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The moment Ethan stepped through the door—
He felt it.
The air changed.
It was subtle, almost imperceptible at first, but it pressed against his senses like an invisible weight. The noise from the waiting room faded behind him, replaced by a heavy silence that made every small movement feel louder than it should.
The assistant walked ahead, his steps measured, professional.
"This way, Mr. Vale."
Ethan nodded, though the man wasn't looking at him.
His palms felt slightly damp.
His heartbeat—louder than usual.
He flexed his fingers once, then twice, grounding himself as he followed.
You've handled worse, he told himself.
You've faced worse.
This is just an interview.
Just an interview.
But the thought didn't quite settle his nerves.
Because deep down—
He knew this wasn't just anything.
This was his only shot.
.....
The assistant stopped in front of a large door.
Dark wood. Polished. Imposing.
Ethan's gaze lingered on it for a fraction of a second.
"This is Mr. Calloway's office," the assistant said, his tone neutral. "Go ahead."
Ethan inhaled slowly.
"…Thank you."
Then he reached out.
And knocked.
"Come in."
The voice from the other side was calm.
Low.
Controlled.
Ethan pushed the door open.
The office was exactly what he expected—
And somehow, still more.
Spacious. Minimalistic. Everything in its place.
A wide desk sat near the center, sleek and untouched by clutter. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched behind it, revealing the vast city below, bathed in daylight. The view alone felt powerful.
Commanding.
But it wasn't the room that held Ethan's attention.
It was the man behind the desk.
Sean Calloway.
Even seated, his presence was overwhelming.
Sharp features. Dark hair styled neatly, a few strands falling just slightly out of place in a way that felt intentional rather than careless. His posture was relaxed, but there was nothing casual about him.
Everything about him was precise.
Calculated.
His eyes lifted.
And met Ethan's.
Just like that—
The world narrowed.
Ethan felt it immediately.
That gaze.
It wasn't just looking at him.
It was assessing him.
Weighing him.
Measuring every detail without a single word.
Ethan straightened slightly.
"…Good morning, sir."
His voice was steady.
More than he expected it to be.
Sean didn't respond immediately.
He simply watched.
Then—
"Sit."
The single word was enough.
Ethan moved, stepping forward and taking the seat across from the desk.
Careful.
Composed.
Or at least—
Trying to be.
For a moment, silence stretched between them.
Sean leaned back slightly in his chair, one hand resting lightly against the armrest as his gaze lingered on Ethan.
Unblinking.
Unreadable.
"You're late," Sean said suddenly.
Ethan blinked.
"…I—"
"Three minutes."
His tone wasn't harsh.
It was worse.
It was neutral.
Like stating a fact.
Ethan swallowed.
"My apologies. The elevator—"
"I didn't ask for an explanation."
The words cut him off cleanly.
Ethan's jaw tightened slightly.
"…Understood."
A pause.
Then—
"Your resume."
Ethan immediately reached into his bag, pulling out the neatly prepared document and placing it on the desk.
Sean took it without a word.
And began to read.
.....
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Ethan sat still, resisting the urge to shift under that quiet scrutiny.
Sean's eyes moved across the page slowly.
Carefully.
Taking everything in.
Every detail.
Every gap.
Every weakness.
Ethan could feel it.
That weight.
That judgment.
His fingers curled slightly against his knee, but he kept his posture straight.
Don't fidget.
Don't show weakness.
Just breathe.
Finally—
Sean spoke.
"You don't have experience."
It wasn't a question.
Ethan met his gaze.
"No, sir."
"Your previous jobs are unrelated to this position."
"Yes."
"And yet you applied."
Ethan nodded.
"I did."
Another pause.
Sean tilted his head slightly, studying him.
"Why?"
The question hung in the air.
Simple.
Direct.
But loaded.
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
Because the truth—
Was complicated.
"I need the job," he said finally.
Sean's expression didn't change.
"That's not an answer."
Ethan inhaled slowly.
Then tried again.
"I need the job," he repeated, more firmly this time. "But I also believe I can learn what's required."
Sean's gaze sharpened just slightly.
"Belief isn't skill."
"No," Ethan agreed. "But it's a start."
Silence.
A long one.
Sean tapped the edge of the resume lightly against the desk.
Once.
Twice.
"You're confident," he said.
Ethan shook his head slightly.
"No."
That answer seemed to catch Sean's attention more than anything else so far.
"…No?"
"I'm not confident," Ethan clarified. "But I don't have the option not to try."
Something flickered in Sean's eyes.
Gone just as quickly as it appeared.
"Strengths and weaknesses."
The shift in topic was abrupt.
But expected.
Ethan straightened slightly.
"My strength," he began, "is that I don't give up easily."
Sean didn't react.
"And my weakness…"
Ethan hesitated.
Just for a moment.
"…is that I don't know when to stop."
Sean's gaze remained steady.
"Explain."
Ethan exhaled quietly.
"I push myself past my limits," he said. "Even when I shouldn't."
"Why?"
Because I don't have a choice.
The answer echoed in his mind.
But he didn't say it.
"…Because I have to," he said instead.
Sean's eyes narrowed slightly.
"'Have to' is not a reason. It's an excuse."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"No," he said. "It's reality."
The room fell silent again.
The tension—
Sharper now.
More defined.
"Integrity or dignity?"
The question came out of nowhere.
Ethan blinked.
"…Integrity."
"Why?"
"Because dignity can be taken from you," Ethan replied without hesitation. "But integrity is something you choose to keep."
Sean leaned back slightly.
"Even if keeping it costs you everything?"
Ethan didn't look away.
"Yes."
Another pause.
This one felt different.
Heavier.
"Are you capable of handling pressure?"
Ethan almost laughed.
Almost.
"Yes."
"Everyone says that."
"I'm not everyone."
That earned him a look.
A real one this time.
"Then prove it."
Ethan held his gaze.
"I'm here."
Sean studied him for a long moment.
Then—
"Why should I hire you?"
The question landed like a final test.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
Because this—
This was the question.
"I don't have the best qualifications," he admitted. "I don't have experience in this field. And I'm not the most impressive candidate you'll see today."
Sean said nothing.
"But I'll work harder than anyone else you hire."
Still nothing.
"I'll learn faster. I'll adapt. And I won't walk away when things get difficult."
A beat.
"Because I can't afford to fail."
That last part slipped out before he could stop it.
Silence followed.
Sean's gaze didn't waver.
"…Can't afford to fail," he repeated quietly.
Ethan didn't explain.
Didn't elaborate.
He couldn't.
Then came the final question.
Sean leaned forward slightly, resting his elbow on the desk.
His eyes locked onto Ethan's.
Sharp.
Piercing.
"What makes you unique?"
The room seemed to still.
Ethan's breath caught.
Because this—
This wasn't a normal question.
Not really.
There was something behind it.
Something deeper.
And for a moment—
He didn't know how to answer.
His thoughts raced.
Skills?
Experience?
Determination?
None of it felt right.
None of it felt enough.
Sean didn't rush him.
He simply waited.
Watching.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
Then—
He spoke.
"…I don't have the luxury to be ordinary."
The words came out quiet.
But steady.
Sean's gaze sharpened.
Ethan continued.
"Most people can fail," he said. "They can make mistakes, take their time, figure things out."
His fingers curled slightly.
"I can't."
A pause.
"My life doesn't give me that option."
The room felt smaller.
Tighter.
"I don't get to stop," Ethan said, his voice lower now. "I don't get to give up. And I don't get to settle."
His eyes didn't leave Sean's.
"Because if I do—"
He stopped.
Just for a second.
Then finished—
"…someone else pays the price."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Sean didn't speak.
Didn't react.
But something in the air shifted.
Subtle.
Barely noticeable.
But there.
....
After a moment—
Sean leaned back.
The moment passed.
Just like that.
"Noted."
Just one word.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
He closed the file and handed it to his assistant without looking away from Ethan.
"You'll be informed of the result."
Formal.
Distant.
Like the conversation had meant nothing.
The assistant stepped forward.
"Thank you for your time, Mr. Vale," he said. "You may wait for the results via email."
Ethan nodded.
"…Thank you."
He stood.
Turned.
And walked toward the door.
Only when it closed behind him—
Did he finally breathe.
"…Damn."
His shoulders dropped slightly, tension leaving his body all at once.
That—
Was intense.
More than he expected.
More than he was prepared for.
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly as he tried to process everything that had just happened.
The questions.
The pressure.
That gaze.
"…What kind of man is that?" he muttered under his breath.
...
"Ethan!"
He looked up.
Clara stood just a few steps away, her expression bright with curiosity.
"Well?" she asked, walking over. "How was it?"
Ethan let out a quiet laugh.
"…Intense."
She winced slightly.
"That bad?"
"He's…" Ethan paused, searching for the right word. "…not easy to deal with."
Clara smiled.
"Sounds about right."
The assistant appeared at the door again.
"Clara Whitmore."
She straightened immediately.
"That's me."
Then she glanced back at Ethan.
"Hey," she said softly, "you did your best. That's what matters."
Ethan gave a small nod.
"…Good luck."
She grinned.
"Thanks. I'll need it."
Then she turned—
And walked in.
Ethan stood there for a moment longer.
Then turned.
And left.
....
The city felt different when he stepped outside.
Quieter.
Heavier.
Or maybe—
That was just him.
He walked without thinking, his mind replaying the interview over and over again.
Every word.
Every pause.
Every look.
"…Did I mess that up?" he murmured.
He didn't know.
And that uncertainty—
Was worse than failure.
By the time he reached the hospital—
The sun was already beginning to set.
Ethan pushed the door open quietly.
"…Mom?"
Her eyes opened at the sound of his voice.
"Ethan," she smiled softly. "You're here."
He returned the smile, walking over and sitting beside her.
"Yeah."
She studied him for a moment.
"…Something happened."
He let out a quiet breath.
"I had an interview today."
Her eyes lit up slightly.
"That's wonderful."
"…I don't know if I got it."
"That's okay," she said gently. "You tried."
Ethan looked at her.
Really looked.
And for a moment—
The weight lifted.
Just a little.
"…Yeah," he said softly. "I did."
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(End of Chapter 2)