“Is your mother all right?” the receptionist asked.
“I… I think so,” Mia replied softly. “Something happened, and she couldn’t come. But she always says we don’t quit. So I came for her.”
Before the woman could ask anything else, a tall man in a tailored suit approached. It was Daniel Reyes, ApexDynamics’ Chief Financial Officer — the very person scheduled to conduct Rachel’s interview.
He had overheard the last sentence and paused, eyebrows raised.
“May I take a look at that folder?” he asked gently.
Mia opened it, revealing résumés, certificates, transcripts, and a handwritten note. Daniel’s eyes narrowed at the shaky handwriting.
“My mom wrote the letter last night,” Mia explained. “She told me that if something went wrong, I should give it to you.”
Daniel skimmed the first few lines — and the expression on his face changed instantly.
“Mia,” he said quietly, “do you know where your mom is right now?”
The girl hesitated.
“She’s at the hospital… but not because she’s sick. It was… an emergency. I took the bus here by myself.”
The receptionist gasped. Daniel, however, remained composed — but deeply concerned.
“Mia,” he said, “why don’t you come to my office so we can talk privately?”