“The last candidate, Ms.
Meave Calloway, has been assigned as an intern to the Executive Strategy and Special Projects Unit.” I sat completely still, trying to process the words the host had just spoken.
I repeated them silently in my head several times, as if doing so would somehow make them easier to understand.
But I remained frozen until the whispers and quiet gasps spreading around me finally pulled me out of my trance.
And then it hit me.
I hadn’t been assigned to the Corporate Communications Department.
I hadn’t even been assigned to any of the departments that had presented themselves today.
Instead, I had been assigned to the one department that hadn’t appeared at all—the very department the people behind me had described as special and mysterious.
The Executive Strategy and Special Projects Unit.
And apparently, there were only four people working there.
Someone suddenly pulled me out of my seat and dragged me into a quiet corridor.
I was still trying to process what had just happened that I barely noticed Paige practically hauling me out of the auditorium, with Alden following closely behind us.
I looked at her in confusion.
She looked just as confused as I was—but beneath that confusion was something else.
Anger.
“Just join the company Dad wanted you to join,” Paige blurted out, as though she had suddenly found the perfect solution.
“Just go there instead.
You absolutely cannot join that department.” I blinked at her, completely caught off guard.
“What?” “Paige, calm down,” Alden said, stepping beside her.
His voice was much more composed.
“Let Meave decide whether she wants to stay here or not.” Something seemed to snap inside Paige.
“Are you serious?” she asked Alden, her voice slightly raised.
“You think I’m going to let my sister go to them?
There’s something definitely shady about that department.
Of all places, why does she have to be assigned there?
They don’t even accept employees into that department, and now, all of a sudden, they want an intern?” Alden remained calm, trying to reason with her.
“I understand, Paige, but there has to be an explanation for it.
I think we should talk to HR first and find out what’s going on.
Then we can decide what to do.” He glanced at me, silently asking for my opinion.
“Alden’s right, Paige.
Let’s talk to HR first.” Paige nodded frantically, clearly determined to get to the bottom of it.
“Fine,” she said.
“But I’m not letting this go until we know exactly why they chose you.” We entered the elevator and made our way to the eighth floor, which I assumed was where the HR department was located.
My doubt disappeared the moment the doors opened and I spotted the large letters above the entrance: HR DEPARTMENT We stepped inside and found a busy office filled with employees, most of them occupied with paperwork, phone calls, or conversations.
At the far end of the lobby stood a large room with another sign above the door in bold letters: HR OFFICE Paige didn’t hesitate.
She walked straight toward it and pushed the door open without even knocking.
Inside, the room was packed with shelves filled with files of every colour, neatly arranged from one end to the other.
At the centre of the room sat a man behind a large desk, his computer open in front of him.
He looked up from the screen, clearly not surprised by our sudden entrance.
The man looked to be in his late forties, with a sturdy build and an air of quiet authority that made people instinctively straighten their posture around him.
His dark hair was neatly combed back, though a few strands of silver had begun appearing at his temples.
A pair of thin-framed glasses rested low on his nose, while his sharp, observant eyes seemed to notice far more than he ever commented on.
He wore a perfectly tailored charcoal-grey suit, a crisp white shirt, and a muted navy tie.
His appearance was the very definition of professionalism—polished, composed, and intimidatingly proper.
And yet, there he was, accepting a bribe from my sister.
Well, I guess you really can’t judge a book by its cover.
So much professionalism on the outside, only to be completely unprofessional underneath.
I almost had to admire the irony.
“How can I help you, Ms.
Calloway?” His eyes shifted toward me, and his expression softened slightly.
“Oh, you must be Meave Calloway, Paige’s sister.
Welcome to the company.” Before I could even respond, Paige scoffed.
“Oh, please.
Spare us the formalities.
You know exactly why I’m here.” The man calmly removed his glasses and placed them on the desk.
He straightened his posture, folded his hands neatly in front of him, and looked at Paige with an almost irritating level of composure.
“I’m sorry,” he said evenly, “but I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.” Paige stared at him.
I stared at him.
The man simply maintained his innocent expression, as though he genuinely had no idea why three people had just stormed into his office.
Alden stepped forward, taking a more serious tone.
“Why did you assign Meave to the Executive Strategy and Special Projects Unit?” The HR manager raised an eyebrow.
“And why exactly is there a problem with that?” “You know better than anyone what that department is like,” paige replied.
“As far as I know, no one is ever assigned there.
There are only four people working in that department, and the whole place is surrounded by rumours and mysteries.
Not to mention—” “The company has introduced a new policy requiring every department to have at least one intern,” the HR manager interrupted calmly.
“And after reviewing your sister’s academic records, we found that her qualifications are well suited to the kind of work handled by that department.” Paige folded her arms.
“That’s it?
You expect us to believe they suddenly decided to take an intern after all these years?” The man simply adjusted his glasses.
“I’m not asking you to believe anything, Ms.
Calloway.
I’m telling you the reason behind the assignment.” “Richard, we already had a deal that you would place my sister under me,” Paige said, her voice losing its earlier sharpness and turning almost pleading.
My eyes drifted toward the nameplate on his desk.
Richard Hayes.
Richard leaned back in his chair, completely unfazed by Paige’s frustration.
“That is exactly why I’ve placed your sister in an even better position.
She can learn so much in the ESSPU.” He noticed my confused expression and added, “That’s the short form for the Executive Strategy and Special Projects Unit.” “But—” “i am afraid, I have a meeting now,” he interrupted smoothly, already reaching for his glasses.
“I’ll answer the rest of your questions later.” And just like that, he had dismissed us.
Paige stood there, staring at him in disbelief.
I had a feeling this conversation was far from over.