Chapter 2

KIMBERLY'S POV

~TWO WEEKS AFTER THE INTERVIEW~

“Kim, would you stop sulking already? You have plenty more places to go for interviews,” my best friend Serena Carter said as I vented to her about my current predicament.

“You don’t understand, Rena. After seeing everything I saw at Maxwell Telecommunications Empire, you wouldn’t want any other place either,” I whined.

“Yeah? At least you have the choice to want someplace else. What if you were like me? I couldn’t go to college with you, and now I don’t even have the option of landing a good white-collar job like you do. So be grateful you’re even getting called in for interviews.”

“Sorry if I was being insensitive,” I said, pouting my lips.

Serena and I had been inseparable since kindergarten. We went to the same middle school and high school. We’d been best friends since we were in diapers. Our mothers had been best friends too, and sadly, they’d even shared the same tragic fate.

They died in a car accident right after we graduated high school, and the loss threw every part of our lives off balance.

My dad passed away during my freshman year of college. He left us drowning in debt. We later discovered he’d never actually been working, he’d only pretended to, while secretly borrowing every cent we lived on from a very rich company.

Rena’s dad was still alive, but he might as well not have been. He was a horrible father who was never around for her or her brother. He simply dumped every responsibility onto Rena, which I thought was completely unfair.

“I’m really sorry, Rena,” I said again.

“What the hell are you sorry for?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Everything,” I replied with a shrug.

“Shut up and eat your cheeseburger before I hit you with this pan,” she said, smiling.

She worked at a small café and always gave me discounts, even when it got her in trouble with her boss.

“You… are the best,” I said, taking a huge bite.

My phone suddenly rang with an unknown number.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Hello, am I speaking with Miss Kimberly?” a polite woman asked.

“Yes… yes, this is she,” I replied nervously.

“Congratulations. You have successfully passed your interview at Maxwell Telecommunications Empire. Please be ready with your work attire. You start officially on Monday.”

“Oh my goodness, are you serious? Thank you so much!” I replied, barely containing my excitement.

The moment the call ended, pure joy flooded through me.

“Rena!!!” I screamed her name so loudly that every head in the café turned toward me, eyes full of disapproval.

“Sorry, sorry,” I mouthed, embarrassed, as I hurried over to the counter where she stood.

“What the hell, Kim? Are you trying to get yourself thrown out?” she hissed.

I couldn’t stop grinning. “I just got a call,” I told her.

“Okay…?”

“I got the job!”

“Wait, really? Like THE job?” Her eyes widened.

“Yes!!”

She rushed around the counter, grabbed my hands, and we jumped up and down together, squealing with excitement.

“I’m so happy for you, Kim. See? I told you to stop stressing. I knew you’d get it, you were worried for nothing,” she said once we finally stopped bouncing.

“Yeah. Thank you for listening to all my complaining. Oh, I have to go tell my aunt and siblings. They’re going to faint! My brother said I’d never get the job because the company only hires people from sophisticated backgrounds. Can’t wait to rub it in his face.”

Rena shook her head, laughing. “Your little brother is a handful… At least your sister is better.”

“Yeah, I know. I gotta go now. I’ll catch up with you later.”

“Promise? Don’t you dare forget me when you get rich,” she teased, nudging my shoulder.

“I would never. It’s till death do us part, you and me forever.”

“Okay… now you’re just being weird. Go tell your family the good news.” She gently pushed me toward the door.

I waved at her as I left, heart soaring.

We had a special dinner that night, sponsored by my beautiful aunt to celebrate.

“I can’t believe you actually got the job. That’s impossible. I did thorough research on the company, they don’t just hire anybody. They only hire rich people,” my annoying little brother, Bryan, said during dinner.

“Oh, stop it,” my aunt cut in. “Your sister is more than deserving of that job. I’m sure she’s as good as everyone else there, if not better. That’s why they hired her.”

“Yeah, I’m proud of you, sis,” Bailey, Bryan’s twin sister, added with a warm smile.

“Thank you, my family, and Bryan, for the vote of confidence and doubt,” I said sweetly.

“Sorry. I’m just saying… it’s a little surprising and weird that you of all people got the job,” Bryan mumbled, stuffing his mouth with pizza.

“There’s nothing weird about it. It’s all my hard work and capability that got me this job,” I replied.

He just shrugged.

We spent the rest of the evening talking about my first day, what I should wear, how I should carry myself, and how exciting work on Monday was going to be. We chatted until midnight before everyone finally headed to bed.

Tomorrow was Sunday, and I planned to prepare everything I’d need so I wouldn’t be caught off guard.

I went to bed that night feeling lighter and happier than I had in years. I looked at the photos of my parents on my bedside table.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll pay off Dad’s debt so your spirit can finally rest in peace. And you too, Dad… even though you’re the one who got us into this mess in the first place,” I whispered with a small smile, then closed my eyes.

~~~~~

I woke up early the next morning while the house was still dark and went for a run. When I returned, I made myself coffee and spent the day organizing my wardrobe, carefully laying out outfits for the entire week.

I knew I needed to look smart and professional, but that was going to be difficult. I barely owned any good-quality clothes. Still, I’d have to make do with what I had. Once I started earning, I promised myself I’d buy a few new pieces.

After arranging everything perfectly, I felt satisfied.

“Hey, you’ve been up for a while. Come have some breakfast,” my aunt said, peeking into my room.

“Okay, I’ll be out in a minute.”

I showered quickly, slipped into a nice dress for church, and joined the family for breakfast. We left for service that morning and returned in the afternoon.

I flopped onto my bed and slept through the entire evening, even skipping dinner. I needed the stress-relieving rest.

~~~~~

~MONDAY MORNING ~

My eyes flew open in panic every hour during the night. I kept thinking my alarm was about to go off. I finally gave up at 3 a.m., even though I’d set it for 4 a.m. I brushed my teeth, showered, blow-dried my silky jet-black hair, and straightened it before stepping out of the bathroom.

That was exactly when the alarm finally rang.

Ha. I beat you this time, I thought, smirking at the clock.

I put on my chosen outfit for the day and did a very light touch of makeup. I was nowhere near as skilled as Serena, but it was enough.

By the time I was fully dressed, it was 5:30 a.m.

Time to go.

I stepped out of my room and found my aunt still half-asleep.

“Hi, Aunt Judy.”

“Oh, Kim, you’re all set,” she said warmly. “I’m really proud of you, baby girl. Now go show them what you’ve got.” She pulled me into a tight hug.

“Thank you,” I whispered, then quietly checked on my sleeping twin siblings before slipping out of the house.

This is going to be a good day.

~~~~~

Thankfully, traffic was light. The roads were smooth and peaceful.

I arrived at the office at exactly 7:30 a.m.—thirty whole minutes early.

Perfect. Great first impression.

After clearing security, I walked toward the main building, once again stunned by how breathtaking everything looked.

I stopped at the secretary’s desk to find out which department I’d been assigned to. When she told me I was placed in the Board Meetings Committee, I was stunned. That wasn’t even the department I had expected. I didn’t think I was qualified for something so high-level. The committee handled all the arrangements for important meetings—both with international and local investors.

This is huge. How did I manage to get this far?

I smiled brightly to myself. Ha. In your face, Bryan.

One of the secretaries kindly showed me to my department. We took the elevator all the way up to the second-to-last floor.

“Um, can I ask who’s on the top floor?” I asked her.

“The boss. His office is up there, obviously,” she replied.

When we reached my floor, she led me into a huge open-plan office where everyone had their own private section separated by elegant brick walls. No one even glanced up as we entered.

“This is your destination, Miss. Welcome to Maxwell Telecommunications Empire—and good luck,” she said, then left me standing there alone.

I took a deep breath, gathered my courage, and approached the first person who walked past.

“Excuse me? Could you please point me to the Head of Department’s office?”

A beautiful blonde woman looked me up and down, rolled her eyes, and walked away without a word.

Okay… rude much.

I tried again with a guy walking by. He completely ignored me.

What is wrong with these people?

I spotted two girls chatting and smiling. They seemed friendly.

“Hi, excuse me. Could you point me to the Head of Department’s office?” I asked politely.

The smiles instantly vanished.

“And who exactly are you?” one of them asked.

“I’m Kimberly Gilbert, a new employee. I just started today,” I said, smiling.

The second girl pointed lazily. “HOD’s office is that way.” Then they turned their backs on me and continued talking as if I didn’t exist.

“Thanks,” I mumbled under my breath.

Wow. What is with the attitude here?

I walked to the HOD’s office and stepped inside to submit my files.

“Who are you?” the man behind the desk asked sternly.

“Um… my name is Kimberly Gilbert, sir. I’m a new employee. I came to submit my files,” I said.

He scanned me from head to toe.

“Have a seat, Miss Gilbert,” he said.

I pulled out the chair and sat down, feeling awkward and completely out of place.

Everyone here seems so cold.

~