Glass Empire

The First Day

Chapter 2: The First Day

Lila arrived at Blake Technologies an hour early, her stomach twisting with nerves. She had spent the entire night rehearsing answers to potential questions, polishing her only pair of professional shoes, and triple-checking the bus schedule to ensure she wouldn’t be late.

The lobby was quieter this time, the morning rush yet to begin. The receptionist—same as yesterday—glanced up from her computer and gave a polite nod.

“You’re back,” she said, her tone neutral.

“Yes,” Lila said, forcing a smile. “I start today.”

The receptionist’s eyebrows lifted slightly, but she only handed Lila a temporary badge. “HR is on the 12th floor. They’ll get you set up.”

The elevator ride felt endless. Lila adjusted the strap of her bag, her reflection staring back at her in the mirrored walls—pale, wide-eyed, undeniably out of place.

When the doors slid open, she stepped into a sleek, open space where a dozen employees moved with purpose, their voices low but confident. A woman in a crisp blazer approached, her smile practiced.

“Lila Carter?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Miranda from HR. Follow me.”

The next hour was a blur of paperwork, nondisclosure agreements, and a tour of the floor. Miranda spoke briskly, barely pausing to see if Lila was keeping up.

“Your workstation is here,” she said, gesturing to a small desk near the corner. It was wedged between a filing cabinet and a window overlooking the city—not the worst spot, but noticeably isolated from the rest of the team.

“You’ll report directly to Mr. Blake’s executive assistant, Clara, for daily tasks. Any questions?”

Lila swallowed. “What exactly will I be doing?”

Miranda’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Whatever Mr. Blake needs.”

First Test

Clara, a sharp-eyed woman in her forties, wasted no time.

“Mr. Blake wants these reports cross-referenced by noon,” she said, dropping a thick stack of files onto Lila’s desk. “And don’t bother asking for help. He prefers initiative.”

Lila stared at the mountain of paperwork. It was an impossible task—unless she worked through lunch.

She opened the first file and got to work.

By mid-morning, whispers started.

“That’s the new girl?”

“No degree, no experience. Rumor is she’s some charity case.”

Lila’s face burned, but she kept her head down.

Then, at 11:45 AM, she noticed something.

A discrepancy in the financial logs—a series of payments that didn’t match the project codes. Small enough to overlook, but consistent.

Her pulse quickened. Should she mention it? What if she was wrong?

Before she could decide, a shadow fell over her desk.

She looked up.

Ethan Blake stood there, his expression unreadable.

“You’re still here,” he said.

Lila straightened. “I’m almost done.”

He picked up one of her completed files, flipping through it. Then his gaze locked onto hers.

“Did you find anything unusual?”

A test.

She hesitated—then pushed forward.

“Actually, yes.”

She pointed out the inconsistencies. Ethan’s face remained impassive, but something flickered in his eyes.

“Interesting,” he said. Then, without another word, he walked away.

Clara appeared moments later, her demeanor slightly less icy.

“Mr. Blake wants you in his office at 3 PM.”

Lila’s stomach dropped.

Had she just passed—or failed spectacularly?