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1314 Words
Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains of Evan Hayes’ one-bedroom apartment, casting warm streaks of gold across the hardwood floor.
It wasn’t luxurious, but it was home.
The space was neat and thoughtfully arranged—a modest living room with a grey sofa, overflowing bookshelves against one wall, and a small dining table tucked beside the kitchen. A few potted plants rested on the windowsill, their leaves catching the morning light. Everything had its place.
Evan lay on his back, staring at the ceiling.
Maybe today would be different.
The thought crossed his mind every morning.
Some days he believed it.
Other days he didn’t.
With a quiet sigh, he reached for the phone on his bedside table and opened his email.
Nothing.
No interview invitations.
No follow-ups.
No job offers.
Only promotional emails and another automated message thanking him for his application.
He rubbed a hand over his face before tossing the phone onto the bed.
It had been three weeks since he’d lost his job.
His former employer had merged with a larger corporation, and the new management eliminated several executive positions—including his. It had nothing to do with his performance. In fact, his former CEO had written him an outstanding recommendation before retiring.
Unfortunately, recommendations didn’t pay rent.
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Evan stood and stretched.
Tall and lean, with dark brown hair that refused to stay perfectly in place and warm hazel eyes that somehow managed to stay optimistic, he looked far more rested than he felt.
He wandered into the kitchen, started the coffee maker, and mentally planned the rest of his day.
Update his résumé.
Submit more applications.
Try not to panic.
His phone buzzed on the counter.
Yvonne.
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he opened the message.
Yvonne: Morning. Did you make it home okay?
Evan: I did. You, on the other hand, owe me for practically carrying you upstairs.
A few seconds later, three laughing emojis appeared.
Yvonne: In my defense, heartbreak and tequila are a dangerous combination.
Evan chuckled.
Evan: You said that last night.
Yvonne: And I’ll probably say it again.
Another message followed almost immediately.
Yvonne: Any news on the job hunt?
The smile on Evan’s face faded slightly.
Evan: Not yet. But I’m not giving up.
Three dots appeared as she typed.
Yvonne: You won’t be unemployed for long. Any company would be lucky to have you.
Evan looked at the message for a moment before locking his phone.
He hoped she was right.
For a moment, Evan stood in the quiet kitchen, the phone still in his hand. Then he slipped it into his pocket and reached for the coffee mug waiting beneath the machine.
The rich aroma filled the apartment almost instantly.
He poured himself a cup before opening the refrigerator.
There wasn’t much inside.
A carton of eggs.
A loaf of bread.
Butter.
Orange juice.
Enough to get by until his next grocery trip.
He settled on scrambled eggs and toast, preparing breakfast with the same quiet efficiency he’d once used to organize a CEO’s impossibly demanding schedule.
Old habits died hard.
By the time he finished eating, his mind had already drifted back to the day’s plan.
More applications.
More waiting.
More hoping.
He rinsed his plate, placed it neatly in the drying rack, then disappeared into his bedroom.
A few minutes later, he emerged wearing a black athletic T-shirt, grey running shorts, and a pair of worn but well-kept trainers.
Running had become his escape years ago.
Whenever life felt overwhelming, he ran.
Not to outrun his problems.
Just to quiet them.
The morning air greeted him as he stepped outside.
The streets were already beginning to wake. A café on the corner had just opened its doors, commuters hurried toward the train station, and dog walkers exchanged sleepy greetings as they passed one another.
Evan adjusted the earbuds in his ears, started his playlist, and set off at an easy pace.
With every stride, the tightness in his chest eased.
For thirty minutes, there were no unanswered emails.
No rejected applications.
No uncertainty about the future.
Just the steady rhythm of his breathing and the sound of his shoes against the pavement.
By the time he returned to his apartment, a light sheen of sweat clung to his forehead, but his thoughts felt clearer.
He showered, dressed in a crisp white shirt, navy trousers, and a charcoal blazer, then sat down at his laptop once more.
The spreadsheet he’d created to track his applications filled the screen.
Twenty-three companies.
Twenty-three applications.
Twenty-three chances.
He clicked on the next listing, carefully tailoring his résumé and cover letter before hitting Submit.
One more application sent.
One step closer.
Just as he reached for his coffee, his phone rang.
An unfamiliar number flashed across the screen.
He hesitated for a heartbeat before answering.
“Hello, Evan Hayes speaking.”
A calm, professional voice responded.
“Good morning, Mr. Hayes. My name is Claire Bennett, and I’m calling from Wright Hospitality Group regarding your application.”
Evan straightened instinctively.
“Yes?”
“We’ve reviewed your résumé and would like to invite you for an interview.”
His grip on the phone tightened.
“I’d be delighted.”
“Wonderful. Would tomorrow at ten o’clock work for you?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’ll email you the interview details, along with the address and the documents you’ll need to bring.”
“Thank you very much.”
“We look forward to meeting you, Mr. Hayes.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
The call ended.
For a second, Evan simply stared at the phone in his hand.
Then a slow smile spread across his face.
Finally.
After weeks of applications, unanswered emails, and polite rejections, someone had finally said yes.
He let out a quiet laugh and leaned against the kitchen counter, closing his eyes for a brief moment.
It wasn’t the job.
Not yet.
But it was a chance.
And right now, that was enough.
His fingers were already moving before he realized it.
Evan: Guess who finally got an interview?
Yvonne’s reply came almost instantly.
Yvonne: WHAT?!
Yvonne: Tell me everything!
Evan laughed.
Evan: Wright Hospitality Group. Tomorrow morning.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
Yvonne: That’s huge! I told you someone would snatch you up.
Yvonne: Dinner’s on you when you get the job.
Evan: You’re already spending my salary?
Yvonne: I’m investing in your future.
Shaking his head with a smile, Evan slipped the phone into his pocket.
His excitement slowly gave way to curiosity.
Wright Hospitality Group.
The name sounded familiar, but he couldn’t remember why.
He carried his coffee to the dining table, opened his laptop, and typed the company name into the search bar.
Within seconds, pages of results filled the screen.
Wright Hospitality Group.
One of the fastest-growing luxury hospitality companies in the world.
Five-star hotels.
Private resorts.
Fine-dining restaurants.
Conference and event centers.
Properties spread across multiple countries.
Evan let out a low whistle.
“This isn’t small,” he murmured.
His eyes continued scanning the page until a photograph caught his attention.
A man in a tailored black suit stood before a room full of reporters, his expression composed, almost unreadable.
The headline beneath the photograph read:
ADRIAN WRIGHT: THE MAN WHO TURNED A STRUGGLING HOTEL INTO A BILLION-DOLLAR HOSPITALITY EMPIRE.
Evan clicked the article.
The first paragraph described Adrian as brilliant.
The second called him relentless.
By the third, one word appeared over and over again.
Demanding.
Another article described him as a perfectionist.
A business magazine referred to him as one of the most formidable CEOs in the hospitality industry.
Evan leaned back in his chair.
“So…”
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
“This should be interesting”
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