Written by Fate

Episode 5: The offer that changed everything

Sleep had never been less cooperative than last night.

Every word that Ethan had said to me echoed in my head, "Be careful, Sophia." His eyes were so serious when he spoke. It had only been a few days since I met him, yet my otherwise serene life had taken a swift, chaotic turn, involving random phone calls, threatening photographs, and shadowy figures watching my every move. I tossed and turned until the sun's first rays crept through the window, and then I finally rolled out of bed.

Mom was already fussing with her morning tea in the kitchen, her movements a little slower than they’d been just a few weeks ago. "Didn't rest much, did you, sweetheart?" she said, without looking up from the kettle.

I attempted a weak smile. "I'll be fine." She reached over to the breakfast bar and squeezed my hand. "Whatever is eating you, you don't have to go through it alone."

Oh, if only she knew. I longed to confess everything—about Ethan, Victoria, the photograph. But she was already burdened by her health.

"I promise, I'm okay," I insisted.

She studied my face for a long moment before giving a slight nod.

"I trust you."

After a quick breakfast, I headed to work at the café.

The café was unusually quiet today. As soon as I walked in, my manager beckoned me to his office. "Sophia, a man from Williams Group, was here to see you earlier."

My heart jolted. "Ethan?"

"No. He left this for you." He handed me a pristine white envelope. Inside was a formal letter, the typeface impeccably spaced:

---

Miss Sophia Carter,

Mr. Ethan Williams would like to offer you the position of Executive Personal Assistant at Williams Group.

Salary: $6,000 per month.

Accommodation and transportation were provided.

Please report tomorrow if you accept.

---

My eyes blurred as I re-read the salary. Six thousand dollars. I’d spent months working double shifts for a fraction of that.

"This... This must be a mistake," I stammered.

"It isn't," my manager replied, his voice surprisingly firm. "I've already confirmed it with his office."

I couldn’t breathe. That money would be enough to cover Mom’s treatment, Daniel’s tuition, our rent… everything. And yet, a cold knot of unease tightened in my stomach. Was this about my qualifications, or Ethan's growing interest in me?

Folding the letter, I thanked my manager and trudged home.

The walk was a battle between logic and desperation. Accept it—you can help your family. No, it looks like you're taking advantage of him. But what if Victoria was right? By the time I reached home, my head throbbed with conflicting thoughts.

Mom noticed my distress as soon as I walked in the door.

"Sophia?

What happened?"

I handed her the letter.

She put on her reading glasses and read it carefully, her eyes widening in astonishment when she reached the end. "This is an incredible opportunity, dear."

"I know."

"Then why don't you look like you want to leap with joy?"

I sat next to her, a sigh escaping me. "What if everyone thinks I'm just using him because they pity me?"

Mom smiled, a soft, comforting curve of her lips. "Then prove them wrong."

"How?" I asked, puzzled.

"By working harder than everyone else.

"Let your results do the talking." The simple words landed softly in my heart, bringing with them a sliver of peace.

That evening, my phone vibrated with a new notification. It was Ethan. After a moment’s hesitation, I answered. "Hello?"

"Hi, Sophia," his calm voice resonated through the receiver, soothing my frayed nerves. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"No, you're not."

"I imagine you received the offer."

"Yes, I did."

A pause hung between us before I voiced the question that had gnawed at me all day. "Why me, Ethan?"

There was another brief silence, then, "Because you're honest."

I frowned. "Plenty of people are honest."

"Not like you."

"I don't understand."

"When you spilled that drink on me, you apologized and took responsibility without making excuses. When someone attempts to sow seeds of doubt about me in your mind, you come directly to me. I need reliable people around me, people I can trust."

His words sent a warmth through me that had been absent for a long time.

"But I'm not qualified..."

"You'll learn."

"And if I can't?"

"I have no reason to believe that you'll fail."

For the first time in ages, I felt that someone believed in me. "I'll accept the job," I whispered.

"I'm glad."

"So... When do I start?"

"Tomorrow morning," he replied, his tone laced with a hint of amusement.

"What?"

He let out a soft chuckle. "I did say Williams Group moves fast."

A laugh escaped my lips. "I'll be there."

The next morning, I stood before the colossal building that housed Williams Group, craning my neck to see the top floor disappear into the clouds. As well-dressed employees bustled through the revolving doors, my modest attire felt starkly out of place. Taking a deep breath, I pushed through the glass and stepped inside.

"Miss Carter?" the receptionist chirped, a welcoming smile gracing her lips.

"Yes."

"We've been expecting you." She handed me an ID card. "Mr. Williams is waiting on the executive floor."

The elevator ride seemed to take an eternity. When the doors slid open onto the top floor, I found myself in an office so opulent it took my breath away. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the cityscape. Built-in bookshelves overflowed with leather-bound volumes, and abstract art hung on the walls.

Standing by the window was Ethan, his silhouette outlined against the morning sun. He turned as I entered, and for a beat, the world held still. Then, he smiled, a genuine, dazzling smile that made my stomach flutter. "Welcome to Williams Group, Sophia."

I managed a shaky smile back. "Thank you." Just as I was about to take a step further into the lavish space, a sharp voice cut through the air.

"So..." A woman in a crisp, expensive suit stood in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest. "This is the waitress who replaced me?" Her eyes, sharp and resentful, raked over me. "I'm Melissa Grant," she declared, her tone glacial. "Chief Operations Ma

nager. Let's see how long you last here."

The silence that followed was deafening. In under five minutes, I had made my first enemy.