Morning traffic buzzed through the city as Lily stepped out of the taxi, clutching her folder tightly against her chest.
She lifted her eyes to the towering glass building in front of her.
Dominion Media Group.
For a moment she simply stood there.
People in sharp suits walked confidently in and out of the building like they belonged. Like this was their natural habitat.
Lily suddenly felt very small.
Her fingers tightened around the folder.
Calm down.
You've prepared for this.
Drawing in a slow breath, she stepped inside.
⸻
The lobby was even more intimidating than she expected.
Polished marble floors reflected the bright lighting above. Large screens along the walls displayed the latest financial news, numbers scrolling endlessly across them.
A receptionist glanced up as Lily approached.
"Hello. How may I help you?"
Lily straightened a little.
"Good morning. I'm Lily. I'm here for the Business Reporter interview at two."
The receptionist typed quickly.
"Yes, Miss Lily. Please take the elevator to the fifteenth floor. The interview room is at the end of the hallway."
"Thank you."
Trying her best not to show how nervous she felt, Lily turned and walked toward the elevator.
⸻
Inside, the doors slid shut with a quiet ding.
Lily finally exhaled.
Her reflection stared back at her from the mirrored wall.
Professional outfit.
Hair neatly tied back.
A folder filled with her work.
Still…
Her stomach twisted with nerves.
Dominion Media…
I can't mess this up.
⸻
When the elevator doors opened, several other candidates were already seated in the waiting area.
Some flipped through printed notes.
Others typed rapidly on tablets.
Everyone looked confident. Calm. Prepared.
Lily quietly took an empty seat.
Her eyes drifted toward the glass walls surrounding the newsroom.
Reporters moved quickly between desks. Phones rang. Editors leaned over screens discussing headlines.
The energy in the room felt alive.
It was exactly the kind of place she had always dreamed of working.
⸻
"Miss Lily?"
A staff member stepped out of the interview room.
Lily stood quickly. "That's me."
"Please come in."
⸻
Three interviewers sat across the table.
An older editor with reading glasses.
A sharp-eyed woman reviewing documents.
And a younger man studying Lily's portfolio carefully.
"Please, have a seat," the editor said.
Lily sat down, trying to keep her hands steady.
The woman opened Lily's file.
"You've done quite a bit of investigative work for someone without a permanent newsroom position."
"I've worked freelance," Lily replied. "Whenever I could get assignments."
The younger interviewer looked up.
"These corruption reports… you gathered the sources yourself?"
"Yes."
He nodded slowly.
"Impressive."
The editor leaned forward slightly.
⸻
The hallway outside the interview room had grown unusually crowded.
A few employees lingered near the glass wall, whispering among themselves.
Inside the room, Lily stood beside the presentation screen, finishing the final point of her report.
Her folder lay open on the table in front of the four supervisors.
Leading them was a composed woman with sleek hair and a sharp gaze — Linda, the head of the editorial department.
One of the panelists folded his hands.
"Miss Lily," he said, "if you were interviewing a powerful young CEO… and discovered something that could damage his reputation, would you publish it?"
The room fell quiet.
Lily didn't answer immediately.
She glanced briefly at the notes in her folder, then lifted her gaze.
"If the information is verified and in the public interest, yes."
Her voice stayed calm.
"Journalism isn't about protecting powerful people.
It's about protecting the truth."
The panelists exchanged looks.
One quietly wrote something down.
Linda studied Lily for a moment before speaking.
"Your response is right," she said thoughtfully.
"As journalists, our duty is to verify and report facts as they are revealed — not to protect or lie for political purposes or personal gain."
She leaned back slightly.
"I've got to say… a lot of journalists could learn from that."
⸻
Outside the room, the elevator chimed.
The doors opened.
A tall man stepped out wearing an expensive tailored suit, his presence immediately drawing attention.
Beside him, a young woman clung to his arm.
"Pa, wait for me~," she said sweetly.
The man gave a small cough.
"At the office," he reminded her calmly, "call me President."
She smiled brightly.
"Yes, President."
His brows furrowed as he noticed the crowd near the interview room.
"Why the crowd?"
Before anyone could answer, the woman's gaze drifted toward the glass door.
Through it, she spotted someone inside.
Her smile vanished.
Without hesitation, she pushed the door open.
"Stop!"
Everyone turned.
"Who allowed her in here?!"
Lily blinked in surprise.
"…Olivia?"
Olivia's eyes widened with disbelief as she pointed directly at her.
"You? Here? In Dominion Group?"
Her voice rose sharply.
"Security! Throw this fraud out!"
Linda stood immediately.
"Miss Olivia, her résumé came through the President's office—"
Olivia cut her off.
"She has no degree!" she snapped. "She's unstable! Last time she attacked me for no reason!"
Lily's expression hardened.
"No reason?"
Her voice was quiet but steady.
"When you were having an affair with my boyfriend… tell me."
"How should I have reacted?"
The room fell into dead silence.
Olivia's face went pale.
⸻
At that moment, the man from the elevator stepped inside.
He gently patted Olivia's shoulder.
"Alright, Olivia. That's enough."
She turned toward him quickly, her expression shifting.
"Dad, look at her! She doesn't belong here!"
The man walked calmly to the table and picked up Lily's portfolio.
"Then let's see what kind of article made you so angry."
He flipped through a few pages.
No one spoke.
Suddenly his hand stopped.
His eyes narrowed slightly at one particular page.
Slowly, he looked up.
"This piece…"
There was curiosity in his voice.
"Did you write it?"
Lily met his gaze without hesitation.
"Yes."
She nodded once.
"It's my work. From deep in my memories."
The man studied her carefully.
"Interesting," he murmured.
"…memories."
Olivia scoffed loudly.
"Lies! She stole it!"
The man closed the portfolio.
After a brief pause, he said,
"The interview is over."
He placed the folder back on the table.
"We'll contact you with our decision shortly."
Though puzzled, Lily gathered her papers politely and gave a small respectful bow.
"Thank you for your time."
Then she turned and walked out.
The door closed softly behind her.
⸻
For a moment, no one spoke.
Finally the man looked toward Linda.
"Send me her full file."
Linda nodded immediately.
"Yes, sir."
Olivia bit her lip.
"Dad… why are you interested in her?" she asked uneasily.
"You can't be serious."
His expression softened slightly, though his eyes remained thoughtful.
"Don't worry."
He tapped the portfolio lightly.
"I know exactly what I'm doing."
Olivia stayed silent.
Across the room, the portfolio remained open on the table.
His gaze lingered on Lily's article.
Unreadable.
⸻
After the interview ended, Lily stepped out of the building feeling lightheaded.
She wasn't sure if she had done well.
But she knew one thing.
She had given everything she had.
Clutching her folder, she slowly walked down the steps.
She didn't notice the familiar black car parked across the street.
Inside, Alex watched her quietly.
His assistant Neo sat in the driver's seat.
"Sir," Neo said carefully, "the meeting with the investors starts in twenty minutes."
Alex didn't respond immediately.
His gaze remained on Lily as she walked away.
Finally he spoke.
"How did the interview go?"
Neo blinked.
"Sir?"
Alex calmly turned a page of the newspaper.
Neo quickly understood.
"Oh… right. I'll confirm with the HR department."
Alex nodded slightly.
Outside, Lily disappeared into the busy street.
A faint smile curved Alex's lips.
"Let's see if you can really make it in that world."