CHAPTER FOUR(4)
1233 Words
Sometimes the hardest part is not saying goodbye to what happened. It is saying hello to a future that's not easy to see.
Ariana stood on the side of the street in front of Ashford Group. She was holding a cream-colored invitation that someone had given her.
The big glass building went up high into the morning sky. It made everyone who walked by feel really small.
She looked at the note again that she had found.
Do not be scared. This is where your life starts it said.
Her phone started ringing. It was another number she did not know.
Her finger was over the screen before she answered.
"Hello?" she said.
The same strange voice was on the phone.
"If you want to stay alive turn around and go " the voice said.
The call ended.
Ariana looked at her phone. She thought about the day someone told her to stay from Damien.
Another person had brought her to this place.
That is enough she thought.
For three years she had done what other people wanted her to do.
That is over she said to herself.
She took a breath. Then she tore the warning note in half. Threw it away.
One step. Then another step.
She walked into Ashford Groups doors.
The nice lobby became quiet all of a sudden.
The lady at the desk looked up.
"Good morning. What is your name?" she asked.
"Ariana Hayes " she said.
The ladys nice smile went away.
She stood up fast.
"Miss Hayes... Mr. Ashford has been waiting for you " she said.
Arianas heart skipped a beat.
She had never met the boss of the company.
So how did he know she was coming she thought.
A helper took Ariana to an elevator.
"Is this the floor?" she asked.
"I thought this was a job interview " she said.
The helper just smiled.
"The boss will tell you everything " he said.
The elevator doors opened to a hallway with windows.
Every worker they passed said hello nicely.
"Morning Mr. Ashfords guest " they said.
Guest? Not job applicant Ariana thought.
The helper stopped in front of two doors.
She knocked one time.
"Sir Miss Hayes is here " she said.
A deep voice said, "Let her in."
Ariana walked inside.
The office was big and simple.
A man was standing by the window. He had his hands in his pockets. He was looking at the city.
Without turning he said, "I was starting to think you would not come."
The voice was familiar.
It was the stranger from her apartment.
Damien turned around slowly.
His face was calm.
"I am glad you did not listen to the warning " he said.
Arianas eyes were wide.
"You knew about the phone call?" she asked.
Damien did not answer.
He walked to his desk. Gave her a file.
"This is not a job interview, Miss Hayes " he said.
He looked at her face.
"It is an invitation " he said.
"To what?" she asked.
He smiled a little.
"To change your life " he said.
Damien pushed the file to her.
"Open it " he said.
Ariana was slow to open it.
It was not a job application.
It was a work contract.
Her eyebrows came together.
"I do not understand " she said.
"You applied for a job three months ago " he said.
She looked surprised.
"I never got a response " she said.
"You were not rejected " he said.
"You were being watched " he said.
Ariana looked up fast.
"Watched?" she asked.
Damien said yes.
"I read all your work " he said.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"The project you did for the bakery " he said.
"The plan you made for the charity " he said.
"The idea you had for the tourism company " he said.
"They were all yours " he said.
"You read them?" she asked.
"I do not hire people because they need a job " he said.
His voice was steady.
"I hire people because they are good at what they do " he said.
For the time since she came into his office Ariana felt seen.
Not because of how she looked.
Not because of her past.
Because of her work.
She closed the file slowly.
"I still do not know who you are " she said.
Damien looked at her.
"You do not have to know " he said.
"Not today " he said.
He pushed the contract to her again.
"All you have to decide... Is if you are ready to start new " he said.
Ariana walked out of Damiens office with the contract in her hand.
She was confused.
Who was Damien she thought.
Why did he know much about her she thought.
The elevator doors opened.
She walked in.
Then she heard a voice.
"Aria?" the voice said.
The voice was familiar.
She turned around slowly.
Ethan was standing a few feet away. He was wearing a navy suit. He had a bunch of flowers in his hand.
He looked surprised.
"You really came here " he said.
Arianas face was calm.
"I have a job interview " she said.
He looked at the contract in her hand.
Then he looked at the hallway behind her.
He understood.
"You came from the CEOs office?" he asked.
She did not answer.
Ethan took one step closer.
"I was trying to call you " he said.
"I know " she said.
"You blocked me " he said.
"Yes " she said.
He looked hurt.
Before he could talk again the office doors opened behind Ariana.
Damien walked out. He was fixing his suit.
He looked at Ethan.
Then he looked at Ariana.
He asked, "Miss Hayes... Have you made a decision?"
It was quiet for a moment.
The silence was uncomfortable.
Damien waited.
Ethan looked at the contract in Arianas hand.
"Aria " Ethan said softly. "Do not do this."
She looked at him.
"For three years I asked you to see me " she said.
"You only saw my mistakes " she said.
Ethan looked down.
"I made a mistake " he said.
"You made a choice " she said.
Her voice was calm.
"Now I am making a choice " she said.
She turned to Damien.
"I will take the job " she said.
She signed the contract without waiting.
Damien took the contract with a nod.
"Welcome to Ashford Group, Miss Hayes " he said.
For the time Ariana smiled.
It was a smile.
It was real.
Ethan felt something break inside him.
Then Lucas ran down the hallway.
He looked worried.
"Mr. Ashford " he said.
Damien turned around.
Lucas gave him a sealed envelope.
"It came five minutes ago " he said.
Damien opened it.
A photograph fell to the floor.
Ariana picked it up.
When she saw it she felt cold.
It was a picture of her as a kid.
This time no face was torn away.
The little boy in the picture was standing next, to her. He was smiling.
She knew him.
She looked up at Damien slowly.
Then she looked at the picture again.
They were the person.
The back of the picture had one sentence.
She remembers. It is time to finish what we started.
Damiens face changed.
For the time he looked scared.
- Writer
