CHAPTER 10: A NEW BEGINNING
MARYANN'S
POV
The morning sun hadn't even fully risen when my phone buzzed violently on my bedside table, jolting me out of a restless sleep.
Groaning, I rolled over, squinting at
the bright screen that glared at me like an unwelcome spotlight.
I expected it to be one of those usual spam messages or maybe a motivational quote from a group chat she had muted weeks ago.
Instead, it was an email, no, not
just any email. It was the email. An interview confirmation.
My heart skipped. Then it leaped. My fingers trembled as I reread the lines to be sure I wasn't dreaming.
Subject: Interview Invitation - PA Position, time: 9:00 AM Today, location: 14th Floor, ECV-Tech Corporate Towers, Central City.
I shot up from bed, fully awake now, all traces of drowsiness evaporated.
My eyes darted to the digital clock beside my bed, 7:12 AM. I had less than two hours. Panic quickly followed the adrenaline.
I hadn't prepared anything. Not my clothes, not my hair, not even my mind.
The night before, I had been so emotionally drained that I collapsed into bed after scrolling through job
listings, never expecting an actual reply.
Throwing off my blanket, I rushed to the bathroom, splashing water on my face.
My reflection looked startled, hair tousled, sleep still clinging to my eyes.
I brushed my teeth with record speed, then went through the fastest shower of my life.
As I stepped out wrapped in a towel, I could already hear movement downstairs. It was
only a matter of time before someone tried to delay my escape.
Back in my small bedroom, I rummaged through my closet for something remotely professional. Searching, I settled on a navy-blue blouse that hugged my arms perfectly and a pair of black pants that had been begging to be worn for something significant. Today, it seemed, was that day.
As zipped up my modest leather bag and slid my feet into a pair of neat black flats, I heard the familiar clatter of dishes and the not-so-subtle footsteps heading toward the corridor.
"Where are you rushing off to this early?" came Lisa's voice, my stepmother, inquisitive as always. There was a sharpness in her tone, the kind that suggested she was ready to argue.
I was already halfway to the front door. I paused only long enough to
answer, "I have an interview. Starts at nine. I'll be back later."
I didn't wait for a response. I couldn't. If Lisa decided to start one of her usual passive-aggressive commentaries about responsibilities and expectations, I
might miss the interview entirely.
I pulled the door shut behind me, the click of the lock sounding more
satisfying than I expected.
The street outside was already buzzing with early morning life. Cars zoomed past.
Vendors called out to passersby. The sun was rising fast, casting long golden streaks across the pavement.
I took a deep breath. This was it. The first real opportunity I had in move down from Scotland.
I caught a bus with a few minutes to spare and spent the ride rehearsing
possible interview questions in my head.
My mind cycled through everything from my previous internships to how I'd balance workload and deadlines, even though I'd not held a full-time job asides from my formal teaching job back in Scotland before.
By the time the bus stopped near ECV-Tech Towers, it was 8:43 AM. The building was everything I imagined and more, sleek glass panels, silver metallic frames, and a revolving door that gleamed like it belonged in a sci-fi film. The air inside was cool, the kind that smelled faintly of citrus and
professionalism.
I found the receptionist with a calm, I didn't know I had and mentioned my interview. She was given a visitor tag and directed to the elevator.
"Fourteenth floor," the receptionist said with a tight smile. "They're
expecting you."
Each ding of the elevator as it climbed higher made my heart pound harder.
When the doors finally opened, I was greeted by a sprawling lobby with polished floors and soft leather seats.
Behind the reception desk sat a man in his forties, with a clipped beard and eyes that darted quickly over me as if mentally scanning my resume.
"Miss Maryann?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," I said, stepping forward.
"I'm Mr. Morris, HR lead. You're right on time." He extended his hand, and I shook it with a firm grip. "Let's proceed to the conference room."
The interview wasn't what I expected. There were no long, stressful questions. No drills about my weakness or hypothetical work scenarios. After a few brief questions and a glance at my
credentials, Mr. Morris closed the file and leaned back.
"We're hiring immediately," he said, looking straight at me.
"And from what I see, you meet the basic requirements. More importantly, you showed up. That matters a lot these days." He explained.
I blinked. "Does this mean...?" as I was about to asked.
"You're hired." He replied immediately.
I couldn't help the wide smile that spread across my face. Relief surged through me.
"Thank you, thank you so much." I said.
"You'll start tomorrow. 8:00 AM sharp. The assistant role is demanding and we're behind schedule on several projects, so you'll be thrown in quickly. We'll expect you to adapt fast." He said.
"I can do that," I said, my voice firmer than I expected.
He handed me a printed schedule and details of my role. "Welcome aboard, Miss Maryann" he said.
As I exited the building, my steps felt lighter. The world looked different, sharper, more promising.
The very city that felt cold and unforgiving for months now seemed full of possibility. I have a job. A real one. In a top-tier company.
But I also knew that this was just the beginning. The real challenge would start tomorrow.
----------------------------------
Later that evening, When I returned home, Lisa was waiting. Her arms folded, standing at the door like a guard. I braced herself.
"You left in such a hurry this morning," Lisa began, her voice clipped. "Did you even clean the kitchen?" she asked.
"I cleaned what I could before leaving," I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral.
"And what was so important that you had to run off like that without
finishing your chores?" she asked again
"I had an interview. And I got the job." I said happily
Lisa's eyes widened, and for a brief second, I thought she saw something close to surprise, or perhaps pride. But it was gone in a blink, replaced with a shrug.
"Well, let's hope you keep this one." She said.
I didn't answer. She moved past me, heading straight to her room. I didn't need validation from Lisa. Not anymore.
I had made it through the day. And tomorrow, I would walk into my new life.
No matter how many odds were stacked against me, I have found my door, and I walked through it.