Outside, dark clouds covered the sky. A loud clap of thunder echoed overhead. Within seconds, rain poured from the heavens, drenching the streets. People scattered for shelter while others struggled to hold onto umbrellas that twisted violently in the wind.

Emily pulled her small handbag towards her chest and entered a cab. The interview was only forty minutes away and every minute mattered. She checked the time on her phone, 9:26 a.m.

“I'm going to make it,” she muttered.

The rain became heavier. Cars sped past, sending muddy water splashing pedestrians. Her cab driver saw how hurried she was and tried to speed up but the heavy pouring rain blurred his vision, making him drive slowly. Emily sighed in frustration.

“This day is really testing me.”

At around 9:34 a.m she finally reached her destination. She tightened her grip on her folder and came down from the cab.

At across town, a sleek black SUV glided through the rain before stopping outside Sterling Group's headquarters. The chauffeur stepped out first, opening the rear door.

“Good morning, sir.”

A tall man in an expensive charcoal suit stepped out without saying a word.

Alexander Kingsley.

At twenty-nine, he was already one of the youngest CEOs in the country. His reputation was intimidating, employees feared him, competitors respected him and the media called him ruthless. Alexander adjusted the cuffs of his tailored suit before taking the leather briefcase from his driver and his assistant hurried toward him.

Good morning, Mr. Kingsley. The board members have all arrived.

“They can wait another minute.”

“I don't enter meetings looking rushed.”

His assistant nodded nervously.

“Of course.”

Alexander glanced at his wristwatch.

9:42 a.m. We're still on schedule.

As he stepped toward the building, Emily rounded the corner of the busy intersection. She looked at the traffic light, red. But the pedestrian crossing was already filling with people. If she waited, she'd lose precious minutes. Taking a chance, she hurried across and the rain blurred her vision.

She lowered her head to shield her face from the downpour. At that exact moment, Alexander stepped away from his SUV. Neither of them saw the other until it was too late. Emily slammed straight into him. The force of the collision sent both of them stumbling. Alexander caught himself before falling completely but Emily wasn't so lucky. She landed awkwardly on one knee and her brown folder burst open.

Certificates, résumés, recommendation letters,everything scattered across the rain-soaked pavement.

Alexander's leather briefcase slipped from his hand. For a second, neither of them spoke then Alexander looked down at the ruined documents. His jaw tightened.

“Can't you watch where you're going?”

Emily stared at him in disbelief.

“What?”

“You ran into me.”

She slowly stood, brushing rainwater from her blazer.

“I ran into you? You stepped right in front of me”

Alexander folded his arms.

“I was walking.”

“And I was trying to cross the road.”

“Perhaps you should have looked first.”

Emily laughed sarcastically.

“Maybe you should take your own advice.”

His assistant stepped forward.

“Sir, are you alright?”

Alexander ignored him. Instead, he bent to gather the scattered papers.Emily knelt too. Their hands brushed as they both reached for the same document, she immediately pulled hers away.

“I can manage.”

“So I've noticed," Alexander replied dryly.

Emily shot him an annoyed glare.

“Not everyone has bodyguards clearing the way.”

“They're assistants.”

“Whatever.”

Thunder rumbled again. People hurried past them without stopping.The rain also grew even heavier.

Great, Emily muttered. “This couldn't possibly get any worse.”

Without another word, both of them hurriedly collected everything lying on the pavement. In the rush, Alexander picked up Emily's handbag while Emily grabbed the black leather briefcase, each assuming it belonged to them. Neither spared a second glance. She turned and ran toward the towering Sterling Group building, clutching the briefcase tightly against her chest. Alexander watched her disappear into the crowd before walking toward the executive entrance. Neither of them realized that a single careless mistake had just changed the course of both their lives forever.

Emily pushed open the glass doors of Sterling Group, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to catch her breath. A security guard glanced at her before pointing toward the reception desk.

“The interview candidates are on the fifth floor.”

“Thank you,” Emily replied, offering a grateful smile.

She hurried into the elevator, silently praying she wasn't too late. The elevator chimed fifth floor.

Outside the conference room, nearly a dozen candidates sat quietly, each dressed in neat business attire. Some revised their résumés while others stared nervously at their phones.

Emily took a seat in the corner. Her heartbeat refused to slow.

“Miss Emily Carter?”

A middle-aged woman wearing an identification badge smiled at her.

“The interview panel is ready to see you.”

Emily stood immediately.

“This is your chance,” she whispered to herself.

She stepped into the spacious conference room where three interviewers sat behind a long table.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning,” the oldest interviewer replied warmly. “Please, have a seat.”

Emily thanked them and sat down.

The interview began smoothly. Emily answered every question with confidence. The panel exchanged approving glances.

One interviewer smiled.

“You've done quite well, Miss Carter.”

A wave of relief washed over Emily. Then came the question she had been expecting.

“May we see your academic certificates?”

“Of course.”

Without hesitation, Emily placed the black leather briefcase on the table.

She released the metal locks. The lid slowly opened. Immediately, her smile vanished. Instead of neatly arranged certificates, the case contained expensive-looking files, several sealed envelopes, a passport, business contracts, and a document boldly stamped in red.

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

Emily blinked.

“No”

The room fell silent. The interviewers looked at one another.

“Is something wrong?” one of them asked.

Emily's hands began to tremble.

“I'm... I'm so sorry.”

She searched desperately through the contents.

“This isn't mine.”

The oldest interviewer frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“I... I must have picked up someone else's briefcase.”

Another interviewer folded his arms.

“Miss Carter, are you telling us you came to an interview without your certificates?”

“I had them”

Emily replied quickly.

“I swear I did. I bumped into someone outside the building. We argued, and we exchanged our bags without realizing it.”

The panel remained silent.Her explanation sounded unbelievable even to her own ears.

“I'm not lying,” she pleaded.

The woman on the panel sighed sympathetically.

“Unfortunately, without your documents, we cannot continue today's interview.”

Emily lowered her head.

“I understand.”

“I'm sorry.”

With shaking hands, she closed the briefcase. As she stood to leave, something slipped from between the files and landed quietly on the floor. A small white envelope, no one seemed to notice. Emily quickly picked it up. Across the front were the words ‘For Alexander Kingsley Only’.

Her curiosity grew stronger. Who was Alexander Kingsley?

Meanwhile, Alexander strode into the executive boardroom with his usual confidence. Every director immediately stood.

“Good morning, Mr. Kingsley.”

He acknowledged them with a brief nod before taking his seat at the head of the long table.

“Let's begin.”

His assistant placed a projector remote before him.Alexander reached for his briefcase but instead,his hand touched soft fabric. His eyebrows knitted together.He slowly looked down and saw a beige women's handbag.

Silence.

He stared at it, then opened it.

Lip balm, small purse, notebook filled with handwritten notes.He froze.

The directors exchanged confused glances.

Alexander's voice became dangerously calm.

“Where?”

He looked at his assistant.

“is my briefcase?”

The assistant's face drained of colour.

“Sir, I ”

Alexander stood abruptly. The chair scraped loudly against the polished floor.

“My documents.”

His voice was cold enough to freeze the room.

“Where are they?”

“I think”

The assistant swallowed hard.

“the young woman outside”

Alexander remembered the collision, the soaked documents, the stubborn girl.

His expression darkened instantly.

“Find her.”

“Immediately, sir.”

“I don't care how.”

The assistant hurried from the room while the directors remained frozen in silence.

Alexander looked once more inside the handbag. A folded hospital receipt caught his attention. As he unfolded it, he saw an outstanding balance that has been overdue for several months. His eyes narrowed.

Back outside, Emily stood beneath a bus stop shelter, staring at the mysterious envelope.

Her mind told her to leave it alone. Her curiosity begged her to open it.

“It doesn't belong to me,” she whispered.

“But what if it's important?”

Her fingers moved toward the seal and at that exact moment, her phone rang with an unknown number.

“Hello?”

A deep, unfamiliar voice spoke from the other end.

“Don't open that envelope.”

Emily's heartbeat stopped. She tightened her grip on the phone.

“Who is this?”

The voice remained cold.

“You have something that belongs to me.”

Emily looked around nervously.

“If you value your life, don't move.”

The call ended.

Emily slowly looked around the room. Someone is watching her.