CHAPTER ELEVEN: Why is he here?
1443 Words
Camila’s POV
Vale Corporation’s headquarters was exactly what I had expected and somehow still managed to be more impressive in person.
I adjusted the strap of my portfolio bag on my shoulder and took a deep breath as I stepped into the waiting area with the other candidates.
You’ve got this, Camila. This is your fresh start.
“Good morning, everyone."
A tall, distinguished man in a perfectly tailored suit stood before us.
"I'm Richard Morrison, executive assistant to Mr. Vale. Welcome to Vale Corporation.
He smiled politely.
“Congratulations on making it to the final stage. Out of more than two hundred applicants, only eight of you remain.”
A ripple of quiet pride moved through the room.
“You’ve already completed the initial assessments. Today’s interview will focus on your experience, design philosophy, and problem-solving abilities. I know interviews can be stressful, but relax. Just be yourselves.”
Someone beside me whispered, “Easy for him to say.”
I had to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing.
Richard continued.
“We’ll call each candidate individually. Please remain in the lounge until your name is announced.”
He paused, scanning the group.
"Mr. Vale himself will be conducting the final portion of the interviews."
A ripple of murmurs passed through the candidates.
Mr. Vale himself.
The ruthless CEO. The corporate shark. The man Claire had warned me about.
I pushed the thought aside. It didn't matter. He was just the person at the top. I wasn't here for him. I was here for the work.
"Any questions?" Richard asked.
No one spoke.
"Very well. Please make yourselves comfortable. I'll be back shortly to begin the first round."
Richard walked away, pulling out his phone as he headed down the corridor. I watched him disappear around the corner, his voice fading as he spoke into the device.
As soon as he stepped out, I seized the opportunity. I needed a moment. Just one moment to collect myself.
I excused myself and hurried down the hall, following the signs to the restroom.
The restroom was equally impressive. I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection.
“You’ve got this,” I whispered. “You survived your family. You can survive one interview.”
Satisfied that I looked reasonably presentable, I grabbed my portfolio and headed back toward the waiting area.
I had barely rounded the corner when I froze.
A tall figure stepped out of the executive elevators. Dark charcoal suit. Broad shoulders. Confident stride.
Every head in the hallway seemed to turn toward him without meaning to.
My heart slammed against my ribs like it was trying to escape.
It couldn’t be.
The stranger.
My eyes widened.
What’s he doing here?
He was walking toward the executive offices without sparing anyone a glance.
My stomach dropped.
“Oh my God.”
I spun around and bolted like a thief being chased by the police. My heels clicked frantically against the marble floor as I ran in the opposite direction.
Why is he here?! This was supposed to be a one-night thing! We were never supposed to see each other again!
In my blind panic, I crashed straight into a woman walking around the corner.
“Oh s**t—!” I yelped.
Files flew everywhere. Her designer handbag hit the floor, spilling lipstick, compact powder, and keys across the polished marble. The poor woman stumbled back with a startled gasp.
“I’m so sorry!” I squeaked, dropping to my knees to help her. In my hysteria, I grabbed her fallen handbag and held it up to cover half my face like an i***t, peeking over the top like a terrified child hiding from punishment.
He was still walking. Please don’t look this way.
He kept walking without even turning his head.
Only then did I realize what I was doing.
I was hiding behind a complete stranger’s handbag.
Heat rushed to my cheeks.
The woman stared at me, equal parts shocked and deeply annoyed. “What… are you doing?”
“I— I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking. Here—” I shoved her bag toward her while still partially hiding behind it. “Your makeup! Let me get that—”
She snatched her bag from my hands, looking at me like I had lost my mind. “Are you okay?”
“Perfectly fine!” I said in a high-pitched voice that sounded nothing like me. “Just… excited for my interview! New beginnings! Yay!”
I gave her an awkward thumbs-up, still half-crouched on the floor like a gremlin.
She slowly backed away, clutching her belongings. “Good… luck?”
“What a strange person,” I could hear her mumbling as she walked away.
The second she disappeared around the corner, I bolted back into the restroom, locked myself in a stall, and pressed my back against the door.
“What the hell is happening?!” I whispered frantically to myself. “Why is he here? In the building. Where I was applying for a job. What kind of cosmic joke was this?
I covered my face with both hands. They were burning. My entire face was burning.
“And why the f**k did I run?!” I pressed both hands together and tried to think logically.
“I didn’t do anything wrong! So why was I embarrassed? It was a one-night stand. We’re both adults. It happened. So what? If anyone should have been embarrassed… It should be him. He’s the one who disappeared in the morning! I should be the one acting normal, not sprinting like a criminal and stealing someone’s handbag to hide my face!”
I groaned, banging my head lightly against the stall door.
Get it together, Camila. You are a professional. You are talented.
He probably wasn’t even staying here. Maybe he was here for a meeting. He probably didn't even remember me.
Right?
Right.
I fixed my hair, straightened my blazer, and checked my lipstick, and stepped out of the restroom.
When I returned to the waiting lounge, the other candidates were still waiting. Some were scrolling through their phones. Others were reviewing their portfolios.
The door opened. Richard appeared and consulted his clipboard.
"Next candidate," he called out. "Andrea Matthews. Please follow me."
A tall blonde woman stood up and followed him down the hall.
I sank into one of the leather chairs, my heart still racing. The minutes crawled by. Andrea came back looking pleased. Then others.
One by one, they disappeared down the corridor and returned with varying expressions of hope or disappointment.
Camila Stones."
I looked up. Richard was standing in the doorway, his eyes scanning the room.
I stood up, my legs slightly shaky. "That's me."
"Please follow me."
I grabbed my portfolio and walked toward him. My heart was pounding again, but I forced myself to breathe. You've got this. This is just another interview.
Richard led me towards the corridor. He paused outside, giving me a small, professional smile.
"Good luck," he said.
I pushed open the door.
The interview room was sleek and intimidating, with a long table and several executives seated. But my eyes immediately locked onto the man at the head of the table.
It was him.
The man from the yacht.
He looked up from the portfolio in his hands at exactly the moment I walked through the door.
My brain stopped working.
Dark eyes. Sharp jaw. The particular quality of stillness I recognized from a yacht deck in the dark.
He looked at me.
I looked at him.
And then I noticed the nameplate in front of him.
Aaron Vale.
CEO.
The world seemed to tilt beneath my feet.
Oh… no.
He’s the CEO.
Richard cleared his throat. “Miss Camila Stones, Senior Interior Designer candidate. She has an impressive background in luxury hospitality and residential projects.”
Aaron leaned back in his chair slowly, his expression unreadable. But those dark eyes never left my face.
“Miss Stones.” he said, his voice low and smooth, carrying the same commanding tone from before. “Take a seat.”
I forced my legs to move and sat down, clutching my portfolio like a shield.
This was supposed to be my fresh start. My chance to rebuild.
Instead, I was sitting across from the man who had given me the most intense night of my life… and who also happened to be the CEO of the company I desperately needed a job from.
Kill me now.
Aaron’s lips curved into the faintest, most dangerous hint of a smirk.
“Shall we begin?”
- Writer
