Morning came quietly.

Amaya stirred awoke before her alarm, eyes snapping open as if something had pulled her out of sleep. For a moment, she lay still, staring at the ceiling. Her breathing uneven.

The dream lingered longer than necessary. But none of it was clear. Only the heavy and suffocating feeling. It felt like she had been running... or hiding.

Intuitively, she pressed her lips together. Turning onto her side, as she pulled the thin blanket closer around her.

"It's just a dream," she murmured, though her voice sounded unconvinced even to herself.

At that moment, the phone buzzed on the bedside table. 6:12 AM, the alarmed displayed.

It was too early, but she had to get her day going. With a small groan, Aria pushed herself upright, running a hand through her slightly tangled hair.

The room was still dim, the soft gray light of morning filtering through the curtains. She swung her legs off the bed, stretching slowly as she stood. Her body felt stiff, like she hadn't rested at all.

Her daily routine had always been her go to.

It never disappointments. Standing at the kitchen, the kettle whistled softly. Amaya leaned against the counter, scrolling through her phone.

Job listings displayed once again.

She had been doing this every morning for the past three weeks. It had become part of her routine. She had expenses to cover. And her part-time shift at the convenience store barely covered rent. She needed something stable-something better.

After a few minutes, her thumb paused mid-scroll.

Blooms Global – Administrative Assistant (Entry Level)

A slight frown swept her face. That name again.

It had shown up more than once throughout her search.

It was a big company, corporate and competitive. Definitely out of her league. But Amaya tapped on the listing anyway. The Requirements, Responsibilities, Long hours and High expectations came to view.

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Yeah... no." She exited the page once again, and set the phone down just as the kettle clicked off.

But as she poured the hot water into her cup, something nagged at her. That name, Blooms Global. It felt... familiar. Not in a clear way, nor something she could place her hand on.

It was just a faint tug at the back of her mind. Like a word on the tip of her tongue. Amaya shook her head, stirring her tea.

"You're imagining things," she muttered. Yet still, she picked up her phone again and saved the listing.

By 8:30 AM, the city was alive and buzzing with activities. Amaya stepped onto the bus, gripping the overhead rail as it lurched forward. The usual crowd filled the space. Students, office workers, and people half-awake and glued to their phones.

The ride roughly took twenty minutes. Just enough time for her to zone out. Watching buildings pass by the window in a blur.

As she got to her stop, she rang the bell and stepped off. Amaya walked the rest of the way to the convenience store. The moment she oushed the glass door opened, the bell chimed as she entered.

"You're early," the cashier from last night said, glancing up from behind the counter.

Amaya smiled. "Couldn't sleep."

He hummed. "Join the club."

He said, as Amaya moved behind the counter, tying her apron as she got to work. Restocking shelves, to organizing the drinks, and down to wiping down surfaces. It was a simple repetitive and grounding work.

For a while, the strange feeling from the morning had faded. Until the door chimed again. Instinctively, Amaya looked up.

Only to see a well dressed man, looking totally out of place as he stepped in. He sure wasn't here for snacks. That much was obvious.

His gaze slowly and deliberately swept the store and finally landed on her.

Amaya's fingers stilled on the shelf. She felt something tightened in her chest. The man smiled. But for some reason, it didn't reach his eyes.

"Good morning," he said casually, walking toward the counter.

"Morning," Amaya replied, forcing her voice steady.

He stopped in front of her, resting one hand lightly against the counter. "Do you work here every day?"

Amaya hesitated. "Most days."

His eyes flickered sharp, more like assessing. "Long shifts?" He asked.

" It depends." She muttered.

For the next two minutes, silence stretched between them. Then, he softly chuckled. "You must get tired."

"I manage." Amaya shrugged.

His gaze lingered on her face for a second longer than necessary. Then, just like that, he straightened. "I'll take a coffee."

Relief flickered briefly through her. "Sure."

She turned, focusing on the machine, as awareness of his presence hit from behind her. He was watching, and she knew that.

As she handed him the cup, their fingers brushed. Amaya flinched. The contact, somehow, spark something cold from within.

It came as a flash; a hand. A gold ring. Her breath hitched. And the cup slipped slightly in her grip.

"Careful," the man smoothly said, catching it before it fell.

In that moment, their eyes met. Just for a split second. And something dark flickered in his expression. Like recognition.

On an impulse, Amaya quickly pulled her hand back, her heart pounding heavily against her chest.

"Sorry," she murmured.

"No need." He paid, still watching her. Just like that, he turned and walked out.

He was gone in the next minute but the air he left behind felt... wrong.

"You okay?" her coworker asked.

Amaya blinked. "Yeah. Why?"

"You went pale."He explained.

"I'm fine," she quickly answered. But she clearly wasn't. The rest of her shift continued but she couldn't shake out the feeling that something had just changed.

Apart from that unusual encounter, the day dragged by with no special happening. That evening, Amaya retired home earlier than usual.

She sat cross-legged on her bed, her laptop open in front of her. The Blooms Global listing stared back at her. She had no reason to apply.

No qualifications that stood out. And no connections.

Yet, her fingers hovered over the keyboard. "Just give it a try," she whispered to herself. "What's the worst that could happen?"

Rejection was a normal thing to her. She exhaled slowly. Then, started typing.

·

.

.

~ ~ ~

The company had retired but Jake was still seated behind his desk. It was a sleek office bathed in cool light.

He flipped through a report. His expression unfazed. But the air around him felt heavy enough to suffocate.

"Run it again," he said.

His assistant stiffened. "Sir, we already-"

"I don't care." He cut him short, his voice still calm and controlled. "Run. It. Again."

There was a brief silence. "Yes, sir." He answered.

Jake leaned back in his chair. His gaze drifting briefly to the city beyond the glass. Something was off. He couldn't explain it, but he could sense it

And his instincts...were never wrong.

.

.

.

Meanwhole, the man from the convenience store stepped into a dimly lit office. He loosened his tie, his expression no longer pleasant. But cold and calculating.

He pulled out his phone. And a photo filled the screen. It was a blurry image from Two years ago. The girl looked young, frightened and covered in shadows. He stared at it. Then, a smile slowly spread through his face.

"I found you."

Amaya on the other hand, hit the submit button.

Sending out her application on an instant.

Sleep came but Amaya couldn't get any proper rest. She had woken up three times during the night. Each with the same lingering unease sitting heavy in her chest. There were no clear dreams, just fragments of emotion she couldn't explain.

By morning, she gave up trying. The alarm hadn't even gone off yet when she sat up, rubbing her face tiredly. "Great," she muttered. "Another long day."

Just then, the phone buzzed. Amaya blinked, immediately reaching out for it. And there it sat, an email notification. She slightly frowned, unlocking the screen. But then, froze.

Subject: Interview Invitation – Blooms Global

Her heart skipped. She had totally forgotten about the email she skeptically sent.

"What...?" She jerked up as she sat straighter, quickly opening it.

Dear Ms. Bennett,

We are pleased to invite you for an interview for the Administrative Assistant position at Blooms Global...

"Sh*t..." Amaya stared at the screen like it might disappear."They actually replied...?" A nervous laugh slipped out.

That wasn't supposed to happen. She had applied on an impulse. No expectations, no hope.Her stomach twisted, paying attention to the details.

The interview was scheduled at 11:30 AM. "Today?!" she groaned, scrambling out of bed.

Swiftly, she carried out her basic routine and hurried out. By 10:45 AM, Amaya stood across the street from the company's Headquarters. A sudden regret taking roots with her thoughts.

The building towered above the city in its intimidating perfection. People moved in and out with purpose, dressed in sharp suits and confidence she definitely did not have.

Amaya looked down at herself. She appeared decent in her Simple blouse, coupled with a Black skirt and a Low heels. But that was just not... it.

"Too late now," she whispered. It's not like she could easily go back and change. Taking a deep breath, she crossed the street.

What made the whole experience overwhelming was, was even more overwhelming, was the lobby. It's marble floors, high ceilings and clean lines everything screamed power.

Amaya hesitated just as she passed the entrance, unsure where to go.

"Interview?" a voice asked. She turned to see a receptionist smiling politely behind a sleek desk.

"Oh-yes. Um, Amaya Bennett." The woman typed quickly, then nodded. "You're expected. Take the elevator to the 18th floor."

"Thank you." She said.

Amaya walked toward the elevators, her steps a little too careful. As her reflection followed her in the mirrored walls, nervous.

The elevator's door slid open, she stepped and pressed 18. It instantly set into motion. The ride somehow felt longer than it should be as she waited in anticipation.

She was so anxious that, every ding at each floor made her chest tighten a little more. By the time the doors finally opened at her destination, her palms were slightly damp.

"Okay," she whispered. "You've got this." Those words felt empty but she tried to positive as she stepped.

The waiting area was already occupied when she got there. Three other candidates were already seated in a neat row of chairs, all dressed impeccably.

One woman glanced up at Amaya, then back down at her phone. Amaya swallowed and took the last empty seat. Her hands folded neatly in her lap.

As she waited, she just kept watching and observing. A habit she didn't realize she had. The room was quiet until the elevator doors behind them clicked open again.

A firm and measured footsteps immediately followed. Amaya felt it even before she saw him.

The subtle shift in the room was real. One by one, the other candidates straightened. The tension sharpened.

Amaya slightly frowned as she turned, at that moment, everything... slowed. Dressed in a perfectly tailored dark suit, he walked past without looking. His tall figure and heavy prescence, spark command and control.

Like the entire space belonged to him without question. Lucien Blues. Amaya had no idea who he was yet. But something inside her reacted anyway. A strange pull umfamiliar and unsettling pull. Her breath caught.

For just a second, he paused. Just enough for his gaze to slightly shift almost in her direction.

Amaya's fingers instinctively tightened in her lap.

And justblike that, he strolled off. Disappearing down the hallway.

The moment broke, and the hallway broke into ruckus. "...That's him," one of the candidates whispered.

"The CEO."

Aria blinked. "CEO?" The words sounded in her mind as her chest tightened slightly.

"That's... Lucien Blues?"

The name settled in her mind. Heavy, important and strangely familiar.

~~~~

Lucien on the other hand, didn't slow down until he reached his office.The moment the door shut, the silence returned. Just the way he liked it. But then, something lingered.

An unwanted and unexplained feeling. He slightly loosened his cuff, his expression unchanged. Yet his mind- clouldn't move on from that face. Though it was a brief and fleeting moment.

His jaw tightened. "Who was that?" he suddenly asked.

His assistant looked up. "Sir?" He muttered, obviously confused.

"The girl in the waiting area." He explained. There was a subtle silence.

"I'll check." He answered.

Lucien said nothing as moved toward the window. The city stretched endlessly below as he gazed outside. But his focus wasn't there.It was... elsewhere. Something about her, didn't sit right with him.

Back in the waiting, Amaya snapped out of her thoughts the moment her name called. "Yes."She muttered.

"Please come with me."

Amaya jerked up, smoothing her skirt before following the interviewer down the hall. Her heart was racing . But not just from nerves.

That man- Lucien .Why did it feel like she had just walked past something important?

The interview room was simple as they stepped in. A clean and professional setting.

She sat across from two managers, answering questions, and trying her best to stay composed.

"Tell us about your previous experience."

"Why Blooms Global?"

"What are your strengths?"

They were all normal questions.Which Amaya answered honestly and carefully. Slowly, she relaxed. Just a little untile a sharp pain hit her head.

It came suddenly but intense. Her fingers tightened around the edge of her chair.

"Ms. Bennett?" one interviewer asked.

"I-I'm fine," she quickly mumbled. But she wasn't.

Flashes of something unclear blurred her vision.

A room. Then..., Darkness.

A man standing. Then...

Another man- Falling. Then...

Blood-

Amaya sucked in a breath. And just like that, it was gone.

"...Would you like some water?" the interviewer asked. The words felt distant at first, then it suddenly became clearer.

"Yes. Thank you." She answered. Within a minutes, a bottle of water was rushed over. Her hands trembled slightly as she took the glass.

"Sorry. I just... didn't sleep well."

They nodded politely. But she could feel the something shift in the air. And somewhere behind the glass wall, Lucien watched.

His expression unreadable.But his eyes was

Sharp, focused, and locked on her.

Instead of feeling confident or hopeful, Amaya stepped out of the building rather feeling... lighter. A relief of it all finally being over.

The glass doors of Blooms Global slid shut with a soft hiss behind her, cutting off the polished silence of the corporate world as she returned to the familiar chaos of the street.

The afternoon air brushed over her; as noises from cars, voices and heat rising from the pavement welcomed her to the real life. She exhaled slowly, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder.

"Well," she murmured, "at least I didn't completely embarrass myself." That, alone counted for something.

Her stomach growled in reminder. "Right." She muttered. She hadn't gotten anything down there since morning.

Fortunately across the street, a small food stall was set up. It was nothing fancy. Just a man grilling skewers while chatting loudly with customers. The warm, spicy and comforting smell immediately hit her

Amaya hesitated for a second, before crossing over. "Two, please," she said, holding up her fingers.

The vendor grinned. "Good choice."

She leaned against the side of the stall while waiting, watching while different caliber of people pass by. Office workers on lunch breaks laughing in small groups. Someone arguing over the phone. And a couple sharing drinks.

Just the normal and grounded life she needed. "Here you go," the vendor said, cutting through her distruction as he handed her the skewers.

"Thanks." She said, took a bite and nearly sighed. "Okay... worth it." She muffled with her mouth half full.

The vendor chuckled. "First time here?"

"Yeah." She nodded, enjoying her little satisfaction.

"Then you'll be back."

Amaya faintly smiled faintly. "Maybe."

She stayed a little longer than necessary, slowly eating and allowing her nerves settle. In the moment, her phone buzzed. Quickly, she wiped fingers and checked it.

Surprisingly, it was from an unknown number again. Her brows furrowed, this was somehow, becoming rampant. For a moment, she considered ignoring it. But then, something, maybe the subtle urge made her answer.

"...Hello?" She uttered, but was met with silence. Then, a click. And just like that, the call ended.

Amaya stared at the screen. "...Weird." She mumbled. And that made a small chill crept up her spine. But she shook it off. "Probably nothing."

Yet, that didn't stop her from blocking the number. Just in case.

By the time she got back to the convenience store, the afternoon rush had started. "Hey, you're late," her coworker called.

"Interview," Amaya replied, tying her apron quickly.

"Oh? Fancy."

"Not really." She slipped into routine again. Registering, restocking, and small talks with customers.

Steadily, time passed with it's normal activities.

Untile the door chimed, at an odd hour when the the door tag clearly read...CLOSED .

Intuitively, Amaya looked up. But then, froze. It was him.The man from yesterday. But this time, there was no pretence in his eyes, neither a smile.

Amaya watched as she walked straight to the counter. Her pulse spiked. "...Coffee?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

"No." His gaze held hers. Direct and intense. "You applied to Blooms Global," he uttered. But that sound like a question.

Amaya's stomach dropped. "How do you?"

Slightly, he leaned in. And lowered his voice, only to Amaya's hearing. "You shouldn't have."

Her breath caught. "What?" She stared at him.

But he quickly straightened, just as if nothing had happened. And reached for a bottle of water instead. Paid, and then left. Just like that.

Aria stood there, frozen. Her coworker frowned. "You know him?"

"No." Her voice came out too tight and fast. Because that...that wasn't something normal.

~~~~~

Across the city

Lucien Blues had already read the reports, seen the candidates and analyzed the data. He didn't need interviews to make his decisions.

And yet, "Her," he said, sliding the file forward.

His assistant blinked. "Sir?"

"Amaya Bennett. Hire her." There was a brief pause as his assistant glanced at her profile.

"But she's not the strongest candidate."

"I didn't ask for the strongest." His tone didn't rise, and neither did it sharpened. But it ended the discussion anyway.

"...Understood."

Lucien leaned back slightly, with a distant gaze.

There was something about her. Something he was finding hard to ignore or trust. And until he figures out what it was, he wanted her close.

.

.

.

The evening slowly drift on. Amaya was halfway through organizing a shelf, when her phone buzzed again. And this time, it was an email.

She hesitated briefly before opening it. A few seconds after, her eyes widened.

"...No way." She muttered.

Her coworker glanced over. "What?"

"I-I got it."

"The job?" She asked.

Amaya slowly nodded, still staring at the screen. "They... hired me." Just like that. No second interview. No delay.

Her coworker let out a low whistle. "Damn. You're moving up."

Amaya softly laughed. But deep down, something about it didn't feel normal or earned.

It felt...Fast. Too fast.

After the long hours, she finally retired to bed. But the whole job thing kept hunting her. She sat on her bed, staring at the email again.

Offer letter. The start date. Everything was well documented. It was official. Like real. Her life was changing. Just like that.

But instead of the usual excitement, a strange unease settled in her chest. Remembering what the man had said.

"You shouldn't have." Those words felt funnily scary.

Amaya slowly lay back staring at the ceiling. "Why...?" She didn't know. But something told her that job...wasn't an opportunity. It was a door. And once she stepped through, there would be no going back.

But she was ready for the challenge.

Back in a dark office, the man loosened his tie, staring at a screen. A CCTV footage to the convenience store. It was paused and zoomed in on her face. Her features clear.

His lips slightlt curled. "Unlucky," he murmured.

For her. Because this time, he wouldn't let her walk away just like those passed years.

.

.

Somewhere in the city..

Lucie stood by his window. Unaware that the girl he had just brought into his world was the answer he had been searching for all those passed years.