Chapter Nine.
974 Words
Alexander
Alexander Hayes sat at his expansive desk, fingers drumming against the polished mahogany surface as he stared at the résumé in front of him. His office, a sleek space of floor-to-ceiling windows and minimalist design, was quiet except for the distant hum of the city below.
He never conducted interviews personally. That was a task for HR, or at the very least, one of his department heads. Yet here he was, about to interview Sophie Albright—the woman he’d evicted from her own bakery.
The irony was almost laughable. Almost.
Fate had a wicked sense of humor, throwing her back into his orbit like this. He scanned the résumé again, even though he already knew what it said. Marketing degree. Solid academic record. A promising internship. And, of course, Sugar & Bloom.
His lips pressed into a thin line. He hadn’t expected her to come looking for a job here.
There was a tentative knock on his office door.
"Come on" He said.
He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers as the door opened. Sophie Albright stepped inside, her gaze sweeping across the room before settling on him.
She looked different. Gone was the flour-streaked apron and the scent of fresh pastries. Today, she was dressed in a navy-blue blazer over a crisp white blouse, paired with tailored slacks. Her dark brown hair was pulled back neatly, though a few loose strands framed her face.
Professional. Polished. But still unmistakably Sophie. She hesitated for the briefest moment before walking toward the chair across from him, her posture straight, her chin lifted.
“Miss Albright,” he said smoothly, gesturing for her to sit.
She did, carefully, as though bracing herself.
“I have to admit,” he continued, lacing his fingers together, “when I saw your name among the applicants, I was surprised.”
“I imagine you were,” she replied evenly.
That fire in her green eyes hadn’t dimmed. Good.
“And yet,” he continued, tilting his head slightly, “here you are.”
She met his gaze without flinching. “I need a job.”
"Straight to the point. No unnecessary pleasantries. I respect that". He smirked.
She remained silent, her posture stiff.
"I thought you wanted to fight for sugar and Bloom or have you accepted your fate?" He said smirking.
"Sugar and Bloom was my home. And you took that away from me". She said seething.
"And you hate me for that. So may I ask why you applied to work in the company of someone you hate?". He said.
"I didn't think I was going to be called for an interview. It was an impulsive decision" She lied.
He could see the battle playing out in her mind. She was getting angry. Alexander decided to play it cool.
He sighed. "Can we continue with the interview ma'am?".
Sophie eyed him but didn't reply.
He leaned back, glancing at her résumé once more. “Your educational background is impressive. A marketing degree, strong internship experience… yet, you chose to open a bakery instead of pursuing a corporate career. Why?”
Her lips parted slightly, as if she hadn’t expected the question.
Then, after a beat, she said, “Because I love baking.”
His brow lifted. He waited for her to elaborate.
She exhaled as if to calm herself down and gather her thoughts. “I grew up watching my grandmother bake. She had this tiny kitchen, but when she was in it, magic happened. The first time I watched her mix flour and sugar and turn it into something warm and golden, I was hooked. When she let me help, I fell in love with it. It became more than just food—it was comfort. It was home.”
Her voice had softened, the words carrying something raw and real.
Alexander studied her. There was something captivating about the way she spoke about it, like baking had been ingrained in her very soul.
“And yet,” he said, tapping a finger against her résumé, “you studied marketing instead of culinary arts.”
She nodded. “I wanted something practical. Something that could give me options.”
“Options?”
Her green eyes met his, unwavering. “Because dreams don’t always pay the bills.”
Alexander found himself impressed despite himself. She was smart. Practical. Not a hopeless dreamer who had thrown herself into business without a plan.
“So, you started Sugar & Bloom,” he said, “and it thrived.”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“For a while.”
Her jaw tensed, but she nodded again. “Yes. Thanks to you".
Alexander sighed. "You see, Miss Albright, I don't have to apologize for your bakery because none of the faults were mine. I had given a two months heads up to the person in charge. It wasn't my fault that you weren't informed that the place had been sold."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Sophie said.
"No, it's not. I'm just telling you my side of the story". Alexander tapped his fingers against the desk. "And I hope you realize that working here won’t be easy. Especially for you.”
She inhaled sharply. “I’m not looking for easy, Mr. Hayes. I’m looking for an opportunity.”
A long silence stretched between them.
Then, to his own surprise, Alexander found himself smiling.
“Well then, Miss Albright,” he said smoothly, “let’s see if you can handle it.”
Sophie stood up, looked him dead in the eye and said in a still voice. "I have handled worse".
Alexander smirked. "If you say so. You resume next week Monday. 9am."
"Thank you". Sophie said as she picked up her bag and walked out.
Alexander exhaled and leaned back.
Sophie Albright was something.
- Writer
