York City. It was not just any company, it was a powerhouse, one that could make or destroy careers. I could not sleep on such an offer. I had waited for this day all summer
building screamed luxury. It was the definition of first class, its roof touching the skies. From just looki
othing close to the outfits I saw there. These people were looking for jobs just like me, but one could tell that they w
fast before stepping out of my house. The sterile office space, paired with the freezing air conditioning, only made my exhaustio
much for a corporate top. I kept rubbing my palms against each other to create some form of friction. The line was moving at such a slow pace and I was getting even mor
, but I answered as quickly as I could, moving to the room where the interview was taking place, not minding the heads that turned
the waiting room. A stern-looking interviewer, Mr. Harrington,
seat, Ms
u, sir,"
flipping through the files, as
s, s
xpected." He said ra
und. "Excuse me, sir
. This-doesn't quite align wi
l background, but I can assure you I
hortlist. This job was open for
disbelief and my sto
clerical error. You weren'
was holding on to this offer, I couldn't just l
part. I apologize for t
Please just let me try. Give me an ult
y determination decided to take h
throwing a random file in front of me. "I want t
, market trends, financial projections-all things I was never formally trained in. But
'm done for. Instead, I look for the basics-what industry is
secured a round of funding... pro
y figure
t the lawsuit changes everything. If they lose, it could wipe out their profits for years
enc
. He leans forward, glancing down at
you reach tha
d. I figured something had to be
inst the desk, considering me. T
nclair. Not
ning from her shoulders. I
lips together. He looked like he was weighing his options, torn between dismissing me o
door sw
sharp as a blade,
this interview is
tively-and felt
e doorway was
e man behind Sterling Capital Group, a billionaire before thirty-five, a ghost in the media but a legend in the
was a clerical mix-up. This candidate wasn't supposed to b
pressed. He hadn't even looked at me properly, ye
vousness. Who did he think he was? No-scratch that. I knew who he was. But tha
is throat. "She performe
me like I was some anomaly he couldn't quite place. He took a slow step fo
s your
chin. "Nor
his face at that-recognitio
you weren't me
rutiny. "I realize there was a mistake. But I als
t in his expression, but if it was there, he buri
as she mistakenl
hesitated. "Per
was applying for something more analytical, something where I could actuall
the job, she
nked.
ington seemed
ound the flaw in the investment file faster tha
thing about the way he said it-like I was just a minor
meeting his gaze head-on.
und my defiance mildly entertaining. "That
ened, but I
ake t
prove hi