The days drifted by, uneventful. No more strange messages. No more random encounters messing with her head. Lina had fallen back into the rhythm of her life, her routine.
At Éloïse's insistence, she kept sending out her CV. She didn't even bother reading the job ads anymore—just copy-pasting a bland, lifeless cover letter. These applications seemed to vanish the moment they were sent.
Rejection after rejection piled up, and Lina slowly came to terms with a harsh truth: her degree didn't mean anything in this world. She'd almost accepted that her future was tied to the restaurant industry, a job she'd thought would be temporary. But Éloïse wouldn't let her give up.
"You can't stay here, Lina. Not with a marketing degree!" Éloïse had said, as if the words could will something to happen. She repeated it like a mantra, unwilling to accept that Lina had lost all faith.
To Éloïse, the restaurant business was a detour. A dead end to endure, but never the destination.
Tom, on the other hand, had dropped out of university halfway. His future wasn't tied to offices or endless meetings. It was out there, somewhere far from this. But Lina… she still had a shot. And Éloïse wasn't about to let her throw it away.
So, day after day, Éloïse pushed her to keep sending applications. Even when hope was slipping away. Even when Lina couldn't see the point anymore.
That morning, Lina checked her phone, expecting an empty inbox. Maybe a spam message or two.
But one subject line caught her attention. Her heart skipped a beat.
From: hr.recruitment@rbh.com
Subject: Interview Invitation – Human Resources Department, R.B.H
Dear Miss Lina Cap,
We have reviewed your profile and are pleased to inform you that we would like to invite you for an interview to further discuss your professional background and aspirations.
We would be delighted to meet with you on Tuesday, October 12th, at 10:00 AM at our offices. This interview will provide an opportunity to explore how your skills may align with the strategic goals of our company.
Kindly confirm your availability for the proposed date and time.
We look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely,
Human Resources Department
R.B.H
What the fuck?
Lina blinked several times, trying to wrap her head around what she had just read. Éloïse was right—why hadn't she bothered making an Excel sheet to keep track of all the resumes she'd sent? And which position was this even for?
The email didn't say anything specific. She went through her sent items, but found nothing. A spam email? No, this one seemed way too real.
R.B.H? The initials rang a bell. She quickly typed them into a search engine, and there it was...
Robert Beresford Holding.
The memory of the gala hit her—Daniel Beresford. The tray crashing to the floor. The humiliation.
She shook her head, trying to push those thoughts aside. The email had come from the recruitment department, not from Daniel Beresford himself.
Taking a deep breath, she told herself it was just a coincidence.
She remembered Éloïse's words from after the gala.
"If he had really been upset, you would've been fired on the spot. He didn't get it."
Lina stood up and went to the kitchen to make coffee, trying to regain some control before heading off to work.
On the subway, her mind wouldn't quiet down. It just kept spinning. She tried to breathe deeply to calm herself, but it only made her more anxious.
In the end, she decided to forward the email to Éloïse.
Lina:
"Check this out."
Éloïse:
"R.B.H?! That's huge, Lina!"
Lina swallowed hard. She had hesitated before messaging Éloïse, but then decided to tell her what was really bothering her.
Lina:
"Doesn't this feel weird, considering the gala???"
A few seconds later, Éloïse's response popped up, long and blunt.
Éloïse:
"Lina, are you serious? What? One of the most sought-after guys on the planet is suddenly into you just because you called him an asshole? This isn't a movie, Linou. He probably doesn't even remember you exist. It's just a coincidence! You're always making excuses. R.B.H hires thousands of people. You've got nothing to lose... except maybe a huge opportunity."
Lina stared at her screen for a few seconds. She felt stupid. Éloïse wasn't wrong. Just a coincidence. Nothing more.
She took a deep breath. Maybe it was time to stop overthinking and grab this chance.
But one question lingered. How had they found her profile?
She was pretty sure she'd never applied directly to them.
Maybe through LinkedIn, which she had finally set up after Éloïse kept pushing her, hoping a recruiter would notice her. Or maybe through one of the countless agencies she'd sent her resume to, praying that at least one would see her potential.
Lina hesitated for a moment, then remembered Éloïse's last text. She was right. She always found some excuse.
Not this time.
With a quick tap, she confirmed her attendance.