Hired
1015 Words
Episode 2: Hired
Andrea finally found the restroom.
She pushed the door open quickly and stepped inside, breathing heavily.
"Thank goodness..."
The large mirror reflected her messy state.
Wet hair.
Tired eyes.
Rain-soaked clothes.
Andrea groaned softly.
"This is the worst first impression ever."
She washed her face and fixed her hair as best as she could.
Her heart was still racing.
But not from running anymore.
It was from the man she had bumped into earlier.
Why did he look so... intimidating?
And expensive.
She shook her head.
"Focus, Andrea."
"This is just a job."
After calming herself, she stepped out again.
Eve was waiting in the hallway.
Exactly where Andrea had left her.
Standing perfectly straight.
Hands folded in front of her.
Andrea immediately bowed slightly.
"I'm so sorry for taking so long."
Eve's face remained calm.
Her voice was polite.
But somehow...
Andrea still felt nervous.
"It's fine."
Eve gestured forward.
"The CEO is waiting."
CEO?
Andrea's eyes widened.
Her nervousness returned immediately.
They walked quietly down another hallway.
The deeper they went, the more luxurious everything looked.
The floor was smooth white marble.
The walls were decorated with elegant art pieces.
Soft golden lights illuminated the hall.
Andrea whispered under her breath.
"This place looks like a palace..."
Eve stopped in front of a large black door.
She knocked once.
Then opened it.
"Sir, Miss Andrea Collins has arrived."
Andrea stepped inside.
And froze.
The office was enormous.
Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed the glowing city outside.
Expensive shelves filled with books lined the walls.
A large modern desk sat in the center of the room.
Everything looked powerful.
Elegant.
Intimidating.
Andrea slowly lifted her gaze.
And her heart dropped.
It's him.
The man she bumped into earlier.
He sat behind the desk calmly, flipping through some documents.
His dark eyes lifted slowly.
As if noticing her for the first time.
Andrea blinked.
Wait...
He's acting like we never met.
Lucien's POV
Lucien Hale watched her carefully.
The girl standing in front of him looked even smaller under the office lights.
Her clothes were simple.
Her hair slightly damp.
Her expression nervous.
Yet her eyes held something interesting.
Determination.
Lucien leaned back slightly in his chair.
So this is Andrea Collins.
The girl who said yes without asking questions.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
And of course...
He recognized her immediately.
The girl who had just crashed into him in the hallway.
He hid his amusement behind a calm expression.
Let's see how long it takes her to figure things out.
Andrea's POV
Andrea felt like her heart might explode.
Why is he pretending we never met?
Does he not recognize me?
Or maybe...
He just didn't care enough to remember.
She swallowed nervously.
Eve spoke calmly.
"This is Mr. Lucien Hale."
Andrea's brain almost stopped working.
Lucien Hale?!
Everyone knew that name.
The billionaire CEO.
One of the most powerful men in the city.
Her legs almost gave up on her.
Andrea quickly bowed.
"Good evening, sir."
Lucien's voice was calm.
"Sit."
She obeyed immediately.
The chair felt too expensive for her to sit on.
Lucien studied her quietly.
Then he spoke.
"You received the job offer."
Andrea nodded.
"Yes, sir."
He slid a document across the desk.
"This position requires loyalty."
Andrea glanced at the paper.
Then her eyes landed on the salary number.
Her breath caught in her throat.
What?!
The amount written there was more money than she had ever seen in her life.
Her hands trembled slightly.
"Sir... this amount..."
Lucien spoke calmly.
"You will receive that every month."
Andrea couldn't believe it.
Every month?!
Her mind immediately thought of her mother.
Hospital bills.
Medicine.
Food.
A safe home.
Tears almost filled her eyes.
She forced herself to stay calm.
"What kind of job requires this salary?"
Lucien leaned forward slightly.
His eyes locked onto hers.
"You will work here."
"Starting tonight."
Andrea blinked.
"Tonight?"
"Yes."
Eve handed her another document.
Andrea read it slowly.
Then her face slowly changed.
"You will stay inside the building every day and night."
Andrea's eyes widened.
"Every day...?"
Eve continued calmly.
"You may visit home only on Sundays."
Andrea swallowed.
"For three hours."
Silence filled the room.
Andrea slowly looked up.
"And if I stay longer...?"
Lucien answered this time.
His voice was calm.
Cold.
"You will be punished."
Andrea felt a chill run down her spine.
Punished?
Her curiosity rose immediately.
"What kind of punishment?"
Lucien simply looked at her.
Then smiled faintly.
"You won't want to find out."
Andrea felt uneasy.
But then she remembered her mother again.
The hospital bed.
The fragile smile.
She clenched her fists.
"I'll do it."
Eve looked slightly surprised.
"You accept?"
Andrea nodded firmly.
"Yes."
Lucien watched her quietly.
She didn't even hesitate.
Good.
He signed the document.
"Then you are hired."
Eve handed Andrea a key card.
"Your work begins immediately."
Andrea blinked again.
"Now?"
Eve nodded.
"Your schedule starts at six pm."
Andrea slowly looked at the clock.
6:02 PM
She laughed nervously.
"What kind of job starts at night?"
Neither Eve nor Lucien answered.
The silence felt strange.
Very strange.
Lucien finally spoke.
"You will learn soon."
Andrea stood up slowly.
Something about this job felt...
Off.
The rules.
The secrecy.
The punishment.
But the money.
The money could save her mother.
So she pushed her doubts away.
"I'll work hard."
Lucien watched her leave the office.
His eyes darkened slightly.
Let's see how long she survives.
Outside the office, Eve began walking again.
Andrea followed her quietly.
But a question kept repeating in her mind.
What kind of job locks you inside a building every night?
And more importantly...
Why does it pay so much?
Eve suddenly stopped walking.
She turned to Andrea.
"Before your shift begins, there is one rule you must never break."
Andrea looked at her nervously.
"What rule?"
Eve's voice lowered slightly.
"Never go to the 18th floor."
Andrea frowned.
"But this building has twenty floors..."
Eve looked straight at her.
"Exactly."
Then she turned and continued walking.
Leaving Andrea standing there.
Confused.
And suddenly very uneasy.
- Writer
