Chapter 5
Chapter5
ELEANOR’S POV
I stood outside Pierce Enterprises and took one long breath before walking in.
I needed this job and that was the only thing that mattered.
The loan notices at home were still sitting on my bed, the amount had not changed and Ian was not going to pay any of it.
I could not let my personal mess affect how I showed up today.
The lobby was quiet and expensive. I held my head high and walked straight to the reception desk.
“Good morning. I have an interview,” I said.
The woman behind the desk looked up. “Your name?”
“Eleanor Mae.”
She checked her screen, typed something, then handed me a visitor badge. “Please take a seat, someone will come for you shortly.”
I sat on one of the leather chairs and kept my hands still in my lap.
My mind kept trying to drift back to the dark apartment and the man whose face I never properly saw. I pushed the thought away. Not today and certainly not right now.
An assistant appeared after a few minutes. “Miss Mae? Please follow me.”
I stood and walked with her through the main floor, past open offices and glass walls. She led me into an elevator and pressed the button for the top floor.
“The CEO will be conducting your interview today,” she said as the doors closed.
I looked at her. “The CEO?”
“Yes. Mr. Pierce prefers to handle certain positions himself.”
I didn’t say anything else. It was surprising to hear, but I kept my face neutral.
When the elevator opened we walked down a short hallway. Before she stopped in front of a large door, knocked once, then opened it for me.
“You can go in.”
I took a breath and stepped inside. But the moment I looked up, everything stopped.
It was the man from Hailey’s apartment.
He was sitting behind the desk in a dark suit, looking at some papers. Then he lifted his head and saw me.
I stopped in the doorway and my foot almost slipped. I grabbed the edge of the door frame without thinking.
His eyes locked on mine and I watched the recognition hit him the same way it hit me. Neither of us spoke for several long seconds.
I felt embarrassment crawl up my neck like an insect. I wanted to turn around and leave. Walk straight out of the building and never come back.
Then I remembered the loan notices, red stamps and the amount I still had to pay by myself.
I was not going to let one embarrassing night destroy the only real opportunity I had right now.
He gestured toward the chair in front of his desk.
I walked in, closed the door behind me, and sat down. I kept my expression as professional as I could even though my heart was already racing a mile per minute.
He cleared his throat.
“Miss Mae,” he said in an even voice. “Thank you for coming in.”
“Thank you for having me.”
He looked down at the folder in front of him, then back at me. “I’ve reviewed your application. Tell me why you applied for this position.”
I focused on the question and nothing else. “I’ve spent the last few years handling operations and client coordination. I’m looking for a role with more responsibility and better structure. Pierce Enterprises has the kind of projects I want to work on.”
He nodded once. “What would you say is your strongest skill?”
“Staying organized under pressure. I’ve managed multiple accounts at the same time without missing deadlines.”
“Give me an example.”
I kept my eyes on his face but forced my mind to stay on the work. “In my last role I was responsible for three major clients at once.”
I paused and adjusted my seating position. “One of them had a sudden change in requirements two days before delivery. I reorganized the team, adjusted the timeline, and we still delivered on schedule.”
He wrote something down. “How do you handle difficult clients?”
“I listen first. Most of the time they’re frustrated about something specific. Once I understand what the actual problem is, I can fix it without the situation escalating.”
“And if the client is still unreasonable?”
“I stay calm and stick to the facts. I don’t take it personally.”
The questions continued. He asked about my previous experience, the software I knew. How I prioritized tasks and dealt with tight deadlines.
I answered each one carefully, keeping my voice steady.
The more we talked about work, the more the initial shock started to fade. I could feel myself getting more confident with every answer I gave.
Still, the tension between us felt like a third person in the room.
Every time our eyes met I remembered his mouth on my neck, his hands on my body, the way he felt inside me. I pushed it down and kept talking.
He asked about a project I had listed on my résumé. I explained the details, the challenges, and the final result. He listened without interrupting.
When I finished he was quiet for a moment.
I realized fully, sitting there across from him, that he was not just some wealthy man who paid for a private night.
He was the CEO of one of the largest companies in the city. Pierce Enterprises.
His name was on this building and I had walked into this interview with no idea who he was that night.
If I got this job, I would have to see him regularly. Sit in meetings with him and report to him.
The thought made my stomach tighten, but I still refused to back out.
He closed the folder and looked at me directly. “Do you have any questions for me?”
I asked one about the team structure and another about the main responsibilities of the role. He answered both clearly.
Then the interview was over.
I waited.
He didn’t say yes or no. He simply stood and extended his hand. “We’ll be in touch, Miss Mae.”
I stood as well, shook his hand once, and kept my face professional. “Thank you for your time.”
I turned and walked out of the office, closing the door quietly behind me.