Chapter 4

Aria

“Dear Aria,

We are pleased to let you know that your job application to Lunar Labs has been accepted. Are you available to come to our head office for an interview today at 2 PM?

Best,

Adam (Hiring Manager)”

I rubbed my eyes, wondering if what I was reading was a figment of my imagination.

The advertising department job I’d applied to months ago at Lunar Labs, the top canine nutrition company in the country, had finally gone through. I thought that my application had been ignored, seeing as how I had no formal degree, but…

“Dear Adam,

I would be honored to come for an interview today. See you soon!

Best,

Aria White”

I typed out the response before I could even think twice; this was a huge opportunity, after all. To have a position at Lunar Labs, regardless of position, was basically a ticket to financial security.

A quick glance at the clock revealed that it was almost one o’clock, and Lunar Labs’ head office was on the other side of the city, so I’d have to move quickly.

Slamming my laptop shut, I bolted to the bathroom for my second shower of the day—just to make sure I wasn’t covered in dog hair—and quickly rinsed off. Once I was clean and dry, I picked out a smart outfit consisting of a pair of tailored trousers and a clean white button-down that I saved specifically for interviews, and then I was out the door.

As I ran for the subway, I still couldn’t believe that I was even being considered for the job. I had never been able to afford college due to a… rough upbringing that resulted in emancipating myself early and living in youth homes/communal situations for years.

So because of that, I was usually passed over for full-time jobs. Applying for this job was even a bit of a stretch despite my experience with animals and freelance writing, so when I hadn’t heard back for months, I didn’t think much of it.

But now, I was finally getting my chance. I just hoped I would make the right impression.

I made it to the Lunar Labs head office with ten minutes to spare after taking two different subways, and smoothed down the front of my slightly-rumpled shirt as I strode in through the front doors.

The building was sleek and modern, with tiled white floors and walls that were mostly comprised of windows. It was situated right along the river, lush gardens that were gorgeous even in the dead of winter lining the walkways. A koi pond sat in the middle of the lobby, gold and red fish flitting about beneath the serene surface as vines in hanging pots swayed from the ceiling.

It was so… nice.

I knew that Lunar Labs was an extremely successful company, but I’d always pictured a cold and industrial office building, not contemporary white chairs and lush plants and enormous abstract art pieces.

“Hi,” I said, somewhat out of breath, as I stopped near the sleek front desk. “I have an interview. The name is Aria White.”

The receptionist, a freckled redhead, looked up and eyed me up and down over the rim of her glasses.

“Human?” she asked, looking confused.

“I…” My eyebrows shot up in surprise, and I let out an awkward chuckle. “I mean, what else would I be?”

The receptionist didn’t reply, instead furrowing her brow as she typed on her keyboard. A moment later, she pushed her chair back and stood, leading me over to a set of frosted glass doors behind the desk. “Right this way.”

Still puzzling over that strange question, I followed the receptionist—who was just as tall as I was, if not taller, and her heels made her even more so—through the doors and down a bright white hallway.

As we passed by employees and rooms with big windows that revealed meetings going on inside, I couldn’t help but notice that people seemed to be… staring at me.

I glanced down at my shirt, wondering if I had developed some nasty pit stains during my mad dash across the city. But my outfit was just as neat and clean as before, my hair pulled back into a tidy bun at the nape of my neck.

Maybe they’re just not used to newcomers, I thought. Or they can tell that you’re poor as hell just from one look.

Finally, the receptionist opened a door at the end of the hall and gestured for me to enter. “Adam is just inside,” she said, shooting me a terse smile. “Good luck, human.”

And with that, she was striding away, her heels clicking rapidly on the tiled floors.

Human…?

“Come in.” I looked up to see a man with brown hair and a neat beard gesturing for me to enter, and I managed a smile, shutting the door behind myself. He glanced at me up and down, just as the receptionist had, as I took my seat.

“You’re human?” he asked.

“Why does everyone keep saying that?” I laughed, wholeheartedly believing that this was some kind of inside joke at this point. It was a company for canine nutrition, after all. “Very funny.”

The man, Adam, smiled tightly and shuffled some papers on his desk. “Haha, yeah,” he said, confirming my suspicions—albeit weakly. He gestured to me and leaned back in his chair. “So, tell me about yourself.”

Even though I had applied to this job months ago, I had come prepared. Without missing a beat, I launched into an explanation of my past experience.

“I began volunteering at various animal shelters at the age of twelve,” I began, sitting up straight. “Every weekend, I would help care for and walk the dogs. At sixteen, I spent an entire summer working at a wolf sanctuary outside the city, and—”

“A wolf sanctuary, you say?” Adam cut me off, cocking his head.

I nodded. “Yes. I helped care for the sick and elderly wolves. It was an amazing experience.” I went on, “After that, I took on a job at—”

“Hold on a second. You said you are human, correct?”

Frowning, I stopped mid-sentence. What the hell…? If this was a joke, it wasn’t really funny anymore. If anything, it was just becoming downright weird. “Yes,” I replied, trying my best to sound unbothered.

“I see.” Adam stood, stroking his beard as he looked down at me. “I’m afraid you won’t be cut out for this position,” he said after a moment.

I felt my stomach drop. “But I thought my application had been accepted,” I managed. Why would they invite me for an interview, only to tell me that I wasn’t ‘cut out’ within the first two minutes?

“Yes, well… I’m afraid our application system is run by AI,” Adam explained, looking a bit apologetic now—although not as much as he should. “Sometimes it makes mistakes.”

“But—”

“I’m sorry, Miss White.” Adam moved some papers aside and picked up what looked to be a copy of my resume. “I see here you have no formal education. The position requires a bachelor’s degree at minimum.”

“Oh.” I felt my shoulders slump. I did recall that the job listing had said as such, but I had applied anyway, figuring that there was no harm in trying. I did have extensive experience in animal care and freelance writing, after all.

Adam tossed my resume back down on his desk. “My apologies, Miss White. You can see yourself out.”

I didn’t move right away. “I can’t even complete the interview?” I asked, starting to feel a little frustrated. “I mean, your system was the one that made the error, and I came all the way here—”

“I guess I need to repeat myself,” Adam chuckled wryly. He spoke slowly, as if speaking to a child. “You. Are. Not. Qualified.”

“But my experience—”

“You lack the education. Plain and—”

“What are you doing, Adam?”

Adam and I both jolted at the sound of the familiar voice. Eyes widening, I turned, and there he was: Darren.

Before I even had a chance to process what was happening, Lucas was bounding into the room and nuzzling my leg, whining as if he hadn’t seen me in a hundred years. Meanwhile, Adam stammered incoherently and Darren placed his hands on his hips.

“I’m the one that accepted her application,” Darren explained, striding into the room. “Unless you’re implying that I’d be so careless as to make a mistake in the hiring process at my own company.”

Oh No.

It was then that it hit me.

Darren was the CEO of Lunar Labs—therefore making him one of the richest people in the country.

And I accidentally kissed him last night.