The atmosphere inside Vels Corporation's top floor was sharp with quiet authority. The heavy glass walls reflected the city skyline, and the sound of papers flipping was the only thing breaking the silence. Andre sat behind his sleek mahogany desk, staring absently at the file in front of him. He wasn't reading. He was remembering.
The moment Selina Whyte had stepped into his office earlier, the air had shifted.
He didn't know if it was her voice, the defiance that still lingered in her eyes, or the fact that she had stood there pretending she didn't know him—like their last encounter hadn't happened.
His jaw tightened. He wasn't sure if he admired her boldness or wanted to challenge it.
A soft knock came on the door.
"Sir?" Aiden, his assistant, stepped in with his usual calm precision. "You have a meeting scheduled with Lang Corporation in thirty minutes. The car's already waiting."
Andre blinked, the reminder pulling him back to reality. "Right. Prepare the files," he said curtly, pushing away Selina's folder. It took effort to detach himself from the strange pull she had left behind.
Aiden nodded. "Understood, sir. Should I finalize the interview shortlist?"
Andre hesitated, eyes flicking briefly toward Selina's name on the list before answering. "Yes. But leave that one," he said quietly. "The Whyte girl."
"Understood." Aiden didn't ask further questions; he knew better than to pry when his boss's tone turned that low.
Andre stood, adjusted his suit jacket, and walked toward the door. His expression was the perfect picture of control again—cold, unreadable, and distant. But beneath that exterior, something burned—a mix of curiosity, annoyance, and something dangerously close to interest.
........
Across town, Selina Whyte sank into the small wooden chair in her apartment, letting out a long sigh. The tension of the interview still clung to her like static. She wasn't sure how she felt—relieved that it was over, or terrified of how she'd done.
Her phone buzzed on the table, the cracked screen lighting up. Mom.
She quickly picked it up. "Hello, Mama," she said softly.
"Selina, my child! How did it go?" Her mother's voice was filled with the same gentle concern that had always anchored Selina.
"I… I think it went okay," she said, though uncertainty weighed in her tone. "It's a big company, Mom. Vels Corporation is nothing like the café. Everything there feels… perfect, sharp, like you don't belong unless you already have money."
Her mother sighed. "You belong wherever your hard work takes you. Don't ever forget that. What matters is that you tried. Did you eat?"
Selina smiled faintly. "Not yet. I just came home."
A pause hung between them. Then her mother lowered her voice. "Your father… he's been out again."
Selina froze. "Gambling?"
"Yes," her mother admitted softly. "He came home late last night. Lost again. I didn't want to worry you, but I know you're trying so hard."
Selina closed her eyes, pressing her hand against her temple. "I'll handle it, Mom. Just… just make sure he doesn't sell anything again. Please."
"I'll try," her mother said gently. "You're doing well, my dear. I know things are hard now, but God will open a way."
"I hope so," Selina whispered, her throat tightening. She ended the call quietly, staring at the faint cracks in her wall. For a few seconds, she sat there, lost in thought, before standing up and pulling her small laptop closer.
She opened a document labeled Job Applications – Pending, her fingers trembling slightly as she updated the list. "One more chance," she whispered. "Just one."
..........
Meanwhile, Andre and Aiden walked through the grand marble hallway of The Azure Lounge, one of the city's most exclusive restaurants. The golden chandeliers sparkled overhead, and the quiet hum of polished conversation filled the air. Andre's reputation preceded him , staff bowed respectfully as he passed.
Aiden held the folder containing the Lang Corporation proposal. "Sir, Mr. Lang confirmed the meeting will cover the expansion into the European branch. They'll be arriving shortly."
Andre nodded, his gaze distant. He was here, but not present. The image of Selina—her voice, her expression, the way her hand trembled slightly when she picked up her papers—kept intruding.
He hated distractions.
He never allowed them.
And yet, there she was—burned into his mind, as if daring him to lose control.
When the Lang representatives arrived, Andre shifted easily into business mode. His tone was smooth, his logic precise, his authority undeniable. He negotiated with the kind of sharp focus that had made him one of the youngest, most successful CEOs in the country.
But even as he discussed profit margins and expansion percentages, part of his mind was elsewhere.
..........
After the meeting, back in the car, Aiden spoke carefully. "Sir, the Lang deal looks promising. Should I schedule the follow-up for Friday?"
Andre didn't answer immediately. He was staring out the tinted window, the reflection of the city lights flickering against his sharp features.
"Yes," he said finally. "Friday. Same time."
He leaned back, closing his eyes briefly. "And about the interview earlier… finalize the position."
"Selina Whyte?" Aiden asked, a flicker of curiosity breaking through his usual calm.
Andre's lips twitched slightly not a smile, but something close. "Yes. Hire her."
Aiden nodded. "Understood, sir."
...........
That night, Selina was lying on her bed, exhaustion weighing down her limbs when her phone buzzed again. This time, it wasn't her mother. The screen showed an unknown number.
Her heart skipped. She sat up quickly. "Hello?"
"Good evening," a polite female voice said on the other end. "Am I speaking with Miss Selina Whyte?"
"Yes, this is her ."
"I'm calling from Vels Corporation. We're pleased to inform you that you've been selected for the position of Executive Secretary. Please report tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m."
Selina froze. For a moment, she couldn't speak. Her chest tightened, and tears threatened to spill. "I—thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Congratulations, Miss Whyte. We look forward to seeing you."
When the call ended, Selina dropped her phone onto the bed, covering her face with trembling hands. She let out a small laugh—a mix of disbelief and joy. "I did it," she whispered, laughing through the tears. "I really did it."
She got up, spinning once in her tiny room, the old floor creaking beneath her bare feet. It wasn't much, but it was her first victory in months.
Still, as she stared out the window toward the skyline, her thoughts flickered to the cold man in that office, the one with eyes like ice and a voice that sent a shiver down her spine.
She didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but one thing was certain—
her life was about to change again, and this time, she wouldn't back down.