16. Tough day
Sophia's Pov:
I was exhausted.
My feet were killing me.
Walking all the way back to June’s apartment in heels had been a terrible idea, but I wanted to save money.
And after all that—
I had lost the apartment keys.
I let out a frustrated sigh and pulled out my phone to call June.
The moment the screen lit up, my heart dropped.
1% battery.
“Great,” I muttered under my breath.
I quickly dialed June’s number, trying to be fast before the phone died.
The call connected.
Without even checking the screen, I said tiredly,
“Junee, I think I lost your apartment keys—”
But before I could continue, I heard two voices from the other side.
One was June.
“What? How? And why did you make a group call? And who is this other person?”
And other one was a male's voice
"HELLO"
I froze.
Group call?
I quickly looked at the screen.
And my soul almost left my body.
Oliver Sinclair
“Oh shit—”
I immediately cut the call.
And at that exact moment—
my phone died.
I stared at the black screen in horror.
“Oh my God,” I whispered, covering my face with my hands. “Why am I like this?”
I slowly sat down on the floor near the apartment door again.
That had to be the most embarrassing thing I had done in years.
Still, at least June knew.
She would come.
So I sat there waiting, tired and mentally replaying the humiliation over and over again.
A few minutes later, I heard the elevator arrive on our floor.
I immediately stood up.
“Thank God, June—”
But when the elevator doors opened—
it wasn’t June.
It was Oliver.
My face went pale.
He stepped out and smiled.
“Hi.”
I forced a nervous smile.
“Hi…”
My mind was blank.
What was he doing here?
I stared at him awkwardly before asking,
“What are you doing here?”
He smiled lightly.
“Oh, when you called—”
“Oh my God, I am so sorry!” I interrupted immediately. “That was by mistake. My phone battery died, so I couldn’t even call back.”
He nodded.
“Oh, okay. Actually, after you cut the call, June tried calling you back but your phone was switched off, so—”
“Yeah, I told you, the battery died,” I said quickly, cutting him off again.
Why was I behaving like this?
Oliver looked amused.
He raised both hands slightly in a calming gesture.
“Okay, okay,” he said with a soft laugh. “Calm down and let me finish.”
I instantly went quiet.
He continued,
“June said she got stuck in a meeting and might be late. Since your phone was off, she couldn’t reach you. She also said you had interviews today and must be exhausted.”
He slipped one hand into his pocket and smiled.
“I was nearby, so she asked if I could help.”
I just stared at him.
He had come all the way here… just to help me?
I opened my mouth.
“Oh…”
That was all that came out.
He had literally shown up to rescue me, and all I could say was oh.
He chuckled softly.
“You seem too tired to process anything right now.”
I gave him an embarrassed smile.
“I think my brain stopped working after the interviews.”
He leaned casually against the wall near the door.
“Tough day?”
I nodded.
“Very.”
He looked at me gently.
“Bad interviews?”
I sighed.
“I don’t know. The technical part was fine, but when they asked why I hadn’t worked in the last five years…”
I looked down.
“I couldn’t explain anything.”
Oliver’s expression softened.
“That must have been hard.”
“It was,” I admitted. “I felt like they judged me the moment I said ‘personal issues.’”
He was quiet for a moment, then said,
“Then they don’t know your worth.”
I looked up at him.
His voice was calm but sure.
“A gap in your resume doesn’t erase your talent, Sophia.”
I didn’t know why, but hearing those words made something in my chest loosen.
All day I had felt like I was failing.
And now, with just one sentence, he made me feel like maybe I wasn’t.
He smiled again.
“Besides, tomorrow’s interview will go well.”
I let out a small laugh.
“You sound very sure.”
“I am.”
I tilted my head slightly.
“And if I don’t get selected?”
He smiled.
“Then the board is blind.”
That made me laugh properly this time.
A real laugh.
And for the first time that exhausting day—
I felt lighter.