Episode 4

I pretend it's not with me. I turn my back and get into my car, holding back the urge to insult him. Only for my daughter's sake do I stay calm.

How does it affect him? Besides, it was only a few seconds. Good thing I didn't get the job at that company, because all the partners must be complete jerks... and I, frankly, am very explosive.

"What did that hottie say to you? I didn't see him well, I was distracted with Emma, I only heard something and then I saw his back," Trini asks, approaching from behind and shaking my shoulders insistently.

"That it wasn't a place to park," I reply, still annoyed.

"Haaaa, I can't believe it... It's just impossible for someone not to notice you. Tell me, how many do you have driving crazy after you? Can you imagine being the girlfriend of a partner or a rich guy?"

"Two," Emma says very seriously, raising two little fingers.

It's inevitable to laugh. She doesn't understand the conversation, but she wants to be part of it.

Trini also laughs and we continue our way to the mall.

"Why did my mom go to work today?" she asks suddenly.

"She told me they asked her to go," I reply.

"When? She told me today that we would pick you up to go out and celebrate your new position."

Then I understand everything. She never planned to work today. She lied to me, she went to talk so that they would offer me the position.

I call her immediately, but it goes to voicemail.

We go up to the second floor of the mall when we arrive. They order food, but I only order a melon smoothie. I'm not hungry.

After eating, they order dessert. Emma enjoys her ice cream and I watch her, with a tight heart. If something ever happened to her... I would die.

A hand waving in front of me pulls me out of my trance. It's Trini.

"Your cell phone, Vale! Valeee!"

I react and answer when I see it's my aunt.

"Valentina, they want you to come to an interview today. If you pass it, they will hire you," she says with an emotion that overflows in her voice.

She is so happy that I don't have the heart to tell her what I really feel. So I feign enthusiasm.

"Are you coming now?"

"Yes," she answers quickly.

"We're where we always are."

"Perfect," she tells me before hanging up.

Trini looks at me with a face that says: what happened?

"Your mom managed to get me an interview for a position."

"Haaaa, Vale, I knew it!" she says, jumping with excitement. And Emma claps happily and, in the process, drops the ice cream that falls to the floor.

I take some wet wipes from my bag and clean up the mess. I walk towards the trash can to throw them away when someone speaks to me:

"Vale? Is that you?"

"You're mistaking me for someone else," I reply, without looking at him, adjusting my sunglasses.

"Sorry, I thought you were Valeria," he says, and leaves.

Trini, of course, laughs as soon as he disappears.

"What's wrong with him? How is it Valeria? For a moment, when he said"Vale", I thought he was going to say Valentina."

"We have to go somewhere else," I tell her in a dry tone, not wanting to prolong the topic.

We leave the mall and right at the entrance we run into my aunt.

"We were just leaving," I tell her.

"In fact, you have to look for your documents," she replies.

I nod in silence and the four of us get into my car.

"Mom, a guy mistook Valentina, right?" Emma asks from behind.

I nod, looking at her in the rearview mirror.

"We're staying home with Emma. You don't worry about her, I want you to concentrate on this," my aunt says firmly.

She starts explaining everything I should bring and how the process will be. I just nod to every word, wishing this day would end....

When I get home, I search through my closet for clothes that are appropriate for office attire. Nothing too formal.

I shower and get ready with care. When I come out, Trini looks at me with wide eyes.

"Cousin... you look beautiful," she says with admiration.

I smile at her, thanking her. My aunt looks at me with pride from the kitchen.

I pick up Emma, who is on the sofa, quieter than usual. I hold her in my arms and rock her gently until she falls asleep. Only then do I calm down a little. If I don't get this job, at least I tried with everything. I won't feel bad with my aunt just because they don't hire me.

I say goodbye to them and drive to the company; I notice that the employees have their own parking area. I leave my car where it corresponds and smooth my skirt before entering. At the reception I ask about the job interview, and a receptionist tells me the floor I should go to.

I go up in the elevator. As the numbers advance, my anxiety increases. When I arrive, I am about to leave when the sound of crying makes me hesitate. A woman comes out of an office with her mascara running, but even that doesn't dull her shine as she has a model's body and long blonde hair.

I swallow saliva and think this is not normal, I'm about to go back when......

"Miss Valentina?" asks a green-eyed young man, who seems to have come out of a magazine.

I nod with a nervous smile.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Julian, I'll be interviewing you," he says kindly, pointing to one of the offices.

The young woman passes by bumping my shoulder and I look at her badly but she is more worried looking back, I think she expects someone to stop her.

I enter an office with him. I am surprised to note that all the offices are made of glass. No privacy. Everything is seen, everything is heard. I sit in front of the desk.

"Here the most important thing is loyalty," says Julian, reading something on his tablet. "Knowing that nothing that happens here or is heard should be disclosed outside."

I nod firmly, although something inside me tenses up. And it's not because of his words, but because I feel a fixed gaze. I look towards the hallway... and I see him.

The man from this morning.

Dark suit. Cold gaze. Same arrogant bearing. It is undoubtedly him. My eyes meet his, and for a second I freeze. Then I immediately look away, focusing back on Julian.

But then, the sound of the door opening brusquely startles me.

"Who is she and what is she doing here?" asks that same authoritarian voice that stopped me in the morning when I came to drop off my aunt.

I swallow hard as Julian stands up, remaining calm.

"Miss Valentina, he is our CEO and owner of the company. Armando Garza... she is Valentina, and I am interviewing her to see if she could be your new secretary."

His... secretary?

My hands tremble, clinging to the fabric of my skirt. I barely came in the morning and I already managed to make the very owner of the company my enemy... right in the company where my aunt works. I avoid seeing him since he will recognize me.

Only these things happen to me.

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