Chapter 34 Encounter
"Wow, this is awesome! Big bro, we gotta celebrate Mom finding a job today!" Sophia licked her lips, clearly thinking about ice cream.
"Mom, you got this! Go, go, go! Come back soon and take us for ice cream!"
The kids were sure she'd land the job at YD, but Alison knew this was just the beginning of her new journey.
The road ahead was long, and she had to push forward, one step at a time.
She put on a light blue business suit, paired with her short bob and blue crystal shoes. This would be her daytime look from now on. By day, she was a sharp professional; by night, a captivating singer, with her hairstyle transforming from a bob to glamorous long waves.
In truth, the beautiful long hair was a wig, but no one knew that.
Facing the morning sun, Alison carried a folder with her resume and YD's job description, and took a cab straight to YD.
She believed that with determination, nothing was impossible.
"Alison, you're next," came a voice from outside the small meeting room.
Alison's heart skipped a beat. She stood up slowly, her short hair gently brushing her cheeks, feeling particularly smooth.
She walked into the small meeting room, which was a temporary space for YD to interview regular employees.
The HR manager was looking down at the documents on the table, likely her resume.
The sound of high heels clicked as the HR manager looked up, adjusted her glasses, and pointed to the chair opposite her. "Have a seat."
Alison sat down gracefully and politely said, "Thank you."
The HR manager glanced at her resume and said directly, "Miss Fairchild, based on your resume and qualifications, I think applying for the purchasing assistant position is a bit beneath you."
Alison smiled slightly. "Not at all. I don't have any work experience, so starting from the bottom is more appropriate." She didn't want a high position because she didn't want to have direct contact with the Winston family. She just wanted to get into YD and quietly investigate the truth about what happened back then.
She still didn't know the specifics of what had happened, as the Winston family seemed to have deliberately kept it under wraps. But after that incident, Jack left YD, and that was the key.
"Honestly, with your abilities, I thought you could at least join the business department. Alison, it's not too late to change your mind."
Alison shook her head gently. She wasn't here for a high salary; she had other motives. "Thank you, but I know my limits. Starting as an assistant is fine. If I do well, the company can promote me later."
She was calm and composed, no longer the naive girl she once was.
She had been through a lot and had matured significantly.
"Alright, you can start tomorrow," the HR manager said, looking at Alison with approval.
"Thank you, I'll do my best." She politely bowed and left the small meeting room.
Standing in the hallway, she replayed the HR manager's words in her mind, feeling a surge of happiness and excitement.
Finally, she was in YD.
Carrying her LV bag, Alison walked towards the elevator, thinking her two little ones must have brought her good luck.
She had really done it.
She wanted to take out her phone to tell Sophia and Ethan that she would take them for their favorite ice cream as soon as she got home.
But the zipper on her LV bag wouldn't budge. As she walked, she fiddled with the zipper, accidentally bumping into someone.
Looking up, she saw the elevator doors open, and a man stepped out.
"Sorry..." she quickly apologized, but met the man's intense gaze.
Alison's heart raced. Seeing the man, she panicked and rushed into the elevator, not caring whether it was going up or down, just wanting to escape him as quickly as possible.
But just then, she felt a tight grip on her wrist, and the man yanked her out of the elevator.
She recognized him—Aidan Winston, often seen in media reports.
But now, he wasn't just a figure on TV or in newspapers; he was a real person standing right in front of her.
His strong arm left her no room to resist, and in no time, he had pulled her out of the elevator.
"Let go!" Alison steadied herself and forcefully shook off Aidan Winston's hand.
"Excuse me, are you Miss Bruce?" Aidan asked politely, but Alison couldn't help but shiver.
She composed herself and smiled faintly. "Sir, you have the wrong person. My last name is Fairchild, and we don't know each other." She pretended not to recognize him, wanting no entanglement with Aidan.
"Are you really Fairchild?" Aidan scrutinized her again, puzzled.
"Yes, I'm Fairchild. I don't think I need to answer any more of your questions." With that, Alison turned and walked away. The elevator had already left, but she could take the stairs, as long as she could get out of Aidan's sight immediately.
"Stop!" Aidan's low growl came from behind her.
Alison didn't look back. Her high heels clicked crisply on the marble floor. "I don't think I owe you anything, so I don't have to listen to you."
Under Aidan's gaze, Alison calmly walked into the stairwell.
She still remembered the news from three years ago. That was the first time she noticed the Winston family on TV. Aidan and Jack had gone to pick up YD's chairman, Alexander Winston, from the airport, and three days later, everything changed.
Thinking back to those events felt like it was just yesterday. Time had flown by.
Now, her two children were already three years old.
Watching the woman hurriedly leave, Aidan walked and spoke to his assistant. "Find out why that woman is here at YD. I want an answer in ten minutes."
The woman looked too much like Emily from the surveillance footage, except for the different hairstyle. Everything else was identical.
But she claimed her last name was Fairchild, not Bruce.
That was odd.
Back then, that footage had helped him oust Jack and secure the position of YD's general manager. Although he had always been determined to get the general manager position, he had always had doubts about that footage.
Just now, he really thought he had encountered the woman from the footage, which was why he had lost control and pulled her out of the elevator.
Aidan twirled the pen in his hand, deep in thought as he waited for an answer.
Soon, ten minutes had passed.
The assistant knocked on the door, and Aidan immediately said, "Come in."
The assistant walked to the desk, barely standing still before Aidan impatiently asked, "Tell me."
"General Manager, that woman is named Alison Fairchild. She came to interview for the purchasing assistant position."
"And?"
"The manager suggested Miss Fairchild join the business department, but Miss Fairchild declined."
Hearing this, a glint flashed in Aidan's eyes. The business department's salary was much higher than that of a purchasing assistant, yet Alison chose the latter. There was definitely something going on.
"Give me all her information."
"Yes, sir."
The assistant handed over the documents he had just obtained and then left.
Aidan looked at the photo on the resume. Alison's short hair was particularly striking.
Long hair, short hair—that was the only difference between her and Emily.
He still remembered her panicked face when he pulled her out of the elevator. It was deeply etched in his memory, impossible to forget.