Chapter 5 Interview (1)

Lilith raised her head to take in the sight of Carter Corporation's towering building, the sun beamed down on her face. Immediately, she winced and closed her eyes, the bright light only reminding her why she preferred the night.

"That's why I like the night better," she muttered to herself, lips curving slightly in amusement. "Darkness is my soulmate."

She stood there for a moment, basking in the shade cast by the building, and remembered something. "After this interview, I still need to get something important... my buddy," she thought with a playful smirk.

Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and confidently strode into the building. The moment she stepped inside, the cool air of the lobby greeted her. Her eyes wandered over the luxurious interior—shiny marble floors, sleek modern furniture, and high glass ceilings that made everything seem grand and spacious. The soft hum of quiet conversations and the click of polished shoes echoed through the vast space.

Her sharp eyes caught every detail as she made her way toward the reception desk. The receptionist, a young woman with a neat smile, looked up as Lilith approached.

"Lilith Parker, I have an interview at ten," she said, looking at the receptionist lady. The woman nodded and gestured toward a door on the right side of the lobby.

"Just through there," the receptionist replied, her voice polite but slightly distracted as she typed away at her computer.

Lilith stepped through the door, entering a spacious waiting room with sleek glass walls.

Inside, several women were seated, waiting for their turns to be interviewed. The atmosphere was tense; everyone was dressed impeccably, and the air buzzed with nervous energy.

It was already 9:51 AM. Lilith noticed the way some of the women glanced at her, their eyes flickering with curiosity. A few whispered to each other, clearly sizing her up.

Choosing a seat in the corner, she tucked her black leather bag beside her and took a moment to observe her surroundings. The room was modern and bright, with natural light streaming in through the large windows. On the walls hung framed accolades and motivational posters.

Lilith leaned back slightly in her chair, adjusting her professional outfit.

As the minutes ticked by, she could feel the anticipation building in the room. Other women fidgeted with their resumes, biting their nails, or whispering last-minute rehearsals to one another. Lilith, however, remained calm. She focused on the upcoming interview, mentally reviewing her qualifications and the research she had done about Carter Corporation.

The first candidate was called into the interview room.

Lilith watched the door intrested.

One by one, the other candidates were called, each returning with varying expressions—some looking relieved, others anxious.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, it was Lilith's turn. The door opened, and a woman in a sharp suit stepped in, scanning the room. "Ms. Parker?" she called, her voice authoritative yet warm.

Lilith stood walking confidently toward the woman. "Yes, that's me."

"Please follow me," the woman said, gesturing for Lilith to step into the hallway. As Lilith walked through the door.

The woman led her down the hall to a conference room, where two HR representatives sat, both dressed in sharp suits. As Lilith entered, she immediately sensed the tension in the room—their faces were drawn, and they exchanged tired glances. It was clear they had been at this for a while.

"Miss Parker, right? Have a seat," the man on the left said, his voice clipped. He looked at her with mild disinterest, but there was something annoyed in his tone, like he was already impatient.

Lilith raised her brows but said nothing. She gracefully sat down in the chair opposite them, her posture perfect and composed. She couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement, a thrill she hadn't expected. This was all so new to her—an experience she hadn't had in her previous life. The stakes, the formality, the anticipation of proving herself in front of complete strangers—it was oddly exhilarating.

The other representative, a woman with neatly tied-back hair, shuffled some papers in front of her and glanced at Lilith. "Alright, Miss Parker. Let's begin. We'll ask you a few questions to assess your fit for the role of CEO's secretary."

Lilith smiled faintly, leaning slightly forward. She felt a fire sparking inside her, ready for the challenge. The game had begun, and she was more than ready to play.

The HR representative, a woman with sharp features, began flipping through Lilith's resume as she adjusted her glasses. Her eyes quickly scanned the papers, stopping briefly at a few places before looking up at Lilith.

"Miss Parker," she began, "you have a degree in Business Administration, recently graduated, but it says here you worked extensively while studying?"

Lilith nodded, her expression calm but assertive. "Yes, I worked multiple part-time jobs, mostly in freelance project management and administrative assistance. I specialized in handling multiple clients at once, organizing schedules, managing files, and coordinating between teams."

The man sitting beside the woman looked finally intrested, though still cautious. "Freelance work can be quite chaotic. How do you handle pressure in fast-paced environments?"

Lilith's smile widened slightly, as if she was about to reveal a secret. "Pressure is the one constant in life. I see it as an opportunity to prioritize, focus, and execute. Chaos doesn't unsettle me—it drives me. For instance, during one of my freelance projects, I had to manage three different teams across two time zones for a marketing campaign launch. It was a mess at first, but I organized their workflow, broke down their tasks into manageable chunks, and we ended up launching ahead of schedule."

The woman raised her brows, clearly impressed but maintaining her professional composure. "And how do you deal with difficult personalities? Especially in a high-stress corporate environment like Carter Corporation, you'll be working directly with a demanding CEO."

Lilith leaned back slightly, her icy blue eyes gleaming with confidence. "Difficult personalities are often misunderstood. Most people respond to situations rather than create them. I don't react—I respond. With the CEO, for example, I'd focus on learning his patterns, his needs, and his frustrations. Anticipating issues before they arise is key. It's not about handling difficulties as they come but preventing them from happening altogether."

The man finally cracked a small smile. "You sound as though you've been doing this for years."

She smirked lightly. "Experience doesn't always come with age. I've learned quickly because I'm adaptable. Whether it's leading a team, scheduling meetings, or making on-the-spot decisions, I trust my instincts and know when to listen."