Chapter four: The interview

The first few days were unbearable. I woke up each morning with an unbearable pain in my chest, I would instinctively reaching for my phone only to find nothing. No missed calls, no apologies, not even a half-hearted excuse from Alex or Lily. It was like I had ceased to exist.

At first, I told myself they needed time. Maybe they felt guilty. Maybe they would realize what they had done and try to fix it. But as the hours stretched into days, the truth became painfully clear. They weren’t coming back. They had erased me as easily as deleting a message. And I was done waiting.

On the fourth morning, I blocked them both. No hesitation. No dramatic farewell text. Just a simple tap of my finger, cutting them out like they should have never been there in the first place. It wasn’t instant relief, but it was a start.

I threw myself into anything to keep my mind from going back to them. My late nights weren’t for crying anymore; they were for prepping interview answers, reading articles on how to sound confident even when I felt like crumbling. and soon, I no longer saw a girl waiting for people to choose her. I saw someone who had already chosen herself, with that being said, I was completely ready for my interview.

Today was very important to me, my interview at Blackwood corp for an internship position, it was almost perfect, but it didn't

This was supposed to be our dream. Mine, Alex’s, and Lily’s. We had spent years talking about working at Blackwood Corp. The best company in the industry. The one that could set up our futures.

But now the thought of walking into that building made my stomach twist.

I had spent weeks debating whether to take this interview. Walking in there meant facing them. It meant pretending their betrayal hadn’t nearly broken me but it also meant a shot at the career I had always wanted.

A career that I refused to let them take from me, It was worth a shot.

***

As I stepped into the massive glass building, my nerves threatened to take over, I felt as if I wasn't enough for this place. I made my way to the elevators, pressing the button for the top floor. Inside, a small group of women whispered among themselves.

“I heard the CEO is insanely hot,” one of them gushed, the woman had a very expressive look on a face as if she was spilling insider details.

“And young,” another added. “Like, late twenties young.” They all gasped as I stared at the elevator doors completely uninterested in their petty gossip.

“Yeah, well,” a third woman scoffed. “He’s also a total nightmare. People leave his office crying.”

“Really?” I almost wanted to ignore them, I didn't need another reason to be nervous.

“Swear to God. I heard he fired someone over a typo.” Great. A hot, young tyrant, what else could a girl ask for?The elevator dinged, and I stepped out. Time to face my real problem.

***

The moment I stepped into the waiting room, I saw them. Alex stood near the front, already looking comfortable here. Of course he was. The bastard had interned here last year and had secured a permanent position.

I barely had time to process the sight of him before his gaze brushed over me then dismissed me entirely as if we didn't spend a whole year with his tongue shoved deep in my throat.

As if I didn’t exist. Instead, he walked straight to Lily, sfe had no right to be here.

I watched as Alex leaned in close, whispering something to her, I wanted to scream at her, he was my boyfriend , but he had clearly chosen her, she laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder as if they were the perfect couple.

Like nothing had ever happened. Like they hadn’t completely betrayed me, I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay calm.I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of getting a reaction out of me.

But as soon as Alex walked away, Lily turned to me as her lips curled in a mocking smile.

“You really showed up, you have no sense of shame do you?,” she teased, crossing her arms, Was she really talking about shame? wasn't she the one who stole my boyfriend.

I wanted to look away but instead I met her gaze without flinching. “Of course I did, it's my dream job afterall.”

Lily let out a fake laugh. “I almost feel bad for you.”

I arched my brow. “Almost?”

She shrugged. “It’s just… pathetic. Thinking you stand a chance here against me or course, after all Alex already made his choice aren't you tired of being second best?.”

I inhaled deeply, pushing down the anger before I did something that would cost me my interview. I knew what she was doing, she wanted a reaction and I wouldn’t give her one.

I simply smiled. “Guess we will see who gets the job, won’t we?”

Her expression faltered for a split second and before she could recover, the door to the interview room slammed open.

A woman rushed out, sobbing her heels clacked loudly against the marble floor as she covered her face, practically running toward the elevator.

The entire room went silent, a few of the other candidates shifted uncomfortably, whispering among themselves.

Shit! Was the CEO really that bad?Before I could fully process it, a voice rang out.

“Sophia Carter.”

I froze, they just called out my name, the assistant stood at the door, waiting expectantly. I gulped.

Lily smirked. "Good luck Sophia, you'll really need it." Ignoring her nasty comment, I forced myself to breathe. There was no fear or hesitation in my mind, I belonged here!

Without another word, I stood, smoothed my skirt, and walked toward the door.

***

The office was massive. Sleek, modern, and intimidating, and behind the huge desk sat a man whom I thought I would never see again.

Ethan.

The stranger from that night, whose house still had my underwear, the same one I had almost—

Fuck!

His grey eyes locked onto mine, a slow smirk curling on his lips and I knew he remembered. barely registered the whole situation as the other interviewer started speaking.

“Miss Carter, meet Mr. Blackwood, our CEO.”

My blood ran cold. CEO? I had just walked into an interview with the man I almost slept with. Ethan leaned back in his chair, looking far too amused.

As if he had expected this and just like that, my new beginning had turned into a nightmare.