Chapter Five

Joyce's POV

“Coming!” I answered when the doorbell rang. I hurried to open it, expecting to see the babysitter, instead, it was the mailman with a few letters in his hands.   

“Good morning, Ms. Joyce,” He greeted as he handed the mail to me.

“Thank you,” I replied with a wide smile and took the letters. “Have a lovely day!”

“Same to you ma’am.” He responded and sped off on his bike.  

I sighed and stepped back into my modest apartment at La Latina. Inside, Rafael, my two-year-old kid was in the living room, surrounded by toys and making a mess like he usually does. 

“Mama, look!” He held up a stuffed dinosaur in the air. 

I laughed happily and set the mail on the counter. It’s been two years. Two whole years after my tragic break up with Gabriel and my unexpected pregnancy. At first, I was in denial and wanted nothing more than to have an abortion. I wasn’t ready to raise a child then especially when I didn't know the father but with the doctor’s persistent pleas, I was convinced and now, I could say this was the best decision of my life. 

“You’re such a strong boy,” I knelt at his level and gave him a warm hug.   

He giggled and ran around the living room pretending to be a dinosaur. Watching him play felt so fulfilling and a warm feeling coursed through me. Despite everything, Rafael was my light and I swore that I would give him the best that this world had to offer. 

“Rafael, the babysitter will be here any time soon. Mama has to go to an important interview today.” I called him over and ruffled his long hair. “Also, I really think you need a new haircut today.”

“I don’t need a haircut.” He pouted his lips 

“If you get a haircut, I'll buy you your favorite chocolate.” I offered and his eyes lit up. 

“Really?”

“Yes, only if you get a haircut.”

“Alright mama, I will.”

“Good boy, now play with your toy, I have to get ready.” 

I kissed his forehead and quickly went to my room to shower and change. After a quick shower, I chose a navy blue suit that was both stylish and appropriate for the interview. I mean, you have to look your sharpest when you’re having an interview with one of the biggest companies in Spain. 

I quickly dressed up and fixed my hair in the mirror. Satisfied with my appearance, I walked towards the living room and I heard the doorbell again. This time, it was the babysitter. 

“Hi, Joyce!”  Christie greeted me cheerfully. 

“Hi, thank you so much for coming on such short notice,” I said, letting her in. 

“It’s no trouble, at all.  Hi, Rafael!” she called, waving to my son who responded with an excited “Hi”.

“Rafael, be good for Christie alright? No funny business. Mama will be back soon,” I kissed him lovingly on his forehead. 

“I’ll be good mama.” He promised 

After ensuring my son was settled, I grabbed my bag and headed out the door. Hailing a cab, I called out the address of the famous Santoria Industries.  

As we drove, I could not stop thinking about the interview. I was vying for the position of personal assistant to the CEO of Santoria Industries which was one of the most prestigious jobs I could ever hope for.  Even though little is known about the identity of the CEO, I wasn’t really concerned about that. My only focus was getting this job and providing a stable future for my son.

The taxi slowed down as we approached the Santoria Industries’ massive building.  It was a modern construct of massive proportions that towered above the rest of the city’s skyline. 

“Breathe, Joyce. You got this.” I took a deep breath to calm my frayed nerves.  This was a chance to turn things around, I wasn't going to fumble it.

“Thank you so much,” I said to the driver and handed him the fare before stepping out of the car. 

Straightening my posture and adjusting my blazer, I walked into the building. I was awestruck by the grandeur of Santoria Industries. The interior was just as impressive as I could have hoped. 

I gulped and timidly approached the reception desk where a woman greeted me with a friendly smile.

“Good morning. How can I help you today?” 

“Good morning,” I replied.  “I’m here for an interview for the position of personal assistant to the CEO.”

“Of course, what’s your name?”

“Joyce Sanchez.”

“Welcome Ms Sanchez. If you could please sign in here and take a seat, someone will be with you shortly.”

I nodded and signed the register. Taking a seat in the waiting area, my eyes kept wandering around the lobby and admiring the sheer opulence of the place. 

Everything screamed class and sophistication which made me feel more self-conscious and out of place.

After a few minutes, a young woman in a smart suit approached me. 

“Ms. Joyce? Please follow me.”

I nodded and followed her through the corridors. We eventually arrived at a smaller area outside a conference room. 

“You can wait here. The interview panel will be with you shortly.”

“Thank you,” I sat down and smoothed my skirt. To kill time, I went over my resume and practiced answers to potential questions in my head. I did not want to miss a single detail as nothing but perfection would be accepted by me. 

After another short wait, a different woman came out of the conference room and addressed me. 

“Ms. Joyce, we’re ready for you.”

I stood up and clutched my portfolio, offering a silent prayer to God, and walked into the conference room.  Inside, three people sat behind a long table. They sized me up and introduced themselves.

The interview began with the usual questions about my background,  previous work experience why I was interested in the position, what I could offer the company, and why I was a good fit. I answered those fairly well, and then we moved to questions about my strengths, my weaknesses, and how I handled difficult situations.

I answered each question as confidently as I could. I was somewhat sure I did well because they were impressed by the confidence in my tone. After what felt like an eternity, the interviewers nodded in satisfaction. 

“Thank you, Ms. Joyce, we’re impressed with your qualifications one of the interviewers stated. The final step of the interview process is meeting with the CEO. If you could please wait for a moment, I'll escort you to his office.”

My heart pounded against my ribs. This was it. I was about to meet the mysterious CEO of Santoria Industries. I had managed to impress the interviewers, if I could just impress the CEO then this job was mine.  

One of the interviewers led me through the hallway until we reached a set of imposing double doors. She knocked lightly and almost immediately, a deep voice from within responded.

“Come in!” The voice boomed and I furrowed my brows. Something about this voice felt familiar to me. I couldn't place my finger on it but I could swear that I'd heard that voice somewhere before.

The door swung open and we both entered the tastefully furnished office. Seated behind the massive mahogany desk in a high-backed leather chair, was the mysterious CEO. 

“I’ve brought the chosen candidate for the job, sir.” The interviewer said with a slight bow.

“Leave us.” He waved his hand and focused his gaze on me. 

“Good morning sir,” I took a few steps forward and got a good look at his face.

 “No way?!”  My heart stopped for a split second and my breath seized for a moment. 

It was him.