Bonds

Chapter 22

-Maya’s POV-

I hadn’t expected the call. After I put my phone down, a series of questions ran through my mind but I was here now, the metal door was the only thing separating us and taking a deep breath, I knocked. A voice, crisp and efficient, called out from within. “Come in.”

Pushing the door open, I stepped inside, my gaze immediately falling on the woman seated behind the massive mahogany desk. She looked different today, less imposing somehow. Gone was the stern expression, replaced by a hint of a smile. Was it my imagination, or did her eyes hold a flicker of something akin to… respect?

“Ms. Stone,” she greeted, her voice still holding that same commanding tone, but laced with a touch of warmth that surprised me. “Please, have a seat.”

I sat down in the plush chair, the smooth leather cool against my skin. My mind raced, replaying Alex’s cryptic call over and over again but I had to focus.

If she had called me back it meant I got the job right? Right?

“You called me back,” I finally blurted out, unable to hold back the question any longer.

Her smile widened, a genuine smile this time that crinkled the corners of her eyes. “Yes, Ms. Stone, I did,” she confirmed. “You know why?”

I shook my head, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs.

“Because,” she began, leaning back in her chair, “out of all the candidates I interviewed for the design position, you were the only one who truly impressed me.”

“You weren’t afraid to push back,” She continued, her voice losing its earlier formality. “You spoke your mind, even when you disagreed with me. That’s at quality I value highly, Ms. Stone. Most people just parrot back what they think I want to hear.”

I swallowed, my cheeks burning with a mixture of surprise and a dawning sense of validation. Had I actually… impressed her with my audacity? It seemed almost unbelievable.

She leaned forward, her gaze sharpening once more. “Now,” she said, her voice back to its usual business-like tone, “that doesn’t mean your interview was perfect. Frankly, your portfolio was a bit… unorthodox, shall we say?”

I braced myself, the warmth in my chest giving way to a familiar knot of anxiety. “I like to take risks,” I admitted, “To create something unexpected.” “And sometimes,” she countered, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes, “unexpected clients walk through that door with very specific expectations.”

firms in the city. They’ve all been vying for the same project – a high-end hotel renovation. The

breath hitched. A high-end hotel renovation? This was a huge opportunity, something I never dared to dream of. But the competition must

I finally managed, the question tumbling out in

she said, her voice dropping to a low murmur, “I saw something in you during your interview. A spark A willingness to challenge the norm.

within me. She wasn’t just impressed by my audacity. She saw my potential, my ability to bring something fresh and exciting to the table. This wasn’t just an interview anymore. It was a challenge, an invitation to showcase everything I

continued, her gaze unwavering, “are you

Chapter 22

lingered. Could I compete with

Looking her straight in the eye, I spoke with a newfound confidence. “Yes, tam

spread across her face, a smile that spoke volumes. “Excellent,” she

She outlined the project details, the client’s vision, and the tight deadlines. I listened intently, my mind already buzzing with ideas. She challenged me with questions, testing my understanding

felt exhilarated and slightly exhausted. This was going to be a challenge, no doubt about it. But for the first time in a long time, I felt a sense of excitement, a feeling that anything

a lot to take in,” I admitted,

have faith in you. Now, go back and review the project details. I expect a preliminary

up,”Thank you, Ms.

challenge still lingering

returned the nod, a newfound confidence blooming in my chest. Stepping towards the door, a nervous energy vibrated through me, a welcome change

weight of the high-end hotel renovation project settling on my shoulders. It was a daunting task, a pressure cooker of deadlines and demanding clients. This was

of what she might say. A full-blown smile, genuine and warm, spread across her face, momentarily erasing the usual sternness. “Welcome to the team,” she said,

as

pocket, pulling me back to the present. A wave of exhilaration washed over me as I answered the call. “I

you did,” Natalia replied, her voice laced with unyielding confidence in me. In the background, I could hear Ivy’s

Mummy?”

“And she is coming to see you and

but! was just too happy. It felt like an escape from all the drama that seemed to surround my life from the moment I met Alex. Something

the kids occupied and how proud she was of me. When she finished, her voice vibrated with barely contained excitement. “So? How are we celebrating? Drinks? Food?

booster. “Slow

discussed it,”