Steam filled the small bathroom as Samantha Bartholomew sang at the top of her lungs, completely lost in her own world.
"đ¶ I don't need nobodyâ"
"Samantha!" her father's voice cut through the door. "Aren't you forgetting something?!"
Her eyes flew open.
"The interview!"
Water splashed everywhere as she rushed out minutes later, half-dressed and panicking.
"You didn't remind me earlier!" she accused, pointing at her father.
He raised a brow. "I've been shouting your name for ten minutes."
She grabbed her bag. "I'll eat later!"
"You said that yesterday too!"
But she was already gone.
The street buzzed with morning life. Samantha stopped briefly at a small café, grabbed a cup of coffee, and dashed toward the road.
That's when it happened.
A sharp screech.
A car stopped inches from her.
"What is wrong with you?!" she snapped, heart pounding.
The driver stepped out quickly. "Miss, I'm so sorryâ"
"Sorry?" she scoffed. "You could've killed me!"
He pulled out a check, signing it swiftly. "Please, take thisâ"
"I don't want your money," she cut in. "Call your boss. I want an apology from whoever thinks they own the road."
There was a pause.
Then the back door opened.
A man stepped out.
Tall. Imposing. Cold.
His gaze landed on her like a warning.
"I'm Jaden Quinn," he said calmly.
"And?" Samantha folded her arms. "Does that make you above apologizing?"
The air shifted.
The driver went pale.
Jaden's eyes darkened slightly. "You have quite the attitude."
"And you have quite the ego."
Silence.
Dangerous silence.
Then he turned away. "Let's go."
Samantha scoffed loudly. "Unbelievable."
Minutes later, she walked into Quinn Group for her interviewâ
âand froze.
Jaden Quinn sat at the head of the room.
Her interviewer.
Her stomach dropped.
Recognition flickered in his eyes⊠followed by something colder.
"You," he said.
She straightened. "Me."
The room felt suffocating.
Jaden leaned back slightly. "Miss Bartholomew, was it?"
"Yes."
A file rested in his hand.
"I've reviewed your background."
Her heart skipped.
"Impressive," he continued, voice flat. "But unfortunately, not enough to make up for your behavior this morning."
Her jaw tightened.
"I'll give you one condition," he added. "Go viral. Publicly apologize for humiliating me."
The room went silent.
Samantha blinked.
Then laughed.
"You must be joking."
"I don't joke."
She stepped forward, eyes blazing. "Then you can keep your job."
Gasps echoed.
"You're arrogant, controlling, and honestly?" she added, turning toward the door, "not worth working for."
And just like thatâ
She walked out.
Later that evening, she dropped onto the couch.
"I insulted him," she told her father casually.
"The CEO?" he asked.
"Yes."
"And you're smiling?"
She shrugged. "He deserved it."
Her father just shook his head, a soft smile on his face.
"My daughterâŠ"
That night, her phone buzzed.
An email.
Swanzy Enterprise.
Her eyes widened.
We are pleased to invite you for an interviewâŠ
Same position.
Her lips slowly curved.
"Well," she murmured, "this just got interesting."