The morning sun slipped gently through the curtains, painting the cream-colored walls in soft golden light. A shrill beep-beep-beep! shattered the peaceful silence.
From under the blanket, a slender hand reached out groggily, slapping the alarm clock until it stopped.
A young woman with long, yellow-golden hair that shimmered like sunlight and eyes of deep, crimson red slowly rose from her bed. Sleep still clouded her gaze as she rubbed her eyes, yawning.
Then, realization struck.
"Oh shit! I have an interview today!" she exclaimed, leaping out of bed in panic.
Barefoot, she dashed across her room, flinging her towel over her shoulder before disappearing into the bathroom. The sound of rushing water followed immediately after.
Moments later, soft footsteps echoed up the staircase. A gentle knock came at the door — tap tap tap — from a woman holding a tray with neatly arranged dishes and a steaming cup of tea.
"Gwen, breakfast is ready," the woman called out in a calm, motherly voice.
From inside came a hurried reply.
"Mother! I think I'll skip breakfast today! I'm already running late for the interview!"
The woman's expression softened, though a hint of concern crossed her face. "You do know it's not compulsory to start working immediately, dear. You just graduated, and your father and I can still take care of you for now."
The sound of the bathroom door opening interrupted her words. Gwendolyn, now dressed in a crisp white mini shirt and a light blue skirt stepped out, brushing her wet hair behind her ears.
"I know, Mother," she said gently, smiling with gratitude. "But I really need to start making decisions for myself. I want to stand on my own feet."
Her mother sighed, a mix of pride and worry filling her chest. "I understand."
She handed Gwendolyn a sandwich and a cup of tea. "At least take these. You'll need your strength."
"Thank you," Gwendolyn said with a smile, taking a few quick gulps of tea before wrapping the sandwich in nylon and slipping it into her bag.
Moments later, she was out the door, her hair fluttering in the morning breeze as she ran down the quiet street toward the nearest bus stop.
---
The bus ride was a blur of passing buildings and city chatter. When Gwendolyn finally stepped off, she found herself standing before an enormous ten-storey building.
A masterpiece of modern design. Its walls were made entirely of tinted glass that reflected the sky like a giant mirror covering great land area.
Taking a deep breath, she straightened her skirt and walked inside.
The reception hall was spacious and elegant, but a puddle of spilled water glistened near the receptionist's desk.
A few other people six in number.... presumably other interviewees were seated nearby, pretending not to notice.
Without hesitation, Gwendolyn approached a nearby cleaner. "Excuse me, may I borrow that mop for a moment?"
The cleaner blinked, surprised, then handed it to her. Gwendolyn quickly mopped up the water, smiling politely before returning the mop and heading to take her seat.
Two of the other candidates snickered under their breath.
"Trying to impress the janitor now?" one whispered mockingly.
The receptionist glanced up from her desk, her eyes narrowing slightly as she scribbled something into a small notepad.
Moments later, a tall man in a sleek black suit appeared from the hallway. He scanned the waiting group before saying firmly, "All right, will the following please come with me."
He read out five names,Gwendolyn's among them. The two candidates who had mocked her were noticeably left out.
The selected five followed the man through a glass corridor into a large conference room where five interviewers sat at a long polished table, their expressions calm but unreadable.
One of the men, seated at the center, gestured toward Gwendolyn. "Miss, please have a seat."
She did so, trying to steady her breathing.
He adjusted his glasses, his tone deep and composed. "Let's begin. Tell us your full name, your age, field of study, and what motivates you to join our company. Also, how do you think your presence could impact our organization?"
Gwendolyn took a moment, her hands clasped neatly on her lap. Then she spoke clearly:
"My name is Felix Gwendolyn Teresa. I'm 23 years old and a graduate of Architectural Engineering from the University of Manchester."
She paused briefly, her red eyes shining with quiet confidence.
"Since this company specializes in real estate planning and construction, I strongly believe my background aligns perfectly with your goals. As for my impact…"
she smiled softly, "I can't claim to know the full extent yet, but I can promise this,my first-class degree wasn't a fluke. I'll do my utmost to contribute meaningfully in any way I can."
The interviewer nodded slowly, writing something in his booklet. After a brief silence, a faint smile curved his lips.
"That will be all for today, Miss Gwendolyn," he said, looking up at her. "You may leave. If you pass this stage, you'll receive an SMS within two days."
Gwendolyn rose from her seat and gave a polite bow before exiting the room. Her heart raced, not from fear, but from excitement.
This was her new beginning.
The creak of the front door echoed softly as Gwendolyn stepped into the house. Her shoulders slumped, her hair a little tousled, and her movements slow and weary.
The weight of the day pressed on her, the tension of the interview, the long commute, and the nervous anticipation still humming faintly in her chest.
In the sitting room, her parents were seated together, her father reading a newspaper while her mother folded a stack of clean clothes.
They both looked up as Gwendolyn quietly passed by.
"How was the interview, Gwen?" her father asked, lowering his paper with a gentle smile.
Gwendolyn turned slightly, her crimson eyes glinting with conviction. "I believe I aced it," she said with quiet confidence.
Then, without waiting for another word, she headed straight for her room.
Her parents exchanged a glance—part pride, part amusement — before returning to their evening routine.
---
The door to Gwendolyn's room clicked shut behind her. She dropped her bag by the bed and let herself fall backward onto the soft mattress with a deep sigh. Her body relaxed instantly.
After a brief moment of stillness, she reached for her phone on the nightstand. With a quick swipe, she unlocked it and turned on her mobile data. Notifications began to flood in,little pings lighting up her screen.
One message caught her eye immediately:
> Camille ❤️: How was the interview, Gwen? Hope all went well! Also, I got accepted into the police force! Let's celebrate together as soon as you get accepted, because I know for sure you will pass! 🎉
Gwendolyn smiled warmly at the message, her exhaustion softening into pride and affection. She tapped the thumbs up reaction before scrolling up.
Curiosity struck her. She opened her browser and typed into the search bar:
"Venyx Corporation."
Within seconds, information filled her screen; images and articles about the same towering building she had visited earlier that day.
"Venyx Corporation," she read under her breath, eyes scanning the text. The company overview described their prestigious real estate projects — Venyx Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 — each noted for its architectural brilliance and sustainable design.
Her eyes widened slightly as she scrolled further.
They had also built the Gigantic National New York Museum, one of the most iconic structures in the country.
A proud smile touched her lips. "So that's the kind of place I'm aiming to work at…" she whispered, a small spark of determination in her tone.
Satisfied, she locked her phone and turned on her side, sinking into the soft comfort of her bed. Sleep claimed her quickly, gentle and dreamless.
---
The morning sun arrived like a gentle promise, its golden rays spilling through the window and washing over her room. Time had flown again,a new day had begun.
Downstairs, a sharp knock echoed at the main door.
Mrs. Felix called out, "Who is it?"
A calm, masculine voice answered from outside.
"Mrs. Felix, it's me, Edward. I came to see Gwen. Is she available, ma'am?"
"Oh, Edward! Please, come in," she replied warmly, opening the door.
Edward stepped into the sitting room, brushing his brown hair from his eyes as he sat down. His neat shirt and charming grin gave him an easy, friendly aura.
Mrs. Felix smiled knowingly and called up the stairs, "Gwendolyn! You have a visitor!"
"I'm coming, Mother!"
A few moments later, Gwendolyn descended the staircase,her golden hair flowing loosely around her shoulders, dressed in a white round-collar blouse patterned with small flowers and cream-colored palazzo pants.
She stopped midway as her crimson eyes met Edward's emerald-green gaze. "Edward?" she said softly, surprised but smiling.
He stood up, grinning playfully. "Hey, Gwen."
"Alright, alright," her father interjected from the couch, pretending to frown. "We can all see you're in love. If you came for her, then take her out already!"
Laughter filled the room, Gwendolyn's cheeks turned faintly pink as she grabbed her small handbag.
---
Moments later, they were walking side by side along the sunlit walkway, each holding a cup of ice cream. The city breeze carried the distant chatter of people and the faint rhythm of traffic.
"So," Edward said between bites, "how was the interview?"
"It went well," Gwendolyn replied. "I think I really did my best."
"That's amazing!" Edward said, grinning. "You'll finally be working, that's so cool."
Gwendolyn chuckled and rolled her eyes. "You make it sound like I've been unemployed forever," she teased, playfully hitting his shoulder.
He laughed, pretending to flinch. "Ow! Easy there, future architect."
As the sun began to set, the sky melted into shades of orange and purple. The two found themselves sitting under a small hut in the park, watching the evening lights flicker to life across the city. The breeze rustled softly through the trees.
Edward looked at her, his tone softer now. "It's getting late. I should take you home."
Gwendolyn nodded, standing up. Before she could take a step, Edward reached out and pulled her into a warm hug.
For a moment, the world felt still, her heartbeat steady against his chest, the soft scent of his cologne lingering in the air.
When they pulled apart, he took her hand gently. "Let's get you home," he said.
Together, they walked down the quiet path, the last rays of sunlight casting long, golden shadows behind them.