**AUDREY**
“Mr. Stark, the applicants are here. Should I let them in?” Ms. Mason poked her head through the slightly cracked door. Ms. Mason had initially interviewed five applicants for the internship position, but I couldn’t see the people she was talking to inside.
“Go ahead, Ms. Mason,” a man’s voice said from the door.
Before the end of our initial interview, Ms. Mason, the head of HR, briefed us about the company’s higher-ups, and we would answer them for the final interview. First was Bryan Jameson, the General Manager, who would be our direct superior. The second was Coulson Stark, the Vice-CEO. Last but not least was the CEO, Gabriel Stark. Gee, the name alone made me curious as hell.
My best friend Chelsea called me about the job vacancy only yesterday, leaving me to fly from Phoenix to New York last night. Typically, people wouldn’t grab such an opportunity. It was too abrupt. But I couldn’t seem to ignore how promising the position was.
According to Chelsea, Stark Apparel was one of the most well-known apparel brands in New York. They fired the previous assistant because of incompetency, and the CEO was so meticulous when choosing a new applicant that he demanded to do the interview himself.
At first, I couldn’t understand why my best friend had called me for such a position. She even got me on the CEO’s shortlist of applicants. I didn’t have job experience yet. I was a fresh graduate. But Chelsea assured me they weren’t looking for someone with experience.
I wanted to get out of Arizona anyway, and with Chelsea offering a space in her studio apartment for at least a month, I had nothing to lose by coming here. But if I was lucky enough to get this job, or any job, I could help pay the bills and stay far away from Phoenix.
I barely slept during the flight, so I was a little dizzy. I was fighting off dozing when Ms. Mason came out of the office. Not a good look.
“Applicants, get ready,” she informed briskly. “We’re going to start the final interview.” She looked at the person sitting next to me. “You first, Miss Smith.”
The woman sitting next to me stood up and followed Ms. Mason. The other girl with pale skin and raven hair on my right spoke. “Are you new here? You seem unfamiliar with the place.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I saw you earlier near the building. You were asking for directions.”
“Oh yes,” I acknowledged. “I am technically new here in New York, but a friend lives near the area. She’s already an employee here.”
“I’m Jacey Gregson, by the way.” Jacey reached out a hand to me.
I shook her hand. “I’m Audrey, Audrey Hopkins. Nice to meet you, Jacey.”
“Most applicants came here because of the CEO,” she said. “Did you come here for the same reason?”
I frowned in confusion. “Why would they come here for the CEO?”
“Seriously, is that a real question?” Her eyes widened. “This is the home of the famous businessman, Gabriel Stark! People chase this company because of him, as he’s one of the most successful men in New York City. They talk about him every day, not only because he’s young and a self-made billionaire, but because he could make everyone successful in this company.”
Crap. This was why I should’ve studied more about the company. How was I supposed to get this job? Mr. Stark would immediately see right through me. I dreaded the thought of getting back on the plane to Phoenix.
“Oh, this company made billions. They made a name for themselves in the fashion industry across the United States and Europe in just two years. Two years! Imagine that. Stark Apparel operates in fifty countries with over five thousand stores and has employed a hundred-eight thousand people. Don’t you know?”
My mouth slightly parted the way she described everything. A long description, I might add. Was it possible for a man to be successful the way he was?
“Um–of course, I know.” I forced a smile. At least Chelsea told me that as well.
“They said it’s difficult to get in,” she continued, “but once you are in, your life will change. But you can’t get another job interview here if you fail.”
Oh wow. That I didn’t know. I suddenly became even more nervous than before.
The young woman came out of the interview room with a few tears rolling down her face. Her reaction made it obvious that the interview didn’t go well. Ms. Mason returned her resume. My heartbeat quickened by the second her smooth voice called out my name.
“Ms. Hopkins?”
I stood up. “Yes?”
“You’re next.”
I swallowed hard. I watched the head of HR open the door for me. I took a deep breath before taking my first step.
Alright, here I come.
**
GABRIEL**
“That was bad.” The girl spoke as if she was chewing bubble gum. It was annoying how she tried to convince us by telling us unnecessary details about life. Why was it relevant that she used to climb trees when she was little? I completely shut down when she mentioned her dead aunt.
Bryan laughed at my remark. “There are worse, but it’s good to come out of your cave sometimes and meet people.”
“I see different people every day, Bryan.”
“But clearly, you know little about the hiring process, bro.” Coulson patted my back.
I smirked. “I know how to make a lot of money.”
“Oh, here she comes,” Bryan said, setting his eyes back to the front.
When the door opened, I expected another applicant like the previous one. Though the previous one looked stylish, given the Dior handbag she was carrying, this applicant looked undeniably too plain coming to a job interview in a fashion enterprise. At least, I knew without having to glance at the labels that her dress was inexpensive. Wearing a gray dress, she’d matched it with worn-out leather boots and a knapsack. But that didn’t really matter.
The woman standing in front of me was too stunning and probably one of the sexiest I had ever laid eyes on; somehow, she seemed unaware of it.
However, there was something odd. I cocked my head as I realized her face was too familiar. Her eyes were deep sapphire. She tied her strawberry blonde hair into a tight bun. She had a bare porcelain complexion with the most perfectly shaped, fuckable-lips.
“Welcome to Stark Apparel, Ms. Hopkins. Please introduce yourself,” Bryan started.
But did I hear her right? She was a Hopkins, and her resume said she was from Phoenix.
A long time ago, I was born and grew up in that wasteland. It was my own personal hell. That was where my capability to love was killed by a person I nearly gave my entire world to, and I almost lost my sanity. How funny was that this delectable woman had the name I despised and came from the place I loathed the most.
“Thank you, sir,” she replied in a sweet voice, then smiled. My cock twitched from only hearing her speak. What was wrong with me reacting this way to a potential employee?
“My name is Audrey Hopkins. I’m twenty-four, a recent graduate of Collins University in Phoenix with a Business Administration degree.:
Hopkins. Audrey Hopkins. Of course.
“I’m sure you already know what you are applying for,” Bryan continued, “and based on your curriculum vitae—”
“Come again, Bryan,” I interrupted.
“What is it, Mr. Stark?” Bryan asked in a low tone.
Coulson leaned into my ear. “Is something wrong?”
I snatched the paper from Bryan and looked closely at her resume. I stared up at her, and she was looking right at me. No, she wasn’t just looking plainly at me. She was watching me.
I shut my eyes briefly as my fuzzy memory failed me. The drumming against my ribcage sped up, knowing that this was the moment I’d been waiting for. Every time I closed my eyes at night, every moment I looked upon my achievements, I always wondered when the actual time came for my enemies to see my successes.
This wasn’t how I foresaw it to happen—not in a job interview, at least.
I clenched my fist hard, and the air seemed to abandon my lungs for a moment. There was a reason this woman looked familiar. It’s because I knew her. She was the very reason I nearly lost my life. How could I fucking forget?
“Continue,” I said.
“Very well, Ms. Hopkins.” Bryan cleared his throat. “Why do you want to work for this company?”
“I—uh…” She blew out a breath. “As I have said, Mr. Jameson, I am a BSBA graduate, and this company is clearly a business, whichever industry it might be. I wanted to share my knowledge in this business management and might as well get paid for it.”
“You are actually right. Ms. Hopkins,” Coulson joined.
“In addition, gentlemen…” she continued, “I grew up with a family who owned a business. My father taught me how to manage people, money, sales growth, and marketing. It became a habit, and the habit became a passion. I still have a lot to learn, which is why I am here. I have seen this company’s success, and I believe I could learn many great things from the people here.”
“You said your father owns a business. May I ask what your father’s business is?” Coulson questioned.
“A vineyard.”
I looked up at her, recalling our first moments together… Her hair spread across the sheets, her lips puckering, ready to be kissed… her beautiful eyes were closed… her chest against mine…
“And we produce wine,” she finished.
“A vineyard? That’s really interesting,” Bryan praised in astonishment. “Your father must have inspired you, Ms. Hopkins. As we can see here in your profile, you graduated with honors. A cum laude. Can I just say this is impressive?”
“Her profile’s impressive, I give you that, but I don’t think she’ll fit as my assistant, gentlemen. She might be a graduate with honor, but as you can see, she still has to change her fashion style.” I closed her profile before looking up at her. The color in her face drained.
She might be as beautiful as I last remembered her, and the way I almost had her writhing in pleasure beneath me, that wouldn’t change the fact that she was the daughter of the man I loathed the most.
“Gabe.” Coulson gave me a brief glare, and he looked away. “Do you have anything to ask Ms. Hopkins, Mr. Jameson?”
“I have no more questions. How about you, Mr. Stark?” Bryan glanced at me.
I stared up at her again. “But style can be changed. When can you start?”
Her mouth parted. “Um… w-what—”
“Do you want to work here or not?” I asked straightforwardly.
“I—” She swallowed. “Of course, I w-want to work here, Mr. Stark,” she replied nervously.
“Be here at eight. Don’t be late.”
Both Bryan and Coulson shifted their gaze at me in utter shock, as we were still not through with the other interviews. But I didn’t care.
She flashed out the sweetest smile she could ever give. “Thank you for accepting me for this job, Mr. Stark. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Pleasure’s mine.”
She said goodbye to everyone before she left the room.
This was not going to end here.
Audrey Hopkins. The woman who threw me away.