Prologue

There are three things you should know about me.

One. My name is Aurora, Ro for short. You can call me Aurora.

Two. I've recently finished my degree, but I've been in the workforce since I was sixteen.

Three. I'm about to nail this job interview.

Waiting has never been my strong suit. It builds up unnecessary anticipation and makes you nervous.

My competition today consists of women dressed in pencil skirts and men in tailored suits, the common denominator being that they all sit straight. It's logical. The interview we're going for is a rare opportunity and one of us will be choLopez as the assistant of the CEO's secretary.

So, tell me, out of all these respected professionals, why I had to sit next to the only person in the room hunched over and frantically bouncing her knee.

I clasp my hands together atop of my knees and turn to her, placing a crisp smile on my lips, "Are you nervous?"

"Oh!", The woman gasps, she was in her head. She softly laughs, "Yes. Very."

I decide not to answer, only eye her up and down. She's dressed the part, her only downfalls being that her heels are slightly too small, a thread is loose on her skirt, and her hair is styled messily, but everything else is on par. Flicking my eyes back to her, I share another sly smile, "Why?"

She stares at me for a moment, disoriented by my judgement. Her eyes grow teary, "U-Uh-", she stutters.

"Don't be.", and with that, I turn away from where I started before.

An hour passes and we're all still waiting. No candidates have entered the interview room yet, and a few of us in the waiting room seem to be disheartened. Some slumping over and starting to chat.

I remain sitting straight. Any moment now.

Another hour passes and half have fully relaxed into their chairs, two people leave.

I remain straight. Any moment now, they will call my name.

Yet another hour passes and three more leave. Is this job not worth a measly three hour wait for them?

I blink and look up, readying myself to stretch, when instead I catch the eye of the assistant. Then it clicks. I'm a smart woman, I take pride in it, and yet this took me three hours to figure out. They're weeding out the ones that don't value the job enough to wait.

I, however, do value the job enough to wait.

I catch her hidden smile out of my peripheral vision as I straighten up again and stare at the wall.

Hours pass again and what once was eight A.M. becomes three P.M. More people leave and soon there are only four others in the room. One is slouched and talking to the person beside them, one sits as perfectly straight as I do, and one is still bouncing her leg.

The only movements I make are perfecting my hair, refreshing my makeup, and swallowing a mint, other than that I am still and waiting.

When there are only three left, I know that one of us is to leave.

I, along with the quiet woman across from me, have figured out that this is a test. I can see it in her eyes. They're calculating. Intelligent.

The third woman, the bouncer-girl, is still here surprisingly. Probably out of desperation. She is still nervous but has sat straighter.

She doesn't belong here.

I meet eyes with the other woman and know we are thinking the Evae thing.

Like she is made of dandelions, the woman gracefully rises and takes a seat beside bouncer-girl.

She places a hand on the bouncer-girl's wrist, "I can see that you're nervous. What's your name?", she asks. Her voice is laced with a foreign accent. I can see something in her other hand. A pill.

She has come prepared. My skin tingles.

"My name is Angela,", bouncer-girl replies, swiping a lock of her messy hair behind her ear.

"Like an angel?", The woman asks, lining up the pill for bouncer-girl's drink. I look away. I don't want to know what it is. My gut twists.

Bouncer-girl giggles, "Yea, I guess so."

"Well,", the mysterious woman starts, slyly dropping the pill in, "Maybe you should have a drink, it might help settle your nerves."

Angela smiles at the woman as she walks back to her seat.

She doesn't drink right away, she tries to make conversation, but the woman subtly shuts her down each time. She waits for her to drink.

I close my eyes.

I hear Angela pop the lip open and I clench my jaw to not say anything.

I will be a fantastic, highly Scottued employee. I will be the best they've ever had. I'm smart. I'm determined. I'm-

I sigh.

I'm not that awful.

Before Angela drinks, I tap her leg making her look to me. She's antsy around me, I make her uncomfortable.

I'm about to sabotage my win for nothing! I'm so close!

Quickly, I flick my eyes to her drink and then to the mysterious woman.

I'm so close to winning, to securing the best opportunity I've had in years, to start anew.

Angela catches what I'm trying to say and lowers her drink.

I'm always close. So close, and then my morality kicks in and stumbles me.

And just like that, Angela screws the lid back on and I'm still stuck in the game.

Another hour passes, it's four. Another, it's five. The receptionist sits perfectly and watches us. Waiting for the last person to leave.

It won't be me.

Angela keeps yawning and I close my eyes every time she starts. That's not professional. The mysterious woman has caught on that I protected Angela and now sits silent and seething.

Finally, I stand up and walk to the receptionist, like many had done before me. I play dumb, but I know the receptionist can't sit there all night.

"Hi, is anyone in with Mr. Bailey?"

The receptionist smiles at me, "I apologise for the wait. Hopefully he'll be just a moment.

Her comment is useless, but I hesitate. I squint at her. There's something about her eyes. Something in her smile that's telling me I'm so close to something, that I'm missing something by the hairs on my head-

Oh.

Oh of course. There is no Mr. Bailey.

She's Mr. Bailey.

I smirk.

"Hello Mr. Bailey.", I proudly state, trying to hide my smugness.

Ms. Bailey smirks.

"I'll see you here at eight tomorrow."