Single Mom Practiced Her Interview in the Elevator — Unaware the Man Was the CEO!
Chapter 3
Emily thought the interview had gone terribly.
That was why she was stunned when her phone rang two hours later.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Carter?”
“Yes?”
“This is Sterling Innovations. We would like to offer you the executive assistant position.”
Emily went silent.
“You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
“When do you need me to start?”
“Monday.”
Emily’s eyes filled.
“Thank you.”
After the call ended, she sat on the edge of her bed.
Sophie was on the floor building a tower from plastic blocks.
“Mommy?”
Emily looked at her.
“I got the job.”
Sophie jumped up.
“You did?”
“Yes.”
“Are we rich now?”
Emily laughed.
“No.”
“Can we get pizza?”
“Maybe.”
Sophie hugged her.
Emily closed her eyes.
For the first time in months, something felt possible.
Monday morning, Emily arrived early.
She wore the best navy dress she owned.
Her shoes were slightly uncomfortable.
Her lunch was packed in a small container.
She had spent half the night checking her schedule because she didn’t want to make her first mistake before she even met her boss.
At 8:02, she was shown into the executive office.
The room was enormous.
Glass walls.
Dark wood.
A view of the entire city.
Emily took one step inside.
Then stopped.
The man from the elevator stood beside the windows.
He turned.
“Good morning, Emily.”
She stared.
“You.”
He smiled.
“Yes.”
“You’re my boss?”
“Yes.”
“You’re the CEO.”
“Yes.”
She closed her eyes.
“Oh no.”
He laughed.
“I was wondering when you’d figure that out.”
“You let me practice my interview in front of you.”
“You practiced very well.”
“You knew I was interviewing for your company.”
“Yes.”
“You knew I didn’t know who you were.”
“Yes.”
Emily looked horrified.
“That is so embarrassing.”
“It doesn’t need to be.”
“I told you my entire life story in an elevator.”
“You told me you have a daughter.”
“And that I was scared.”
“I remember.”
Emily looked at him.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Would you have acted differently?”
“Yes.”
“Then I made the right decision.”
She stared.
He extended his hand.
“Ethan Sterling.”
She shook it.
“Emily Carter.”
“I know.”
For some reason, hearing him say her name made her nervous all over again.
Ethan pointed toward the desk.
“This is your office.”
Emily looked around.
“This is too much.”
“No.”
“It is.”
“You’ll get used to it.”
She put down her bag.
Ethan handed her a tablet.
“Your schedule.”
She looked at it.
There were meetings with investors, board members, legal counsel, two international clients, and a private dinner.
Emily began organizing immediately.
“Your lunch meeting conflicts with your legal call.”
“I know.”
“You scheduled both.”
“I did.”
“Which one matters more?”
“The legal call.”
“Then I’ll move the lunch.”
“Good.”
She looked at him.
“Why are you staring at me?”
“I like watching people solve problems.”
Emily smiled.
“That’s a weird hobby.”
“I’m a CEO.”
“That doesn’t explain anything.”
Ethan smiled.
It was the same almost-smile she’d seen in the elevator.
Except now, knowing who he was, it affected her differently.
He was attractive.
Very attractive.
And that was inconvenient.
Very inconvenient.
At noon, Ethan asked,
“How is Sophie?”
Emily looked up.
“You remembered her name.”
“I remember important things.”
“She likes pizza.”
“So do I.”
“I didn’t ask.”
“I know.”
Emily smiled.
That afternoon, she handled six schedule conflicts, solved a transportation problem, and caught an error in a vendor contract before it reached Ethan.
At 6:30, Ethan appeared beside her desk.
“You’re still here.”
“So are you.”
“I own the building.”
Emily laughed.
“That doesn’t mean you have to live here.”
He looked at her carefully.
“Neither do you.”
Emily packed her bag.
“I have a daughter waiting.”
“Go home.”
She looked at him.
“You’re not going to ask me to finish something?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because some things are more important than work.”
Emily paused.
The CEO who had been called ruthless in business was telling her to go home to her child.
That was the first crack in the image she had built of him.
And neither of them knew how quickly that crack would grow.
