PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE

They said perseverance and patience always paid off. But as Rosa Hamon stood in the back of a crowded bus, her damp résumé folder clutched to her chest, she was starting to doubt it.

This was her sixth interview in three weeks. Sixth.

The other five were….. disappointing and not worth remembering.

Now, as the bus jolted through the clogged streets of downtown Oak Avenue, she whispered a silent prayer that this one, this interview, would be the one she had been hoping for. God please.

Her reflection on the window didn’t inspire much hope. Dark circles framed her jade green eyes, her hair, once a glossy honey blonde, was now hastily tied in a high bun, and her blouse, the only crisp one left, had a little tear at the hem of her sleeve and she desperately hoped the interviewer wouldn't notice it. At this point, any silly thing could cost her this one thing! But she straightened her posture anyway.

"You are going to get this, Rosa", she murmured to herself. "You have to".

Her phone buzzed. It was her Aunt Nardine.

"You’ll do great, sweetheart. Just breathe. And eat something when you’re done, okay?"

Rosa smiled faintly. Aunt Nardine was all she had left, her late mother's sister, who’d taken her in without a single question when Rosa’s landlord kicked her out after missing two months’ rent.

She had been afraid that she would turn her back away, but the woman smiled affectionately at her, like the smile of a mother to her child.

Aunt Nardine had just opened her arms in warm embrace,

"We will start all over again, okay?"

And Rosa was determined to make that “start” mean something.

She glanced at the dashboard clock.

8:30 a.m.

Her interview was at nine. If traffic cleared soon, she’d make it. Maybe. Hopefully.

She had to.

But the line of brake lights stretching ahead told another story.

The bus driver muttered a curse.

“Accident up ahead. We’ll be here for a while.”

Rosa’s stomach dropped.

“No, no, this wasn't happening", she whispered leaning out the window to see rows of cars trapped with horns blaring and frustrations evident. Her hands began to tremble as panic started to rise.

She looked at the driver. "Can you let me out here, please?"

He frowned. "Ma’am, we’re in the middle of-"

"-Please!" she cut in, her voice cracking a bit. “I can run the rest of the way!”

The man hesitated, then sighed and opened the door. It was her business anyways.

Rosa leapt out, clutching her folder to her chest. Cold morning air hit her face hard as she landed on the asphalt and she felt her body shiver a little. The sounds of the city swallowed her instantly. Horns, engines, and the distant wail of sirens.

Her heels clicked frantically against the pavement as she swayed between idle cars, muttering words of apologies. Some yelled at her but she wouldn't stop. She couldn't stop. She wasn't going to lose this chance!

If this passed her by.....

Rosa clenched her hands into fists. No! She wasn't going to lose another family! And so she hurried with more determination fueled within her.

She reached an intersection where the lights were blinking red, warning of the jam. The pedestrian sign flickered, stuck mid count. She looked left, no cars were moving. Right, they were putting on their ignition and ready to move. If she could just run very fast, she would be able to run past the cars.

"I can make it", she breathed.

And then, she ran. But the world exploded a second later.

A blaring horn. Tyres screeching. A flash of white. A scream. Rosa felt her life flash in her eyes.

Then pain, sharp, blinding and everywhere.

Her body lifted from the ground before she even realized what had happened. Her folder flew from her hand, pages scattering into the air like nothing. Time slowed and then she hit the pavement. The ringing pitch in her ear increased and Rosa felt her vision blur. People were shouting, faces rushing toward her, their mouths moving with no sound. She tried to speak. To say she was fine but her throat burned, and she felt choked.

A man’s face appeared above her - sharp jawline, ruffled dark hair, grey eyes as cold as steel. He was dressed too perfectly for this chaos. A dark suit, a loosened tie, and an expression that wasn’t panic, but anger.

He turned away, yelling into his phone.

“Get an ambulance, now!”

Her breath shuddered. “H-hel-p,” her eyes weakened and she felt this was the end.

Was she going to die? What of her aunt? She needed her. She gasped for air and the man immediately placed his hand beneath her head.

“Stay awake”. His tone was firm, commanding, the kind of voice that wasn’t used to being disobeyed and she immediately felt drawn to it.

“You’re going to be fine.”

She focused on that voice, trying to hold onto it as everything else dimmed. His cologne, clean and expensive, wafted into her nose.

Her lips trembled. “I… I have an interview.”

His brows furrowed, and for the first time, his composure cracked. “What?”

She smiled weakly . “I can’t… miss it.”

My aunt needs me.

Rosa felt her body sway and before everything turned dark, she had heard someone yell, “Sir Wade!“

And then her body went still.

That moment….the desperation in her eyes, the tremor in her voice, clung to him like a gum, refusing to let go.

As Rosa was lifted into the ambulance, a piece of paper fluttered against his shoe. He bent to pick it up.

It was her résumé.

Rosa Hamon. Age 23………

He stared at the name for a long moment, then folded the paper neatly and slipped it into his coat pocket.

“Sir Wade! Are you okay?“

His assistant ran to him, worry evident in his voice but his boss's demeanor was that of bleakness, and he stood there not saying a word nor moving.

A single crash could literally change the fate of someone and for Rosa Hamon and Alexander Wade, that was the day it did.