Chapter 1:

The New Beginning

Graduation had been a whirlwind of caps, gowns, and tearful goodbyes, but the real victory came two weeks later when I received the email. I, Vivian, a fresh twenty-three-year-old graduate with a degree in business administration, had landed a position at Apex Innovations, one of the most prestigious companies in the city. I stared at the screen in my small apartment, heart racing. “This cannot be real,” I whispered to myself, reading the offer letter again. The salary was generous, the benefits outstanding, and the role was entry level marketing assistant. Deep down, I knew my looks had played a part. The interviewers had lingered...