Chapter One: The Interview

“Aria, if you keep staring at that mirror, I swear the glass is going to sue you for harassment.”

Aria groaned and dropped her eyeliner pencil onto the cluttered vanity. “I look like death warmed over.”

Mia sprawled across the bed in bunny-print pajamas, chewing noisily on a slice of toast. “Correction—you look like someone who hasn’t slept in three days. Which, if I recall correctly, is true.” She pointed her toast like a sword. “Honestly, if this company doesn’t hire you, they’re idiots.”

Aria tugged at the blazer sleeve for the hundredth time, scowling when the fabric rode up awkwardly. “This doesn’t even fit. I borrowed it from you and you’re smaller than me. They’ll take one look and know I don’t belong.”

“First of all, rude.” Mia shoved the rest of the toast in her mouth, chewed, then added through a grin, “Second, stop talking like you’re headed to an execution. You’re going to walk in there, charm their socks off, and then call me crying about how much money they’re paying you.”

Aria whirled around. “Mia, this isn’t a joke. It’s Voss Global. They don’t hire girls like me.”

“Girls like you?” Mia sat up, eyebrows raised. “You mean smart, resourceful, desperate-to-survive girls? Exactly their type.” She leaned forward, her tone softening. “Aria, you’re sharper than half the people already working there. Stop doubting yourself.”

Aria sank onto the couch, burying her face in her hands. “My stomach feels like it’s hosting a wrestling match.”

“That’s nerves.” Mia grabbed the handbag from the chair and tossed it at her. “Normal. Think of it as proof you care.”

Aria peeked over her fingers. “You’d actually drag me there if I backed out, wouldn’t you?”

“In a heartbeat. You’re not chickening out now.”

“You’re supposed to be my best friend, not my drill sergeant.”

“Both,” Mia said sweetly. “Now march.”

Aria snorted but grabbed the bag with trembling hands. “If I humiliate myself—”

“Then you’ll come home, we’ll buy ice cream, and you’ll try again. But you won’t humiliate yourself, so quit whining.”

Aria stood, casting one last glance in the mirror. She didn’t see confidence; she saw a woman who’d been knocked down too many times. But Mia’s words nestled somewhere deep. Maybe she could fake it long enough to survive the interview.

Mia watched her, smirk tugging at her lips. “Worst case scenario? Trip in your heels, fall flat on your face, and boom—you’ll be unforgettable.”

Aria groaned but couldn’t help laughing. “You’re insane.”

“And you love me for it.” Mia raised her coffee mug in a mock toast. “Now go make me proud.”

---

The building rose before Aria like a monument to power, all steel and glass scraping the morning sky. Voss Global. Her throat tightened as she pushed through the revolving doors, her heels clicking against the marble floor like gunfire.

The receptionist barely looked up from her screen. “Name?”

“Aria Hayes.”

“Third floor, Conference Room B. They’re waiting.”

That one word—waiting—made her knees weak.

In the elevator, the mirrored walls trapped her reflection from every angle. Pale skin, dark circles, lips pressed thin. She smoothed her blazer with clammy hands and whispered under her breath, “Just breathe, Aria. Just breathe.”

---

Conference Room B was sleek and intimidating. A long mahogany table stretched across the space, three executives perched at the far end like judges. Papers lay stacked in front of them, their eyes lowered.

“Miss Hayes,” the man in the center said without looking up. “Sit.”

Her legs shook, but she obeyed.

“You’ve been unemployed for six months,” one of them remarked, voice flat. “Why?”

Aria drew in a breath. “The company downsized. I’ve been freelancing while searching for the right position.”

“So no one else wanted you,” another said coolly.

The jab stung. Her cheeks burned, but she lifted her chin. “No. I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity.”

That earned a flicker of surprise from one of them.

Finally, the man in the center raised his head. His gaze locked with hers, sharp and unsettling, the kind of look that made it hard to breathe. Then, unexpectedly, he smiled.

“Confident,” he murmured. “I like that.”

Her pulse stumbled.

He leaned back, steepling his fingers. “Tell me, Miss Hayes—how far are you willing to go to prove your loyalty to this company?”

The question sliced through the air like a blade. The other executives stayed silent, watching.

Aria forced herself not to flinch. “As far as it takes.”

His smile sharpened, almost approving. “Good. Because once you’re in, walking away won’t be an option.”

A chill ran down her arms. She had no idea why, but the way he said it sounded less like corporate loyalty and more like… a warning.

The weight of his stare lingered until he finally lowered his eyes back to the papers. “That will be all. You’ll hear from us soon.”

Aria rose, her grip tight on her bag. She nodded quickly and walked out, her heels muffled against the carpet, her heart hammering in her chest.

The door closed behind her with a soft click, but the pressure of his eyes clung to her skin.

By the time she reached the street, her breath came in uneven bursts. She didn’t know if she’d passed or failed. She only knew one thing for certain—if she landed this job, everything in her life would change.