Raya woke up with a start, sunlight streaming through her window. She glanced at the clock and her heart dropped—she had overslept. Today was her big day, the job interview she had been anxiously preparing for all week, and she couldn't afford to be late. She jumped out of bed, rushing through her morning routine. Her aunt had already prepared toast, and Raya grabbed it, barely acknowledging her reflection in the mirror as she hastily dressed. The job was with Heistens Empire, one of the most prestigious companies in New York. The CEO, Lucky Heistens, was notorious for being meticulous,
ppl lpshort-tempered, and—according to her research—insanely hot. She laughed a little at the thought but quickly focused on the more pressing issue: getting to the interview on time. Raya jogged to the bus stop, toast in hand, mentally reviewing her interview preparation questions. She knew she couldn't afford any mistakes; the competition was going to be fierce. Heistens Empire wasn't just any company—everyone wanted to work there, and the fact that the CEO had such a temper only made her more nervous. As she boarded the bus, she took deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves. Arriving at the company, her nerves threatenedto undo her progress. The sleek, modern building towered over her, and her heart pounded as she made her way inside. At the lobby, she was greeted by the rudest receptionist she had ever encountered. The woman barely looked up from her phone as she coldly directed Raya to the interview floor. But Raya didn't let it ruin her mood. She smiled politely, took a deep breath, and moved on. She had bigger things to focus on. When she got to the interview floor, she was relieved to see that she wasn't late. The waiting area was packed with hopeful candidates, both men and women, from all different walks of life. Many were rehearsing their interview lines under their breath. Raya noticed some people leaving the interview room with swollen faces, clearly shaken. Some were being escorted out by security, while others—women in particular—seemed to be dressed more for a night out than a professional interview, their skirts short and tops dangerously low-cut. Raya kept her eyes on her own notes, determined not to let any distractions get to her. Her number was called, and her stomach twisted in knots as she stood up. It was her turn. As she entered the interview room, Raya's heart skipped a beat. There, sitting at the head of the table, was Lucky Heistens. The photos she had found online did him no justice. He was more than just attractive; he was mesmerizing. Tall, sharp-jawed, and impeccably dressed, he had an aura of authority that filled the room. His intense eyes met hers, and she felt a chill run down her spine. The interview started smoothly enough, with the panel of interviewers asking basic questions. But it wasn't long before Lucky's attention zeroed in on Raya. For reasons she couldn't understand, he seemed to focus all his energy on her, bombarding her with rapid-fire questions, each one more pointed and aggressive than the last. It felt personal, like he was angry with her, though she couldn't imagine why. His piercing gaze never left her, and despite her best efforts to stay composed, Raya's nerves began to get the best of her. Her answers came out rushedand uncertain, and she could feel the tension rising in the room. As the interview came to an end, Raya stood to leave, but disaster struck. Her heel caught on the carpet, and she stumbled, falling flat on her face in front of the entire panel, including the impossibly gorgeous CEO. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment as she quickly scrambled to her feet, fighting back tears. The room was dead silent, and Raya could feel the eyes of everyone on her. She wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear, but instead, she took a deep breath, stood tall, and walked out of the room with as much dignity as she could muster. Once outside, Raya felt her confidence crumble. She found a quiet corner and sat down, hugging her knees to her chest. She had blown it. There was no way she was getting the job now. Not after that humiliating fall, and certainly not after the way Lucky Heistens had grilled her during the interview. She felt the tears welling up, but she forced herself to hold them back. Crying wouldn't help. She had worked too hard to break down now.Raya arrived home feeling defeated, her body and spirit drained from the day's events. She freshened up, changed into more comfortable clothes, and tried to distract herself with food. Her aunt wasn't back yet, but she could already imagine the conversation they were going to have—the embarrassment of falling during the interview, the way Lucky Heistens seemed to have focused all his frustration on her, and how hopeless it all seemed now. When her aunt Maggie finally returned, Raya wasted no time before breaking down and spilling everything. "Aunt Maggie, I ruined it," she said, her voice shaky. "The interview was a disaster, and I fell in front of everyone. There's no way I'm getting that job." Maggie, always the optimistic one, tried to cheer her up. "Oh, Raya, I'm sure it wasn't as bad as you think. Things like that happen all the time! Besides, if the CEO was paying so much attention to you, maybe it's because he saw potential!" But nothing her aunt said could lift Raya's spirits. The humiliation felt too raw, and the idea of Lucky Heistens, with his sharp, judging eyes, thinking she was incompetent was too much to bear. "I don't think so" she muttered, her voice heavy with defeat. "I don't have a chance." Feeling overwhelmed, she grabbed a tub of ice cream from the fridge, curled up on the couch, and let the tears flow. The stress, the embarrassment, the fear of failure—it all came crashing down. She cried herself to sleep that night, her mind replaying the events of the interview over and over. The rest of the week went by in a blur. During the day, she helped her aunt in the bakery, kneading dough and frosting cupcakes to keep herself busy. It was the only thing that kept her from overthinking. But even as she tried to focus on work, something else gnawed at her—a strange feeling that she was being watched. At first, she thought it was just paranoia, but the sensation persisted throughout the week, keeping her on edge. She couldn't shake the feeling that someone had their eyes on her. One evening, while taking a short break from the bakery, she decided to head to the bathroom. As she walked outside, she noticed a car parked nearby. It seemed...off. Like it had been there every day that week, lingering as though someone inside was watching them. Raya's heart raced, but she quickly brushed it off. "You're just being paranoid," she whispered to herself, shaking her head and forcing herself to focus. As she sat down, she pulled out her phone to distract herself and checked her messages. That's when she saw it—a new email notification. The subject line read: **Heistens Empire Job Interview Results**. Her heart leaped into her throat, her pulse quickening as she stared at the email. For a moment, she couldn't bring herself to open it. What if it was a rejection? What if it confirmed everything she feared? With trembling hands, she opened the email and squeezed her eyes shut for a second. When she finally looked, the words on the screen didn't seem real: **"Congratulations! We are pleased to offer you the position..."** She let out a scream, startling some of the customers in the bakery. Her aunt, concerned, rushed over to her. "What happened? Are you okay?" Raya struggled to contain her joy, waiting until her aunt had finished helping the customer. When the coast was clear, she threw her arms around Maggie. "I got the job!" she exclaimed, her voice barely able to contain her excitement. Maggie hugged her tight, sharing in the celebration. "Oh, Raya, I knew it! I knew you'd get it!" Her aunt's eyes sparkled with pride. "You have to go buy some things. We're celebrating tonight! I'll close up the shop early." Raya nodded eagerly and rushed out to pick up some supplies. As she walked through the streets, still buzzing with excitement,that eerie feeling returned—the sensation of being followed. She glanced around nervously but saw no one, only strangers going about their evening. She quickened her pace, her pulse rising as her instincts screamed at her that something was wrong. She could hear faint footsteps behind her, growing closer. Panic set in, and she was about to scream for help when a hand clamped over her mouth, silencing her. Her heart raced. The world seemed to close in around her as she struggled to breathe, her thoughts frantic. What was happening? Who was following her? And then, everything went dark.