Chapter 3: The Lie on Her Résumé
Ava stared at Daniel's phone.
The screen displayed a document with her name at the top.
Beneath it was her professional history.
Her university degree.
Her previous employers.
Her management experience.
Everything looked normal.
Until Daniel scrolled down.
“What is this?”” he asked.
Ava looked at the screen.
“It's my résumé.””
“I know it's your résumé.””
“Then what's the problem?””
Daniel pointed to one line.
*Former Regional Director — Westbridge Financial Group.*
“You listed yourself as a regional director?””
Ava swallowed.
“Yes.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Were you?””
She adjusted the fabric around her waist.
“I was basically doing that job.””
“That's not what I asked.””
“I managed a team.””
“Your title was senior account manager.””
Ava's eyes widened.
“How do you know that?””
“Because Marcus showed me your application.””
She shook her head.
“He's trying to make me look bad.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“Why would he do that?””
“Because he hates me.””
Daniel stared at her.
“Does he?””
Ava folded her arms.
“You saw how he looked at me tonight.””
“I saw him congratulate us.””
“He knows exactly what he's doing.””
Daniel lowered his phone.
“Ava, I need you to answer one question. Did you lie about your title?””
She looked toward the ballroom.
Music floated through the open balcony doors. Inside, guests were laughing, dancing, and raising glasses to the newly married couple.
Her wedding.
Her perfect evening.
And now she was being questioned about a résumé.
“I didn't lie,” she said.
Daniel waited.
“I just described my responsibilities differently.””
“Did you supervise regional managers?””
“No.””
“Did you control a regional budget?””
“Not directly.””
“Did you report to the regional director?””
Ava said nothing.
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“Then why did you put that title on your application?””
“Because everyone exaggerates!””
“Not everyone.””
She stepped closer.
“Daniel, I needed that position. You know that.””
“You already have a good job.””
“I want more.””
“And that's fine. But you can't invent experience.””
Ava's eyes filled with frustration.
“You don't understand what it's like to be a woman trying to get ahead in business.””
Daniel looked at her quietly.
“Then tell me why you didn't put your actual title.””
She had no answer.
The balcony door opened again.
Marcus stepped outside.
He stopped when he saw them.
“Am I interrupting?””
Daniel turned.
“No. We were just discussing the application.””
Marcus nodded.
“Understood.””
Ava immediately stiffened.
“So you've been investigating me?””
Marcus looked at her.
“No.””
“Then why did you send my résumé to Daniel?””
“I didn't send it to Daniel. He asked me about the candidate list.””
Daniel stepped between them slightly.
“Marcus, I want to understand something.””
“Of course.””
“Why is Ava's application being reviewed by you personally?””
Marcus took a breath.
“Because the position reports directly to my division.””
Daniel nodded.
“Fair enough.””
Ava laughed bitterly.
“Convenient.””
Marcus turned toward her.
“What is?””
“You get to decide whether I have a future in this company.””
Marcus remained calm.
“No. Your qualifications determine that.””
“You know perfectly well what I'm capable of.””
“I know what your application says.””
Ava stepped closer.
“You could at least give me a chance.””
Marcus looked at her for a moment.
“I am giving you a chance. That's why you're scheduled for an interview.””
Daniel glanced between them.
“Wait. Marcus, you approved her application?””
“Yes.””
Ava went still.
Marcus continued.
“I reviewed the initial submissions. Her experience caught my attention.””
Ava frowned.
“Why?””
“Because I recognized your name.””
Silence settled over the balcony.
Marcus slipped one hand into his jacket pocket.
“I could have removed your application when I realized who you were. I didn't.””
Ava's expression shifted.
“You could have?””
“Of course.””
“Why didn't you?””
Marcus looked out toward the city.
“Because I don't believe personal history should decide someone's professional future.””
For a brief moment, Ava seemed unable to speak.
Daniel looked at Marcus with something close to admiration.
“That's fair.””
Marcus nodded.
“However, the discrepancy in her résumé needs to be addressed before Monday.””
Ava's face flushed.
“It's not a discrepancy.””
“Then you should have no difficulty explaining it.””
She clenched her jaw.
“You're enjoying this.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No, Ava. I'm not.””
He took the small black gift box from his jacket pocket and placed it on the nearby table.
“You never opened this.””
Ava glanced at it.
“What is it?””
“Something I thought you might appreciate.””
She hesitated before opening the lid.
Inside was a delicate silver keychain attached to a small engraved metal plate.
She picked it up.
The inscription read:
*For the woman who once believed in the dream.*
Her fingers went cold.
She remembered the object immediately.
Three years earlier, Marcus had shown her a sketch of a company logo on a napkin.
He had told her that one day, he wanted to build a business large enough to employ thousands of people.
She had laughed and said he should start by paying his electricity bill on time.
He had smiled and promised her he would.
The keychain was a replica of the tiny metal key he had carried during the company's first year.
Ava looked up.
“Why would you give me this?””
Marcus's voice softened.
“Because I remembered that you were there at the beginning.””
Ava stared at him.
For the first time that evening, she looked genuinely ashamed.
Daniel picked up the box and examined the engraving.
“You kept this all these years?””
Marcus nodded.
“Some things are worth keeping.””
Ava looked down at the keychain again.
Then she whispered:
“Marcus... I didn't know.””
He didn't answer immediately.
“You didn't ask.””
Those three words landed harder than any insult.
Daniel looked at his wife.
“Ava, what exactly happened between you two?””
She shook her head.
“Not here.””
“Then when?””
Marcus glanced at his watch.
“I should get going. I have an early meeting tomorrow.””
Daniel extended his hand.
“Thank you for coming.””
“Of course.””
Marcus shook his hand.
Then he looked at Ava.
“Good luck on Monday.””
He walked toward the ballroom.
Ava watched him disappear into the crowd.
Daniel remained beside her.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Finally, Daniel asked, “Did you know he was building that company when you left him?””
Ava stared at the silver keychain.
“Yes.””
“Then why did you tell me he had no ambition?””
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Daniel's phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
A new email had arrived from the company's human resources director.
*Subject: Monday Executive Interview — Important Background Information*
Daniel opened it.
His expression changed.
“What?”” Ava asked.
He read the first paragraph again.
Then he turned the screen toward her.
It was an internal note about the executive hiring process.
At the bottom was a sentence highlighted in yellow:
*Final interviews will include a review of each candidate's professional references and verified employment history.*
Ava felt her stomach tighten.
Daniel scrolled down.
There was a second attachment.
A document containing the names of her former supervisors.
One name was circled.
*Victoria Shaw — Former Regional Director, Westbridge Financial Group.*
Ava recognized the name immediately.
Victoria had been her direct manager.
And she knew exactly what Ava had written on that résumé.
Daniel looked up.
“Do you know what this means?””
Ava's lips parted.
Before she could answer, Daniel's phone rang.
The caller ID showed the company's HR director.
Daniel answered.
“Hello, Jennifer?””
He listened.
Then his face went pale.
“What do you mean she's already contacted you?””
Ava grabbed his arm.
“Daniel?””
He raised one finger, asking her to wait.
Jennifer's voice continued through the phone.
Daniel slowly looked at his wife.
Then he said:
“Wait. You're telling me Victoria Shaw personally requested to speak with Marcus about Ava?””
Ava stopped breathing.
Because Victoria hadn't just been her former boss.
She was the one person who knew the real reason Ava had left Westbridge.
May you like
And if she was speaking to Marcus before Monday's interview, there was something in Ava's past that Marcus hadn't told anyone yet.
Something far worse than an exaggerated job title.
