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.

Amaya woke up before her alarm again.

But this time, it wasn't the usual unease pulling her from sleep. It was rather anticipation. She laid still. Just for a moment, staring at the ceiling, and letting reality settle in.

You got the job. At Blooms Global. Her mind told her. But the words still felt foreign.

Instictively, she let out a slow breath. Then pushed herself out of bed. "No overthinking," she muttered. "Just get through the day."

Her mornings were that simple, but intentional. Shower, then get dressed. But this time, she took extra care. She choose her outfits, three times before settling on something clean.

A professional soft cream blouse tucked into a fitted black skirt, paired with low heels. It was nothing flashy, just... presentable.

She stood in front of the mirror for a second longer than usual. "You'll be fine." She told herself but didn't fully believe it. But she grabbed her bag anyway.

.

.

.

Today, the bus ride felt different. Not because of any major changes she had had. But in the subtle ways. Like how she stood a little straighter.

And how she paid closer attention to the people around her. First, it was a man arguing loudly on the phone. Then, a woman fixing her makeup in the reflection of the window.

A student half-asleep, head bobbing with every turn. Life was moving on as always. But today, felt different.

After about Thirty minutes, she finally alighted at Blooms Global. It was still massive and powerful But the building didn't feel as intimidating as yesterday. Because she felt a sense of belonging. At least... on paper.

"First day?" the receptionist asked with a polite smile as Aria approached.

"Yes." Amaya said.

"Welcome. HR is expecting you. 12th floor."

"Thank you." She answered, and strolled off.

Orientation wasn't as scary as she expected.

There were five of them in total. The new hires sat around a sleek table while an HR manager walked them through company policies, expectations, schedules.

Amaya listened carefully, jotting down notes in a small notebook she had brought. Details helped her feel in control. On her list were;

Names, Departments and Procedures.

Beside her, sat a curly girl. She leaned over slightly. "First corporate job?"

Amaya glanced at her. "Is it that obvious?"

The girl grinned. "A little. I'm Maya."

"Amaya."

"Relax," Maya whispered. "Everyone looks like they're about to pass out on their first day."

Amaya huffed a small laugh. That... actually helped.

By midday, Amaya was assigned her department. Administrative support. Mid-level management.

It was not directly important. And neither was it directly invisible. It was just between a balance she could work with.

"This is your station," the supervisor said, gesturing to a neat desk with a computer, phone, and a small stack of files.

Amaya nodded. "Thank you."

"Just observe for today. And et familiar." He instructed.

"I will." She said, and he was gone.

The office floor was alive in a quiet, controlled way. Phones rang softly in the background. While keyboards clicked. Low conversations drifted between desks.

Aria sat down, taking it all in. This was different from the convenience store. Everything here had structure and precision. Even the way people moved felt... calculated.

She turned on her computer, logging in with the credentials she had been given. Emails, Schedules and Documents. It was a lot, but manageable. She could do this.

"Hey." A voice came in.

Amaya looked up. Maya stood beside her, holding two cups of coffee.

"Peace offering," she said, handing one over.

Amaya smiled. "You're a lifesaver."

"I know, right?."

They sat in a comfortable silence for a moment.

Then Maya leaned slightly closer. "Word of advice?"

Amaya glanced at her. "Yeah?"

"Keep your head down. Do your work. Don't get noticed by the wrong people."

Amaya blinked. "Wrong people?"

Maya shrugged. "It's a big company. Not everyone here is... nice."

Something about the way she said it made Amaya pause. But before she could ask more, a voice cut through the air.

"Ms. Bennett."

Amaya stiffened. She knew that voice before she even turned. Slowly, she looked up. And there he was. The man from the convenience store.

He was standing right in front of her desk. Dressed in a sharp suit, composed.

Her stomach dropped. "...You work here?" she asked before she could stop herself.

A faint smile touched his lips. "Of course."

Her pulse quickened. Maya glanced between them, confused. "You two know each other?"

"No," Amaya quickly said.

"At least," the man smoothly added. "not formally." His gaze locked onto Amaya's. Sharp, knowing and unsettling.

"I'm Daniel Reed," he said. Senior operations manager." The title landed heavily. He wasn't just any employee. He was someone with power.

Amaya forced herself to stand. "Aria Bennett."

"I know." The words came out soft. But it sent a chill down her spine. A brief silence swept between them. Then, a pleasant and controlled smile spread through Daniel's face. "Welcome to Blooms Global."

And just like that, he walked away. Maya immediately leaned closer. "Okay... what was that?"

Amaya slowly sat down. "I have no idea." But that wasn't entirely true. Because deep down, she knew. That man wasn't normal. He had something fishy about him.

~~~

High above them, behind the glass walls. Lucien Blues watched. His gaze fixed on the floor below. On one particular desk, and iinteraction.

His expression didn't change. But slightly, his eyes darkened. "Daniel Reed," he quietly muttered.

His assistant stepped forward. "Yes, sir?"

"Keep an eye on him." He paused, "Discreetly."

"...Understood sir."

With the instructions given, Lucien's gaze shifted back to Amaya. She looked small from this height. Unaware of his prescence. Yet, she was the center of something he couldn't ignore.

Something feels wrong ahout her. He could feel that. And he intended to find out whatever it was.

Back at Amaya's desk, she tried to focus on her screen. The emails, schdules and tasks at hand.

But her fingers paused over the keyboard. Her mind replaying one thing.

You shouldn't have.

She swallowed, subtly glancing across the office like she was being watched. Obviously, Daniel was gone. But the feeling he left behind wasn't.

For the first time since she got the job, Amaya clearly realized something. She needs to keep her guards up for whatever challenge it was.