chapter 4

Sonia

The next morning, my phone rang. I opened my eyes slowly.

“Hello?”

“Ms. Sonia?”

“Yes?”

“This is Daniel from the estate agency. I found an apartment.”

I sat up quickly. “Really?”

“Yes. It's small, but it's clean. The landlord is asking for an amount within your budget.”

My heart lifted slightly. “Can I see it?”

“Of course.”

Two hours later, I stood inside my new apartment.

It was tiny. The living room could barely fit a sofa and a small table.

The kitchen had only a few cabinets.

There was one bedroom. One bathroom. One small balcony overlooking a busy street.

I loved it.

I didn't know why. Maybe because every corner belonged to me. Nobody could tell me that I was embarrassing.

I signed the papers. By afternoon, my suitcase was inside.

I sat on the floor because I didn't have enough furniture yet.

I looked around. “This is mine.” The words made me smile.

It wasn't a mansion. It wasn't luxurious. It wasn't impressive. But it was mine. And that was enough.

I spent the afternoon updating my résumé.

I sent it to a different company. By evening, my inbox began filling.

Unfortunately, most of the messages said the same thing.

We regret to inform you… We have decided to proceed with other candidates…

Your application was unsuccessful…

I stared at the seven rejections on the screen.

By the time the sun went down, I had received more rejection emails than I could count.

I closed my laptop. For a moment, I wanted to cry.

Then I laughed. “What did you expect, Sonia?”

Eight years away from the industry was a long time.

Maybe everyone was right. Maybe I had lost my chance.

I was about to shut down my laptop when another notification appeared.

I almost ignored it. Then I saw the company name.

Sterling Technologies.

I frowned.

I opened the email. My heart began pounding.

Dear Ms. Sonia,

We are pleased to inform you that your application has been shortlisted for an interview for the position of Senior Cybersecurity Specialist.

God I can't believe this.

Sterling Technologies was one of the biggest technology companies in the country.

A company people fought for years to enter.

A company where even experienced professionals needed connections to get an interview. And somehow, they had shortlisted me.

I stared at the email with a smile before I replied to confirm the interview.

.......

The following morning, I stood in front of my mirror.

I chose a simple long gown. It wasn't designed to hide me. It was simply comfortable.

I looked at myself. For a moment, I heard Nathan again.

You embarrass me.

I touched my reflection. “Not today.”

I picked up my handbag. “Today, I am going to give myself a chance.” I said as I left the house.

Sterling Technologies was enormous.

The moment I stepped out of the taxi, I looked up at the glass tower.

It seemed to disappear into the sky.

Security guards stood around the entrance.

Luxury cars arrived one after another.

Employees walked in wearing expensive suits.

I suddenly felt very small as I walked inside.

The receptionist looked up and asked, “Name?”

“Sonia Lawson.” I answered with a smile.

She typed something. Then she looked at me.

“You're here for the cybersecurity interview?” she asked.

“Yes.” I nodded.

“Twenty-third floor. Interview waiting area.” she said.

“Thank you.”

I stepped into the elevator. As the doors closed, I took a deep breath.

When they opened again, I walked into a large waiting area.

There were at least twenty applicants.

Some were holding expensive handbags. Some were dressed in designer suits. Others were speaking confidently about their families and connections.

I found an empty chair and sat down quietly.

Two women were talking nearby.

“I heard Adrian Sterling is interviewing candidates himself today.”

The other woman smiled. “I know. I came here hoping to meet him.”

“Are you actually interested in the job?” The woman laughed.

“Honestly? Not really. I heard he's unmarried.”

“I heard he hates women.”

“He doesn't hate women. He just rejects every woman his mother introduces to him.”

The first woman touched her hair. “Well, he won't reject me.”

“Why are you so confident?”

“Because I'm beautiful.”

They both laughed.

I lowered my eyes. Then one of them noticed me. She whispered something to her friend.

They looked at me and laughed again.

I didn't need to hear them.

But I did.

“Look at her. Do you think Adrian Sterling will even notice her?”

“She came here for an interview?”

“Maybe she thinks this is a charity organization.”

They laughed.

My throat tightened. I stared at my hands. I wanted to get up. I wanted to walk away. But I remembered my present condition and I stayed.

I told myself I didn't come here to be liked.

I came here to work.

One by one, the candidates were called inside.

Some came out smiling. Some looked disappointed. Some were already making phone calls with disappointment.

My heart began beating faster.

What if I wasn't good enough? What if eight years had erased everything I knew? What if I failed?

Then I heard my name. “Ms. Sonia Lawson?”

I stood. My knees felt weak.

“Yes.” I answered.

“Mr. Sterling is ready for you.”

I took a deep breath. Then I walked toward the door and opened it.

The office was enormous. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the entire city. A dark wooden desk stood near the window.

And behind it sat a man, Adrian Sterling.

I had seen photographs of him online.

None of them prepared me for the real thing.

God, he was handsome, tall with broad-shouldered and dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit.

His face was sharp and unreadable. But it was his eyes that stopped me.

They were cold, dark. And the moment they landed on me, they didn't move.

I suddenly forgot how to breathe.

He stared at me as though he were trying to understand something.

I stood frozen near the door. My heart began pounding.

Why was he looking at me like that?

Had someone already told him about me?

Had the people outside said something? Or was there something wrong with my appearance?

His gaze slowly traveled over me. Then returned to my face.

I swallowed hard. My hands began trembling.

So the stories were true.

That Adrian sterling was a ruthless billionaire. The man who terrified executives. The man who had rejected every woman his mother had chosen for him.

The man who supposedly never looked twice at anyone.

Why was he staring at me as though he could see right through me?