I am sitting on the edge of our sofa, my hands clutching the fabric tightly that my fingers are turning white. My mom is asleep in the room. Every time she coughs or makes a quiet noise my heart feels like it is being squeezed. She has always been the one who took care of our family. Now I have to be strong for her and for my sister Lily who still thinks that the world is a place.
I rub my temples. Let out a sigh that sounds shaky even to my own ears. There is a pile of bills on the coffee table. It looks like a huge mountain that I do not know how to climb. Hospital fees, doctors prescriptions, Lilys school fees, rent... The list goes on and on. I do not have a job to pay for any of it. I feel like I am drowning, like every time I try to take a breath the weight is pushing down harder on me.
Lily's soft voice pulls me out of my thoughts. "Hey, Mira?" she says, poking her head into the living room with her school bag slung over one shoulder. "Mom is asking if you can help her with some water."
I force a smile onto my face. " Course honey " I say, getting up slowly from the sofa. My muscles feel stiff from sitting for a time. I walk to my moms room and the sight of her lying in bed, pale and fragile makes my chest feel tight. I hand her the glass of water steadying it in her hands. "Here Mom drinks slowly, " I say.
My mom smiles at me, her voice weak but warm. "Thank you sweetheart " she says. She always makes me feel like I can do anything like I am capable of handling anything that comes my way.
I turn to leave the room biting my lip to stop myself from crying. My mom calls out to me again. "Mira... I am sorry for all of this " she says. "You should not have to carry this burden."
I shake my head quickly. "Mom, do not say that " I say. "I can handle it. I have to." I sat down beside her bed. She reaches out to take my hand.
"I know you do, " she says. "Do not forget that you are only human. You need help too." I squeeze her hand nodding, trying to swallow back the lump in my throat. If only it were that simple.
After helping my mom settle back into bed I go to the kitchen. Open my laptop. It is time to start applying for jobs to face another round of rejection letters and automated emails that never make it past my inbox. Every "we regret to inform you" feels like a punch to the stomach, every rejection a reminder that I am barely scraping by.
I know I need to find a job to make money fast. The thought of my moms hospital bill or Lily having to skip school because I cannot pay for her books makes my chest feel tight. I run my fingers through my hair thinking of every company in the city every way to make money honestly and quickly. Then in a flicker of hope I see it: a high-paying secretary position at a company called Vale Industries.
The job description is what I need. The thought of working for Lucas Vale, a billionaire known for being ruthless and demanding makes my stomach twist. I think of my moms face, pale and tired, her hand trembling as she counts her pills. I think of Lily reading by candlelight because the electricity bill has not been paid. I know I have no choice; I have to apply for the job.
I take a breath. Start typing my application trying to make every word count trying to make myself sound capable and competent. Though inside I feel like I am falling apart.
The morning I went to the interview at Vale Industries the building is sleek and modern. The lobby is almost cold. The receptionist barely looks at me. I smooth my skirt nervously, reminding myself to stand tall and breathe.
Lucas Vale's office is on the floor and by the time I arrive my heart is racing. I have no idea what he will be like in person. The stories I have heard paint him as unapproachable and ruthless.
He is all that and more: broad-shouldered, perfectly dressed in a tailored suit that makes him look untouchable. His gray eyes meet mine the moment I enter. I feel like he can see straight through me. My stomach twists in a way that I cannot explain.
"Ms. Hale " he says, his voice calm but with an edge that I cannot ignore. "Have a seat."
I do my hands folded neatly in my lap. "Thank you Mr. Vale " I say.
He studies me for what feels like hours, the silence pressing against me, heavy and dangerous. "I hear you are responsible for your family " he says finally. "Your mother is ill?"
I blink, startled. "Yes she is, " I say. "My sister is still in school. I have to provide for them." My voice shakes slightly. I keep my gaze steady.
Lucas leans back one hand brushing his jaw. "You understand that this position is not about typing and filing, " he says. "You will be managing matters anticipating needs, handling situations that require discretion."
"I understand," I say firmly. "I am careful. I can handle pressure."
A faint smirk appears on his face. "We will see, " he says.
The interview is short. I leave feeling strange, nervous, but also aware that something about Lucas Vale has unsettled me in a way that no interview ever has. I cannot stop thinking about him the way he commands the room the way his gaze lingers enough to make me aware of myself.
That night I returned home to our apartment, my mind still buzzing. My mom is asleep in her chair, the blanket pulled up to her chin. I quietly check on her. Sit down at the small kitchen table to make a plan. I need this job; I have to get it. Even if Lucas Vale is intimidating, even if it feels impossible I know I have no choice.
Lily pokes her head into the kitchen, her dark eyes curious and bright. "Did it go okay?" she asks.
I force a smile onto my face. "I think so honey " I say. "I will know soon."
She smiles back at me. For a moment I forget the worry that has been gnawing at me all day. "I hope you get it, Mira " she says. "You are the best. Mom says too."
Her words hit me harder than I expected. I swallow the lump in my throat. "I hope so, " I say.
Later lying in bed I stare at the ceiling thinking of Lucas Vale again. I hate how much I think of him and how aware I am of him after one interview. I also know that I feel a spark, a spark that makes my chest ache, one that makes me fear what I might feel if I get too close.
Now none of that matters. What matters is my mom, Lily and the future I have to fight for. If that means stepping into a world I do not understand, standing in a place where power and money rule I will do it. I will survive. Somehow somewhere I know that my life is about to change in ways I could never imagine.