Sophia Bennet

Six months later.

Sophia Bennett had no idea that her life was about to change.

She stood outside the Vale Corporation headquarters with a folder pressed against her chest, staring up at the forty-eight-story glass tower.

Forty-eight floors.

Sophia tilted her head back until her neck hurt.

"That's unnecessary."

A businessman walking past her glanced over.

Sophia lowered her voice.

"Nobody needs forty-eight floors."

She looked down at the piece of paper in her hand.

VALE CORPORATION — 48TH FLOOR

She checked it again.

Then looked at the building.

Then at the paper.

"Definitely forty-eight."

She sighed.

This was already going badly.

She had spent the entire morning preparing for this interview.

She had ironed her blouse.

Twice.

She had rehearsed answers in front of the bathroom mirror.

She had researched Vale Corporation until three in the morning.

She had even borrowed her neighbor's perfume because she couldn't afford to buy a new bottle.

And yet, somehow, she had forgotten to check her shoes.

Sophia looked down.

One was black.

The other was navy blue.

She stared at them.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me."

She closed her eyes.

Of all days.

Of all interviews.

Of all companies.

Vale Corporation.

The company where the billionaire Adrian Vale supposedly interviewed people himself.

The Adrian Vale.

Sophia had seen his photograph in newspapers.

Everyone had.

Dark hair.

Sharp jaw.

Expensive suits.

Cold eyes.

The kind of man who looked as though he had been born already annoyed with everyone around him.

And she was about to walk into his building wearing mismatched shoes.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

She took a deep breath.

"You need this job."

She looked at the building.

"You need this job more than you need dignity."

Another breath.

"Go."

She walked inside.

The lobby was enormous.

Polished marble stretched beneath her feet.

White orchids sat in enormous silver vases.

A wall of glass overlooked the busy street.

Men and women in immaculate suits moved through the lobby with the confidence of people who had never worried about whether their bank card would be declined.

Sophia immediately felt poor.

Very poor.

She tightened her grip around her folder.

Her bank account contained £43.17.

Her rent was due in four days.

Her landlord had already sent her three messages.

The electricity company had sent two.

Her student loan payment was overdue.

And her refrigerator contained half a carton of milk, three eggs and something she had been afraid to identify for the last week.

She needed this job.

Desperately.

Sophia approached reception.

"Good morning."

The receptionist smiled politely.

"Good morning. How may I help you?"

"I'm here to see Adrian Vale."

The woman's fingers paused above her keyboard.

"Mr. Vale?"

"Yes."

"Do you have an appointment?"

Sophia immediately pulled out her phone.

"Apparently."

She showed her the email.

The receptionist read it.

Her eyebrows rose slightly.

"Miss Bennett?"

"That's me."

"Mr. Vale is expecting you."

Sophia blinked.

"He is?"

"Yes."

"Personally?"

The receptionist smiled.

"I believe so."

Sophia looked around the lobby.

"That's concerning."

The receptionist's smile widened.

"I'm sorry?"

"Nothing."

Sophia straightened.

"Nothing at all."

The receptionist gave her directions to the elevator.

"Forty-eighth floor."

Sophia stared at her.

Again.

"Forty-eight?"

"Yes."

"Does he interview everyone up there?"

"I wouldn't know."

"Right."

Sophia nodded.

"Of course you wouldn't."

She walked toward the elevator.

Three steps later, she turned around.

"Excuse me?"

"Yes?"

"If I don't get this job, are you going to be here afterward?"

The receptionist looked confused.

Sophia sighed.

"I need to know whether I should cry here or somewhere less embarrassing."

The receptionist laughed.

Sophia smiled.

"Thank you."

She entered the elevator.

The doors closed.

Sophia immediately leaned against the wall.

"Okay."

She stared at her reflection.

Her brown hair was slightly messy.

Her blouse had a tiny crease near the collar.

And her shoes were still wrong.

She fixed her hair.

"You are intelligent."

She pointed at her reflection.

"You graduated with honors."

A pause.

"You have experience."

Another pause.

"You are capable."

She nodded.

"You're going to walk in there, answer every question perfectly and get the job."

She took a breath.

"And you are not going to embarrass yourself."

The elevator began moving.

Sophia nodded.

"Easy."

The elevator dinged.

The doors opened.

Sophia stepped out.

And immediately walked into a glass wall.

Thud.

Her folder flew out of her hands.

Papers scattered across the polished floor.

Sophia froze.

A man standing nearby stared at her.

She stared at him.

Then at the glass wall.

Then back at him.

"That was intentional."

The man said nothing.

Sophia crouched down.

"Very modern."

Still nothing.

"Extremely modern."

She gathered the papers as quickly as possible.

Her face burned.

A pair of expensive black shoes appeared in front of her.

Sophia looked up.

A man stood there.

Tall.

Dark-haired.

Broad-shouldered.

Perfectly dressed in a black suit.

His expression was unreadable.

Sophia's brain went completely blank.

Then one thought appeared.

Oh no.

She knew that face.

Everyone knew that face.

Adrian Vale.

He looked down at the papers scattered around her.

Then at her.

"Are you finished?"

Sophia swallowed.

"I think the wall won."

One of his eyebrows lifted.

Sophia immediately regretted speaking.

"I mean..."

She grabbed the last paper.

"Good morning."

He said nothing.

Sophia stood.

She brushed imaginary dust from her skirt.

"Mr. Vale?"

"Yes."

She held out her hand.

"Hi."

He looked at her hand.

Then at her face.

After a moment, he shook it.

His grip was firm.

Sophia's hand disappeared inside his.

She pulled it back.

"Sorry."

"For what?"

"I don't know."

He studied her.

Sophia gave him an awkward smile.

"I apologize when I'm nervous."

"I noticed."

She looked toward the glass wall.

"That's probably because I haven't been this nervous since I accidentally called my university professor 'Dad.'"

Silence.

Sophia cleared her throat.

"That was a terrible story."

"Come with me."

He turned.

Sophia hurried after him.

"Right."

She followed.

Then glanced down at her shoes.

"Definitely a terrible day."

Adrian stopped.

She nearly walked into him.

Again.

He looked over his shoulder.

Sophia froze.

"Sorry."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Do you always apologize this much?"

"Only when I'm making a terrible first impression."

"You've made several."

Sophia smiled weakly.

"Thank you for noticing."

He turned and continued walking.

Sophia followed him toward the largest office she had ever seen.

She had no idea that the interview waiting behind those doors would change her life.

And she certainly had no idea that the man walking in front of her had not smiled in six months.

Nor did she know why.