The Interview from Hell
Chapter 1: The Interview from Hell
Carolyn Chen stood outside the gleaming glass building, her palms sweating so badly she had to wipe them on her jeans for the third time. The sign above the entrance read “Sweet Haven Cookies” in elegant gold letters, and through the spotless windows, she could see people in business casual attire moving around like they actually knew what they were doing.
Unlike her.
“Okay, Carolyn. You’ve got this,” she muttered to herself, earning a weird look from a guy walking past. “It’s just an interview. The worst they can do is say no. Or laugh at you. Or both.”
Great pep talk, really.
She’d graduated three months ago with a business degree and exactly zero job offers. Turns out “enthusiastic” and “willing to learn” weren’t exactly the hottest qualifications on the market. Her bank account was crying, her student loans were glaring at her judgmentally, and her mom had started making pointed comments about her cousin who was already a manager somewhere.
This job—assistant to the CEO—was probably way out of her league, but desperate times and all that.
Carolyn pushed through the revolving doors and immediately felt like she’d walked into a different universe. The lobby was all white marble and exposed brick, with the smell of fresh-baked cookies wafting through the air. Her stomach growled traitorously. She’d been too nervous to eat breakfast.
“Can I help you?” The receptionist looked up with a polite smile. She was probably Carolyn’s age but seemed infinitely more put-together in her crisp white blouse and perfect makeup.
“Hi! Yes! I’m Carolyn Chen. I have an interview at ten?” Her voice came out too high and too eager. Calm down, she told herself. You sound like a caffeinated chipmunk.
“Of course. Please take a seat. Ms. Octavia will be with you shortly.”
Carolyn perched on the edge of a minimalist sofa that probably cost more than her entire wardrobe. She smoothed down her simple black dress—the only “professional” thing she owned—and tried not to touch her face and ruin the minimal makeup she’d applied.
Around her, employees chatted and laughed as they walked by. The atmosphere was surprisingly warm for a corporate office. She’d expected something cold and intimidating, all stressed-out people speed-walking with coffee cups. But this? This felt almost... nice?
“Ms. Chen?”
Carolyn jumped up so fast she nearly tripped over her own feet. Standing before her was a woman who looked like she’d stepped out of a business magazine—shoulder-length bob, tailored black pantsuit, and thin gold-rimmed glasses that somehow made her look both smart and approachable.
“I’m Octavia Zhang, CEO of Sweet Haven.” She extended her hand with a warm smile. “Please, follow me.”
“Thank you so much for seeing me, Ms. Zhang!” Carolyn shook her hand, trying not to grip too hard or too soft. Was there a perfect handshake pressure? Why hadn’t they taught that in school?
Octavia’s office was on the top floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. But what caught Carolyn’s attention wasn’t the view—it was the cozy reading nook in the corner, the photos of a young man on the desk, and the plate of cookies on the coffee table.
“Please, sit.” Octavia gestured to a comfortable chair across from her desk. “Would you like some cookies? They’re our newest recipe—matcha white chocolate.”
“Oh, I shouldn’t—” Carolyn’s stomach growled again, loudly this time. Her face burned. “Um, actually, yes please.”
Octavia laughed, a genuine sound that made some of Carolyn’s nervousness melt away. “I like honesty. Here at Sweet Haven, we believe in feeding people well. Body and soul.”
As Carolyn bit into the cookie—holy crap, it was amazing—Octavia opened a folder. “So, Carolyn. Tell me why you want this position.”
Here it was. The question. Carolyn had practiced her answer a hundred times in front of her mirror, but now all those rehearsed words flew out of her head.
“Honestly?” She swallowed the cookie. “I need a job. Like, really need one. But also—” She paused, deciding to just go for it. “I’ve been following Sweet Haven since you launched five years ago. The way you treat your employees, the quality of your products, the whole vibe of actually caring about people and not just profits? That’s the kind of company I want to work for. I know I don’t have a ton of experience, but I’m a fast learner, I’m reliable, and I promise I’ll work harder than anyone else you interview.”
Octavia studied her for a long moment, and Carolyn resisted the urge to squirm.
“You’re right,” Octavia finally said. “You don’t have much experience.”
Carolyn’s heart sank.
“But,” Octavia continued, a small smile playing at her lips, “neither did I when I started this company. What I see in your resume, and what I’m seeing now, is someone genuine. Someone who cares. Do you know how rare that is?”
“Um... very rare?”
“Extremely rare.” Octavia leaned back in her chair. “I’m going to be honest with you, Carolyn. This job isn’t glamorous. You’ll be managing my schedule, handling correspondence, dealing with vendors, attending meetings, and probably running out for coffee when I’m on my fifth deadline of the day. The hours can be long, and sometimes—” She paused. “Sometimes you’ll get caught in the crossfire of business politics that have nothing to do with cookies.”
That sounded ominous, but Carolyn nodded. “I can handle it.”
“Can you?” Octavia’s gaze was piercing but not unkind. “I need someone I can trust completely. Someone discreet. Someone who won’t crumble when things get complicated.”
“I’m tougher than I look,” Carolyn said, sitting up straighter. “I mean, I look like I’m about twelve years old and weigh ninety pounds soaking wet, but I promise I’m not a pushover.”
Octavia laughed again. “I believe you.” She stood up, and Carolyn scrambled to follow. “The job is yours if you want it. You can start Monday.”
Wait, what?
“Are you—really? Just like that?” Carolyn blinked rapidly. “Don’t you want to check my references or give me a skills test or—”
“I’m an excellent judge of character,” Octavia said simply. “And I think you’re exactly what this company needs right now. Someone fresh, someone honest, someone who hasn’t been corrupted by—” She stopped herself. “Well. Let’s just say I have a good feeling about you.”
Carolyn wanted to cry. Or scream. Or do a happy dance right there in the office. Instead, she managed to say, “Thank you. Thank you so much. I won’t let you down, I promise!”
“I know you won’t.” Octavia walked her to the door. “Oh, and Carolyn? There’s someone I’d like you to meet. She’ll be working closely with you.”
They walked down the hallway to another office. Unlike Octavia’s warm space, this one was minimalist and organized within an inch of its life. At the desk sat a young woman with delicate features, typing on her computer with incredible speed. She looked up as they entered, and Carolyn noticed two things immediately: her eyes were extraordinarily clear and focused, and she didn’t speak.
Instead, she smiled and signed something with her hands.
“Carolyn, this is Madeleine Wong, my protégé and future successor,” Octavia said, her hands moving along with her words. Carolyn realized she was signing as she spoke. “Madeleine is deaf, but don’t let that fool you—she’s the most capable person I know. She’ll be training you on our systems and procedures.”
Madeleine stood and extended her hand. Her grip was firm and confident. Then she picked up a notepad and wrote in neat handwriting: Welcome to Sweet Haven! I’m looking forward to working with you.
“Thank you!” Carolyn said, then felt stupid. Could Madeleine read lips? She made a mental note to research that immediately.
As if reading her mind, Madeleine wrote: I can read lips. Just speak normally and make sure I can see your face. Easy!
Carolyn grinned with relief. “Got it. I’m really excited to learn from you.”
Octavia watched their interaction with satisfaction. “Perfect. Madeleine, can you give Carolyn a tour and send her home with the employee handbook and paperwork?”
Madeleine nodded and motioned for Carolyn to follow.
The tour was eye-opening. The office had a gym, a nap room, and an actual full kitchen where fresh cookies were baked daily. The employees they passed all greeted Madeleine warmly, and she responded with signs that seemed to convey whole conversations.
Octavia believes in taking care of people, Madeleine wrote as they walked. She says happy employees make better cookies. And she’s right.
“This place is amazing,” Carolyn said honestly. “I feel like I won the lottery.”
Madeleine smiled and wrote: Just wait until you meet the Monday morning rush. Then we’ll see if you still feel that way! She added a winking emoji.
As they finished the tour and headed back to reception, Carolyn felt like she was floating. A real job! At a company she actually admired! Working for someone who seemed genuinely kind!
Of course, she had no idea that starting this job would throw her headfirst into a world of corporate espionage, family drama, and a certain devastatingly handsome billionaire who would turn her entire life upside down.
But that’s getting ahead of the story.
Carolyn celebrated her new job the way any broke recent graduate would—by buying a cheap bottle of wine and video calling her best friend.
“Shut up! You got it?” Mia’s face filled the phone screen, her eyes wide. “On the spot? Just like that?”
“I know, right?” Carolyn flopped back on her bed, grinning at the ceiling. “I thought I was going to bomb it, but Ms. Zhang is seriously the coolest boss ever. And Mia, you should see this place. They have a nap room. A NAP ROOM.”
“Okay, but what’s the catch?” Mia narrowed her eyes. “Nobody just hands out dream jobs. What’s wrong with it? Is she secretly a vampire? Does the company sacrifice interns to the cookie gods?”
“You watch too much TV,” Carolyn laughed. “There’s no catch. I’m just lucky.”
“Hmm.” Mia didn’t sound convinced. “Well, don’t get too comfortable. Remember what happened to Sarah from our dorm? She thought she landed her dream job and it turned out her boss was embezzling funds.”
“That’s not going to happen. Sweet Haven is legitimate. They’ve won like fifty awards for workplace culture and ethical business practices.”
“Fine, fine. I’m happy for you, really.” Mia’s expression softened. “You deserve this, Caro. You’ve been stressing for months.”
After they hung up, Carolyn stared at her ceiling, her mind racing. Tomorrow was Sunday. She had one day to prepare for her new life as a professional adult. That meant figuring out what to wear, how to act, and most importantly, how not to make a complete fool of herself.
No pressure.
She rolled over and googled “how to be a good assistant” on her phone. The first article was titled “10 Things Your Boss Wishes You Knew.” She started reading, then paused on number seven: “Maintain professional boundaries.”
That seemed straightforward enough. Don’t be too casual, don’t overshare, don’t get involved in office drama. Easy.
Carolyn had no way of knowing that in approximately one week, she would meet someone who would obliterate every single one of those professional boundaries. Someone with dark eyes, an expensive suit, and the kind of smile that should come with a warning label.
But again, we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
Monday morning arrived way too fast. Carolyn woke up at five-thirty, spent an hour deciding what to wear (finally settling on a simple white blouse and navy pants), and arrived at Sweet Haven forty-five minutes early.
The receptionist from Friday—her name tag said “Jenny”—looked amused. “Eager, are we?”
“Is it that obvious?” Carolyn asked sheepishly.
“Don’t worry, it’s cute. First day nerves are totally normal. Here—” Jenny handed her a visitor badge. “Madeleine’s already upstairs. Third floor, office 305. And hey, relax. Everyone here is really nice. You’ll do great.”
Carolyn took the elevator up, her heart pounding. The office was quieter this early, with only a few people at their desks. She found room 305 and knocked softly.
Madeleine opened the door immediately, looking somehow both professional and welcoming in a simple gray dress. She held up a sign: Ready for your first day?
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Carolyn said with a nervous laugh.
What followed was the most intense crash course in office management that Carolyn had ever experienced. Madeleine communicated through a combination of lip-reading, writing, and showing her exactly how everything worked. Within three hours, Carolyn’s head was spinning with information about filing systems, vendor contacts, meeting schedules, and approximately seventy different passwords.
Don’t worry if you don’t remember everything, Madeleine wrote during a quick coffee break. It took me two weeks to get the hang of the expense reporting system. And I’m a perfectionist.
“Thanks,” Carolyn said gratefully. “You’re an amazing teacher. How long have you worked here?”
Three years. Octavia hired me right out of college too. She gives people chances when others won’t. Madeleine’s expression grew soft. She’s the reason I believed I could do more than people expected.
Before Carolyn could respond, both of their phones buzzed simultaneously. Madeleine checked hers and her eyebrows rose. She quickly wrote: Meeting in Conference Room A in 15 minutes. Important clients. You should sit in and observe.
“Clients? Already? But I just started!”
Welcome to the deep end! Madeleine’s smile was almost mischievous.
Fifteen minutes later, Carolyn found herself sitting in the corner of an elegant conference room, notepad in hand, trying to look professional and invisible at the same time. Octavia sat at the head of the table, calm and composed. Madeleine was beside her, looking equally unfazed.
The door opened, and Carolyn glanced up.
Then her brain short-circuited.
The man who walked in was tall—really tall—with the kind of presence that made everyone in the room unconsciously sit up straighter. He wore a perfectly tailored navy suit that probably cost more than Carolyn’s car (if she had a car). Dark hair, strong features, and eyes that were somehow both cold and intense.
Behind him came another guy, shorter and more casually dressed, with an easy smile and the vibe of someone who didn’t take life too seriously.
“Ms. Zhang,” the tall one said, his voice deep and professional. “Thank you for seeing us on such short notice.”
“Mr. Randell,” Octavia replied, standing to shake his hand. “It’s been a while. How have you been?”
Wait. Randell? As in Randell Group, the massive business conglomerate that had buildings all over the city?
Carolyn’s eyes went wide. What were they doing here?
“Surviving,” he said with a slight smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’d like to discuss a potential partnership. Your company has an excellent reputation, and—”
He stopped mid-sentence. His gaze had drifted across the room and landed on Carolyn.
For a moment, their eyes met.
Carolyn felt her face flame red. She looked down at her notepad so fast she almost gave herself whiplash. Oh god. Had she been staring? She’d totally been staring. Smooth, Carolyn. Real smooth.
When she dared glance up again, the meeting had started. But she could have sworn—just for a second—she’d seen something shift in those dark eyes.
Interest? Amusement? Curiosity?
Whatever it was, Carolyn had a sudden, sinking feeling that her simple, drama-free new job had just become significantly more complicated.
And she had no idea just how right she was.
