Chapter 37
Melissa’s brain short–circuited. Had she heard that right? She stammered, “The Parvati? Me! An interview? Are you serious?”
Scott’s voice on the line was as smooth as ever. “Dead serious. HR was supposed to call you, but when they found out we were old classmates, they handed it over to me. Figured it was a good excuse to check in and catch up.”
Her heart skipped. She knew she didn’t fit The Parvan’s strict hiring standards. This was Scott’s doing, no doubt. He must’ve pulled some strings
Clutching her phone, she took a deep breath to steady her voice. Thank you so much. I’ll be there, I promise.”
Scott’s laugh was soft, almost nostalgic. “Your work’s still brilliant, you know. Back in school, I was always chasing after you, trying to keep up. Never. managed to win, though.”
That caught her off guard. She hadn’t been close to Scott and had never seen him as competition. Awkwardly, the chuckled. “You’re being way too humble. Getting into The Parvati is huge. You’re amazing. Meanwhile, I’m still out here fumbling around for a job.”
Scott paused, his voice dropping a note. “Yeah, I’ve heard a bit about what happened. But honestly! If things hadn’t gone sideways, you’d still be the star of the room, like always. But it’s not too late. I can’t wall to see you crush it again. Good luck—you’ve got this”
His sincerity caught her off guard, and she smiled despite herself. Thanks, Scott. Really
After the call Melissa sat for a moment her emotions tangled. People she’d trusted most had betrayed her, while someone she barely knew had stepped in to offer real help. Life had a cruel sense of humor.
But this was her chance. If the could just get through the door, she’d prove herself.
Throwing on a crisp white blouse and tailored slacks, she kept her makeup light and professional before heading out.
The Parvati headquarters was a sleek, towering skyscraper. Standing at its base, she tilted her head back, taking in its sheer scale. She clenched her fists, silently swearing to herself, You belong here. Fight for it.
The nerves hit hard when she sat across from the interview panel, palms clammy against her slacks. But all those late–night practice runs at home paid off
Her answers started stiff, but as the discussion turned to her design philosophy and industry insights, she found her rhythm. Passion replaced nerves, and she spoke with confidence.
The interviewers kept their expressions neutral, offering no hints. When it was over, she stepped out, heart racing, and fired off a quick text to Scott: First round done |
The phone rang almost immediately “Where are you?” Scott asked. Tll come find you.”
Melissa hesitated, lowering her voice as if someone might overhear, “Still on the seventh floor, but I’m leaving. Are you sure it’s okay for us to meet! Won’t people talk“”
Scort snorted. “Relax. The company wants us to bring in good people. And hey, if you get hired, I might even score a referral bonus. Win–win”
His casual tone made her laugh. “Fine. Meet me downstairs.”
A few minutes later, Melissa walked into the café next to the building. She barely had time to scan the room before Scott walked in–tall, sharp, and polished, like he’d just stepped out of an ad. He spotted her instantly, his face lighting up. “Melissa!” he called, weaving through the tables.
She stood, suddenly feeling awkward “Scott, this isn’t pulling you away from work, i ir
“Not at all,” he said as he slid into the chair across from her. “Actually, I just talked to the manager. They’re really impressed. I think you’ve nailed this.
Her eyes widened. “Wait, seriously? You’re not just saying that, are you?”
“Not at all,” he said with a grin. “You’ll hear back by the end of the day. If all goes well, you’re moving on to the next round tomorrow”
Relief and excitement flooded her. “Scott I don’t even know how to thank you.”
Scott shrugged, his smile easy. “Why thank met All I did was give you a heads–up and maybe mentioned to the manager how talented you are. The rest was all you
“Don’t downplay it,” she said, shaking her head. “You gave me a chance I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I really mean it–thank you
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