The day of the interview came up faster than she'd expected. As Lina crossed the vast lobby of R.B.H., she nervously adjusted the strap of her bag. The building, with its glass and steel facade, exuded a cold kind of elegance that only made her feel more like an intruder.
Around her, impeccably dressed employees moved about, absorbed in their routines, completely indifferent to her presence. She took a quiet breath and approached one of the receptionists.
The young man flashed her a professional smile and handed her a visitor's badge.
"23rd floor, Miss Cap," he said politely.
Lina nodded, barely managing a whispered "thank you" as she made her way to one of the six elevators, praying she wouldn't trip from the nerves. Her fingers shook slightly as she pressed the button.
The ride felt endless. Each floor that passed on the digital display seemed to weigh heavier on her shoulders. Her heart raced faster.
Finally, the doors opened to a bright hallway, where an assistant was waiting, a polite smile on her face.
"Miss Cap? Right this way, please."
Lina followed her into a meeting room. As she entered, she was struck by the simplicity and elegance of the space: a long conference table, glass walls, black leather chairs... Everything about it screamed power and prestige. She sat down, trying to steady her breathing.
A few minutes later, the door opened. A man stepped in. Tall, with impeccably styled graying hair and a perfectly tailored suit, he looked every bit the part of a consummate professional, completely at ease in this world.
"Good morning, Miss Cap," he said, extending a firm hand. "I'm Mr. Varma."
"Good morning, Mr. Varma," Lina replied, her voice betraying a slight tremor.
She tried to smile, but her sweaty palms gave away her anxiety.
He sat down across from her, his intense gaze fixed on her.
"I'm the Executive Director of Human Resources and Governance at R.B.H."
He paused before continuing, his tone shifting to something more direct.
"The interview will take place in two stages. For the second part, another person will join us to complete this discussion," he added, clearing his throat slightly, as if uncomfortable.
Lina listened attentively. This wasn't just any recruiter; this was the head of the recruitment section. She'd been through several interviews before, but never with someone of his level. The fact that someone like him was personally handling her case felt strange. Maybe things worked differently here.
"Tell me a bit about yourself," Sanjay Varma asked.
Lina took a deep breath and straightened up. She'd rehearsed with Éloïse two days ago; now was the moment to give it her all.
"I graduated with a business degree, specializing in strategic marketing."
Varma jotted down a few notes as she spoke, but Lina continued.
"During my final year, I had the opportunity to intern with a Fairtrade association that had just launched a cola brand in partnership with Malawi and Zambia. My main role was to develop the marketing strategy and work on communications."
The recruiter finally looked up, his focus sharper.
"Interesting. What specific challenges did you face on this project?" he asked, tilting his head slightly, as if trying to better gauge her response.
Lina slowed her pace, taking a moment to organize her thoughts. Slow down, girl.
"Ensuring large-scale commercialization against market giants. Consumer habits were deeply entrenched, so we had to raise awareness and carve out our own space."
Slow down!
"It was a real challenge, but also incredibly rewarding."
"And concretely, what did you do?"
Lina nodded, settling more comfortably into her role.
"I helped define the brand's positioning by highlighting its ethical values. The goal was to humanize the communication. We used personas to better understand our target audience and refined our strategies using tools like Google Analytics."
Varma nodded, clearly interested.
"Using personas is a modern approach. Did you face any challenges in defining them? How did you tackle that part of the strategy?"
Lina took a moment before answering, weighing her words.
"Yes, defining the personas was a real challenge. We had to deeply analyze demographic data, behaviors, and consumer values. We organized workshops and conducted surveys to better understand their expectations. This work allowed us to tailor our message precisely and get very positive feedback."
Lina felt her back relax slightly. She was no longer just reciting her speech; she was reliving her experiences. A wave of pride swept over her. Thank you, Éloïse, she thought, remembering the long hours spent rehearsing, fine-tuning every detail.
She decided to keep going.
"One project I'm particularly proud of is the social media launch campaign. The idea was to highlight the producers through authentic visuals and strengthen the brand's ethical image. By partnering with specialized influencers, we exceeded 30% engagement right from the start."
She paused briefly, gauging the recruiter's reaction, then continued:
"We also relied on storytelling. By sharing the producers' stories through videos and articles, we managed to increase sales by 25% in just six weeks. Seeing that real-time impact was incredibly satisfying."
The recruiter nodded, his expression still neutral. Interested, but not yet fully convinced.
"That's interesting. And in your opinion, what skills did you develop during this internship?"
Lina took a moment to gather her thoughts.
"This internship allowed me to move beyond theory and understand the importance of ethical marketing, while also refining my communication strategy and project management skills."
For the first time in a long while, she felt completely in control of the situation. Finally, an interview where she didn't feel the need to prove herself at all costs.
Then came the question she had been dreading.
Sanjay Varma folded his fingers on the table and looked at her with a new intensity, as if trying to look beyond her words.
"I see that you graduated a few years ago. What have you been doing since? I see you were a building superintendent… and worked several jobs as a waitress…"
He raised an eyebrow, as if just noticing the information, and paused.
"Is that right?"
Lina had anticipated this. A wave of nervousness tightened her stomach, but she took a deep breath before responding, trying to keep her tone steady and confident:
"Yes, after my studies, I took some time to figure things out. I explored different options before deciding on one."
The recruiter nodded slowly, looking skeptical. He clearly wasn't convinced.
"And today, you're still a waitress?" he asked, his gaze sharp.
Lina sat up straighter, her body a little stiffer, a spark of defiance in her eyes. She had dealt with this kind of silent judgment too many times. She wasn't just a waitress; she was more than that.
"No, I'm a team manager. I oversee several employees, organize schedules, train new hires, ensure service quality, and handle stock management and daily operations."
She met his gaze directly, trying to break the image of herself as just an underpaid employee.
But Sanjay Varma furrowed his brow slightly, still unconvinced, and added with a trace of disdain:
"Why didn't you pursue something in your field? Marketing is a broad industry; there were plenty of opportunities for you. No?"
The implication was painfully clear, and Lina felt a pang in her chest.
Because I'm a dumbass.
A wave of guilt washed over her. She knew she should've stuck with it, should've looked for other opportunities, but she had chosen the easier path. She felt guilty, but she fought to keep it from showing. She lowered her eyes for a few seconds, then lifted them to meet his stare.
"I had to make some personal decisions," she replied finally, in a calmer tone. "But every experience taught me something—skills that I've been able to apply in this role."
She twirled a lock of hair around her finger, a small attempt to calm herself. He was still staring at her, as if trying to see into her thoughts. The silence stretched a little too long, and Lina felt her breath catch, as though the weight of her past choices was pressing down on her.
Just as she felt the tension peak, Sanjay Varma opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, the door suddenly swung open, breaking the tension.
Daniel Beresford walked into the room with casual ease, as if he were simply walking through a living room. He didn't even glance at Lina, almost as though he'd gotten lost, before heading straight for the chair next to the recruiter and sitting down. There was no effort to assert his presence, yet everything about his posture, the way he settled into the chair, commanded a quiet authority, as if the space around him unconsciously bent to accommodate him.
Immediately, the atmosphere shifted.
The air felt thick, as if she were breathing lead. Between their first meeting at the gala and now, Lina had tried to prepare herself. She'd researched R.B.H., and the more she learned, the more she realized how badly she'd underestimated the situation.
R.B.H. was one of the most powerful conglomerates in the world, known for its strategic investments in cutting-edge companies.
Its growth was relentless, with a turnover of $245 billion and 195,000 employees around the world. The company was a well-oiled machine.
The current CEO was the founder's grandson. And he was sitting right here. And she had called him an "asshole". The realization hit her like a ton of bricks.
His dark blue suit was flawless. He scanned the room, taking in every detail with a disconcerting sharpness. When his eyes finally locked onto hers, it wasn't with any emotion, but with that almost clinical focus that made her uncomfortable.
She wanted to look away, but she was still in shock from his presence and his gaze. It was painfully awkward, yet she couldn't tear herself away.
Lina thought of the movie The Fantastic Four and the gift of invisibility. At that moment, she would've given anything to have that power.
After a brief hesitation, Sanjay took his seat again, now more tense.
He introduced Daniel, who was examining the document the recruiter had handed him, but Lina could no longer focus on what was being said. Her mind was caught in a frantic whirlwind, each thought colliding with the next, irrational yet obsessive.
Get out, girl, get out...
But she couldn't move. It was as if her body and mind were two separate entities, trapped in a dead-end with no way out.
Sanjay, clearly uncomfortable with her behavior, tried to steer the interview back on track.
"Could you tell us what value you'd bring to the company?" he asked, in a tone that was too polite, too formal.
Lina gave a slight shake of her head, trying to pull herself out of the fog she was in. But the situation felt unreal, like a movie she couldn't turn off. The silence stretched around her, heavy and suffocating, like an elastic band about to snap. Sanjay, probably disturbed by her discomfort, rushed to conclude.
"Look, you have potential, Miss Cap, but to be honest, you don't seem fully committed. Your internship is a valuable experience, but after that, your path looks like a series of unfulfilled choices."
His tone, cold and measured, had a sharpness to it, like a well-honed blade hidden under a cloak of civility. Each word landed with the precision of a guillotine, and she felt the weight of his critique settling heavily on her shoulders. Her stomach twisted, a dull ache she couldn't shake.
Sanjay then turned his attention to Daniel, still absorbed in his reading.
"I apologize for the time this has taken; I'll make sure it doesn't hap..."
But before he could finish, Daniel's voice, calm yet firm, cut through the air. He lifted his eyes and fixed them on Lina, a gaze that trapped her.
"She's beautiful," he says.
"You think so?" I murmur.
"I know so."
"Miss Cap," he began in a neutral tone. "Does what Mr. Varma is saying seem accurate to you?"
The memory of the gala, that moment with him, hit her like an electric shock. Her stomach contracted violently, a sharp pain. She couldn't say a word. It was as if the weight of the situation was crushing her.
Daniel then lowered his gaze to his watch, an ordinary gesture, but for Lina, it felt almost threatening. She tried to speak, but no sound came out. She was frozen. She felt insignificant, reduced to nothing. This was what the revenge of a powerful man could do: a harsh reminder that she was nothing.
She gathered all her strength, her sweaty palms pressed against her thighs, her heart racing. Her legs trembled under the pressure, but she knew she couldn't stay there, a mere spectator.
Don't stay here, you're screwed…
"I think this interview isn't going anywhere," she finally said, her voice as fragile as a twig but filled with fierce determination. "Thank you for your time, but I'm clearly not the right person."
She knew it was the only way out. End this charade before everything fell apart. At least she'd keep a bit of dignity, even if it was just in this escape.
Sanjay Varma stood frozen, mouth half open, like a fish out of water, ready to react but not knowing how. But Lina didn't wait. She turned on her heels and left the room, her heart heavy but resolute. She rushed toward the elevator, the shame burning on her face.
Lina frantically pressed the button, her heart pounding so fast it felt like it might explode. Every second seemed to drag on endlessly, suspended in unbearable anticipation.
Even the elevator seemed to mock her. The doors resisted, as if deliberately ignoring her call, leaving her in unbearable suspense. For a moment, she considered taking the stairs, but the thought of not knowing where they were froze her.
Then, suddenly, an invisible pressure descended on her. The murmurs of the employees grew louder, their glances slipping furtively in her direction, like invisible knives piercing her with every passing second. And then, a movement. A step. Daniel Beresford was walking toward her, calm, measured, with a chilling tranquility that was far from soothing.
Panic rose in her, wild and uncontrollable. Her finger pressed frantically on the elevator button, desperately hoping the doors would open before he got too close. But even before she could react, he was standing right next to her. The elevator didn't come. She was frozen, the elevator doors becoming her only point of focus.
"Did you know that 83% of people who flee an uncomfortable conversation do so in less than ten seconds, without even bothering to come up with a good excuse? You lasted eight."
The remark, calm and emotionless, hit her like a slap. She turned her head sharply toward him. His eyes were fixed, almost lifeless, staring at a corner of the hallway as if what he was saying didn't matter. Then, slowly, he turned his gaze toward her. The weight of his stare pierced through her, forcing her to lower her eyes, a burning heat flooding her face.
Shut up, Lina, just shut up!
She just wanted to flee, disappear, and stop facing the situation.
The elevator doors finally opened with a dull sound, but slowly, almost too slowly, as if they were trying to trap her even more in the moment. Inside, employees deep in conversation immediately froze, their gazes fixed on the scene unfolding before them. Lina took a hesitant step, her mind screaming to escape, but before she could slip through the opening, Daniel positioned himself silently, blocking her way. The employees' quiet, unrelenting attention pierced her. Their eyes, heavy with curiosity, scrutinized her from both sides.
"Miss Cap," he said in a cold, almost clinical voice, as if he were handling an administrative task. "Go back to the room to finish the interview."
An employee, uncomfortable and caught off guard, dared to speak up.
"Excuse me, should we wait?"
Daniel barely raised his eyes, ready to respond, but before he could say anything, Lina seized the moment. With a swift, almost desperate movement, she maneuvered around Daniel and slipped into the elevator. Her heart was racing uncontrollably.
The employees stood there, frozen, uncertain, torn between waiting for Daniel or just leaving. Their gazes grew heavy, confused.
Finally, Daniel straightened, as impassive as a statue, and, without a hint of emotion, said in a cold tone:
"Thank you for coming, Miss Cap. We'll get back to you."
His words were simple, direct, like something he'd say in a meeting.
When the elevator finally reached the ground floor, Lina didn't even glance back. She rushed out of the building, every step driven by desperate urgency. Finally, she thought. Finally, away from all of this.