: The Job

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esk arched an eyebrow, his eyes darting doubtfully. "You ap

ating wildly in my chest. Before I could stop myself, the wor

xtension of his lips. "So you do know," he thought as he reclined in his seat. He studied me

d seeing him-here-at his firm. The air was heavy with unsaid difficulties, and the place seemed too cramped

tand up straighter. "Nate, I recogni

the way he stared. Olivia, do you believe you're qualified for a posit

ce, and I found it difficult to remain

u believe that you can come in here and dazzle me with your tiny resume, as if this were just

I was aware that this would not be simple, I had not anticipated this degree of humiliation. I could already

ed my fists, pushing my nails into my h

e. Prove to me that you are capable of supporting yourself independently, free from the influence of your family and the privileg

ison. It was more than simply the work. It has to do with power. Command. He aimed to shat

covered, he was tak

My voice trembling but resolute, I fired ba

n who believes that charm and connections will enough, aren't yo

I had attempted to bury surfaced. I wanted to run-to get away-for the first time in a long time. However, I was unable to. This emp

I could feel the heat of his stare on me. "Olivia, do you think you can handle what this job requires?" he said in a quiet voice wi

p. However, a knock on the door cut us off before I could reply. I heard the door beh

t-say, "Mr. Westbrook, everything is set for the presentation

once taking his eyes from mine, he curtly answered, "I'l

ded a momentary diversion, the tension in the room was not reduced. I sensed it. The worst thing about Nate's manipulatio

ll clenched at my sides. "No, Nate, I'm not here to play games. I'm he

with something I couldn't quite place. He seemed to be h

could hear the challenge in his words. "You must attend

e room without saying anything furt

are that this would not be a normal interview, I had not anticipated this degree of humiliat

essed businessmen stood on each side of the long, polished table that extended out in front of me

tioned for me to sit down. I sat down as directed, but my heart was pounding. Expectations were high, an

y to show me what you're made of. Because this?" He gestured toward the table, toward the p

just as I was about to speak, the lights above us flickered. For a split seco

r, his expression momentarily changi

murmured. "This is whe

stepped inside. The air seemed to freeze, and my blood ran

im-the m

wcomer. "I didn't expect you to show up thi

hilling as I remembered. "You weren't supposed to,