Job failure.
The sun shone brightly overhead, but Maeve Fitzgerald barely noticed as she walked down the busy street.
The wind was chilly, but she hardly felt it.
Her expression was set in determination, and she was focused on the goal she had set for herself that day.
Maeve hair, tied back in a messy bun, whipped around her head as the wind grew stronger.
She let it loose, allowing the wind to blow it to and fro, like a wild flag in the storm.
Her expression remained set in determination, but underneath the mask of calm, her emotions were swirling like the wind around her.
Despite the hustle and bustle of the city around her, she felt a strange sense of calm, but underneath that calm, there was a rolling storm of emotions: uncertainty, anxiety, and even a hint of excitement.
Maeve was excited and nervous at the same time.
She was eager to search for a job, but the thought of the interviews made her stomach flip-flop with anxiety.
Maeve really wanted to get a job today, and she was determined to make a good impression on the potential employers, but she couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed by the thought of it all.
As Maeve approached the company building, she was stopped by two security guards, who were stationed at the front entrance.
They asked her to state her business and explain her reason for being there.
Maeve took a deep breath and explained that she was there for a job interview. She hoped that her answer would be enough to let her pass, but the guards remained suspicious and skeptical.
They finally let Maeve inside the building after scanning her from head to toe.
As the guards finally let her through, Maeve released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
She walked through the front doors, feeling a mix of relief and nervousness.
Maeve found herself in a large, open lobby, with a receptionist's desk at the far end.
The space was airy and bright, but it felt a little intimidating, too.
"I... I'm here for the interview," stuttered Maeve as she approached the receptionist.
Her smile felt forced, and her hands were shaking.
Maeve hoped that the receptionist wouldn't notice her nervousness, but she felt like it was written all over her face.
"Please take a seat," said the receptionist, gesturing to the chairs nearby.
Maeve sat down, her hands still shaking.
She clasped them together in her lap, trying to steal them.
Maeve kept glancing at the receptionist, hoping for a sign that her interview was about to begin.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the receptionist called out, "Ms. Maeve?"
Maeve stood up quickly, trying to smooth down her clothes and appear composed.
"H-huh?" She arched her brows as she stared at the receptionist.
"You may go up to the CEO's office." The receptionist stated. "It's on the top floor. Just take the elevator to the penthouse suite."
Maeve smiled gratefully and said, "Thank you so much. I really appreciate it."
The receptionist gave her a warm smile and she wished Maeve a successful interview. "Good luck." She mumbled with a smile attached to her lips.
Maeve took a deep breath and walked towards the elevator.
She pressed the button for the top floor and waited as the doors slid open.
As Maeve stepped inside, her heart began to pound in her chest.
Once more, she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
As the elevator began to rise, Maeve could feel her nerves starting to get the better of her.
As the elevator neared the top floor, Maeve inhaled and exhaled as she tried to steady herself.
'This is it.' She whispered within herself.
Composing herself, Maeve exhaled once more and stepped out of the elevator.
She followed the signs that pointed to the CEO's office, and as she approached the door, she took a moment to compose herself.
She straightened her clothes and ran a hand through her hair.
Then, she gently knocked on the door. "Hello?" she called out, her voice quivering slightly.
There was a moment of silence, followed by a voice from within the office.
"Come in, Ms. Maeve," the voice said, with a note of warmth and welcome.
Maeve took another deep breath and pushed open the door.
She stepped into the office, and there, behind a large, mahogany desk, was the CEO himself.
"Ms. Maeve?" CEO Ethan asked in a tone of surprise. "I was expecting you to be... well, a woman," he added, clearly caught off guard.
Maeve gave him a small smile. "Yes, I know I'm not what you expected," she said, trying to keep her tone light and professional. "But I assure you, I'm more than capable of handling this position."
Ethan took a moment to process what she had said.
His expression changed from surprise to something cold and skeptical.
He looked down at Maeve, taking in her petite frame and young face. "How old are you, Ms. Maeve?" he asked, his voice taking on a tone of suspicion and disapproval.
Maeve straightened her posture, trying to appear as confident and capable as possible
"I'm... I'm only 18 years old, but I'm not…" Maeve began, her voice faltering slightly.
Before she could explain herself further, Ethan cut her off.
"You're a minor, Ms. Maeve," he said sternly. "I'm sorry, but I can't allow you to take this position. You must be at least 21 years old to work for my company."
His words were cold.
Maeve felt her heart sink. She had come so far, only to be turned away at the last moment.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave," Ethan said, his voice now firm and uncompromising. "I can't allow someone underage to work here."
Maeve felt her heart sink. She felt so deflated and embarrassed.
"But… but in a few months, I'll be 19 years old. Can't you offer me the job since..."
"Leave! When you are of age, you are free to come here and reapply."
Maeve was dumbfounded.
"Of course, CEO Ethan," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Maeve didn't know what else to say. She felt frozen, unable to form any more words.
Maeve had put so much effort into getting this job, and now it had all come to nothing.
Currently, Maeve felt like a complete failure. She could feel her eyes starting to fill with tears, and she struggled to keep them at bay.
"I'm sorry," Ethan said, his voice a little softer now. "I know this must be difficult for you."
Taking a deep breath, Maeve forced herself to turn away from Ethan.
She tried to put on a brave face, despite the tears that were welling up in her eyes.
Without saying another word, she left the office, closing the door behind her.
Maeve could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she hurried down the hallway, trying to get away from the scene as quickly as possible.
As Maeve got to the company lobby, she decided to sit down there for a while as she allowed her mind to race.
Maeve couldn't understand why she had been turned away from the job because of her age, and she was feeling more and more upset by the minute.
Just then, she felt a cold breeze on the back of her neck. It was as if someone had just walked over her grave.
Maeve shivered, and glanced around her, but there was no one there.
As Maeve tried to make sense of the strange, cold feeling she had, she decided to focus on what she could control - herself.
Maeve was thinking of another job idea, but the rejection from earlier was like a heavy weight pressing down on her, and she couldn't seem to shake it off.
After some time spent crying and trying to come to terms with her situation, Maeve decided she couldn't stay at the company building any longer.
The thought of spending another minute here made her feel trapped and suffocated.
It was too much to bear.
Maeve wiped away her tears, steeling herself for the difficult task ahead because she had to figure out what to do next.
So, with a heavy heart, she made the decision to leave.
As Maeve rose from her seat, ready to rush to the exit, she was jolted out of her thoughts by the sudden collision with a man who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
Maeve stumbled to the cold ground, her heart pounding in her chest, as she took in the man's appearance.
He was tall, with dark hair and intense blue eyes.
As Maeve stared into the man's eyes she felt drawn to him in a way she couldn't explain.
As she continued to gaze into the man's eyes, her expression shifted from bewilderment to anger.
He had bumped into her without apologizing, and that was not something she would tolerate.
Maeve knew she should be polite, but the rudeness of the encounter had left her feeling indignant.
"Watch it would you!" she snapped, her voice filled with indignation.
Her eyes were shooting daggers at him, her gaze full of fury.
If eyes could kill, the young man would have burned to ashes.
The young man seemed taken aback by her sudden outburst, but Maeve didn't care.
She was furious, and she wasn't going to let him get away with such a rude gesture.
Davien's lips twitched into a smirk, before he could stop them.
"Cute." He mumbled.
He had not intended to speak, and yet the words had slipped out before he could stop them.
It was as if his mouth had a mind of its own, working against his best intentions. Davien was left staring at the young woman, wondering how he could explain his strange behavior.
"What did you just say?" Maeve demanded, her eyes blazing. "What the hell is wrong with you?" She asked, clenching her fist.
Davien couldn't believe what he was hearing.
He had never expected Davien to be so brazen and confrontational.
He had thought she would be meek and apologetic, but instead she was challenging him directly.
The question hung in the air, daring him to answer.
Davien found himself at a loss for words, completely taken aback by her audacity.
As Davien continued to stare at the young woman, his mouth agape, as he spoke again, his words cutting through the silence like a knife.
"Do you want to fight me?" Davien asked, his tone challenging and unyielding as he arched his brows.
The next statement that came out of Maeve's mouth literally caught Davien off guard.