Chapter 5 - The Résumé on the Mahogany Desk
The morning sun cast long, golden beams across the polished mahogany surface of my top-floor office. I stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, sipping black coffee while reviewing the final preparations for Project Aegis.
A soft knock sounded at the door.
“Come in, Evelyn,” I said without turning around.
My executive assistant, Evelyn, stepped in carrying a slender leather portfolio. “Good morning, Ms. Vance. The search committee has narrowed down the candidates for the Executive VP of Logistics role. Mr. Reed and the board have reviewed the final three applicants. They’ve left the final interview selection to your discretion.”
“Leave them on the desk,” I replied, turning around with a faint smile. “Thank you.”
I sat down in my high-backed leather chair and opened the folder. The first two candidates were seasoned directors from Chicago and Atlanta, each boasting solid operational track records and respectable references.
Then, I turned to the third application.
The name printed at the very top in bold, modern font made my fingers freeze.
DARIUS ELLIS
Senior Logistics Strategist & Supply Chain Director
For a full minute, the room seemed to stand still. I looked at the name, then down at the meticulously crafted bullet points where he claimed credit for industry breakthroughs, conveniently omitting the catastrophic audit and client lawsuits that had led to his firing from Apex Logistics.
A slow, cold smile curved on my lips.
Three years.
Three years had passed since that rainy Thursday at Westbridge Courthouse, where he looked at my pregnant belly with utter disgust and told me I was an embarrassing burden who brought nothing to the table. Three years since he laughed in my face and handed me a marriage application to another woman, confident that I would spend the rest of my life rotting in poverty.
And now, driven by desperation, he was knocking on my door, begging for a salary paid from my pocket.
I picked up the intercom. “Evelyn, connect me to Marcus Reed immediately.”
Seconds later, Marcus’s voice came over the speaker. “Yes, Claire?”
“Marcus, I’m reviewing the candidate list for the Logistics VP role. I see Darius Ellis is among the finalists.”
“Ah, yes,” Marcus said. “On paper, his historical metrics look competitive, though our background team noted some vague gaps regarding his sudden departure from Apex. Would you like me to remove him from the shortlist?”
“No,” I replied calmly, my voice smooth and deliberate. “Do not remove him. In fact, schedule his interview for tomorrow morning at ten o'clock sharp. And Marcus?”
“Yes, Claire?”
“I will be conducting the final interview personally. Ensure the Boardroom One observation suite is prepared.”
“Understood, Ms. Vance. I will inform his recruiter immediately.”
May you like
I hung up the phone and looked out over the sprawling city below. The wheel of fate had turned full circle. Darius Ellis wanted an opportunity to prove his worth?
I was more than happy to give him the meeting of his life.
