Chapter 8: The Interview and the Shadow of the Past
The corporate offices of Sterling & Vance occupied the thirty-fifth floor of a gleaming glass skyscraper in the heart of downtown. The contrast between this bustling, modern hub and the quiet, suffocating confines of Julian’s suburban mansion could not have been starker. Elena stood before the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the executive boardroom, smoothing down the front of a rented black blazer she had managed to acquire earlier that week.
She had insisted on going through the formal interview process without Marcus putting in a favorable word with the hiring manager. To the rest of the company, she was simply Elena Vance—though she had already dropped Julian’s surname on her resume, reverting back to her maiden name, Harper—a candidate with a stellar academic background seeking to re-enter the workforce after a prolonged hiatus.
The door to the boardroom opened, and Sarah Jenkins, the senior director of acquisitions, walked in with a warm, professional smile. Sarah was a formidable woman in her late forties with sharp silver-streaked hair and an impeccable tailored pantsuit.
"Ms. Harper," Sarah said, extending a hand. "Thank you for coming in. I’ve reviewed your portfolio, and your credentials are quite remarkable. Though I must ask, what prompted your return to the art curation sector after nearly a decade away?"
Elena took a steadying breath, keeping her composure intact. She had rehearsed this answer countless times. "Life circumstances changed abruptly, Ms. Jenkins. I realized that personal independence and professional fulfillment are not things one can afford to delegate to others. I am ready to commit fully to a career I once stepped away from for entirely wrong reasons."
Sarah studied her intently, her sharp eyes missing none of the subtle micro-expressions that betrayed Elena’s underlying nerves. A small, approving smile tugged at the corner of Sarah’s mouth. "Honesty is a rare commodity in this building, Ms. Harper. Most candidates try to spin a polished corporate fairytale about 'seeking new challenges.' I respect someone who owns their transitions."
For the next forty-five minutes, they discussed art history, market trends, and corporate collection management. Elena spoke with passion and authority, drawing upon years of self-directed study and her innate aesthetic sensibilities. By the time the interview concluded, the knot of anxiety in her stomach had dissolved into a quiet, hard-earned confidence.
"We have two more candidates to interview this week," Sarah said as she walked Elena toward the double doors of the boardroom. "But I will tell you frankly, you set a very high bar. Expect to hear from my assistant by Friday."
As Elena stepped out into the elevator lobby, her phone buzzed in her purse. She pulled it out, expecting a text from Marcus asking how it went. Instead, the screen displayed an unknown number with a local area code. She swiped to answer, pressing the phone to her ear.
"Hello?" Elena said cautiously.
May you like
"Elena. It's Julian."
The sound of her estranged husband's voice sent a sudden, icy shockwave through her nervous system. She froze in the middle of the busy lobby, the corporate chatter fading into white noise.
