The Interview

By the time Valerie reached the waiting area, her heart was beating wildly, threatening to come out of her chest, until she noticed two ladies and a man seated quietly, their postures stiff, faces unreadable. From the way they avoided eye contact, Cathy guessed they were there for the same reason she was.

She took out her phone and checked her reflection, subtly adjusting her face to be sure her makeup hadn’t smudged. Her dress was still neat. Not rumpled. She exhaled softly and turned to the lady beside her.

“Hi,” she said with a small smile. “My name is Valerie. Are you also here for the interview?”

“Yes,” the lady replied politely.

The silence returned.

Moments later, the lady introduced herself as Chloe, explaining that one of the interview panel members was delayed but would arrive shortly. The interview would begin anytime soon.

Valerie felt a wave of relief. Maybe luck was finally on her side.

When interviews began, one woman came out crying. The man who followed wore a blank expression. When Chloe emerged, she looked like she might fall apart, visibly shaking as tears formed in her eyes. Valerie comforted her briefly, exchanging numbers before her own name was called.

Her heart skipped a beat.

She whispered a quick prayer and walked in.

The office was elegant. Glass windows shimmered like diamonds as light found its way through them. A large oak table sat at the centre of the room. Four people sat around it.

And there he was.

The man from the elevator.

Ellan Noir.

He didn’t speak once during the interview. He only watched her. His gaze was so intense that it made Valerie uncomfortable, almost feeling as if he wanted to use his eyes to pierce her soul.

When it ended, Valerie left feeling drained.

She waited outside, hoping to see him again, but when he didn’t appear, she approached the receptionist, only to be dismissed coldly. The receptionist glared at her, wondering what connection she had with Mr Noir. She refused to give any useful information and dismissed her. Valerie had no choice but to leave, not wanting to cause a scene. She left the building and went straight to a restaurant.

That night, she washed the handkerchief carefully, promising herself she would return it someday, whenever she had the chance.

Back at the company, Ellan requested her file.

The directors were shocked, since Ellan was never interested in things like this.

After reading it, he spoke calmly. “We’re hiring her.” Not for the position she applied for, but as my assistant—double the price.

Not because she wasn’t qualified, but because she intrigued him. He needed to satisfy his curiosity. He wanted to know who dared to ride his elevator with him and decided to cause a scene but also to confirm if she was really the only one.

At home, Nora called just to check up on her. She narrated her whole day, and Nora tried to comfort her, telling her she would get the job. Not long after, she dropped the call and drifted to sleep, hoping she would get the job.

Elsewhere, Ellan ignored his mother’s calls. He watched it ring over and over again until his father called him and reminded him about the banquet in two weeks’ time. His father told him to bring Claire if he had no one else to bring.

The name alone made his stomach twist.

The girl who left him in the rain and watched him rot with no sympathy whatsoever.

After ending the call, Ellan slammed his fist onto his desk, papers scattering across the floor. He grabbed his keys and drove out of the company.

Valerie woke up feeling energetic. Her house was a mess from all the takeout she’d been ordering, so she immediately set to work—cleaning, washing dirty plates, and doing her laundry. Once everything was in order, she headed to a nearby supermarket to get the essentials.

When she returned home, she made a quick dish while scrolling through her phone. Suddenly, she received an email from Noir Group. Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly opened it: they had offered her a job—but not the position she applied for. She was to resume as the C.E.O.’s personal assistant, at double the pay. Valerie was ecstatic. Finally, she could work instead of staying idle at home. She was set to start on Monday at 8 a.m.

Overwhelmed with excitement, she immediately called Nora. They talked for hours, laughing and celebrating. For the first time in a long while, Valerie prayed Monday would come quickly. She even visited a few malls, picking up new clothes, shoes, and other essentials before heading home.

Monday arrived. Valerie woke up early, eager and nervous. She wore a mid-length black office gown that hugged her figure perfectly, paired with black stilettos and her white office bag. The handkerchief she had returned to Ellan, she kept safely in her bag. After a quick breakfast of bacon and eggs and grabbing a coffee, she hailed a taxi and made her way to the company.

At the building, she walked in confidently, head held high. At the reception desk, she announced she was there to resume as the C.E.O.’s personal assistant. The receptionist, sizing her up from head to toe, directed her: “Go to the 123rd floor.”

Valerie noticed there were two elevators. She attempted to enter Ellan’s elevator—but a strong hand grabbed her arm.

“What are you doing?” a deep voice asked.

Valerie turned, startled. “I—I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

“No problem,” he replied. “But don’t make that mistake again. That elevator is strictly for the C.E.O. You can be penalised.”

“I—I understand,” Valerie stammered.

“I’m Eric, by the way. Are you new here?”

“Yes, it’s my first day,” she replied.

Eric was tall, muscular, and wore glasses. They rode the elevator together. “Your floor?” he asked.

“123rd,” she said. Eric raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment further. When they reached her floor, they said goodbye. “Hoping to see you around,” he said casually.

Valerie made her way to Ellan’s floor and met his secretary, a petite girl named Rose, who showed her to her office. She settled in, arranging her belongings, when the telephone on her desk rang.

“Get in,” a deep voice instructed.

Heart racing, Valerie scrambled to Ellan’s office. She knocked lightly. “Come in,” he said.

The office was spacious, elegant, and well-lit. Valerie stepped inside—and froze.

There he was—the man from the elevator. Ellan Noir.

“Good morning, sir,” she stammered.

“My schedule for today,” he said flatly. “You have a meeting in 15 minutes. Deliver some documents to the executives for signing.”

“Okay,” she replied nervously.

“Book my lunch at a five-star restaurant,” he added before she could say more. Valerie left, nervous and intimidated, remembering Eric’s warning about penalties.

Summoning her courage, she returned to Ellan’s office moments later. “Sir, I’m here to return this,” she said, placing the handkerchief on his desk. “I had no idea it was your elevator. I wouldn’t have entered. I’m really sorry.”

Ellan looked up for the first time, intrigued. She was stunning—beautiful, confident, and poised. “How do I make it up to you?” she asked, he stepped closer.

Valerie stammered, “I —really want to…?”

Before anything could happen, the office door flung open. Valerie froze.

It was Claire.