CHAPTER 3

Amelia stared at the email until the words began to lose meaning.

Kingston Holdings.

Private interview.

Alexander Kingston.

Three things that should not have appeared together.

Especially not for her.

She closed the laptop slowly.

For several seconds, she simply sat there, listening to the quiet hum of the old refrigerator in the kitchen.

The apartment was silent.

Everyone was asleep.

The world outside was still dark.

But Amelia felt like she had just stepped into something she didn't understand.

She had applied for dozens of jobs before.

She had received rejection emails.

She had been ignored.

She had even applied to positions where she clearly didn't meet the requirements, hoping someone would give her a chance.

But this?

This was different.

Kingston Holdings wasn't just another company.

It was the kind of company where people competed for years just to get an interview.

Graduates from the best universities.

People with connections.

People with experience.

Not someone who spent her mornings working in a bookstore and her nights serving coffee.

She looked at the email again.

Maybe there was a mistake.

Maybe they had the wrong person.

Maybe another Amelia Carter had applied.

That had to be it.

Because why would Alexander Kingston want to meet her?

Then her mind returned to the parking garage.

The rain.

The voices.

Those men.

His eyes.

She remembered the way he looked at her.

Not like she was a stranger.

Like he was trying to understand why she was there.

Like he already knew something about her.

A chill moved through her body.

She should decline.

That was the logical choice.

She should ignore the email.

She should find another job.

A normal job.

A safe job.

But then she remembered her mother's face.

The hospital reminder.

The seven-day deadline.

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the table.

Sometimes people didn't get to choose the safest path.

Sometimes they chose the path that kept their family alive.

Amelia closed her eyes.

"Just an interview," she whispered.

She wasn't accepting anything.

She wasn't trusting anyone.

She was simply going to ask questions.

Then she would decide.

___________________________________________________________________________________

At eight in the morning, Amelia was already awake.

She had barely slept.

But she forced herself to prepare.

The biggest problem was her clothes.

She opened her closet.

There were only a few choices.

Two work uniforms.

Three casual outfits.

One black dress she had worn to her father's funeral eight years ago.

She looked at herself in the mirror.

She needed to look professional.

But professional clothes were expensive.

After several minutes, she chose a simple cream-colored blouse and a black skirt.

Nothing designer.

Nothing impressive.

Just clean.

Just presentable.

She tied her hair back neatly and applied the little makeup she owned.

When she stepped out of her room, her mother was already awake.

"You have an interview."

Amelia stopped.

She smiled slightly.

"How do you always know?"

"Because you're wearing your serious face."

"My serious face?"

"The one you wore before your first school competition."

Amelia laughed.

"You remember that?"

"I remember everything about you."

The words warmed her heart.

Evelyn walked closer.

"Where is it?"

"Kingston Holdings."

Her mother's expression changed.

Only slightly.

But Amelia noticed.

"You know the company?"

"Everyone knows Kingston Holdings."

"Do you know Alexander Kingston?"

A strange pause followed.

Then Evelyn shook her head.

"No."

Too quick.

Amelia narrowed her eyes.

"Mom."

"What?"

"You hesitated."

"I was thinking."

"About what?"

Evelyn looked away.

"Nothing."

Amelia wanted to ask more.

But she stopped herself.

Her mother looked tired.

She didn't want to add more stress.

"I'll be back later."

Evelyn held her hand.

"Be careful."

The words were simple.

But something about them bothered Amelia.

"Mom?"

"Just..."

Evelyn hesitated.

"Trust your instincts."

Amelia nodded.

"I will."

___________________________________________________________________________________

The car waiting outside surprised her.

She had expected a taxi.

Maybe a company driver.

But not a luxury black sedan.

The driver stepped out.

"Miss Carter?"

Amelia immediately became cautious.

"Yes."

"I'm here to take you to Kingston Holdings."

She looked at the car.

Then at him.

"I didn't request a car."

"The company arranged it."

That answer did not make her feel better.

A normal interview did not come with private transportation.

But she had already come this far.

She entered the car.

The interior smelled like leather and expensive cologne.

Everything was spotless.

Everything was unfamiliar.

As the car moved through the city, Amelia watched New York pass by the window.

She had lived here her entire life.

But today, it felt different.

Like she was crossing an invisible line.

From her world...

Into his.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Kingston Tower was impossible to ignore.

The building rose above the city like it belonged there.

Glass walls reflected the sunlight.

People walked through the entrance wearing expensive suits and carrying briefcases.

Everyone looked confident.

Everyone looked like they knew exactly where they belonged.

Amelia stepped out of the elevator and immediately felt out of place.

The receptionist looked up.

"Can I help you?"

"I have an interview."

The receptionist checked the computer.

"Name?"

"Amelia Carter."

The receptionist's expression changed.

Only slightly.

But again, Amelia noticed.

"Mr. Kingston is expecting you."

Expecting.

Not interviewing.

Expecting.

That word bothered her.

The receptionist called someone.

"Miss Carter is here."

A few seconds later, a woman approached.

She looked to be in her early thirties.

Perfect suit.

Perfect hair.

Perfect confidence.

"Amelia Carter?"

"Yes."

"I'm Victoria Hale, Mr. Kingston's executive secretary."

She smiled professionally.

"Please follow me."

As they walked through the office, Amelia noticed something.

Everyone was quiet.

Not normal workplace quiet.

More like everyone was careful.

Like one wrong move could have consequences.

"Does everyone always look this serious?" Amelia asked before she could stop herself.

Victoria glanced at her.

Most people probably wouldn't have asked.

But Amelia had never been good at pretending.

"At Kingston Holdings?"

Victoria gave a small smile.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because Mr. Kingston expects excellence."

Amelia nodded.

"Sounds stressful."

Victoria looked surprised.

Then, unexpectedly, she laughed softly.

"You might be the first person to say that out loud."

Amelia smiled.

The conversation ended when they reached a large wooden door.

Victoria stopped.

"Mr. Kingston is inside."

Amelia looked at the door.

Her heart started beating faster.

This was the moment.

The man from the parking garage.

The billionaire CEO.

The person who somehow knew her name.

Victoria opened the door.

"Miss Carter is here."

A deep voice answered.

"Send her in."

Amelia stepped inside.

The office was larger than her entire apartment.

Floor-to-ceiling windows showed the entire city.

A massive desk stood near the window.

And behind it...

Was him.

Alexander Kingston.

He looked exactly like the photographs.

Maybe even more intimidating in person.

Dark suit.

Sharp features.

Cold gray eyes.

The same eyes that had followed her through the rain.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Alexander stood.

"Amelia Carter."

Hearing her name from his lips sent a strange feeling through her.

"You know who I am."

It wasn't a question.

It was an accusation.

Alexander walked closer.

Calm.

Controlled.

Dangerous.

"Yes."

"Why?"

A brief silence.

Then he answered.

"Because you were at the wrong place at the wrong time."

Amelia's face changed.

Her fingers tightened.

"So you admit it."

"Admit what?"

"That you know about the parking garage."

Alexander studied her carefully.

"You're not afraid."

Amelia almost laughed.

"I am."

That answer seemed to surprise him.

"But I still want answers."

For the first time, something changed in Alexander's expression.

Not warmth.

Not kindness.

Interest.

"You saw something that night."

Amelia swallowed.

"I saw people hurting someone."

"You saw a situation you didn't understand."

"I understood enough."

Alexander movedI know closer.

"Did you tell anyone?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I don't know what I saw."

His eyes remained on hers.

"And because?"

Amelia looked away.

"Because I have a family."

The room became quiet.

Alexander noticed.

The fear.

The responsibility.

The exhaustion hidden behind her eyes.

She wasn't greedy.

She wasn't trying to use what she saw.

She was simply trying to survive.

"That is why I called you here."

Amelia looked back.

"Why?"

Alexander returned to his desk and picked up a file.

He placed it in front of her.

"This is an employment contract."

She stared.

"What?"

"You will work for Kingston Holdings."

Amelia didn't touch the file.

"Why?"

"Because I need someone I can trust."

Her eyebrows furrowed.

"You don't even know me."

Alexander looked at her.

"That's where you're wrong."

He paused.

"I know more about you than you think."

A cold feeling spread through her.

"What does that mean?"

Alexander's expression remained unreadable.

"It means your life is about to change."

Amelia stared at him.

She didn't know it yet.

But that sentence would become the beginning of everything.