Chapter 1- The Interview
Vivian Williams stared at the email on her phone.
INTERVIEW INVITATION — LAWSON GROUP
For months, she had sent applications to company after company. Most never replied. Some rejected her. Others promised to call and never did.
This was the first opportunity that felt real.
And Lawson Group was not just any company.
It was one of the largest corporations in the city, owned by Richard Lawson—a wealthy businessman and influential politician whose name appeared constantly in newspapers and on television.
Vivian had seen photographs of him before.
At thirty-eight, Richard was tall, handsome, intimidatingly successful and known for keeping his private life away from the public.
Vivian adjusted her simple navy dress and looked at herself in the mirror.
“Please, God,” she whispered. “Let this one work.”
An hour later, she stood inside Lawson Group’s luxurious headquarters.
“Ms. Williams?”
She turned.
“Yes?”
“Mr. Lawson is expecting you.”
Her heart skipped.
“Mr. Lawson himself?”
The secretary smiled.
“Yes.”
Vivian entered the office.
Richard stood beside the enormous window, dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit.
He turned.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment, Vivian forgot why she had come.
Richard noticed her reaction but said nothing.
“Please, sit.”
The interview began.
He asked about her education, her lack of experience, her ambitions and why she wanted to work for him.
Vivian answered honestly.
“I don’t have much experience,” she admitted, “but I’m willing to learn. Give me an opportunity and I’ll prove that I’m worth it.”
Richard studied her.
There was something different about her.
She was nervous, but she wasn’t pretending to be someone she wasn’t.
Finally, he closed her résumé.
“I have a position available.”
Vivian’s eyes brightened.
“What position?”
“My executive assistant.”
She blinked.
“Wouldn’t you prefer someone with experience?”
“Perhaps.”
Her heart fell.
“But experience isn’t everything.”
Richard stood.
“You start Monday.”
Vivian stared at him.
“I’m hired?”
“You’re hired.”
A beautiful smile spread across her face.
“Thank you, Mr. Lawson.”
Richard watched her leave.
He didn’t understand why he was still looking at the door after it closed.
But something told him hiring Vivian Williams would be a decision he wouldn’t forget.
