The phone rang, slicing through the quiet. Laura reached for it, her fingers trembling slightly.
"Hello?" she said, her voice steady but curious.
"Is this Laura Ercilia?"
"Yes, speaking." Laura held her breath.
"Congratulations, Ms. Ercilia. You've passed the screening. There will be an interview session next week. I will send you all the information shortly. Again, congratulations."
Laura listened calmly, her heart racing beneath her composed exterior. She ended the call with a soft click, staring at the phone for a moment before setting it down.
In the kitchen, her mother, Lauriana, was placing plates of food on the table. "What happened?"
Giovani, her younger brother, yawned as he plopped into a chair.
"I passed the screening!" Laura's excitement bubbled over as she rushed to embrace her mother, who still held a bowl in her hands. "They're scheduling an interview next week!"
Giovani's eyes shot wide open. "Wait—Moireal? That company?"
Laura nodded, her excitement uncontainable.
Giovani shook his head in disbelief. "I heard it's impossible to get into that company. Even one of my friends from Cipher University couldn't pass the screening."
Lauriana clasped her daughter's hand. "You can do this, Laura. Where's the interview?"
Laura hesitated, her smile wavering as Giovani spoke again, his tone darker this time. "Wyoming."
Lauriana's face fell, her smile slipping. "Wyoming? Isn't there a closer branch? Texas, maybe?"
Giovani shook his head, biting into his food. "Nope. The one she's applying to just moved their headquarters there. They're expanding, probably why they're hiring IT security."
Lauriana glanced at Laura, worry shadowing her features. "It's so far away. How will you manage?"
Laura smiled, trying to reassure her mother. "Mom, if I get this job, we won't have to worry about money. Giovani's tuition will be covered, and you can go back to sewing."
Her mother glanced at the dusty sewing machine perched on a pantry shelf. "But, Laura… Wyoming is so far."
Laura's smile didn't falter. "Don't worry. They promised a $8,000 bonus in the first week. I'll manage."
Giovani snorted, wolfing down his meal. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. She might not even pass the interview."
Laura slapped the back of his head. "Why are you jinxing me?"
In the blink of an eye, time seemed to rush forward. Laura was already seated on a plane, heading to Wyoming. A few hours later, she stood before the grand entrance of the Vortex Hotel, her luggage trailing behind her. The company had paid for everything—her plane ticket, her hotel room. She smiled, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement.
Her stomach growled, pulling her toward the lounge. As she stepped into the dining floor, the sight took her breath away. Elegant patrons in designer clothing, soft murmurs of conversation, the clink of fine silverware. It was like stepping into another world. Even if she didn't get the job, this would be a memory to savor.
She found a cozy booth in the corner and took a seat. The scent of perfectly seared beef wafted toward her, accompanied by a delicate pecking duck, a warm bowl of soup, and a dessert that looked too beautiful to eat. Just as she raised her fork to take the first bite, a shadow fell over her table.
"Mind if I sit here?" The voice was anxious, urgent.
Laura looked up, surprised. A man had already sat down across from her. He wore dark sunglasses and a black cap, trying to shield his face. He glanced around nervously.
Laura frowned. "Sir? Are you okay?"
"I'm hiding from someone. Please… help me," he muttered, pulling his jacket up to cover his face.
Her gaze flickered to the entrance, where two men were scanning the room, searching. Laura sighed and set her fork down, standing up. She slid into the booth beside the stranger, pulling her beanie off and swapping it with his cap. She removed his sunglasses and handed him her round glasses. As she did, she paused. Why did he look so familiar?
"Take off your jacket. Relax. Act like we're having a normal conversation," she whispered.
The man nodded, following her lead. The searchers at the door gave up after a few minutes and disappeared.
Finally, Laura exhaled, ready to return to her room.
"Wait," the stranger called. "Are you… Laura? Laura Ercilia?"
She turned, confused. "Do I know you?"
"It's me, Lucho! You don't remember?" He smiled, pulling off the cap. "Lucho Montes, the kid who used to follow you around."
Laura's eyes widened in disbelief. "Lucho? The crybaby?"
He grinned, pointing to her hands. "And you still wear your gloves."
She laughed, the memories flooding back. They had grown up together in the same neighborhood until his family moved away. "I can't believe it's you."
They talked for hours, catching up, the night falling around them. By the time they said their goodbyes, it felt as though no time had passed at all.
As Laura rode the elevator back to her floor, she collided with a woman carrying a drink. "I'm so sorry!" the woman apologized, her voice frazzled.
"It's fine," Laura reassured her, glancing at her now-stained gloves with a sigh. Laura takes off the gloves as she walked toward her room.
When she reached her door, something strange caught her eye—a card lying just outside her room. Bending down to pick it up, she suddenly froze. A flash of memory surged through her mind.
In her vision, a woman in a wheelchair sat before her, holding the very card she now gripped.
"Hi, Laura," the woman said, her voice soft yet powerful. "You probably have a lot of questions, like how I know you're seeing this. But don't worry—we'll soon see each other. Just know I mean no harm."
The vision faded as quickly as it had come. Laura dropped the card, her heart pounding. Was she losing her mind?
With trembling hands, she laughed it off, telling herself she was just exhausted. But as she closed the door, she paused, glancing back at the card lying on the floor.
Laura took out the stained gloves in her purse and hesitated for only a moment before she picked it up.