A THRESHOLD OF HOPE
The morning sunlight pressed its way through the thin curtains of the Koch apartment, settling
like a benediction over the cramped but tender space. Esmeralda rose early, sweeping her long
hair into a loose knot before moving through the small kitchen. Donatella was already awake,
perched on the worn sofa with an energy she hadn't shown in weeks. Her cheeks held a faint
blush, and the gray pallor that often haunted her complexion was softened by a rare brightness.
"You look… better today," Esmeralda whispered, carrying over a cup of warm tea.
"I feel better," Donatella admitted with a small smile. Her hands trembled faintly as she accepted
the cup. "It must be a good sign for you too. Today—you'll get the job. I prayed."
Hyacinth appeared from the bedroom, a stack of law textbooks balanced on her hip. She was
quiet at first, but when she noticed Donatella's hopeful look, she added her own words. "We
both prayed. And you know how stubborn Donatella is—if she prayed for something, heaven will
have to listen."
Their laughter warmed the room, thin though it was. For Esmeralda, that fragile brightness in
Donatella's eyes was enough to carry her into the day. She kissed her sister's cheek, then
Hyacinth's forehead, and whispered, "If I get this, we'll all breathe easier."
She didn't say if not.
AURUM REALTY ~~~~
Aurum Realty stood in sharp contrast to the cracked pavement and peeling paint of her
neighborhood. The company's building rose like a polished sentinel of glass and steel, catching
the morning sun and scattering it across the city. Esmeralda stopped at the base of its steps,
head tilted back. The structure intimidated her—it was too grand, too pristine, as though people
like her had no right to walk through its revolving doors.
Still, hope clung to her chest like a stubborn flame.Inside, the reception was immaculate—marble floors, gleaming brass fixtures, and a silence
punctuated only by the hum of discreet air conditioning. Esmeralda stepped to the counter, her
resume clutched so tightly the edges curled against her palm.
"Good morning," she said, her voice almost swallowed by the vastness of the lobby. "I… I was
told to come for an interview. My name is Esmeralda Koch."
The receptionist, a woman whose blazer fit like armor, typed briskly into her system before
looking up. "Miss Koch? You're here for the secretary position under Mr. Cappel, correct?"
Esmeralda blinked. "Secretary?" The word felt heavier than she expected. No one had told her
the role. She only knew Calithea had spoken vaguely about an opportunity. Now, the truth of it
pressed close—she would be at the side of the man who owned this empire.
"Yes," she answered, her voice steadier than she felt. "The secretary position."
"Very well. Please take a seat. Someone will escort you shortly."
Esmeralda nodded, smoothing her skirt before finding a place among the sleek leather chairs.
She sat upright, back stiff, heart thrumming fast. Secretary to Giovanni Cappel. A job I never
imagined could be mine.
---
In the boardroom above, Giovanni stood by the tall windows, one hand in his pocket, the other
cradling a cup of black coffee. The skyline sprawled before him, sharp and unyielding. Behind
him, Calithea set a folder on the polished oak table.
"You're certain about this?" Giovanni asked, not turning.
"The secretary's seat can't remain empty forever," Calithea replied, measured and pragmatic.
"Lucille is gone. The company needs someone reliable—someone who won't leave a vacuum in
the daily operations."
Giovanni's jaw tightened at the name. Lucille. Her betrayal still lingered like poison in his blood.
He turned, eyes narrowing at his sister. "You speak as if anyone can simply fill the void. You
forget that void nearly cost Aurum its foundation."
"I forget nothing," Calithea countered calmly. "That's why we must move carefully. This
one—Esmeralda Koch—has potential. But she'll sign a contract. No connections with
competitors, no risk of divided loyalty. And if she falters, I'll shoulder the blame.Giovanni studied her for a long moment. Then he gave a sharp nod. "Bring her in."
---
Esmeralda entered quietly, the door clicking shut behind her. She stood at the threshold of the
boardroom, dwarfed by its size, her fingers laced tightly around her folder. Giovanni's gaze
swept over her in one practiced glance—her modest blouse, her simple skirt, the shoes that had
seen better days. She looked like someone who didn't belong here.
Unprepared. Innocent, perhaps. But I've learned innocence is a mask. Lucille played meek,
gentle, devoted—until she gutted this company. Savannah cloaked betrayal in tenderness, in
words of love that tasted like ash the moment her lies surfaced. Both of them danced to Livian's
tune. Both of them taught me the price of trust.
"Miss Koch," Calithea's voice broke the silence. "Take a seat."
Esmeralda obeyed, perching on the edge of the leather chair. Giovanni didn't offer her a smile.
He didn't believe in easing nerves—not anymore.
"Tell me," Giovanni began, his tone even but cutting, "why should Aurum place its trust in you?
What would you do differently, where others failed?"
Esmeralda inhaled deeply, steadying herself. Her eyes lifted to meet his. "Because I know what
it is to hold on when everything else has failed. I've never had riches, or influence, or a name
that could open doors. What I've had is responsibility—my family depends on me. If I fail, they
starve. If I falter, they break. That's why I will not fail. Not here, not anywhere."
Her voice trembled, not with fear, but with conviction.
Giovanni leaned back, his expression unreadable. She speaks as if she believes it. But sincerity
is the easiest lie to practice. Lucille convinced me with steady words and soft eyes. Savannah
swore her devotion while betraying me in Livian's bed. This woman doesn't look like someone
who knows the game—or perhaps she plays it differently. I can't afford to be wrong again. Not
after Lucille. Not after Savannah.
"You'll be placed on probation," Giovanni said at last, his tone clipped. "One month. Impress me,
and you'll stay. Fail, and you'll leave as quietly as you came."
Esmeralda swallowed, then nodded. "I won't fail."
We'll see, Giovanni thought grimly. This time, the wall stays high. This time, no one gets close
enough to strike.
....
---
That evening, the Koch apartment glowed with a fragile happiness. Donatella sat upright,
clapping her hands weakly when Esmeralda shared the news.
"You see!" Donatella's smile was bright, her frail frame trembling with excitement. "I told you—it
was a good day."
Hyacinth hugged her sister tightly, relief softening her usually sharp features. "Probation is still
something. It's a start."
Esmeralda smiled, her own heart swelling with cautious hope. She hadn't won yet—but for the
first time, she could see the possibility of a future beyond survival.