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Chapter 1
Penelope
Stop fidgeting, Pen. You can do this,I tell myself for probably the fifteenth time since I was shown into this office, clasping my hands tightly together in my lap to keep from wringing them nervously. The anxiety tries to make its way out through the bouncing of my leg instead, and I put a hand on my knee, shooting a firm look to my own body.
I take a deep breath, letting the scents of dark wood and cleaning polish settle in my lungs, trying to use it to ground myself. Yes, this is a big deal, but it’s never going to work out in my favor if I come off like a nervous wreck during this interview.
Before I have time to think too much more about it, the door to the office opens and a tall, beautiful woman comes walking in. Her heels click on the polished floor with every step she takes, and she walks with an air of confidence that I definitely envy right about now.
She barely glances at me as she comes around to sit behind the desk, flipping her long, dark hair out of her face and over one shoulder. Sharp grey eyes flick over the papers in front of her, one of which I can only assume is my resume, and then finally she looks up at me.
“Ms. Dalton?” she asks.
I nod quickly. “Yes. Penelope. Penelope Dalton.”
“Right,” she drawls. “I’m Sienna Livingston, and I’ll be conducting your interview this morning.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Livingston.” I have to fight with my Southern upbringing to not get up and try to shake her hand, instead clenching my fingers together in my lap where she won’t be able to see it. This definitely doesn’t seem like the kind of office where that kind of thing goes over well. And even if it was, Sienna has a sort of ‘untouchable’ vibe about her, and I don’t want to make things awkward before we’ve even gotten started yet.
She just makes a noncommittal noise and pins me with her stare. “I’m sure you already know the basics of our company and what it does, but I’ll give you the rundown just in case you didn’t do your homework. Vantage Digital Systems is a comprehensive tech conglomerate, offering our clients an all in one solution to any of their technological needs. We handle tech, cybersecurity, and digital transformation, and we employ only the best.”
Her gaze turns even sharper as she finishes speaking, like she’s waiting for something.
So I nod again.
“Yes, I researched the company extensively before I applied,” I tell her. “It’s very impressive how three businesses came together to make such a strong company.”
“It is impressive,” Sienna agrees. “Even more so are the three owners of Vantage. It wouldn’t be overstating things to call them three of the most influential men in the city. You’ll understand why we can’t hire just anyone for a position here.”
“Sure, that makes sense. I can understand you wanting to make sure you only hire people who align with the company’s mission.”
Sienna smirks, raking her eyes over my resume again. “Exactly. Which is why I am confused at what I see sitting in front of me. Did you read the job description?”
“Yes?”
“Hm. We asked for at least three years of office experience.”
“Yes,” I say again. “And if you see on my resume, I worked in a few offices from the time I was in high school until a year or so ago.”
“Sporadically. Nothing for longer than a year, from what I’m seeing, and I don’t even recognize the names of most of these companies.”
“Office work is office work though, isn’t it? I know how to file and make copies and handle data entry. I worked for a smaller tech firm a couple of years ago, so I’m familiar with the day to day of how a tech firm works.”
Her lip curls a little. “Ms. Dalton, I can assure you that no other tech firm will have prepared you for what it’s like to work here. It’s not even on the same level at all, so you might as well throw that out the window now.”
“Okay,” I murmur, trying not to bow my head in shame. I can’t tell if Sienna is just passionate about this company and everything it does, or if she genuinely doesn’t like me. I’ve been in her office for less than ten minutes, and already she seems determined to humiliate me.
“I see here you owned your own business for a time,” she says, continuing on.
I nod, swallowing back the pain that thinking about that still causes me. “Yes. Unfortunately, it wasn’t viable at the time, but I did learn some valuable lessons in the process, so I think the experience is still relevant.”
“It might be,” Sienna agrees. “Vantage could use someone with an enterprising spirit. It all depends on why thebusiness failed, though. Was it from lack of leadership? Poor organization?”
“No, nothing like that. If you want the truth?—”
“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t,” Sienna replies shortly. She makes a note on the notepad in front of her.
“Right. It was more a lack of… funding.” And admitting that hurts. The bakery was my dream for such a long time, and seeing it crumble while knowing there was nothing I could do to stop it was a unique kind of torture. I don’t get into the particulars with Sienna. She’s just going to draw her own conclusions anyway, I’m sure.