janice. Nothing had happened. I checked my phone for any call or text in their stupid group chat but there was nothing.

"Of course," I muttered under my breath.

What had I expected?

The Business Brothers were rich and powerful. They were busy. Men like that did not sit around waiting for a woman like me.

They probably wanted to play a game, and had moved on already from it.

I had more important things to focus on anyway.

The call from Mr Coleman came the next day.

"Hello?"

"Janice, hi... this is Mr Coleman from the other day. The interview."

"Oh! Good evening, sir."

"It's better I go straight to the point. You did very well, Janice," he said, his tone almost regretful. "I just want to say that upfront. You were... honestly, you were perfect for the role."

My heart leapt.

"But..." he continued.

And just like that, it dropped.

“We’ve decided to go with another candidate.”

Oh.

“I… I’m sorry, what?”

"It was a difficult decision," he continued quickly. "But we believe this candidate aligns more with what we're looking for right now."

"That doesn't make sense," I found myself saying before I could stop myself. "I mean... you said I was perfect."

"You were," He admitted. "But... but we just can't go with you. I'm really sorry."

A cold realization began to creep in.

“Did someone talk to you?” I asked quietly. "Did someone tell you not to hire me? Because if that's the case, I deserve to know..."

"I'm sorry, Janice. I really am. I have to go."

The line went dead.

All I could do was stare at my phone, tightening my grip on it. My pulse began to pound in my ears.

No.

No, no, no...

It had to be them. No one else would be that callous. I thought... I thought they wouldn't care about me again.

My fingers hovered over the group chat, ready to crash out. I could already see them... Calder with his smug replies, Aiden’s cold amusement, and Lucian’s silence that somehow said more than both of them combined.

Don't.

Don’t give them that.

With a sharp exhale, I locked my phone and tossed it onto the bed.

"Fine," I muttered. "Fine."

There were other jobs.

Other interviews.

I didn't need to be an administrative assistant for that particular company.

***

The second interview went just as well.

The third one too.

Different companies with different people and the same interest and promise.

At the end of the day, I got the same call. Rejection every single time.

By the third one, I didn't even ask questions anymore. I just listened and hung up.

Three days later, I was walking back from the grocery store, holding a small bag from my wrist, when my phone rang. I almost ignored it... I wasn't ready for the whole rejection shenanigans again.

It wasn't the interviewers. It was the hospital. Shit, had something happened to Nancy?

“Hello?”

“Is this Janice Cross?”

“Yes... what happened? Is Nancy okay?”

“Yes, she’s stable,” the nurse said quickly. “But we’ve transferred her to another facility.”

I stopped walking.

“What?”

“The transfer was approved and processed this afternoon. She’s already been moved.”

“Approved by who?” I snapped. “I didn’t approve anything!”

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but all necessary documentation has been handled. You can get further details at the new hospital.”

My heart started racing.

“What hospital?” I demanded.

The nurse gave me the name and address. I didn't even remember ending the call. The grocery bag slipped slightly in my grip as I flagged down the first taxi I saw.

"15th Heathrow Street," I said quickly, shoving my phone toward the driver. "Please... fast."

How dare they?

How fucking dare they?

My thoughts tangled together into something sharp. They wouldn't... they shouldn't... I did not want their help.

I barely waited before throwing money at the driver and stepping out. The building in front of me was massive. It was modern and expensive. Not even remotely in the same category as the one Nancy had been in.

My chest tightened.

No.

I pushed through the entrance, my steps quick and uneven as I approached the front desk.

"I'm looking for Nancy Cross," I said breathlessly. "She was transferred here today. I'm her sister, Janice Cross."

The receptionist smiled politely. “Yes, she’s been admitted. Fifth floor.”

I didn't wait.

I turned immediately, heading for the elevators. My reflection stared back at me in the mirrorwd walls.

They better not have done anything to harm her, because if they did, I would stop at nothing...

The elevator stopped and I stepped out, only to come face to face with none other than the dark haired Lucian Graves. He was leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed, a smug grin on his face.

"Hello, brat. Thought you had gotten rid of us, right?"