Chapter 2: The Interview That Suddenly Mattered
Ava spent the next twenty minutes pretending nothing had happened.
She smiled for photographs.
She hugged relatives.
She raised her champagne glass whenever someone approached their table.
But every time she caught sight of Marcus across the ballroom, her stomach tightened.
He wasn't hiding.
He wasn't trying to embarrass her.
He was simply speaking with guests, shaking hands, and occasionally laughing with Daniel's colleagues.
That somehow made it worse.
Because the man she had spent three years describing as a failure was being treated like someone important.
And he wasn't even trying.
Daniel noticed her distraction.
“Are you okay?”” he asked.
Ava adjusted the strapless neckline of her gown.
“Of course.””
“You've barely touched your food.””
“I'm just tired.””
Daniel looked toward Marcus, who was standing beside the company chairman.
“It's funny. I didn't know you knew him.””
Ava stared at her plate.
“We dated.””
Daniel stopped moving.
“What?””
She took a sip of water.
“Years ago.””
“You dated Marcus?””
“Yes. Before you.””
Daniel leaned back.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because it wasn't important.””
Daniel studied her.
“It's a little strange that you didn't mention your ex was my boss.””
Ava gave a nervous laugh.
“Daniel, please. It was a long time ago.””
“Still.””
She reached for his hand.
“Can we not discuss this at our wedding?””
Daniel looked at her for another moment, then nodded.
“Fine.””
Across the room, Marcus was speaking to a silver-haired man named Richard Hayes, the company's chairman.
Richard laughed at something Marcus said and clapped him on the shoulder.
Ava recognized Richard.
She had seen his photograph on the company website.
He was one of the most influential people in the industry.
And he was treating Marcus like an equal.
Ava leaned closer to Daniel.
“Why does Richard seem so close to him?””
Daniel smiled.
“Because Marcus built the company with him.””
“What do you mean?””
“Marcus founded the business. Richard came in as an investor later.””
Ava stared.
“Marcus founded it?””
Daniel nodded.
“Yeah. He's the majority owner.””
She looked away.
The string quartet began another song.
A waiter placed a fresh champagne glass beside her.
She didn't touch it.
Three years earlier, Ava had sat across from Marcus at a small Italian restaurant.
He had been wearing an old sweater, and she had been scrolling through photographs of a luxury apartment she wanted to rent.
“I'm tired of waiting, Marcus,” she had said.
He had put down his fork.
“Waiting for what?””
“For you to become someone.””
He had looked at her for a long time.
“I thought I was building something.””
“You're always building something. But when does it actually become something?””
“I need another year.””
Ava had laughed.
“That's what you said last year.””
Marcus had reached across the table.
“I love you. I just need you to believe in me.””
She had pulled her hand away.
“Love doesn't pay rent.””
Two weeks later, she met Daniel at a charity event.
Six months later, she moved into Daniel's apartment.
And now she was standing in a ballroom decorated with thousands of dollars' worth of flowers, wondering how much of Marcus's success she had never bothered to understand.
“Daniel,” she whispered.
“Yeah?””
“Does Marcus really decide who gets hired?””
Daniel nodded.
“For senior positions, yes. He personally approves the final candidates.””
“Even executives?””
“Especially executives.””
Ava's throat went dry.
“Can you talk to him?””
Daniel frowned.
“About what?””
“My interview.””
“What about it?””
“Just... tell him I'm a good candidate.””
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“Ava, the whole point of the interview is to evaluate you fairly.””
“But you're his executive. Surely you could say something.””
“I can tell him you're interested. I'm not going to ask him to give you a job.””
She gripped his hand.
“Daniel, I'm your wife.””
He looked at her.
“And?””
“And you should want to help me.””
Daniel exhaled.
“I do want to help you. But I don't want to start our marriage by asking my boss to bend the rules.””
Before Ava could answer, a woman approached them.
She was in her late forties, wearing a navy evening dress and carrying a small clutch.
“Daniel! Congratulations!””
Daniel stood.
“Thank you, Catherine.””
Catherine smiled at Ava.
“You must be the bride. You look beautiful.””
“Thank you.””
Catherine turned toward the ballroom.
“Marcus is here tonight. I haven't seen him in ages.””
Ava forced a smile.
“Yes. He's... here.””
Catherine laughed.
“Wonderful man. I remember when he started the company out of that tiny rented office. Half the people who knew him thought he was crazy.””
Ava's expression stiffened.
Daniel chuckled.
“That's Marcus.””
Catherine continued.
“He used to work through the night. I once found him asleep on the office floor with a laptop on his chest.””
Daniel laughed.
“I believe it.””
Ava looked at Catherine.
“Was he always wealthy?””
Catherine paused.
“Marcus?””
“Yes.””
Catherine tilted her head.
“No. He built everything himself. Why?””
Ava shook her head quickly.
“Just curious.””
Catherine smiled and excused herself.
Daniel watched her leave.
Then he turned toward Ava.
“Why are you asking everyone about Marcus?””
“I'm not.””
“You just did.””
Ava stood.
“I need some air.””
She walked toward the balcony, lifting the front of her gown slightly to avoid stepping on it.
Outside, the evening breeze moved through the curtains.
She took out her phone.
Her hands hovered over the screen.
Then she opened her old messages with Marcus.
Most of the conversation had disappeared after she changed phones, but one message remained in a cloud backup.
It was from three years ago.
*Marcus: I know things are difficult right now. Give me a little time. I promise you'll understand why I've been working so hard.*
Her own reply sat beneath it.
*Ava: I'm done waiting for a man who can't give me the life I want.*
She stared at the words.
Then another memory surfaced.
The day she left, Marcus had stood beside the apartment door while she dragged her suitcase toward the elevator.
“Are you sure?”” he had asked.
She had turned around.
“Completely.””
He had looked down.
“Then I won't stop you.””
She had expected him to beg.
To promise her a better life.
To tell her she was making a mistake.
Instead, he had simply opened the door.
Now she understood something she hadn't understood then.
Marcus had never been trying to convince her to stay.
He had been giving her the choice.
Her phone vibrated.
A message from Daniel appeared.
*Daniel: Come back inside. We need to talk.*
Ava looked through the glass.
Daniel was standing near their table.
Marcus was beside him.
And Richard Hayes had joined them.
Then another message arrived.
This one was from an unknown number.
*Unknown: Ava, before Monday's interview, you should know something about the position you're applying for.*
Her eyebrows drew together.
A second message appeared.
*Unknown: Marcus personally requested your application be reviewed.*
Ava stared at the screen.
Why would Marcus do that?
Had he arranged the interview to help her?
Or had he known exactly who she was when he approved her application?
Before she could think of an answer, the unknown number sent one final message.
*Unknown: Ask him what happened to the last person who lied on an executive application.*
Ava slowly lowered her phone.
Behind her, the balcony door opened.
Daniel stepped outside.
His expression was serious.
“Ava, we need to talk about your résumé.””
Her heart dropped.
“What about it?””
May you like
Daniel held out his phone.
“Marcus just showed me something.””
