"As long as I am breathing, in my eyes, I am just beginning." - Criss Jami, Killosophy

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Caden's POV

Three Months Later

I finally have a job interview!

Yes! After three months of working in coffee shops and restaurants, I finally got a call back from a well-known company that reached out to me.

I can't say making a fresh start was easy. The big difference between my life then and my life now is that I have a lot more money. And yeah, my brother wasn't beating me up every night.

But besides that, and the added bonus that I was a personal assistant to fast growing corporation on my resume, not many jobs want a criminal to work in their place of business.

So, yeah. Dead-end jobs and occasionally, a call-back from more high-paying positions that actually interest me. I've applied to a few, like a computer-technology teacher at a middle school. I even got an interview and everything.

But a few days after the interview, I got a call saying they hired someone else. Yay me.

Honestly, I shouldn't be having a pity-party that this fresh start into this new life isn't turning out as good as I had hoped. I mean, everyone has slow starts. I was just hoping I was the exception.

Clearly, I'm not.

But, let's rewind to the fact that I just go an interview. An interview, admittedly to a position that isn't something I would choose if I wasn't desperate for a better job than the ones I have now. The job is for... I feel like you can guess it, but it's for a secretary.

To me, it's basically the same thing as a personal assistant, except it sounds fancier. I'd be the secretary to Frank Aldridge, the founder of Aldridge Property Advisors.

Not that I think I'm going to get the job, but considering I worked for Silas, and had to endure... a lot, I honestly think I'm the best qualified for this position. Seriously, he could do his worst and it probably wouldn't even compare to what Silas had me do.

Honestly, I didn't think I would get a call back, much less an interview. I applied just for funzies, adamant that I would never receive word from them, but hey, I did. Yay.

I really was testing my luck. First Sanders Corp and now this company. I had searched them up after applying and they are apparently, one of the richest and most well-known real estate companies in the country.

And I got an interview.

I shouldn't be jinxing it, but it would be a miracle if I actually got the job. I'm assuming it's going to be a repeat of what happened in my last interview. They make a background check on me, find out that I've been arrested multiple times, tell me that they don't want a criminal working for them, and I'm back to being a barista.

Sheesh. Who knew I was such a pessimist?

Honestly, not that I would ever go back to how I used to live before, but I just haven't been feeling it lately.

Would it have be because I haven't heard back from Silas? Possibly. I have gotten calls from Izzie and Ryland asking me if I was okay. I'm assuming the news spread about my brother, and I assured them I was well.

It definitely didn't sting when they asked me when I was coming back into the office. Nope. Not one bit.

I had a little coffee run with Izzie on a Sunday morning, even though I had to go to work at the same coffee shop a few hours later. I didn't have the guts to tell her I was still struggling to find a job.

Other than that, my new life has been kind of...lonely. Ugh, I sound pathetic. I really don't want to feel like this because honestly, my life is doing fine. Obviously not the best, as you can tell, but fine. I've been through worse. I can do this.

And the job isn't looking that bad now that I think about it. Maybe I'll get some brownie points for working at Sanders Corp.

I have to look my best. Like the bestest I've ever looked.

Yep, I'm going shopping.

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I walk into them massive building that is Aldridge Property Advisors. The company is primarily based in New York City but are expanding to San Francisco because of something that I was too lazy to read.

I smooth down invisible wrinkles on my pencil skirt, hoping that it looks professional enough that I won't get dirty looks the moment I step into his office.

Jeez, I wonder who made me insecure about that.

I decided to buy a grey pencil skirt with a simple, black top that had these loose sleeves. Honestly, I look good. I'm just hoping my looks are enough to bag this job.

I walk to the receptionist, explain to her that I'm here for the interview, and am led to the top floor where I wait in the lobby.

Okay, it's going smoothly. I can't screw this up.

Also, I'd like to mention that the receptionist at the desk was way nicer than the one at Sanders Corp, which is a plus.

"Caden Wilson," says a woman who walked out of what I am assuming is where all the business is done. Aka, Mr. Aldridge's office.

I stand up immediately, smoothing out my skirt once more, and head in her direction. She gives me a kind smile, no doubt noticing how nervous I am, and I respond with one as well, albeit, a shaky smile.

When I walk inside, the first thing I notice is how homey the office looks. I'm not sure that's a word, but you get what I mean. The walls aren't a pale white like at Sanders'. There's a bookshelf to my right filled with the The Selection and Shatter Me series.

Frank Aldridge reads YA fantasy!? That just made my day. I would've cracked a smile had my hands not been sweating their balls off.

There's a large wooden desk in the center of the room, along with couches that are adorned with throw pillows. A TV is place in front of the couch where a CNN reporter is babbling about news stuff.

"Caden Wilson, Mr. Aldridge," the lady says behind me.

The chair to the large desk turns arounds to face me. Dramatic introduction. Nice touch, Mr. Aldridge.

When I can finally see him properly, I am pleasantly surprised. I mean, I knew what he looked like because I had googled him, but he honestly looks even better in person.

When I think of a Frank Aldridge, my mind pictures a bald white man, with a slightly big belly, hooded eyes, large hands, I don't know. But not this.

Mr. Aldridge looks nice. Actually, very nice, considering he's 68 years old. He has a full head of grayish-white hair, along with a beard of the same color. His eyes are hooded, but they don't look unwelcoming. They're a nice shade of grey-blue and skin around them wrinkle as he smiles at me.

"Hello, Ms. Wilson." He gestures to the two chairs in front on his desk. "Have a seat."

I nod and make my way towards the chairs, seating myself comfortably but not too comfortably in case I come crying out the office.

"So, I had a look in your resume and found that you have worked under Silas Corp, am I right?"

I nod my head, placing my hands beneath my thighs. I need to chill for a second.

He nods his head in acknowledgment before speaking again. "I have heard of your domestic incident regarding your brother, and I'd like to say how very sorry I am that you had to go through that." He gives me a kind yet pitiful smile. Normally I would feel awkward that my potential boss brought up something so personal to me, but there's something about Mr. Aldridge that makes me bring my guard down.

He is just a breath of fresh air compared to Sanders Corp. He's like a father that everyone wished they had.

"Your previous bosses had made a statement saying that they would give you time off from your job to focus on yourself." What? "So I'm wondering why you decided not to work for them again."

That's what Silas did. State that I was relieved from my job to focus on myself. What a load of bull. Yeah, of course they would say that instead of "Sanders Corp fire PA after the arrest of her brother for domestic assault."

I've never resented Sanders Corp as much as I have right now. They had no right to spew lies about why I don't work for them anymore. I shouldn't have gotten so close to Silas. Maybe none of this would have happened.

But I decided to roll with the lie. Saying that I was fired rather than I voluntarily left sounds worse, especially to my potential employer. "It just wasn't the place for me," I state simply.

He nods his head again, thinking. "Well, they said you were a good PA. Actually, one of their best." I can feel my eyes widen. They said that? Okay, maybe I hate them a little less now. But I still hate them.

Mr. Aldridge looks at me carefully, as if trying to sense anything from my body language. "Ms. Wilson, I'm going to be real with you. I can honestly see you working for me, for the company. You've had experience in this field before, have good reviews and I've seen the work you've done with Sanders' ball. You are more than qualified for this position." I smile at that. Maybe I actually have a chance.

"My only concern is your background." My smile immediately drops. Before he says anything, my babbling mouth starts. "Mr. Aldridge, with all due respect, yes I am aware of my previous arrests. I know you're reluctant to hire someone with my kind of record but I can assure you I am beyond that now. If I can have a chance to prove myself to you, it would mean the world to me."

He smiles at me again. "I am well aware of that, Ms. Wilson. But just to take precautionary measures, if we do decide to hire you, everything you do and all of your performances will be under strict supervision by me, my staff, and the police. I know you haven't had an arrest in years, but this is for the good of the company. You do anything out of line or against the law, I will not hesitate to contact the authorities, am I understood?"

I nod my head.

He grins again, the strict, authoritative tone gone. "Alright, we will be in touch then. Have a nice day, Ms. Wilson."

I let out a small sigh. That went better than I expected.

Two weeks later

I got the job.

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