THE INTERVIEW

I sat across from Jude Adeyemi, trying desperately not to show how nervous I was.But inside, I was panicking.Of all the people in this city, why did it have to be him?The man I had insulted less than an hour ago.The man who had splashed muddy water all over me and then looked at me like I was nothing.And now he was sitting behind a massive desk, dressed perfectly, looking completely in control.My future was literally in his hands.Jude picked up my résumé.He looked at it without saying anything.The silence was unbearable.I shifted slightly in my chair.He noticed.Of course he noticed.“You seem nervous,” he finally said.I looked at him.“No.”One eyebrow lifted.“No?”“I mean…” I cleared my throat. “A little.”His eyes returned to my résumé.“I thought you weren't afraid of speaking your mind.”My face became warm.He was talking about earlier.“I was upset.”“You insulted me.”“You splashed water all over me.”“And?”I stared at him.“Are you always like this?”His expression remained unreadable.“Like what?”“Difficult.”For a second, I thought I had gone too far.Then something almost resembling amusement appeared in his eyes.“Apparently.”He returned his attention to my résumé.“Why do you want to work at Adeyemi Holdings?”I took a breath.“Because I want an opportunity to grow. I want to build a career, become independent, and prove to myself that I can do something meaningful with my life.”He looked up.There was something different in his expression now.Not softness.Interest.“You don't sound like someone who gives up easily.”“I don't.”“Even when things don't go your way?”I thought about the morning.“I try not to.”He studied me for several seconds.Then he asked another question.I answered.Another question.I answered that too.Slowly, my nervousness began to disappear.This was an interview.Not a battle.I reminded myself of that every time Jude's eyes met mine.After several minutes, he placed my résumé on the desk.“You can start Monday.”I blinked.“What?”“You're hired.”I stared at him.I wasn't sure I'd heard correctly.“You're… hiring me?”“Yes.”A smile slowly appeared on my face.“Thank you.”Jude leaned back.“Don't thank me yet.”My smile faded slightly.“This is a demanding company. I expect professionalism, punctuality, and hard work.”“I understand.”“And one more thing.”“Yes?”His eyes met mine.“What happened this morning stays outside this office.”I frowned.“What do you mean?”“You don't bring personal disagreements into the workplace.”I nodded.“Understood.”“Good.”I stood up and picked up my handbag.“Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Adeyemi.”I turned toward the door.“Isabella.”I stopped.I looked back.“Yes?”For a moment, Jude said nothing.His expression was difficult to read.Then he simply said,“Be on time Monday.”I nodded.“I will.”I walked out of his office.The moment the door closed behind me, I released a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.I got the job.I actually got the job.Despite everything.I smiled as I walked toward the elevator.But I didn't see Jude still standing behind the glass wall of his office, watching me leave.His eyes remained on me until the elevator doors closed.Then his phone rang.He answered.“Hello?”A woman's voice came through.Jude's expression immediately changed.The confidence disappeared.His jaw tightened.“I told you not to call me here.”There was a pause.He listened silently.Then his face hardened.“You should have stayed in the past.”Another pause.His eyes moved toward the elevator where Isabella had disappeared.The woman spoke again.And this time, Jude's voice dropped to a whisper.“Don't come near her.”He ended the call.For several seconds, he stood completely still.Then he looked down at Isabella's résumé.His eyes stopped at her name.Isabella.Something about her wasn't supposed to matter to him.But somehow…she already did.