CHAPTER SIX
1078 Words
The shrill buzz of Emma’s alarm dragged her out of sleep. She groaned, reaching blindly across her nightstand until her fingers found her phone. With a sleepy swipe, she silenced the noise - then froze.
A new notification lit up her screen.
Her pulse quickened as she read the subject line: “Internship confirmation - Sinclair Enterprises.”
Emma sat upright, blinking to make sure she wasn’t imagining it. Her eyes raced over the words again and again until the truth hit her. She had been accepted.
Her heart leapt with joy.
For a moment, the quiet of her small room seemed brighter, warmer. This wasn’t just internship – it was freedom. Her way out. A chance to prove herself, to finally be more than the forgotten daughter living in her sister’s shadow.
Her lips curved into a trembling smile as she hugged the phone to her chest. Maybe…. maybe this is my chance.
She practically skipped into her routine. She took a shower, brushed her teeth till her gums tingled, and stood infront of her closet debating what looked most professional. After a long hesitation, she picked her pale cream blouse and tucked it neatly into a navy skirt. Not designer, not expensive, but it was neat. Respectable. She curled her hair into soft waves that framed her face, dabbed a hint of gloss unto her lips, and stared into the mirror.
“You can do this.” She whispered, though her reflection looked unconvinced.
Grabbing her bag, she inhaled deeply before heading downstairs.
The smell of fresh coffee and toast hit her as she stepped into the dining room. Her parents sat at a table with their cups steaming, while Lily, flawless as always , lounged elegantly in a satin robe. Their laughter filled the air until they saw her and silence ensued.
Emma forced a smile. “Good morning,” she said softly, clutching the strap of her bag. “I… I just got some news. Sinclair Enterprise accepted me for an internship.”
Her words hung in air like fragile glass, waiting to shatter.
Her father, Micheal, arched a brow, then gave a cold laugh. “Sinclair Enterprises? You? Don’t be ridiculous.”
Her mother, Racheal, set her cup down with a clink. “Emma stop embarrassing yourself. That company only takes the best. They don’t hand out charity positions.”
“It’s real,” Emma said quickly, her throat tightening. “They sent me the email this morning.”
Racheal’s lips thinned. “Even if that’s true, how long do you think you’ll last? They won’t tolerate mistakes. You can’t even manage simple tasks here at home.”
Each word landed like a slap.
Micheal waved her off with disgust. “She’ll be gone in a week. Mark my words.”
Emma bit down on the inside of her cheek, fighting the sting in her eyes. “I’ll work hard. I promise –”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” Racheal snapped. “Don’t go there and embarrass our family’s name. Leave opportunities like this for Lily – she’s the one people would respect.”
At the mention of her sister, Emma felt that familiar feeling of inferiority complex.
Lily’s eyes gleamed with cruel amusement as she sipped her juice. “She’ll probably end up crying in a bathroom stall after her first day. That is–if she doesn’t run into … unexpected company.”
Emma froze, her gaze snapping to Lily.
Lily’s lips curled into a knowing smirk, her eyes glittering with malice. “Most men don’t stick around after a one night stand, Emma. Maybe don’t embarrass yourself twice.”
The blood drained from Emma’s face.
Her heart lurched painfully against her ribs. Lily’s smirk widened, satisfied at the flicker of panic she had caused. Their parents didn’t seem to catch the undertone, but Emma did. Lily knew. She actually knew.
Micheal’s disapproving sigh sliced through her. “Pathetic. Just like always.”
Her chest ached, breath shallow, as though the walls themselves were closing in. “Excuse me.” She murmured, her voice stiff, turning away, desperate to leave before the tears burning her eyes could fall.
The world outside was brisk and alive, but Emma barely felt the cool breeze. She clung to the single thought that had carried her through. The thought of finally getting a chance to prove herself as she made her way to Sinclair enterprises.
But the moment she stepped into the towering glass building, her breath caught. The lobby shimmered with elegance–sleek marble floors, golden accents, the quiet hum of power in the air. Men and women in expensive suits strode past with confidence, their heels clicking against the polished floors. Their watches gleaming and perfume expensive.
Emma shrank into herself. Her blouse suddenly felt too plain, her skirt too simple, her shoes too scuffed. She was the invisible girl again, swallowed by a whole world that wasn’t hers.
“Miss Cole?” A receptionist called kindly, snapping her out of her daze. “This way,please. Mr. Sinclair will see you now.”
Her stomach flipped. Mr. Sinclair? See her? Isn’t he like the CEO?
She followed with hesitant steps, her nerves winding tighter with each hallway. The walls gleamed with abstract art, the air smelled of leather and money. She felt like a child trespassing in a world she had no right to enter.
The receptionist stopped at a large double door, pushed it open, and gestured her inside.
Emma stepped through the threshold–
And froze.
At the head of the room, standing tall in a charcoal suit that hugged his broad shoulders, was the man she had sworn she would never see again.
He was The Sinclair??
The stranger who had once held her like she was his only salvation. The man she had kissed with reckless abandon. The man she has been trying–and failing–to forget.
His ocean blue eyes lifted from a document and locked into hers. Recognition flared instantly, sharp and unrelenting. The room seemed to shrink around them, the air thick with tension.
Emma’s pulse thundered in her ears. Her knees felt weak. No… no, this can’t be real.
Lucian’s gaze didn’t waver. Slowly, his lips curved into something between amusement and curiosity.
“Welcome to Sinclair enterprises,” he said smoothly, his voice deep, commanding, and impossible to ignore.
His eyes never left hers.
“Miss Cole.”
- Writer
