Chapter 178
Chapter 178
Nervous and ready, Mia sat quietly, her hands tightly gripping the strap of her bag as one by one, names were being called out.
Each time someone was called, the anxiety in the room grew thicker. People adjusted their clothes, straighteried their backs, and whispered last–minute
prayers.
Mia tried not to let her nerves get the best of her.
She inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly. It was just a job interview, not a war zone–but it didn’t feel that way.
Then she heard it. “Mia Tumer.”
Her heart skipped. Her stomach twisted. She stood, legs feeling slightly shaky, but she steadied herself and forced a polite smile.
One of the assistants at the door nodded at her and led her to another room. She could feel her heart beating in her throat.
When the assistant opened the door to the interview room, Mia stepped in and the air suddenly felt heavier.
Four people sat behind a long table, three men and a woman in glasses who looked like she could read through anyone. They looked professional, serious, and ready to judge.
She stood tall, offered them a polite smile, and greeted them.
“Good morning,” she said clearly, though she could hear the slight nervousness in her own voice.
The woman in glasses looked up briefly and gave a nod. One of the men on the right leaned forward slightly, his fingers interlocked on the table.
“Mia Turner, correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
He adjusted his tie a little and went straight to the point. “Imagine you’re handling a newly launched project. The pressure is intense. Deadlines are tight. The client wants results fast. What do you do? How do you handle the stress? What strategies would you bring forward, specifically for a gaming launch in a competitive market?”
Mia blinked. Damn. That was direct.
She wasn’t expecting a full–on case study, not right away. For a second, her mind went blank. Completely blank. But then something kicked in….that survival instinct of hers. The one that always saved her in high–pressure moments. Her brain was racing, but her voice remained calm.
She inhaled again, gave herself a heartbeat to pull her thoughts together, and then looked at them directly.
“Well,” she started, “the first thing I’d do is understand the core of the project. What the game represents, who the audience is, what makes it unique. Once I have that, I’d sit down with the creative and development team to make sure we all share the same vision. Communication is everything.”
They were watching her closely now, some scribbling notes.
“For marketing strategy,” she continued, her voice gaining strength, “I’d push for teasers before the launch–short clips, behind–the–scenes, countdowns, things that stir curiosity. Gamers love feeling like they’re part of a journey, not just sold to.”
The woman in glasses tilted her head slightly, like she was intrigued.
And she also looks so damn familiar. Mia was definitely losing her mind. She pushes all those thoughts to the back of her mind.
“I’d suggest collaborations with influencers who genuinely play the type of games we’re launching. No fake hype. Real engagement. Let them beta–test and share honest feedback.”
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Chapter 178
She paused, letting that sink in, then added, “As for the pressure, I’m used to chaos. I don’t run from it. I organize it. I know how to break problems down. I know when to breathe, when to push, and when to ask for help. I’m not scared of stress. I use it.”
The room was quiet for a beat.
The man who had asked the question gave a small nod. Another man leaned back in his chair, looking at her like he was reevaluating his expectations. The woman in glasses glanced at one of the papers in front of her, her expression unreadable.
“Thank you, Mia,” the man said finally. “We’ll get back to you.”
Mia nodded, her throat dry. “Thank you for your time.”
She stood, gave them a small smile, and walked out.
As soon as the door closed behind her, she let out the breath she didn’t know she had been holding.
Holy shit.
She walked slowly back to the waiting room, trying to replay everything she said. Did she do well? Did she talk too fast? Were they impressed, or just being polite?
Esther Blackwell would have recognized that face even in her sleep. Even without hearing the name, she would have. She thinks so.
The moment the next name was called, she had literally frozen.
Mia Turner.
Esther’s heart skipped. Her breath caught. She blinked, once, then again, as if her eyes were playing tricks on her. But when the door opened and the young woman walked in, there was no mistaking her.
It was her.
The same girl she had seen years ago standing in her son’s penthouse in oversized clothes.
The same girl Alex had been willing to give everything for–his name, his future, his heart. The same girl who had shattered him.
Mia Turner.
Alex was never the open kind. He had always been closed off, guarded. But with Mia, he smiled more. He laughed louder. His entire world changed, and Esther had noticed. She noticed because it scared her.
And then…like a badly written plot twist…Mia disappeared.
Esther’s chest tightened at the memory.
Alex became worse..
He buried himself in work. He became cruel, not to her, but to the world. As though the light he had found had been ripped from him and he never wanted to find it again.
And now, here she was. Standing in front of Esther.
She was saying something about strategy, her voice calm but confident.
Esther was no longer listening. She was staring.
How could she be here? Why was she even here in Alex’s company?
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The is tasane!
Didn’t she rom from him? Didn’t the leave like he meant nothing?
Esther was trying to keep her face neutral, but her mind was running a hundred miles a minute. Her thoughts were laud.
She squinted slightly, studying her.
She looked older. Not just in appearance. Her eyes looked like they held something heavier now. Pain? Life? Experience? But still, she was stunning Even more beautiful than before,
What happened after she left?
She had tried to get answers after Mia vanished. The Turners had moved, Just like that. No trace. Nothing.
It never sat right with her.
Why would a family just uproot like that?
Esther had tried to press Alex. He didn’t want to talk about it. He’d told her to leave it alone. To let it go,
“I don’t want to know,” he had said one night. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
But it did. It mattered to Esther. Because she saw what it did to him. She saw the way he shut down. She knew how deeply he had loved Mia.
And now that same girl was here.
Esther’s throat tightened.
Maybe it’s just a coincidence. Maybe she doesn’t know Alex owns this company.
As Mia continued her presentation, Esther found herself fighting the urge to interrupt. She had so many questions. So many things she wanted to demand answers for.
Instead, she watched, studied and observed.
Mia’s voice didn’t shake once. Her words were clear, well–thought–out. She had ideas, good ones. She talked about marketing strategies, social engagement, and ways to create hype without overspending. Her brain was sharp.
Esther’s hands folded in her lap. Her heart ached with a mix of confusion, bitterness, and maybe a little hope? maybe….She didn’t want to feel it. But it
was there.
Could it be that Mia hadn’t meant to hurt Alex? Could it be that something had happened back then? Something they didn’t know?
She shook her head.
She needed answers.
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