Accidentally Yours

Chapter 3: The Waiting Game

By thursday, The initial relief of surviving the interview had dissolved into the restless, hyper-aware waiting period that seraphina loathed most.

She spent three days maintaining a rigid schedule to distract herself. She reorganized her desk in the her bedroom. Coded her project archive, and answered Amelia's daily check in calls with increasing levels of forced calm.

"They said shortly," Seraphina told her phone on Thursday morning, propping it between her shoulder and ear while she wiped her kitchen center table.

"In corporate terms, 'Shortly' can mean forty eight hours or three business weeks."

"It is been four days. Sera." Amelia pointed out over the speaker. "And you answered all of Bennett's trap questions without blinking."

"Yes I am very confident with my answers. Amelia."

"If you say so. Then you are getting the offer."

"But the real question is: have you figured out who elevator guy was yet?"

Seraphina stopped wiping the kitchen center table.

"I haven't thought about him."

"You haven't thought about the elevator guy?"

"Not even once?"

“You’ve got to be joking.”

"I haven't," seraphina Insisted, though the lie felt thin, even to her. "He was just an arrogant employee who doesn't understand basic spatial etiquette. He has zero relevance to whether or not I get hired."

"Right. Which is why you have mentioned him three times since Tuesday."

Amelia chuckles.

"Just remember, if you get the job, you will have to see his effortlessly confident face in the break room."

"If I get this job, I will ignore him with the exact same proficiency I used in the elevator."

Seraphina said firmly.

She ended the call, set her phone down and picked up her mug. Before she could take a sip. the phone chimes.

An email notification

Sender: Vance Group HR—

Communications Division.

Seraphina sat the mug down with precise deliberate care. She wiped her hands on a towel, took a slow breath, and opened the message.

Dear Ms. Vance,

Thank you for taking the time to meet with our team on Tuesday.

Following your initial interview with MS. Rebecca Bennett, we would like to invite you to a second round evaluation at our headquarters tomorrow.

Friday, at 10:00am.

This session will include a brief practical exercise and a meeting with the senior Director of Brand Strategy.

Please confirm your availability by responding to the email.

Seraphina read the words twice to ensure she hadn't misread the tone.

A second round.

A practical exercise meant they were serious.

A meeting with the Director meant the decision was imminent.

She immediately typed a concise, professional confirmation, pressed send, and allowed herself one small, a silent breath of triumph.