Chapter 1 - Unexpected Encounter

"You've got this, Momma, because you rock," Little Angelina said, her dinky voice echoing in the small room, causing Carissa to turn away from the mirror.

"Oh, sweetheart. My darling daughter." Carissa pouted as she walked to the bed Angelina was sitting on busy with her building blocks. "My daughter, you're so loving." 

"Aww, thank you, Mom!" Angelina squealed in delight as she arose. She leaped and placed a kiss on Carissa's cheek, causing her to giggle.

"I promise you, my dear, I'm going to do whatever it takes to give you a better life." Carissa sealed the promise with a kiss on her daughter's little fingers.

"I believe in you, Mom. You don't need to convince me." Angelina winked at her and Carissa laughed softly.

She thought of someone at that moment and got suddenly emotional. She opened her mouth to speak but couldn't.

"Are you okay, Mom?" Angelina stared at her, concerned filled in her glittering blue eyes.

Carissa nodded and forced a smile. There was a knock on the door that grabbed their attention.

"Come have breakfast, you both!" Joyce, Carissa's mother's voice, called out from outside the room. 

"Go to the table now so you can have some of your granny's chocolate cookies," Carissa urged her and watched in delight as her little angel got down from the bed and disappeared.

"What a chronic cookie lover," Carissa mouthed before returning to her dressing table. She got ready and was about to leave but stopped when her eyes caught a scrunchie lying on the floor by the bed.

She picked it, her smile wearing off.

She felt a strange urge and quickly used it to tie up her hair. With a final glance at the mirror, she could tell it made her look a bit off but she couldn't care less because of the memory surrounding the scrunchie which had swept her mind.

"You got this, Carissa," she assured herself before leaving the room.

"This is the seventh time you're going for an interview for a white-collar job, I hope you don't return with regrets like you always don't," Joyce mumbled to Carissa's hearing.

Carissa, sitting across from her mother, simply cast a glance at her before shifting her gaze to her father, Lennon who signaled to her to let it slide.

Angelina kept eating peacefully and Carissa was happy about that. Deep down, she was more worried than her mother. It is nearly impossible to land a white-collar job in L.A, being an undergraduate.

For the past years, she's been shouldering her family's responsibilities and managing to take care of everyone's needs with the meager earnings she gets from her part-time work.

'I can't keep on working part-time for peanuts. I will grab this chance again because my daughter's life depends on it,' she thought as she stared at Angelina who smiled at her.

"You're an undergraduate, Carissa and you might just end up risking your self-worth again by getting embarrassed and rejected for the job position," Joyce said, deliberately trying to have her reconsider.

Carissa shook her head promptly and they went on eating in silence.

Carissa's heart raced as she stood before her mother, seeking her blessings despite the evident disapproval in her eyes. "I know it's unconventional, Mom, but I need to take this chance," Carissa pleaded.

 Joyce sighed, her brows furrowed, "I wish you would reconsider, Carissa. It's risky."

"I've thought about it a lot, and I believe in myself. I need your support," Carissa said, searching for a hint of approval. 

After a pause, her mother reluctantly nodded, "Fine, just be careful."

Carissa hugged her mother and then sought out her father, who offered a more optimistic response. "Go for it, sweetheart. We believe in you," he said, giving her a reassuring pat on the back.

Before leaving, Carissa approached her daughter who looked up with innocent eyes. "Mommy, where are you going?" Angelina asked. They all laughed over her question. She had been so excited and supportive earlier without knowing what was going to happen.

Carissa knelt down, embracing her daughter, "I have an important opportunity, Angelina. I will make you proud, okay?" Angelina smiled, nodding, "I love you, Mommy."

With mixed emotions, Carissa left home, arriving at the imposing M.I. (Mallory International) Company building. As she stared at the towering structure, self-doubt crept in. She remembered the call and the uncertainty that surrounded it. 

"I can do this," she whispered to herself, taking a deep breath and entering the building.

 The receptionist directed her to the interview room, where she faced a panel of stern-faced executives. The questions were tough, but Carissa answered with determination, showcasing her potential despite lacking formal qualifications. 

"Alright. You seem to have got good potential but not credentials and experience which is discouraging," one of the executives said. "You fall under the least number of people who are going to get this job, but you can still go ahead to meet the CEO if you've still got some confidence left."

"Thank you." Carissa managed to smile and rose.

As she left the room, she couldn't shake the feeling that the odds were stacked against her.

 The elevator journey was a silent struggle. Carissa battled her nerves, trying to focus on the present moment. The strange feeling lingered, making the day feel more significant than she could comprehend. She shook her head, attempting to dispel the unease.

 As the elevator doors opened on the 25th floor, Carissa straightened her posture, ready to confront whatever awaited her. The day felt extraordinary for reasons she couldn't pinpoint, and she fought to maintain her composure. 

 She walked down the sleek hallways of the 25th floor, following the directions to the CEO's office. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door, nerves bubbling beneath her composed exterior. When the door swung open, she found a man with his back turned, gazing out through the glass wall.

"Good morning, sir," Carissa stammered, her voice betraying a hint of unease. The man gave no immediate response, intensifying her discomfort. As he slowly turned to face her, her greeting got stuck in her throat.

"David?" she uttered in disbelief. The man standing before her was her long-lost lover, someone she had wondered about for years. He appeared different—more polished and distant. His face, once warm and familiar, now wore a stoic expression.

He took a seat without acknowledging her, as if indifferent to her presence. Carissa's lips parted, and her eyes widened in shock. She stood frozen for a moment, trying to process the unexpected encounter.

"State your purpose or leave," he grumbled, his gaze fixed on her. The warmth they once shared seemed replaced by an icy demeanor. Carissa hesitated, caught off guard by his abruptness.

 "It's me, Carissa," she finally managed to say, her voice trembling. He raised an eyebrow, unresponsive. The air thickened with tension as she mustered the courage to continue, "I'm here for the job interview. I didn't realize you were the CEO."

David's expression remained impassive, and his next words caught her by surprise. "I don't know odd-looking people like you. Proceed with what you came here for or get out." He gestured towards the door before adjusting his tie with an air of indifference.

 Despite the demeaning remark, Carissa slowly sat down and began stating her purpose. David paid minimal attention, only requesting her CV when she finished speaking. As he went through her documents, she struggled to maintain eye contact, overwhelmed with guilt from their past. Memories of their tumultuous history resurfaced, and she swallowed hard.

 David's scrutiny intensified, making Carissa uneasy. She had hoped for a chance to explain and reconcile, but it seemed futile. It became evident that her chances of securing the job were diminishing with each passing second.

 As he continued reviewing her documents, Carissa wrestled with her decision. 

He tossed her documents back to her and asked bluntly, "Why should I consider you for this job?"

"I am certain to give my all and work diligently. It's my first time doing such a job, and I really need this job because my responsibilities are—" Carissa began, but he cut her off coldly, "I don't care about your personal issues. You can wait outside or leave."

 Perplexed, Carissa stared at him until their eyes met. The door opened abruptly, and a man entered the office. Sensing the shift, she quickly packed her things and left.

 Outside the office, confusion clouded her thoughts. David's strange actions and attitude left her surprised and disheartened. The rejection stung, but she couldn't comprehend the dismissive behavior, especially from someone with whom she shared a significant past. As she walked away from the 25th floor, questions lingered, and Carissa couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to David's demeanor than met the eye.

Where had he been all these years after his strange disappearance?

Was there something she didn't know?

A lot of questions swirled in her head and she couldn't get answers which intensified her worries.

"But one thing is certain," she mumbled to herself as she turned back to stare at the office. "I'm not getting this job."