Elena stepped out of the interview room, her smile warm and genuine, the kind that only comes when you feel like you've given your all. She paused briefly to thank the receptionist at the interview floor, her voice soft but confident.
"Thank you so much for your help," she said with a polite nod.
The receptionist returned a kind smile, and Elena made her way toward the elevator, her heart still fluttering slightly but with a hopeful beat. She pressed the button and waited, tapping her foot lightly.
When the doors slid open, she stepped in and leaned back against the wall. Her thoughts replayed the moments inside the interview room—the questions, the answers, the glances. She felt… good. Maybe even lucky.
The elevator chimed softly as it reached the ground floor, and the doors parted. Elena moved forward, her mind elsewhere, but then she froze.
There, just a few feet ahead, stood the man she had bumped into earlier that morning. Only this time, he was transformed. Gone was the casual jogging attire, replaced by a sharply tailored navy suit that hugged his tall frame perfectly. His white shirt was crisp, the collar slightly open, and a slim tie completed the picture. He was flanked by two other men, also in suits, who were chatting quietly as they exited a large boardroom.
Their eyes met in that brief, electric moment when Elena rounded the corner toward the elevator exit.
For a heartbeat, Elena's breath caught. Her mind spun in confusion. Was it really him? The same man from the street? The one whose coffee she had spilled?
Her mouth opened involuntarily in a silent gasp, as if the shock had rooted her in place.
He looked at her with calm, unreadable eyes — firm, yet distant, as if seeing her but not quite processing the coincidence.
The group walked past her with purposeful strides, their shoes tapping confidently on the polished marble floor.
Elena's mind raced. *Could it be? Was this just some cruel joke of fate? Or maybe she had imagined the whole encounter because she was in such a hurry this morning.*
Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag. The walls of the corporate building suddenly felt cold and too vast.
Then, as quickly as the moment came, Elena shook her head, as if waking from a daydream.
*Why are you even thinking about this?* she chided herself silently. *You barely know the man. You ran into him on the street—nothing more. They're strangers. That's it.*
Her breath deepened and steadied. She gave herself a small, reassuring shrug, trying to dispel the unexpected flutter in her chest.
With one last glance in his direction—he was already out of sight—Elena turned her steps toward the exit.
The cool morning air greeted her like a balm. She pulled out her phone and dialed Aiden's number, fingers trembling just a little from a mix of nerves and excitement.
The phone rang several times. Twenty seconds. Twenty-one. Twenty-two.
"Hey babes!" Aiden's familiar voice burst through the line, warm and teasing.
Elena smiled, her worries melting for a moment. "Hey! How're you?"
"I'm good. You? How did it go?"
Elena took a breath, her voice laced with a quiet confidence. "I think it went well. I answered everything smoothly, Aiden. I felt like I was in control. I'm hopeful, you know?"
Aiden chuckled softly on the other end. "That's my girl. I knew you'd nail it. You always do."
She closed her eyes and let herself savor the moment.
"Thanks for believing in me," she whispered.
"Always," Aiden replied. "Now, let me know the moment they call. We're celebrating, okay?"
Elena laughed softly, the sound light and free. "Deal. I really need this, Aiden. For me and for Mum."
"I know, Elena. And I'm here for you—every step of the way."
Their voices lingered in the quiet as the city around her moved on, but for Elena, time slowed, filled with the hope of new beginnings.