Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Encounter with a New Prospect

Ten years laterAva smoothed down her blouse for the third time, checking her reflection in the glass doors of Hamilton & Co., one of the most prestigious consulting firms in Los Angeles. At twenty - six, she had finally made it. She had a real job, a decent salary, and benefits. She was a receptionist at this high - profile firm, a far cry from the sixteen - year - old girl struggling in the Compton market.Her mother was now in a stable condition, living in a small, cozy apartment that Ava could comfortably afford. Ethan had kept his promise; he had been by her side through every struggle, every setback, and every small triumph. They had built a strong bond, a partnership forged in their shared experiences of hunger and determination.Tonight, they were going to celebrate. It was her first week on the job, and she had just received her first real paycheck. She had invited some friends from her old neighborhood, those who had survived the tough times with her and understood the significance of this moment.As Ava sat at the reception desk, watching the stream of well - tailored suits and confident people walking by, a familiar sense of invisibility washed over her. Despite her neat new clothes and practiced smile, she might as well have been part of the furniture. Executives passed by without a second glance. Colleagues in the break room talked around her, not to her.She was present, but unnoticed."Some things never change," she thought bitterly as she answered the phone with mechanical politeness. "Hamilton & Co., how may I direct your call?"The afternoon dragged on in a blur of transferred calls and polite nods. Ava was counting down the minutes until five o'clock when the elevator doors suddenly opened, and chaos erupted."This is completely unacceptable!" A man in an expensive Armani suit stormed towards the reception desk, his face red with anger, his voice echoing across the lobby. "I was promised the Olympus conference room, and you've given it to someone else!"Ava's supervisor, Sarah, appeared beside her in an instant, her face tight with barely concealed panic. "Mr. Richardson, I apologize for the confusion. Let me check the booking system right away.""I don't want to hear about your system!" he snapped. "I have ten clients arriving in fifteen minutes for a presentation that could make or break a multi - million - dollar deal, and you're telling me I don't have a room?"Other staff members were backing away, scurrying back to their offices. Sarah's hands shook as she fumbled with the computer. The lobby fell silent, everyone watching the scene unfold.Ava stood up."Mr. Richardson," she said, her voice calm yet firm enough to cut through his anger. "I understand your frustration. Anyone would be upset in this situation."He turned to her, a flicker of surprise crossing his face, perhaps because she addressed him directly or because she didn't sound intimidated."The Olympus room was double - booked due to a system glitch," Ava continued, quickly pulling up the floor plan on her screen. "But the Apollo room on the fourth floor is actually larger, has better soundproofing,and the natural light in the afternoon is ideal for presentations. It's available, and I can have it set up for you in ten minutes.""The Apollo room?" His anger wavered, replaced by a hint of confusion."Yes, in fact, it's one of our top - tier rooms. Mr. Hamilton reserves it for his most important clients," Ava said, leaning in slightly and lowering her voice in a conspiratorial manner. "Between you and me, the mix - up with the Olympus room might be a blessing in disguise. The Apollo room has a state - of - the - art digital display system that's compatible with all major devices. It's far more impressive and would surely make a great impression on your clients."Mr. Richardson blinked, his rage deflating like a punctured tire. "The digital display system? Well, I... ""I'll personally escort you there and ensure everything is perfect before your clients arrive. And," she glanced at the catering schedule on her tablet, "I'll have refreshments sent up immediately. It's on the house as an apology for the inconvenience."Ava could feel Sarah's shocked gaze on her. She knew she had no authority to offer free catering, but she also knew that diffusing this situation was crucial, even if it meant facing some flak from the accounting department later.Mr. Richardson's shoulders relaxed. "Well, yes. That would be... acceptable.""Great. Please follow me," Ava said, grabbing her tablet and stepping out from behind the desk with a confidence she'd developed over the years of surviving difficult situations.As she led him to the elevator, she caught a glimpse of someone emerging from the executive suite during the commotion. Tall, with sandy - blond hair, dressed in a sharp navy suit that probably cost more than her monthly rent. It was Maxfield Grant, the firm's youngest and most promising partner. She'd seen his photo in the employee handbook but had never met him in person. He had a reputation for being brilliant, demanding, and extremely hard to impress.And he was looking straight at her.Ten minutes later, Ava returned to the lobby. Mr. Richardson was comfortably settled in the Apollo room, and the crisis had been averted. Sarah had disappeared into her office, presumably to decide whether Ava's actions were grounds for praise or punishment."That was quite impressive," a voice said from behind her.Ava turned to see Maxfield Grant standing beside the reception desk, his hands casually in his pockets, his expression unreadable."Just doing my job, Mr. Grant," she replied, her heart suddenly pounding in her chest."Maxfield, please," he said, tilting his head slightly as he studied her. "And no, that wasn't just doing your job. That was thinking on your feet, assessing a difficult client's needs, and turning a potential disaster into an opportunity. Where did you learn to handle situations like that?"Ava thought about her past, the years of struggling to survive, of having to be quick - witted to keep herself and her mother afloat. "Previous customer service experience," she said aloud, not wanting to reveal the full extent of her past struggles.His eyes crinkled slightly, not quite a smile, but a sign of mild amusement. "I don't recall seeing you around before.""I started this week. Ava Thompson," she introduced herself."Ava," he repeated her name slowly, as if committing it to memory. "Well, Ava Thompson, that was some unexpected resourcefulness under pressure. Most people would have let Sarah deal with it or, worse, let Mr. Richardson escalate the situation until security was called.""Someone had to do something," she said simply."Yes," he said, his gaze intensifying. She had an uneasy feeling that he was seeing beyond her receptionist uniform, peering into her very soul. "Someone did. And you chose to be that someone."There was a moment of charged silence. Then Maxfield nodded, as if reaching an internal decision."I'm working on a project that could use someone with your instincts. Come to my office tomorrow at nine. Bring your resume."Ava's mouth went dry. "I... what kind of project?""The kind that requires more than just answering phones. Consider it a test. If you impress me again, we can discuss other potential positions for you within the company," he said. Without waiting for her response, he turned and walked away, leaving Ava standing at the reception desk, her world suddenly thrown into disarray.