"You think highly of yourself. Aren't you the woman who harmed Mr Hudson, Clarissa's father? Our soon-to-be heiress? I'm giving you my last warning — leave before I call the police and charge you with fraud and intrusion," the receptionist said, scoffing.
Bragging about Clarissa being the soon-to-be heiress didn't stir jealousy inside her, just a lazy yawn. Power struggles? No, she was too disinterested to get involved in such things.
What mattered most was her parents' company not to fall into those hypocritical hands.
The receptionist scrambled her thoughts to drive this woman away when they heard a gentle voice tinged with rage.
"Selina, what's going on?" Noah's voice resonated from behind.
Selina turned slightly to face him. "I've suddenly been erased from the candidate shortlist without being notified," she explained.
The receptionist acknowledged Noah and greeted him. "Good morning, sir."
Noah ignored her greeting, sweeping his fiery gaze over the scene. He had just entered to wait for Selina in the lobby, only to witness the security guards trying to drag her out.
"Is this how you welcome people here? Where's your boss?" Noah demanded, his voice resonating with authority.
The receptionist trembled behind the desk. "No, sir. This is a misunderstanding, and I was only enforcing the company's policy."
"Goodness! I'll be late." Selina snapped, panic rising in her tone. She glanced at her watch and noticed she had just three minutes left.
"You'll get through your interview," Noah assured her, slipping his hands into the pockets of his pants to fetch his phone.
But then, the sharp ring of the receptionist's landline cut through the tense atmosphere. The receptionist picked up the phone, and after receiving instructions from a superior, she returned the handset with a sharp click.
"You may go now. The interview is taking place on the sixth floor." She handed Selina the candidate's ID badge.
Selina's brow furrowed as she exchanged puzzled glances with Noah; neither could understand the sudden change.
"Looks like someone is backing you," Noah whispered to Selina.
Selina's confusion deepened. "I don't know what's happening, but I'll find out."
Not wasting a second, Selina snatched the ID badge and hurried toward the nearby elevator while Noah lingered behind.
...
Ding!
The elevator opened on the sixth floor, revealing candidates seated nervously along the hallway. IRIS LUXE was renowned not only for its high-end luxury but also for its strict standards regarding creativity, talent, competence, and ambition—so much so that even a slacker wouldn't last a day there.
Quietly, Selina eased into a seat, placing her hands on her thighs. She avoided meeting the other candidates' eyes—not out of fear, but because staring too long might shake her hard-won confidence.
One by one, the candidates were called into the interview room across from them. Nearly two hours passed as Selina observed others emerge—some disappointed and others whispering excitedly.
Then she heard her number called from inside.
"Last applicant."
She stood with a calm expression and made her way to the door. Grasping the doorknob, she pushed it open and stepped inside. Her gaze immediately landed on the panel of executives seated before her.
Among the two men and two women, Selina's eyes sharpened and grew cold as they locked onto the one person she expected—and didn't want to see. The warm smile on that woman's lips faded into shock at the sight of Selina.
Quickly, Selina diverted her gaze, greeting the others with polite warmth. "Hi. Good morning."
"Hi, Selina Seth. Thank you for coming in today. Please, have a seat," the HR manager gestured to the chair across from him.
Selina sat quietly. "Thank you for having me."
"I've reviewed your resume, and you have solid experience," the HRM flipped through her resume once more. "Before we proceed, could you tell us which role you'd like to pursue here?"
Selina glanced nervously at their serious faces—then caught Clarissa's lips still had that faint smile. But Selina couldn't miss the eerie undertone beneath it, so she straightened her spine to remain composed.
If she faltered, her sister would seize her weakness and undermine her. She prayed in her mind that this young woman wouldn't cause her trouble.
"I'd like to pursue the product designer role, if given the chance. I have great insight into creativity and authenticity, and I want to create pieces that customers can appreciate and see themselves in. Being part of production and manufacturing would allow me to bring my passion to life," Selina answered confidently.
The panel nodded in unison.
"Why are you interested in working with us?" the HRM asked.
"I admire IRIS's commitment to craftsmanship and innovation. I'm eager to work alongside skilled professionals to achieve that vision. It's part of my dream."
"Great. Can you tell us about the volume of designs you create, the teams you've managed, and the production targets you've met?"
Selina tilted her head slightly, choosing her words carefully. "I can create fifteen designs a week, manage teams of seven to ten workers, and oversee daily production targets of around a hundred. Meeting deadlines and maintaining quality are always my priorities."
Clarissa let out a sharp, brief, incredulous chuckle, flipping her hair to the side. "A hundred? That's too low, Selina Seth. Our team produces over a thousand products a week. You haven't worked in a reputable place before—how can we be sure you can handle this volume? You should be honest."
Selina's brows narrowed, wondering why Clarissa was attempting to undermine her—making her appear dishonest and discredited in the process.
"I'm being honest, Clarissa Everett. I may not have worked in a licensed shop, but—"
Clarissa sneered. "You mean as an apprentice in a local market, making cheap products? I doubt you have a strong sense of high-end fashion."
Selina's face remained unreadable. "Why not let my work prove it? If I meet your standards, will you offer me the job?" She challenged Clarissa.
Clarissa gritted her teeth, irritation building as Selina's unwavering confidence threatened to unravel her sabotage.
Crossing her arms, she leaned against the seat cushion. "If you're this skilled and ambitious, why haven't you worked elsewhere? What's causing the delay? Is something holding you back?" She rested her chin on her knuckles, probing.
Selina's blood ran cold, aware that Clarissa was digging for her haunted past to trap and sabotage her. Her hands clenched into fists, but she relaxed again, managing a warm smile.
She must not show weakness; otherwise, her sister would use it against her.
"I've chosen the right time to join a large company. Working in a small or large place doesn't define one's skill or opportunity, as long as you're diligent and passionate," Selina replied firmly.
Before Clarissa could continue, the HRM interrupted the tense atmosphere.
"Excellent," he said, drawing a frown from Clarissa. "How comfortable are you with maintaining production schedules when facing unexpected delays or material shortages?"
"That's part of the job. I keep contingency plans, communicate closely with procurement, and adjust shifts or processes as needed to keep production on track."
"Sounds promising," HRM glanced at the other panel members.
The interview continued for a while, with Selina answering confidently and reassuringly about production management topics to the panel.
"Can you describe your experience with production scheduling tools?" one of the panellists from the production department asked.
Selina answered while the panel members took turns asking questions about design and production. Selina answered each one with calm precision—smart, composed, and confident in her creative knowledge without ever sounding arrogant.
Clarissa shifted uncomfortably in her seat, fingers tightening around the pen as irritation stirred beneath her polite smile. The smoothness and resolve in Selina's responses only deepened her disappointment. She had expected Selina to falter—to embarrass herself and be dismissed within minutes. Instead, Clarissa could hear the panellists murmuring to one another, clearly impressed by her performance.
As Selina spoke, a bead of sweat trailed down her spine. Despite her steady voice, nervousness threatened to cloud her senses. She couldn't tell if she was doing well or merely holding on.
Swallowing hard, she drew a deep breath and reminded herself to stay calm—to believe in her own merit. She needed to earn this position through her own effort, not through the reluctant help of that pragmatic old man who had offered her an easier path. No interview.
But, she refused him, determined to walk the proper way. She didn't want his pity.
She only prayed to pass—on her own terms.
"Selina, you did well in your interview. Do you have any questions for us?" the HRM asked.
"Yes. If I'm given a chance, could you tell me more about the team I'd be working with and the biggest challenges we're facing right now?" Selina responded.
"You'd be working with seven teams in the Product Planning Department. The biggest challenge is improving output without compromising quality as we scale production. Sales must always hit high targets," the PM explained.
"That sounds exciting and aligns with my experience," Selina said, wearing a polite yet courageous beam.
"Thank you for coming in today. You passed," the HRM added.
"Really?!" Selina exclaimed.
"Yes, Selina. You can resume on Monday," HRM confirmed with a firm nod. Others mirrored.
Selina stood up from her seat, offering the panel a respectful bow, but she didn't let her excitement show as she turned toward the silently disappointed Clarissa.
"Thank you once again,"
Finally, she had landed a new job.
"But…. there's a condition."
Selina's brows narrowed in confusion. "What condition?"
"You have twenty-four hours to apologize to one of our potential partners whom you offended. It came from Chairman Gilbert."
"Who?"
"Maura Harrison." The HRM answered.