No way. Greyson is the owner of this accounting firm? Aurora's mind went completely blank as she stared at the man seated across from her. Barely able to process what was happening. A thousand thoughts collided in her head.
Greyson, her interviewer—the one who now held her fate in his hands—was the same boy she used to tease mercilessly in high school. Back then, he'd been quiet, bookish, awkward… an easy target. She hadn't thought of him in years, but now he sat there, poised and confident, scrolling through her résumé like he owned the room. Because he did.
"Your résumé looks good," Greyson said, his tone professional. "You have all the necessary qualifications and meet all of our company's requirements." He continued reviewing her file, seemingly unbothered. "Your academic record is flawless. You were recommended by your college instructors and even your principal. Your attendance is impressive—only one tardy in your entire college career. I don't see a reason not to hire you."
Aurora's throat tightened. She didn't know how to respond. Her voice seemed trapped somewhere behind a rising wave of guilt. I don't know what to say to him… I'm at a complete loss for words.
"So then, shall we begin the interview?" Greyson asked, looking up from her file.
"Y-Y-Yes," Aurora stammered, her once-confident voice now shaky and weak. Her hands gripped the armrests of her chair to hide the tremble in her fingers.
There's no way I'm getting this job, she thought, panic curling in her chest. How can I, when the boss of this company is Greyson—the guy I bullied all throughout high school?
Greyson tilted his head, observing her. "What's wrong, Miss Aurora?" he asked. "You look really pale."
"Nothing… I'm fine," Aurora replied quickly, avoiding his gaze. She tried to pull herself together, but her mind was racing, replaying memories she wished she could forget. The teasing. The laughter. The look on his face when he dropped his books and everyone had laughed—including her.
This is too much. I should just leave before I embarrass myself further, she thought. Her stomach twisted into knots. She stood up abruptly and turned toward the door.
"And where do you think you're going?" Greyson's calm voice stopped her.
"I'm going home," Aurora said without turning around, trying to keep her voice steady.
Greyson rose from his seat and gently took hold of her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. "The interview isn't over yet. Could you sit down, please?"
She pulled her arm lightly, but he didn't let go. "Don't pretend like you don't remember me," she said softly, her voice full of pain and regret. "You think this is funny, don't you? The girl who made your life a nightmare in high school is now the one begging for a job just to survive. It's poetic, right? Karma doing its thing."
Tears welled up in her eyes. "I bet you can't wait to tell your team all about this. Share a laugh over drinks about the former bully begging at your feet. Just let me go. I don't want to spend another second in this room."
Greyson's expression changed, becoming more serious. He let go of her wrist and stepped back, folding his arms. "You're right. I do remember you."
Aurora turned slowly to face him, bracing for whatever came next.
"I was surprised when I saw your application," he continued. "Even more surprised when you walked into this room. And yes, I remember everything from high school. You made sure your presence was unforgettable."
She swallowed hard, guilt clawing at her throat.
"But," Greyson said, pausing as he walked toward the window, "if I had let the past define me… if I had let what you and others did break me, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be the man I am today."
He turned to face her again. "I won't let your past actions cloud my judgment. What happened in high school should stay in high school. We're adults now, Aurora. I don't hold grudges—that's not who I am."
Aurora blinked, stunned.
"So, all feelings aside," Greyson said gently, his voice steady, "can we start this interview over?"
Aurora slowly nodded and returned to her seat. "Yes," she whispered, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.
Greyson cleared his throat. "Okay then. Let's begin the interview." He sat back down and picked up a pen. "Why should we hire you for this accounting position?"
Aurora took a deep breath. Pull it together. "The work ethic at your company is a perfect match for my own values and discipline," she said, her voice gradually regaining strength. "I also noticed that the firm is aiming to diversify its business activities. That aligns with my goal of handling different types of accounting responsibilities. I want to grow—not just specialize—and I know I could do that here."
Greyson nodded thoughtfully. "Good answer. Moving on. Define the term bookkeeping."
"Bookkeeping is the recording of financial transactions for a business," Aurora replied, her tone now more confident.
"What is working capital?"
"Working capital is the value of current assets minus current liabilities. It's used to support daily operations and short-term obligations."
Greyson made a quick note. "Alright. What are the three main financial statements, and explain each of them."
Aurora blinked. "Um… is this an interview or an exam?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Greyson chuckled slightly. "Why would an accounting firm hire someone who doesn't know something as basic as this? You'd be preparing these reports for real clients. If you can't name them, that tells me you can't prepare them."
Aurora nodded quickly. "Right, of course. The three financial statements are: the balance sheet, the income statement, and the cash flow statement. The balance sheet shows a company's assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific point in time. The income statement summarizes revenues and expenses over a period, showing the net income or loss. And the cash flow statement tracks the cash entering and leaving the company, helping to understand liquidity."
Greyson smiled slightly. "Impressive. You clearly know your stuff."
They continued for several more questions. Aurora answered each one with growing confidence, the earlier tension slowly fading into something more focused—determination, maybe even hope.
After a while, Greyson closed her file. "Okay, that's the end of the interview. You show promise, and I'm confident you'll be a valuable addition to our team. I'm hiring you."
Aurora's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yes. Your training starts in two days. Please be here on time."
"I will! Thank you so much," Aurora said, her voice almost trembling with relief and gratitude.
"I have work to attend to, so I'll see you in two days," Greyson said as he stood and turned toward his desk. Just before sitting, he gave her a small wink.
Aurora stood up, heart pounding, and walked toward the door with her head held high. I got the job, she thought, still in disbelief.
Maybe the past couldn't be undone—but the future was still hers to shape.