A Friend’s Deception

chapter two

Misfortune seemed to follow her wherever she went… even here.

It had been haunting her since their encounter the night before, and the shame still clung to her skin. She hadn’t been herself at all—she had acted like a distorted version she barely recognized. And now? He was the very one conducting her interview.

He gestured for her to sit, his eyes tracking every step, every small movement, as though he were hunting for details. He had questions… and he intended to get his answers now, no matter what they were.

He spoke while calmly flipping through the papers in front of him, his composure deliberate and controlled:

— All right… what should I call you?

She moved toward the chair positioned at the center of the room, keeping a proper distance from his desk. Embarrassment overwhelmed her completely—it was evident in her averted gaze and in the deep flush coloring her face, red as a ripe apple.

With awkward steps, she reached the chair and sat down, clutching her bag tightly to her chest as if it could shield her. She was dressed impeccably in formal attire—trousers, shirt, and blazer—yet the polished exterior failed to conceal the turmoil churning inside her.

He continued to watch her, waiting for her to speak. Seconds stretched painfully long in silence.

He finally said in a firm tone:

— I have the right to know your name… if you truly want this job.

She exhaled in frustration, forced to tell the truth. She needed the job—no matter how disgraceful her behavior had been the night before.

— Raven Ryder.

His focus sharpened instantly. With unsettling curiosity, he asked:

— Why were you on my date last night? And how do you know my name?

She looked up at him, more flustered than before, like a child awaiting punishment.

— Do I really have to answer that question?

Damian’s stubbornness deepened, his curiosity winning out. He shrugged casually and said:

— I’m responsible for hiring here. I can simply reject your application… and the company’s director trusts my judgment.

If she wanted the job, she had to be honest. Otherwise, she would leave broke—Nova would pay the rent, the food, everything…

Her voice trembled with anxiety:

— Nova… my roommate. Her father forced her to meet another man, so she wanted to end things with you. I was embarrassed for her to do it herself, so she asked me to go in her place and… you already know the rest.

He studied her for a few seconds, then leaned back slightly in his chair, as if deciding to ease his sharpness—at least a little. His curiosity no longer burned as fiercely.

He said more calmly:

— All right… you’re here for the job now. Let’s focus on that.

Then he continued in a professional, neutral tone:

— We’ll move past this. What skills do you have, Raven? And what do you expect from this position?

The interview ended soon after, and he allowed her to leave. Fear of the result pressed heavily on her chest, but the wait didn’t last long. That night, she stayed alone in her room, half-watching a TV series without real interest—Nova had traveled to visit her family.

Her phone rang suddenly, interrupting the screen’s glow. An unknown number flashed. She hesitated for a moment, then answered.

— Miss Raven Ryder? You have been accepted to work at Sterling Company. Your start date is tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. in the Accounting Department. Please do not be late.

— Thank you very much.

When the call ended, she began jumping on the bed like a child on the night of a holiday. She had finally gotten a job—almost as if luck had decided to smile at her. She fell asleep that night with a smile decorating her lips, celebrating the opportunity.

But happiness never lasts long.

She arrived at work on time, and Damian asked one of the office employees to help her familiarize herself with the tasks and company policies. It was a long day… endless.

When lunchtime finally came, she felt she had earned a truce—from files and from Madina’s nonstop chatter.

She took her lunch and sat alone, with no desire to talk to anyone… or even get to know anyone.

Damian entered the company cafeteria to get his meal, his eyes drawn inevitably to Raven—the lunatic poking at her food while talking to herself. The description wasn’t exaggerated.

He set his tray down and asked politely:

— May I join you for lunch?

Raven frowned slightly, then nodded. He sat, watching her with curiosity, waiting to understand what was wrong.

— What?

She studied him for a moment, then tilted her head in a strange tone:

— What do you think about taking half of my first salary?

Damian froze briefly, unsure what she meant, then asked in disbelief:

— Do you even know how much your salary is?

She replied irritably—stranger than any behavior he had seen from her so far:

— No… but it must be a large amount. I’ll give you half of it if you help me get out of my problem.

He rested his arms on the table. It was clear he wouldn’t be eating lunch today. This lunatic had gotten herself into trouble—either out of innocence that didn’t belong to this era… or stupidity that didn’t fit the time or place.

— What did you get yourself into?

She crossed her arms over her chest, complaining bitterly:

— My mother decided to marry me off to a man whose name I can’t even stand. What I need from you? Pretend you’re my husband. When my mother travels, the story ends. Just one week—I promise you half my first paycheck.

He glanced at the table briefly, then looked back at her, speaking calmly:

— Forget the salary. Why don’t you tell her the truth?

She leaned closer and whispered, as if afraid he might run away too:

— Because I already did. I just got off the phone with her… and I trapped myself when I said we were married. I’m sorry—I was just trying to escape.

She continued softly, as if confiding a dangerous secret:

— My family has… special traditions. The family must approve the man I choose. If he refuses marriage, they cut ties with me.

Damian stared at her in disbelief. Did anyone still live by rules like these?

— Are you saying you’ve never had a boyfriend before?

She shook her head, delivering the shock of his life:

— No. My family’s traditions… require me to remain pure until marriage.

His mouth fell open, unable to form even a single word.

— No.

To be continued.....