Aria's pov
The loan sharks' footsteps faded down the hallway as they left,but the echo of their threat lingered like smoke.
The broken door hung crooked on its hinges, letting in the humid London air. I stared at it, numb.
I crumpled to the floor, sobs ripping out of me as I cried uncontrollably.
My whole body shook from the fear of what might happen if I don't come up with the money.
One million pounds by midnight tomorrow.
Andre dropped to his knees beside me, strong arms pulling me against his chest. "Hey, hey, breathe, Aria, look at me,it's going to be fine."
I buried my face in his blazer, tears soaking the fabric. "They're going to kill me, Andre or worse even worse you.I have nothing to give them Andre, nothing."
He held me tighter, one hand stroking my hair like I was a child. "They won't touch you,not while I'm here. But crying won't fix this,now is not the time to be weak, babe. You're stronger than this, you'll get through it"
I pulled back just enough to look at him,his eyes fierce, jaw set. "How? I can't even pay rent. The bank wants the house. The loan sharks want blood. Ethan left me with-"
"Stop." He cupped my face. "We fight back,but we do it step by step.I'll lend you some money to hold off the loan sharks for the time being, but you need a job,at least something that pays upfront or at least gives you leverage."
I wiped my eyes. "No one will hire me Andre,not after the social media mess. I'm radioactive."
Andre shook his head. "Not everywhere. Voss Enterprises is holding an open interview tomorrow morning for Executive Assistant to the CEO himself. High pay, immediate start. I saw the posting this afternoon desperate for someone who can handle pressure. You worked in corporate before quitting to pursue DreamForge,you're more than qualified."
"The CEO is Lucian Voss, the popular young billionaire. People say he is ruthless and cold but I doubt it,he sounds like a guy that has his head in his business" he added
I swallowed. "You think he'd even consider me?"
"You won't know unless you try. And right now, trying is all we've got." He helped me to my feet. "Go shower and pack a resume. I'll stay tonight to fix this door as best I can. Tomorrow, you walk in there like you own the place."
I nodded slowly. For the first time since the hotel room, a tiny spark flickered in my chest. Not hope, exactly but survival.
"Okay," I whispered. "I'll do it."
I logged into the company website and clicked apply,thereby enlisting myself for the interview tomorrow.
*****
The next morning, I slipped out of the apartment before dawn,Andre was still fast asleep but I decided against waking him up
Heart pounding, I wore my best remaining work outfit ,a fitted black blazer, white blouse, pencil skirt, heels that still had some shine.
I took three different cabs, switching twice, constantly glancing over my shoulder.
Every shadow looked like the scarred man from last night.and every motorcycle rev made me flinch.
By the time I reached the towering glass monolith of Voss Enterprises in the business district, my nerves were frayed raw.
The lobby was sleek ,it was adorned with marble floors, high ceilings, and security that eyed me like potential trouble.
I showed my ID, signed in, and joined the line of candidates waiting for the interview floor.
"Aria Thorne" , a lady dressed in a silk black gown, called from the interview room.
My turn came too soon, quicker than I had expected.
The conference room was large, glass walls overlooking the city.
Three interviewers sat at the head table,the lady introduced them as the HR manager, department head, and then him,
Lucian Voss, London most eligible bachelor.
He dominated the space without trying.
He sat in the middle of the trio . Evidently tall, broad-shouldered, he wore a charcoal suit tailored to perfection.
Sharp jawline shadowed with faint stubble, dark hair swept back, his eyes were ocean blue ;cold, piercing and unreadable.
He looked like danger wrapped in luxury, the kind of man who could ruin lives with a single signature.
I took the seat opposite them, hands clasped to hide the tremble.
The HR woman started with standard questions,experience, skills, availability.
I answered mechanically, voice steady despite the chaos inside. Before marriage I had worked several years in the corporate world. This was exactly my domain.
Then Lucian leaned forward, elbows on the table, gaze locking onto mine.
"You're Ethan Caldwell's estranged wife, aren't you?"
The room went still,the other interviewers exchanged glances. It was obviously a question that they all wanted to ask but lacked the guts to.
I lifted my chin. "Yes. I am."
A beat of silence.
Lucian's lips curved,just the faintest hint of a smile, sharp and knowing. "Will your personal affairs affect the job you'll do here Miss Aria?."
"Of course not sir,it definitely won't"I replied, scared of what the implication of the question might be, nothing good will surely come out of it.
He looked me in the eye steadily for close to a minute before he finally broke the silence in the room"She's hired, dismiss the rest"
The words dropped like a bomb.
The HR manager blinked. "Sir? We haven't finished..."
"I said she's hired," he repeated with a final tone leaving no room for argument.
He stood, buttoning his jacket. "Report to my office tomorrow, 8 a.m. sharp and don't be late. No excuses,welcome to Voss Enterprises, Miss Thorne."
He walked out without another word.
The room erupted in stunned whispers while the department head stared at me like I'd grown a second head.
They all looked surprised yet unable to voice out their disagreement.
But their shock didn't match mine.What the hell had just happened?He literally gave me the job without even verifying my qualifications.