The call
1509 Words
Three days.
It had been three whole days since Amelia submitted her application to Sterling Crest Companies, and somehow, she had managed to check her email at least twenty times.
She stared at her laptop screen, refreshing her inbox for what felt like the hundredth time.
Nothing.
No email. No update. Nothing.
Amelia sighed dramatically and dropped her head against the back of her chair.
“Maybe I should just forget about it.”
“You’ve said that six times today.”
Amelia’s head snapped toward the doorway.
Julian stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe with his arms folded across his chest.
“I have not.”
“You have.”
“I haven’t.”
“You literally said it five minutes ago.”
Amelia rolled her eyes. “Why are you counting?”
“Because watching you obsess over that application is becoming entertaining.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Get out.”
Julian laughed and walked into the room.
“You know, there’s nothing wrong with waiting.”
“Easy for you to say. You already have a job.”
“And you have a family business waiting for you.”
“That’s exactly what I don’t want.”
Julian’s expression softened. “I know.”
He sat on the edge of her bed.
“You really want to do this on your own, don’t you?”
Amelia nodded. “I do.”
She turned toward him. “I know Dad could get me a position at Cornor Holdings tomorrow. But what happens after that? Everyone will always assume I got the position because I’m his daughter.”
“You’re worried about what people will say?”
“Not exactly.”
She paused.
“I’m worried about what I’ll think.”
Julian looked at her.
Amelia continued, “I want to wake up one morning and know that everything I have is something I worked for.”
A small smile appeared on Julian’s face.
“You’ve always been stubborn.”
“Determined.”
“Same thing.”
She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.
He laughed as he caught it.
“Fine. Determined.”
Julian stood and walked toward the door.
“But Amelia?”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t start doubting yourself just because they haven’t replied yet.”
She smiled. “Thanks.”
“Anytime, little one.”
Her smile disappeared.
“Julian!”
His laughter echoed down the hallway as he ran away.
Amelia shook her head. Her brothers could be annoying, but she loved them.
She turned back toward her laptop. Her eyes moved toward the inbox again.
She hesitated before sighing.
“Okay. One last refresh.”
She clicked.
The page loaded.
Still nothing.
Amelia groaned.
“I’m done.”
She closed the laptop and stood. Maybe her brother was right. She needed to stop obsessing.
Later that afternoon, Amelia sat in the garden with a book resting on her lap. The garden was her favorite place in the house. It was quiet and peaceful, away from the constant noise of the mansion.
She turned a page when her phone vibrated beside her.
She ignored it.
A few seconds later, it vibrated again.
Amelia frowned and picked it up.
A message from her mother.
Mum: Come inside. Your father wants to speak with you.
Amelia’s eyebrows furrowed.
What could Dad possibly want?
She closed her book and headed inside.
She found her father in his study. Mr. Cornor sat behind his large mahogany desk, reading through some documents. He looked up when she entered.
“There she is.”
“You wanted to see me?”
“Yes.”
He motioned toward the chair opposite him.
“Sit.”
Amelia sat.
Her father removed his glasses and placed them on the desk.
“I’ve been thinking about something.”
She waited.
“I know you want to work outside the family business.”
Amelia nodded.
“And I respect that.”
A small smile appeared on her face.
“But?”
He chuckled. “No but.”
She relaxed.
“I just want you to remember something.”
“What?”
“Whatever happens with Sterling Crest, don’t let it determine your worth.”
Amelia frowned slightly.
“Dad—”
“I’m serious.”
His expression became softer.
“You’ve spent the last few days waiting for an answer from people who don’t even know you.”
Amelia looked down.
“You don’t need their approval to prove that you’re capable.”
She smiled faintly.
“Thank you.”
Her father reached across the desk and squeezed her hand.
“I’m proud of you regardless of what happens.”
Before Amelia could respond, her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
Unknown number.
She ignored it.
The phone stopped.
A few seconds later, it rang again.
Her father raised an eyebrow.
“Answer it.”
Amelia hesitated before picking up.
“Hello?”
There was a brief silence.
Then a woman’s professional voice came through.
“Good afternoon. Am I speaking with Miss Amelia Cornor?”
“Yes.”
“This is Rachel from Sterling Crest Companies.”
Amelia froze.
Her eyes widened.
Her father immediately noticed the change in her expression.
“We’re calling regarding your application for the Business Development Associate position.”
Amelia sat up straighter.
“Yes.”
Her heart began pounding.
“We were impressed by your application and would like to invite you to the next stage of our recruitment process.”
She almost stopped breathing.
“The next stage?”
“Yes.”
Amelia’s fingers tightened around the phone.
“You’ve been shortlisted for an interview.”
Her mouth fell open.
“An interview?”
“Yes. Your interview has been scheduled for Monday at 9:00 a.m. at our headquarters.”
Amelia glanced at her father.
He was smiling.
“Of course,” she replied quickly. “I’ll be there.”
“Excellent. We’ll send the details to your email shortly.”
“Thank you so much.”
“Have a lovely day, Miss Cornor.”
The call ended.
Amelia stared at her phone.
For several seconds, she couldn’t speak.
Her father smiled.
“Well?”
She looked at him.
“I got an interview.”
“I heard.”
She suddenly jumped out of the chair.
“Oh my God!”
Her father laughed.
“I actually got an interview!”
“I told you.”
“I told you I could do it!”
“You did.”
Amelia laughed, her excitement filling the room.
Her father watched her proudly.
But beneath his smile was a thought he kept to himself.
Sterling Crest Companies wasn’t an ordinary company.
And getting through their doors wasn’t going to be as simple as Amelia imagined.
That evening, Amelia stood in front of her wardrobe.
Clothes covered her bed—dresses, blazers, trousers and skirts.
She held one outfit against herself before tossing it aside.
“No.”
Another.
“No.”
Another.
“Absolutely not.”
Her mother appeared at the doorway.
“What exactly are you doing?”
Amelia turned.
“Preparing for my interview.”
“Your interview is in three days.”
“I know.”
Her mother glanced at the mountain of clothes.
“You’re behaving as though you’re attending the presidential inauguration.”
“Mum!”
Her mother laughed.
“Come here.”
Amelia walked toward her.
“You don’t need to wear something expensive to impress them.”
“I know.”
“You need to wear something that makes you feel confident.”
Amelia nodded.
Her mother looked through the clothes before pulling out a cream-colored tailored blazer.
“This.”
Amelia looked at it.
She smiled.
“That actually looks good.”
“Of course it does. I’m your mother.”
Amelia laughed.
Her mother adjusted the blazer against her.
“You’re going to do well.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
She kissed Amelia’s forehead.
“Now stop stressing.”
Monday arrived faster than Amelia expected.
At exactly 7:30 a.m., she stood in front of her mirror.
Cream blazer. Black tailored trousers. Simple heels. Minimal makeup.
Her hair was styled neatly, and she carried a structured black handbag.
She stared at her reflection.
For the first time, nervousness replaced excitement.
This is real.
She picked up her handbag, phone, résumé and documents.
Everything she might need.
Before leaving the room, she looked at herself one final time.
“You’ve got this.”
Downstairs, her father was already waiting.
He looked at her and smiled.
“Ready?”
Amelia nodded.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
He walked toward her.
“Remember what I told you.”
She smiled.
“Don’t let their decision determine my worth.”
“Exactly.”
He kissed her forehead.
“Go show them who Amelia Cornor is.”
She smiled.
“I will.”
A few minutes later, Amelia stepped into her car.
The gates opened.
She drove away.
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