Chapter 27: I Won’t Run Into David
In the CEO’s office, David stood by the window, holding a cup of coffee, his thoughts lingering on the earlier confrontation.
The image of Caroline pressing the knife to her neck kept replaying in his mind.
Defiant, resilient, and fiercely independent—she reminded him of a rose with thorns. Does she not understand the concept of surrender? he wondered.
He smirked coldly. No matter. I’ll teach her myself. One day, Caroline will kneel before me and beg for mercy.
“Mr. David,” William’s voice interrupted his thoughts. The door to the office opened as William stepped inside. “The internal recruitment for the formulation department is starting, but Mr. Boris has an urgent matter and can’t attend. Would you like to go instead?”
David glanced at his watch before nodding. “Alright.”
The Ellison Group was expanding into the women’s beauty market, placing great emphasis on cosmetics and skincare. Normally, such recruitment events would be handled by the department director. But to ensure that only the best candidates were selected, David had assigned the vice president to oversee the process. Now, however, it seemed his personal attendance was necessary.
David turned and walked out of the office with steady, commanding steps, his presence alone demanding respect.
The recruitment hall was bustling with nervous energy. Every candidate looked tense and eager, all hoping to stand out and secure a position. Caroline, having just filled out her application, stood in line, clutching her number as she waited.
“Caroline, I’m losing confidence,” Anna murmured beside her, her voice tinged with worry. “I peeked at the others just now. Most of them have master’s degrees, doctorates, studied abroad, or have years of experience. We’re just newbies. We’re basically here as background extras.”
“Believe in yourself,” Caroline reassured her. “Just give it a try. Whether we succeed or not, at least we’ve made the effort.”
Anna sighed but nodded. “Right. If even one of us gets in, it’ll be worth it!”
Caroline smiled. “Exactly. Stay calm.”
Just then, a man who Caroline assumed was the supervisor entered the hall, clearing his throat to capture everyone’s attention. “Attention, everyone. The CEO will be here shortly. Please behave accordingly and make a good impression. No slip-ups!”
Anna’s face drained of color. “Oh no, I’m done for. The CEO himself is interviewing us? I’m doomed! I’ll freeze up completely! Caroline, what do I do?”
Caroline’s heart sank. The CEO?
Her mind raced. She couldn’t afford to face David in this setting—not after everything that had happened between them. There was no way she could keep her composure with him in the same room.
“Excuse me,” Caroline asked the supervisor, trying to keep her voice steady, though her mind was already spinning. “By ‘CEO,’ do you mean Mr. David?”
The supervisor raised an eyebrow and nodded. “Of course, it’s Mr. David. Who else could it be? You’re lucky, really. It’s only your first day at the company, and you already get to meet him. If he picks you, your career will take off for sure!”
Caroline’s face went pale. I can’t run into David here!
Without a second thought, she stood up and began heading for the exit. The sooner she left, the better the chances she wouldn’t cross paths with him.
“Hey! Where are you going?” the supervisor called out, clearly alarmed. “It’s almost your turn! Where are you running off to? Get back here!”
Caroline didn’t look back. “I’m withdrawing. I don’t think I belong in this company. I’m simply not qualified.”
The supervisor scowled. “Do you think this is some shop where you can come and go as you please? Security! Stop her!”
As the security guards moved in, their arms outstretched to block her path, the supervisor stormed over to Caroline. Without warning, he snatched her resume from her hand.
“We’ll see just who the hell you think you are,” he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. “You have no manners at all! Hah, just a fresh graduate. How did you even get in here? It’s a good thing I caught you. If you stood in front of Mr. David, you’d be a complete eyesore!”
Caroline didn’t respond. She merely stared past him, her gaze locked onto something behind him, her mind completely focused on finding an escape.
The tension in the air thickened as Caroline stood her ground, her emotions a mix of anger, fear, and determination. The last thing she wanted was to face David here, and yet, it seemed fate had other plans.
