Second Chance: Marrying into Wealth Chapter 103

I shot back, feeling a bit defensive, "Me? Scared? Come on, only cowards talk about fear!"

"That's the spirit!" Christopher nodded, clearly pleased. "Summit Innovations Group loves that kind of attitude."

I was taken aback, not quite getting it.

I thought for sure Christopher would be annoyed with me by now.

He continued, "When Paula called me to find you, she also sent your resume to Summit Innovations Group's HR. You should be getting an interview notice soon."

I could hardly believe it. It felt surreal, and I hesitated, "Can I really do this?"

"Are you doubting yourself or questioning my judgment?" Christopher's gaze was intense, locking onto mine.

I shook my head. His words made me feel a bit flattered. I had just claimed I wasn't afraid of anything, and now I was doubting myself, which made me seem pretty lame.

Of course, I couldn't say I was questioning Christopher's judgment.

I quickly explained, "I just don't want people to think you're giving me special treatment..."

Christopher seemed amused by my words.

He looked at me like I was being foolish. "Let's not even discuss whether I am giving you special treatment. As the CEO of Summit Innovations Group, even if I did, so what?"

"Besides, your interview will follow the standard process: submitting your resume, waiting for the interview notice, and going through several rounds of interviews... You haven't learned Mr. Turner's skills, but you sure do overthink things."

I opened my mouth to speak, but Christopher continued, "Getting through Summit Innovations Group's interview process isn't easy. You need to work hard. If you get an interview notice, it means your education, skills, appearance, and past experiences have been evaluated, and the company believes you might be able to handle the high-intensity work at Summit Innovations Group."

"Of course, Paula's recommendation is just the beginning of your interview process. Every subsequent interview stage is crucial."

Christopher's eyes were serious and focused as he looked at me.

My heart skipped a beat. The more he said, the more I felt I owed him. Even though he repeatedly said he was doing this out of respect for my parents, it still seemed like a lot of effort and time.

But since I already owed him this favor, saying more would just seem pretentious.

"Alright, don't worry. I'll make the most of this opportunity." I suddenly felt incredibly determined and couldn't help but ask, "So, does my interview have anything to do with you?"

Christopher furrowed his brow slightly, as if considering my question. After a moment, he spoke again, "Not entirely unrelated. A normal interview process has three rounds. After the initial interview, there will be professional assessments conducted by several department heads. If you pass the first two rounds, I, as the CEO, will conduct the final interview. Do you think it has anything to do with me?"

I nodded. This was good. At least if I passed the first two rounds, the department heads would know I had real skills.

Christopher added, "In the final round, I won't give you special treatment just because of Mr. Turner. You'll have to answer the questions normally. Only if you pass will you be fully qualified to join Summit Innovations Group."

I was more than happy with that. Christopher's words lifted a weight off my shoulders, filling me with determination.

However, I thought about my live streaming incident. The previous company had rejected me because of it.

So, hesitating a bit, I couldn't help but ask, "What if they find out about my past?"

Christopher sighed, probably realizing how much this issue affected me.

I felt a bit embarrassed under his gaze, realizing I was being a bit dramatic.

Fortunately, Christopher firmly told me, "Summit Innovations Group values ability above all."

I nodded, feeling relieved.

Christopher then added a piece of beef to my bowl. "Eat up. You'll need the energy to face your new beginning."

His mention of a new beginning made my eyes well up. Yes, why was I trapping myself in an exaggerated predicament?

Compared to the difficulties and dangers I faced with Lawrence, this was just a simple interview. Being rejected was normal, wasn't it? Yet I acted like it was the end of the world.

I had already started anew. I shouldn't be wallowing in self-pity.

"Thank you, I will," I replied with unwavering determination.

Even if there were obstacles ahead, I wasn't afraid. Besides, I believed a bright future awaited me.

With that realization, I felt a sense of clarity, and even the food tasted better.

I ate a large bowl, surprising Christopher. He seemed worried I was overeating and might get sick, so he reminded me to be careful.

I assured him I was just hungry and had an appetite now, so it was fine. Only then did Christopher relax.

After dinner, he drove me to my house. As I got out of the car, he reminded me to rest early before driving home.

I watched his car pull up to his house, smiled, and went inside.

Lying in bed, my mind wandered.

Paula called. "Melinda, you scared me to death. I told you I wasn't comfortable leaving you alone and had Tiana stay with you. You didn't believe me. As soon as I left, you went to a bar alone. Do you know how dangerous that is? You have a pretty face, you're a single woman, and the live streaming incident wasn't that long ago. What if someone recognized you..."

The more Paula talked, the more dangerous it seemed, and she felt a sense of fear.

Her reminder made me realize. Yes, not just the interviewers, but anyone outside could recognize me.

I was lucky nothing strange happened while I was drinking today.

But the more I thought about it, the more frustrated and upset I became. "Paula, you didn't have to remind me. Now I'm even more depressed. It wasn't my fault. I did what I thought was right and best for me, but it became a stain on my record. People labeled me as manipulative, vengeful, and scheming. What's wrong with this world? Why is the victim always me?"

The more I spoke, the more agitated I became, even a bit defiant. "If I get an interview at Summit Innovations Group and the interviewer asks the same questions as the last company, I'll answer honestly."

"I don't think I did anything wrong. Why should I bear those accusations? If they don't want me because of that, I don't want to work for them either!"

Paula seemed amused by my somewhat childish response.