Love Through The Speakers

Chapter Three:The Interview

Chapter Three: The Interview

The city buzzed as Natalie walked down 5th Avenue the next morning, her phone gripped tightly in one hand. Her heart had been pounding since sunrise. She’d barely slept. She kept replaying the moment over and over again her voice speaking through that microphone, the confidence that had surged up from nowhere.

And now, she had a callback.

A real callback.

“Miss Daniels, Mr. Rhys will be conducting the second-round of the interview. Please be here by nine,” the woman had said over the phone

Natalie had gotten to Rash Entertainment’s building twenty minutes early.

Today’s outfit wasn’t borrowed. It was her own—simple dark jeans, a white button-up blouse tucked neatly at the waist, and black ankle boots that made her feel like she had a little power in her step.

Cathy had called her three times already that morning, each time screaming, “I told you!” before hanging up like the chaotic angel she was.

Now Natalie sat waiting in the executive wing, which felt quieter, colder, and way more serious. She glanced around the modern lobby—art pieces on the walls, a subtle scent of sandalwood, and staff who all looked like they belonged in Forbes magazine.

The door opened.

“Natalie Daniels?”

She stood quickly. A tall man in a charcoal suit extended his hand. “I’m Rhys Carter. VP of Rash entertainment. Come in.”

The room was large, with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing a dazzling skyline view. Rhys motioned to a leather seat across from his desk.

“I listened to your audition twice,” he said as he sat. “You’re not trained in business, are you?”

Natalie’s stomach tightened. “No, but I’ve studied it independently. I read everything I can. I love the way business shapes the world. I might not have formal experience, but I can speak from the heart and I know how to communicate complex things simply.”

Rhys leaned back in his chair, folding his hands. “That’s what stood out. You speak like someone who believes what she says. That’s rare.”

She blinked. “Thank you.”

Now, he said, “we’re considering you for a new segment we’re building. Young entrepreneurs. Business tips, startup culture, the hustle behind success. You’d be speaking to a whole new demographic for us—people who want to build something from nothing.”

Natalie’s pulse quickened. That was exactly what she cared about. That was her story.

Rhys nodded toward a microphone on a stand by the window. “I want to hear you again. Right now. No script. Talk to me about why people give up too soon when starting a business.”

Natalie didn’t hesitate. She walked over, adjusted the mic slightly, and inhaled.

“Most people think success is immediate. They see the final product but not the ten thousand failures before it. They give up when it gets uncomfortable—when things stop being exciting and start being real. But that’s when it matters most. Business isn’t about having the perfect plan. It’s about the grit to keep going when everything tells you to stop.”

Rhys didn’t speak right away. When he did, it was with a small smile.

“You’re raw. But you’ve got something. I’ll let you know by Friday.”

Natalie thanked him and left the office, her chest buzzing with adrenaline. As she walked back into the lobby, she felt it—the weight of the moment. Maybe this was it. Her chance. Her door.

Across the city, on the top floor of Rash Entertainment’s private penthouse office, Caleb Rashford leaned over his assistant’s desk.

Did we find out who the new girl on the mic is?” he asked.

“Yes, sir. Natalie Daniels. She came in yesterday.”

Caleb nodded slowly, his brown eyes narrowing with interest. “Bring me her file.”