A poor young man saved a stranger girl on the road and missed his interview, unaware she’s the CEO of the company. What she did next gave him the shock of his life….

I knew I had to make a decision as soon as I laid eyes on her. A woman was standing by the side of the road, staring down at her car’s flat tire with trembling hands. People hardly looked at her as the vehicles sped by.

She was obviously out of her element and was having trouble in deciding what to do next. My interview was already running behind schedule. The interview was my one opportunity to turn my life around.

I ought to have continued, but I was unable to. I couldn’t because of something inside of me. So I turned the handle of my bike sharply and slid to a stop next to her.

Do you require assistance? I asked, gasping for air. Her piercing emerald eyes met mine as her head jerked up. Her expression briefly showed signs of uncertainty, as if she wasn’t used to taking assistance.

Then she let out a sigh. Yes, I believe so. I crouched next to the car, my fingers already working at the bolts, and nodded.

Have you got an extra? She let out a sigh of relief. In the trunk, indeed. I started working right away, my hands moving quickly.

I was fast thanks to years of repairing my old bike, and I had the automobile take the damaged tire off in a matter of minutes. My temple was dripping with sweat. Nevertheless, I continued, disregarding the passing of time.

Every few seconds, she looked at her watch as she paced next to me. I will be running late. She whispered to herself.

I gave a little laugh. Yes, I agree. She gave me a serious look at that point, and her demeanor changed. Car dealership

Hold on, are you heading anywhere significant? Wiping my hands on my jeans, I fastened the final bolt and got to my feet. interviews for jobs. Her expression dropped.

Oh. Oh no. I looked at my timepiece.

Ten minutes late. The understanding was like a kick to the stomach. I’d blown it.

I made an effort to grin. Everything is alright. Her eyebrows furrowed as if she were attempting to decipher me.

No, it isn’t. She pressed something into my palm after taking it out of her bag. A card for business.

“Call me,” she firmly said. Before putting it in my pocket, I hardly gave it a glance. I’m not in need.

“Just give me a call,” she said again. Then she got into her car and drove away without saying another word. For a moment, I stood there and watched her leave.

Then, knowing that I had just missed my one chance at something greater, I sighed and got up my bike to peddle away. Or so I believed. I woke up to the email the following morning.

We appreciate your application. Regretfully, we have chosen to proceed with other applicants. The rejection weighed heavily on my chest as I gazed at it on my phone.

A second door shut. I groaned and ran a hand over my hair. I had to look for another chance.

Quick. I saw something on my nightstand at that moment. The business card.

Flipping it between my fingers, I picked it up. Carter, Eleanor. CEO…

Carter Business. My heart thumped. Carter Business? The Carter Company? The business from which I had just been turned down? As I gazed at the name, my breath caught.

You gave me your card, but why? My curiosity tore at me until I was unable to doubt myself. I pressed the button. On the second ring, she answered.

“You called,” she said. Clearing my throat, I sounded almost relieved. Yes, you handed your card to me.

Have you been hired? I laughed without a sense of humor. No. I didn’t make the interview.

Quiet. Come to my office then. Now.

I blinked. What? There was no request. She hung up after that.

I look at my phone, utterly confused. What on earth was happening? It seemed unreal to enter Carter Enterprises. The structure was enormous, and the morning sun was reflected by its immaculate glass.

I had never seen a more opulent lobby than this one. With my scuffed sneakers squeaking on the clean marble flooring and my tattered jacket making me feel terribly out of place. Mr. Carter is anticipating your arrival.

The receptionist pointed to the elevator while hardly glancing at me. Carter, Mr. Bewildered, I entered and pushed the button for the upper floor. I entered a slick, contemporary office as the doors opened.

And she was standing with her arms folded beside the window. Carter, Eleanor. As I stepped in, she turned, her sharp eyes finding me.

You arrived. I exhaled. Yes.

I do not yet know why. She pointed to the chair across from her workstation. Take a seat.

Yes, I did. She looked at me for a second, then she started talking. Yesterday, you came to my rescue.

You were not required to. However, you did. I moved around in my chair.

The tire was simply flat. Her face grew stern. No.

It wasn’t. My career was on the line. She shook her head when I asked if I had missed that meeting.

What you accomplished for me is beyond your comprehension. I scowled. What do you say? She bent over.

I am saying. I owe you. I felt sick to my stomach.

Oh, me. She grinned. I have a position available at my organization.

You will accept it. I blinked. Hold on.

You. I have a job offer from you. Indeed.

I didn’t even do an interview, though. You did. when you choose to assist me rather than yourself.

I gazed at her. I was trying to comprehend what was going on. This was crazy.

utterly crazy. However, I was certain of one thing when she slid the contract over the desk. My life was about to take a permanent turn.

My thoughts were racing as I gazed at the contract in front of me. This was no ordinary task. This ticket was quite valuable.

an opportunity at Carter Enterprises. The same business that only hours before had turned me down. And now…

I had a job offer from the CEO herself. It was illogical. I looked up at Eleanor.

She was seated opposite me. folded arms. Her piercing green eyes.

Unreadable. What? I questioned my voice horse. Why would you do this? Her head was cocked.

I told you already. I was saved by you. I laughed a little dryly.

The tire was simply flat. No. “Firmly,” she said.

She fixed her gaze on mine. It wasn’t. Something tightened in my chest as she uttered it.

I glanced at the contract once again. My hands were shaking a little. I had never seen so much money in my life as the pay alone.

However, it was more than that. This was a genuine chance. Another chance.

I wanted to answer “yes” right away. But I hesitated in another way. I balled my fists up.

I’m not looking for sympathy. There was a spark of something inscrutable in her eyes. This isn’t sympathy.

There was silence between us. Then she crossed her legs and leaned back. “You’ve got two options,” she remarked calmly.

You are free to leave and return to your previous job search strategy. Or you could risk it. In my ears, my pulse thundered.

Too good to be true, this felt. Nevertheless, I had a feeling that this woman wasn’t the kind to squander her time. I grabbed for the pen slowly.

I signed my name after that. I started working at Carter Enterprises the following morning. Still, it didn’t seem real.

I had no place in the world of the office. the individuals wearing fitted suits. The floors were polished.

The clicking sound of high-end heels on marble. Everything was so alien. I didn’t belong.

Walker, Mr. A clear voice interrupted my train of thought. A woman in a smart black suit was clutching a document when I turned around. Ms. Carter’s executive assistant is me, Ava.

Come with me. I nodded after taking a deep breath. After guiding me through a tangle of offices with glass walls, she paused in front of a door.

She gestured inside and added, “Your workspace.” I stepped in, gasping for air. The space wasn’t a cubicle.

It wasn’t a small workstation in a large space. The office was private. I looked across at Ava.

A mistake has been made. I doubt it. “No mistake,” she curtly said.

The arrangements were made by Ms. Carter herself. My stomach turned over. What was she doing? Ava handed me a packet before I had a chance to ask more questions.

Your obligations. Go over them. You get started right away.

After that, she left, leaving me standing there with my heart racing. I was completely unaware of the situation I had just found myself in. However, one thing was evident.

This would be more than a job. I knew I wasn’t welcome as soon as I entered that office. I was followed down the corridor by whispers.

More time was spent staring than was necessary. I sensed it. resentment.

suspicion. curiosity. Who is he? He has an office, but why? He has no experience at all.

I gritted my teeth and continued to move as if I hadn’t heard. In actuality, however, they were correct. I had no place here.

And this office’s wolves. Weakness was odorous to them. I needed to establish my worth.

Quick. A few days later, the first serious hurdle arose. As she passed a large file over the desk, Eleanor called me to her office, her face blank.

She responded, “I need you to get a presentation ready for the executive board.” By Friday, they anticipate receiving a financial analysis. The blood in my face started to run out.

I had very little business experience, much less executive presentation experience. I’m not sure if I can. Yes, you can.

She spoke firmly. You will, too. I take a deep breath.

This was not a courtesy. It was a test. I submerged myself in financial records for the next three days, attempting to understand statistics that were like a foreign language.

I didn’t get much sleep. By Friday, I was exhausted from caffeine and irritability. When I entered the boardroom, I saw a table crowded with influential executives.

This company had been developed from the ground up by both men and women. I could sense their doubt as soon as I spoke. But I persisted.

I overcame my nervousness. through the looks. Despite the doubt.

and when I was done. Quiet. One of the senior executives then leaned back and gave a leisurely nod.

“Well done,” he said. I let out a breath. The test was passed by me.

For the time being. Eleanor summoned me to her office that night. I anticipated criticism.

An explanation of all the things I had done incorrectly. Rather, she simply observed me for a considerable amount of time before commenting. Why didn’t you simply accept the cash? I blinked.

What? She said, “I could tell you didn’t want a handout when I gave you my card that day.” The majority of individuals would have accepted the cash and left. I balled my fists up.

Charity is not what I want. Her mouth formed a shape that resembled a smile. Excellent.

A pause. She leaned forward after that. Are you aware of the reason I recruited you? I gave a headshake.

since you make me think about myself. My heart stopped beating. She got up and moved toward the window.

I started my business from scratch. I understand what it’s like to be up against the odds. Her green eyes met mine as she turned around.

Do you wish to establish your worth? “I said,” she said. Then take action. A problem.

An examination. Then I realized. This was just the start.

My life turned into a battlefield over the course of the following few weeks. I was thrown into the deep end as a rookie at Carter Enterprises, which was a shark tank. Every action I took was observed, evaluated, and frequently criticized.

Eleanor didn’t treat me any differently. She was stricter with me than anyone else, if anything. One day, when throwing my most recent report on the table, she said, “Your numbers are weak.”

I tightened my jaw. I’ll make it right. By tomorrow, you will have it fixed.

Tomorrow? It was not doable. However, Eleanor refused to accept justifications. In order to ensure that every aspect was flawless, I spent the entire night studying figures.

I was having trouble keeping my eyes open by the time I turned in the final report. After taking a quick look at the paper and giving it a single nod, she returned it. Better.

That was it. Not a word of praise. No grin.

Better, that is. Nevertheless, that one word had all the meaning. Although I was aware that not everyone loved me, I didn’t anticipate that they would actively want to discredit me.

When I arrived at a meeting one afternoon, I discovered that half of the information in my presentation had been changed. I felt sick to my stomach. I had been set up by someone.

The CEOs’ features were tight with fury as they glared. I frantically tried to justify the mistakes, but it was too late. Throughout it all, Eleanor said nothing, her face unreadable.

She then dragged me into her office. You dropped your defenses. Her voice was sharp as she spoke.

I balled my fists up. I didn’t consider. No.

She cut me off. You didn’t. I turned away in embarrassment.

“Just fix it,” she said. No pity. No second chances.

Simply fix it. The following week was devoted to repairing my reputation. I put in more effort than ever before, staying up late and going over each report twice.

I found the person who was sabotaging me, followed their trail, and brought them to the board’s attention. The whispers ceased after the guilty party was dismissed. I was never undervalued again.

Eleanor appeared impressed as well. Although she didn’t express it directly, I could see the glimmer of approval in her eyes. That was sufficient.

Eleanor did something unexpected one evening. I was invited to a charity gala by her. She said, “This isn’t just a party.”

It’s business. I took a deep breath. I’m not exactly the owner of a tux.

She grinned. Now you do. A fitted outfit showed up at my workplace the following day.

I looked at it for a while. This world was different. I had never been a part of that world.

However, I was going to enter it. I also had no intention of failing. It was an incredible gala.

wealth, power, and luxury. Everything was on exhibit. Eleanor walked through the gathering as if she was the only person there.

She did, in a sense. People walked up to her, wanting to get her attention. She didn’t ignore me, though.

She introduced me instead. Like I was important. I wasn’t an outsider for the first time.

I was someone. But when a man with a somber expression came up to Eleanor, the night took a different turn. “Carter, you’re wrong,” he scoffed.

I stiffened. Eleanor’s mouth clenched. I’m not prone to errors.

We’ll check on that. There was a tense silence as the man stormed away. I gave Eleanor a quick look.

Who was that? She let out a deep exhale. An longtime foe. I had a feeling that this was not the end.

The threat came two days later. A court order. Carter Enterprises is being sued.

Eleanor did not even respond. They want to frighten me. I scowled.

Does it function? She looked at me sternly. No. Her eyes, however, sent a different message.

I wasn’t merely observing a corporate conflict. I was witnessing the repercussions of her history. And I realized for the first time.

Giants are not without flaws. Eleanor retaliated. Hard.

In meetings, she was merciless, putting an end to charges and using her own legal threats as leverage. But I could see the fatigue behind closed doors. She had her head in her hands when I found her in her workplace one evening.

After hesitating, I moved forward. Do you require assistance? I asked quietly. Startled, she raised her head.

She appeared briefly prepared to push me away. Then she didn’t. Eleanor Carter allowed someone else to bear the burden for the first time.

The lawsuit peaked. There was a lot of tension. Investors paused.

The press jumped in. Then Eleanor revealed something shocking. She presented proof of deception.

Evidence that revealed the individuals attempting to ruin her. The case fell apart. Carter Enterprises made it through.

What about Eleanor? She had never been taller. But I saw it in her eyes. This battle had left her scarred.

And somehow, I felt compelled to defend her the following time. Eleanor invited me into her office after the battle. “Well done,” she said.

I blinked. I didn’t accomplish much. She grinned.

You underestimated how much you did. A pause. She leaned forward after that.

Walker, what do you want? I wasn’t prepared for how hard the question affected me. I had wished for survival for years. I wanted more now, though.

I simply didn’t understand what that meant at the time. Everything altered during the next few months. I was no longer only an employee.

Eleanor’s right hand was me. In meetings, I stood by her side. went on business trips with her.

People took notice. They also muttered. However, Eleanor? She didn’t ever talk about it.

Until one evening. following a lengthy flight. She faced me.

She remarked, “You’re not the same man who entered this company.” I looked her in the eye. You’re not either.

We exchanged something. There’s no denying it. However, neither of us actually said it aloud.

Not quite yet. I was standing outside a familiar building one evening. I had missed the job interview months prior.

I reflected on who I had been as a young guy. The one who was in a difficult situation. Lost.

I’m scared. Then I considered my current self. more powerful.

Smarter. Honored. due to Eleanor.

due to that single decision made at the side of the road. That job never came to me. I have something better.

I was given a fresh start. I knew as I turned aside and into the city lights. This was only the start.