12

Geoffrey put on his white coat and was about to wash his hands with disinfectant.

The phone vibrated, and he glanced at it, intending to ignore the call.

The caller was Pete.

His slender fingers slid over the green button.

A rough male voice came from the other side, panting and urgent, "Hello, Mr. Geoffrey, it's me, Pete. I've called you several times."

Seeing no response, Pete gritted his teeth and continued in a lower tone, "Something big has happened. Mr. Nathan is suspected of breaking the law and was detained yesterday. The news just broke. Judging from the situation, he's likely to get a ten-year sentence. There's no hope for him!"

"I know."

The voice on the other end was calm and composed. Pete's brow furrowed, and a strange expression appeared on his face. Having been in the underworld for many years, he had developed a keen sense for such things.

Damn it, this kid turned out to be a wolf in sheep's clothing.

He had underestimated this well-mannered young man, who seemed like a harmless lamb but turned out to be a cunning wolf. He acted swiftly and caught Mr. Nathan off guard.

Quickly organizing his chaotic thoughts, Pete tried to steer the conversation, as was customary in their line of work. "So, Mr. Geoffrey, what should we do now? We sold him the drugs, and the police will likely come knocking on our door."

Geoffrey squinted his slender eyes, "The drugs I provided were compliant, but he got greedy and diluted them before selling."

He sneered, "Greed leads to self-destruction."

Pete listened to this casual remark with a shiver; this kid had caused such a big commotion and still managed to slip away unscathed.

Wiping the sweat off his forehead with his chubby palm, Pete said, "You're right. So, what's our next move... do we continue with this business?"

"Mr. Pete, you're the second in command in this business association. I don't need to tell you how to handle it, do I?"

Pete's eyes lit up, and he slapped his forehead with force, "Yes, yes, you're absolutely right. My brain's a bit overheated, and I can't think clearly. I'll rely on Mr. Geoffrey's guidance from now on."

After the call ended, Geoffrey composed himself and entered the operating room with a stoic expression. The surgical lights cast a contrasting black and white shade on his profile.

High heels clicked on the smooth tiles as Aileen walked, her ponytail swaying gently. Her clear eyes were filled with excitement; this was her first job interview in life.

"Are you here for the interview? Please fill out the information at the front desk," a woman in a white shirt smiled as she approached, her bright red lipstick adding to her charm and confidence.

"Yes, thank you," Aileen tried not to appear too hasty. After completing the form, the woman led her to the 12th floor. It was only outside the waiting room that she realized how intense the competition was for this position.

The room was filled with people, with about eighty percent being young women. As someone entered, all their watery, sparkling eyes turned toward her. They wore light makeup but exuded youthful vigor.

Aileen was taken aback, smiling faintly at the girl in the front row before finding an empty seat to sit down.

These candidates had probably just graduated from college.

Although she was 22 years old now, her soul had lived for 31 years. With a raised eyebrow, she suddenly realized that she was competing for a job against fresh graduates.

The muscles relaxed a bit. Judging by age, she was nearly three cycles older than them. She self-deprecatingly joked about her endurance, saying she had wasted so many years.

There were five interviewers, all with serious expressions. Aileen was well-prepared, so she wasn't nervous. Fortunately, her years of absence from the job market didn't make her feel awkward. After the interview, she finally took out her silenced phone.

"I'll wait for you downstairs."

Aileen tapped the screen with her fingertips and replied, "Okay."

As she lowered her head, someone lightly patted her shoulder. Looking up, it was the girl she made eye contact with in the waiting room.

"I'm Beata. What's your name?" The girl's mouth curved like a crescent moon, and her eyes narrowed into straight lines, speaking playfully.

Aileen hadn't seen such a lively girl in a long time. "I'm Aileen."

"Nice to meet you. Your fashion theory today was unique, and your insights were distinct. Did you graduate from University of Cambridge?" The girl walked beside Aileen, speaking affectionately.

"Thank you, but I didn't graduate from University of Cambridge." Aileen wanted to continue, but her phone rang, displaying a certain person's name. She looked up and saw a man in a black trench coat standing not far away.

"Sorry, I have to go." She could only apologize and bid farewell to the girl.

Hastening to Geoffrey, Aileen lifted her eyebrows. She noticed her increasing desire to confide in Geoffrey.

Stopping in front of him, she was a head shorter, and she put her hands on her bag strap. "I wasn't nervous today."

A dimple appeared as if waiting for compliments.

A faint smile appeared in Geoffrey's dark eyes, and he reached out from his pocket to gently touch her messy hair. "You did very well."

Their eyes met, and a warm smile appeared in Aileen's clear gaze. Maybe their destinies would change, wouldn't they?

The next day, she received a text message stating that she had passed the first round, and the final round would be held in a week.

During that week, Aileen stayed at home and reviewed, while Geoffrey didn't return home much, and his news wasn't shown on TV anymore.

There were fewer people attending the last interview, but Aileen noticed a girl in light pink suit, the same one who greeted her last time, Beata.

Seeing her, Beata ran over with delight, "I knew you would pass. You're amazing." She leaned in and whispered, "I heard nearly a hundred people failed last time, and now only 15 people are competing for three spots. Big companies are really demanding!"

Aileen smiled gently, "You're great too."