The Door Opens
1191 Words
I woke up earlier than I needed to the next morning.
For a few seconds, I stared at the ceiling, trying to remember where I was. Then the unfamiliar room came back to me, followed almost immediately by the reason I had barely slept.
Aureon. I was actually going there.
I got out of bed and walked toward the wardrobe, trying not to think too much about what the interview could mean. If I got the job, I would finally have access to the company. If I didn’t, I would have to find another way in.
Neither option was particularly comforting.
By the time I came downstairs, Alessia was already sitting at the table with a cup of tea.
She looked up at me and smiled, but the smile quickly turned into a knowing look.
“You look like you didn’t sleep.”
“I slept.”
“How long?”
I hesitated, already knowing she wouldn’t like my answer.
“Enough.”
She let out a small laugh. “That’s not an answer.”
I sighed and glanced away.
“I was nervous, okay?”
“About the interview?”
“Obviously.”
She moved her cup aside and looked at me properly. “Clara, you’re acting like they’re going to interrogate you.”
“Maybe they will.”
“They’re interviewing you for a job, not investigating a murder.”
I almost choked on the water I’d just taken.
She smiled. “You’ll be fine. You know what you’re doing, and you’re more qualified than you think.”
“Thank you.”
“And if they ask you something you don’t know, just say you don’t know. Don’t start inventing answers because you’re scared of looking stupid.”
I looked at her and smiled.
“That was actually good advice.”
“Of course it was. I’m older than you.”
“By what, two years?”
She lifted her chin proudly. “Those two years are very important.”
I laughed, shaking my head.
Then Selena walked into the room.
“Are you ready?”
“I think so.”
She came over and adjusted the collar of my blouse.
“You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“Just remember to be yourself.”
I smiled. If only she knew how difficult that was.
The interview itself went better than I expected.
The hiring manager, a man named Daniel, wasn’t intimidating, but he wasn’t easy either. He asked questions that actually made me think instead of throwing the usual interview phrases at me.
“So, Clara,” he said after going through my résumé, “you studied business administration. Why Aureon?”
I folded my hands on my lap.
“Because I don’t want to spend the next few years looking at my degree and wondering what I’m supposed to do with it.”
He smiled slightly.
“That’s honest.”
“I thought honesty was better than giving you some rehearsed answer.”
“It usually is. What do you think you can bring to the company?”
I thought for a moment before answering.
“I’m organized, I learn quickly, and I’m good at paying attention to details.”
“Everyone says they’re good at details, so what makes you different?”
“I notice when people don’t believe me,” I said, raising an eyebrow.
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
“Fair enough.”
The interview continued for another twenty minutes. We talked about my education, my internship experience, and how I handled working with people who had very different personalities.
When it finally ended, I felt as though I could breathe again.
Daniel closed the folder.
“Thank you for coming in, Clara. We’ll get back to you.”
I stood.
“Thank you for giving me the opportunity,” I stood and shook his hand.
“You did well.”
I left the room with a small smile on my face.
I’d done it. Now I only had to wait.
The call came later that afternoon.
I was sitting with Alessia in the living room when my phone rang.
I looked at the unknown number.
“Hello?”
“Good afternoon. Am I speaking with Clara Bennett?”
“Yes.”
“This is Aureon Human Resources. I’m calling regarding your interview this morning.”
My heart skipped.
“Yes?”
“We’re pleased to offer you the position.”
For a second, I didn’t say anything.
“I’m sorry?”
The woman laughed softly.
“I said we’d like to offer you the position. We’d like you to resume on Monday.”
A smile slowly spread across my face.
“Yes. Of course. Thank you so much.”
She explained the documents I needed to bring and the time I was expected to arrive.
When the call ended, Alessia was already staring at me.
“Well?”
I couldn’t stop smiling.
“I got it.”
She jumped up from the sofa.
“I knew you would!”
She hugged me so tightly that I laughed.
“You were more nervous than I was.”
“Because I knew you could do it.”
When she finally let me go, she looked at me with a proud smile.
“Are you excited?”
“Very.”
“Good. Because you’re going to have to wake up early on Monday.”
“I know.”
“And don’t embarrass me.”
I stared at her, confused.
“How would I embarrass you?”
“I don’t know. Just don’t.”
A small laugh slipped out of me. “I’ll try.”
She settled back into her seat, studying me for a moment.
“You know, I’m really happy you’re doing this.”
“Why?”
“Because I was worried you’d feel uncomfortable staying here.”
I looked at her, touched by the concern in her voice.
“You’ve been very kind to me.”
Her expression softened.
“That’s because I like you.”
She grabbed her phone, a grin spreading across her face. “Okay, now we’re celebrating.”
“Celebrate what?”
“Your first job.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think getting a job requires a celebration.”
“Everything requires a celebration.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Fine. What are we celebrating with?”
“Food.”
“Of course.”
She grinned. “What else?”
That night, after dinner, I went upstairs earlier than usual.
I changed into my night clothes and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the Aureon email on my phone.
I had gotten in.
It happened much more easily than I’d expected.
For the first time since Vescari sent me here, I felt like the mission was actually moving.
I placed my phone on the bedside table and turned off the light.
I was just about to close my eyes when my phone vibrated.
I frowned and reached for it.
One new message.
No name. No greeting.
Just a single sentence:
Now that you’re inside Aureon, find out what Moretti is hiding.
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