Signed to the ruthless CEO

The Interview

By the time Valerie reached the waiting area, her heart was beating wildly, threatening to come out of her chest, until she noticed two ladies and a man seated quietly, their postures stiff, faces unreadable. From the way they avoided eye contact, Cathy guessed they were there for the same reason she was.

She took out her phone and checked her reflection, subtly adjusting her face to be sure her makeup hadn’t smudged. Her dress was still neat. Not rumpled. She exhaled softly and turned to the lady beside her.

“Hi,” she said with a small smile. “My name is Valerie. Are you also here for the interview?”

“Yes,” the lady replied politely.

The silence returned.

Moments later, the lady introduced herself as Chloe, explaining that one of the interview panel members was delayed but would arrive shortly. The interview would begin anytime soon.

Valerie felt a wave of relief. Maybe luck was finally on her side.

When interviews began, one woman came out crying. The man who followed wore a blank expression. When Chloe emerged, she looked like she might fall apart, visibly shaking as tears formed in her eyes. Valerie comforted her briefly, exchanging numbers before her own name was called.

Her heart skipped a beat.

She whispered a quick prayer and walked in.

The office was elegant. Glass windows shimmered like diamonds as light found its way through them. A large oak table sat at the centre of the room. Four people sat around it.

And there he was.

The man from the elevator.

Ellan Noir.

He didn’t speak once during the interview. He only watched her. His gaze was so intense that it made Valerie uncomfortable, almost feeling as if he wanted to use his eyes to pierce her soul.

When it ended, Valerie left feeling drained.

She waited outside, hoping to see him again, but when he didn’t appear, she approached the receptionist, only to be dismissed coldly. The receptionist glared at her, wondering what connection she had with Mr Noir. She refused to give any useful information and dismissed her. Valerie had no choice but to leave, not wanting to cause a scene. She left the building and went straight to a restaurant.

That night, she washed the handkerchief carefully, promising herself she would return it someday, whenever she had the chance.

Back at the company, Ellan requested her file.

The directors were shocked, since Ellan was never interested in things like this.

After reading it, he spoke calmly. “We’re hiring her.” Not for the position she applied for, but as my assistant—double the price.

Not because she wasn’t qualified, but because she intrigued him. He needed to satisfy his curiosity. He wanted to know who dared to ride his elevator with him and decided to cause a scene but also to confirm if she was really the only one.

At home, Nora called just to check up on her. She narrated her whole day, and Nora tried to comfort her, telling her she would get the job. Not long after, she dropped the call and drifted to sleep, hoping she would get the job.

Elsewhere, Ellan ignored his mother’s calls. He watched it ring over and over again until his father called him and reminded him about the banquet in two weeks’ time. His father told him to bring Claire if he had no one else to bring.

The name alone made his stomach twist.

The girl who left him in the rain and watched him rot with no sympathy whatsoever.

After ending the call, Ellan slammed his fist onto his desk, papers scattering across the floor. He grabbed his keys and drove out of the company.