“Oh, this is amazing news, thank you so much. And if I am happy, when would you like me to start?” I ask, hoping my voice isn’t betraying my giddy excitement.
“Tomorrow you’ll sign and meet the CEO you'll be working alongside. Then officially you can start on Monday morning, since tomorrow is Friday. But you’re most welcome to come in and familiarize yourself with everything, take a lookaround, set up your office…whatever you want to do tomorrow is up to you, after you’ve met the CEO, of course.”
“That’s great. I’ll take a look and reply to the email. And then possibly see you around eight tomorrow?”
“Eight is perfect. I look forward to it.”
My hands shake as I stare at the phone. I can’t believe it. It actually happened.
Rushing to my laptop, I flick it open to read the contract.
Kira and Kelsey come running in to bring me more cookies. Thank goodness Stella managed to swap them out.
“I got sent a contract,” I grin at Stella.
“Are you serious? So quickly? That’s incredible! Let me get these two monsters out of the way for a bit…come on, girls, let’s go build that new LEGO dragon we got yesterday!” She ushers them away, and I turn back to my laptop.
The contract is actually more than I could have asked for. The benefits this company offers for single parents are astonishing compared to others I’ve seen, and the salary is more than I wanted. The hours are generous. I can’t believe it. It’s the perfect job. It’s everything I dreamt of.
Finally, all that bad luck and all those challenges are fading away. My good karma is finally finding me, and I can’t wait to see where all of this takes us.
***
At eight fifteen on Friday morning, I am in Mark’s office.
“Sign here, and here,” he says, pointing to the bottom corners of the contract I have already read twice. “And this one,” he says, pointing again.
My heart is so happy as I scribble my signature in thick black gel ink on the crisp white pages.
When we’re all done, Mark stands up and holds out his hand to shake mine.
“Welcome to Raven Inc.,” he smiles. “This is Bianca. She will show you around later, but for now she’s going to take you to meet the CEO.”
“Thank you, Mark. Have a lovely day,” I nod politely.
My heart races a little, and I take a deep breath. It’ll be okay. They hired me because I am good at what I do. CEOs are just normal people like the rest of us.
Bianca smiles and gestures for me to follow her. She jumps right into business and starts explaining how Mr. Belov has a very specific routine and likes things a certain way.
“Belov?” I stammer, thinking it can't possibly be him. There must be any number of Belovs in this city, right?
“Right this way,” Bianca demands sternly, almost pushing me into the CEO’s immaculate glass-walled corner office. “Sir, your new analyst is here,” she announces before disappearing.
My head is spinning in disbelief.
I stare with my jaw open, not able to speak or even greet him.
Josiah is standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows wearing a pitch-black suit. His hands are in his pockets, and he is looking directly at me with those deep blue eyes that I still dream about on my worst nights.
He cocks his head to the side, and my eyes trace over his familiar face. The same, yet I no longer know this man. If I ever did…that’s a mystery for another day.
I try to speak, but my words come out as a jumbled mess.
Breathe, Kayla.
I stuck in a sharp breath and hold my chin up higher, pushing my shoulders back.
“Josiah…uh…Mr. Belov,” I correct myself.
