chapter 1: fresh start

Ella

Starting over isn’t easy. Okay… maybe it’s more than a little hard. It’s scary, confusing, and sometimes lonely. But if you don’t let go of the past, you’ll never move forward. That’s what I keep telling myself.

Two years ago, my world fell apart. My ex betrayed me—completely, utterly. I stayed in London for a while after that, pretending everything was fine, but it wasn’t. Every corner of that city reminded me of what I lost. So, I made a decision. I needed a fresh start. Not just a new apartment or a new job, but a whole new life. Manchester. New city, new people, new possibilities.

Of course, starting over isn’t glamorous. Moving to a new city meant doing odd jobs, applying for countless positions, going to interview after interview, and facing rejection after rejection. Some days, I wondered if it was worth it. But then I remembered why I moved. This time, I wasn’t just looking for a job. I was looking for a chance to rebuild myself.

Today felt different. I had an interview at Landmark Holdings, one of the biggest companies in Manchester. Everyone talked about them—top-tier clients, high-profile deals, amazing career opportunities. But honestly, I wasn’t feeling overly excited. I had been here before. Interviewed. Rejected. It was easy to build walls around my hope. I didn’t want to get my heart set on something and have it shattered again.

A knock on my door startled me.

“We’re late, ma!” Ann’s cheerful voice called from the hallway.

I smiled, grabbed my bag, and rushed to the door. “Coming!”

“You look prettier when you dress corporate,” Ann said, locking her door behind her.

“Stop teasing me,” I said, rolling my eyes but smiling.

“Teasing? No, just stating facts,” she replied, grinning like she knew something I didn’t. I chuckled and followed her downstairs.

We got into a taxi, the city streets of Manchester rushing past us.

“So, tell me about your boss,” I asked casually.

“You seriously don’t know him? Wow. I thought maybe you would have done a little background check, at least on Google. Anyway…” Ann paused, obviously excited. “…he’s popular. One of the most successful real estate dealers in Manchester. Everyone knows him.”

“I don’t have time to check men online,” I joked, though curiosity was bubbling inside me.

“He’s rich, extremely handsome, ” Ann continued, almost bouncing in her seat. Ella. This family is big news.”

“Wow,” I laughed. “Do you have a crush on him?”

“Not just a crush,” she gushed. “I want to marry this man. Like, for real. Life partner. Forever. Can you imagine?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm. Ann was always dramatic, but her energy was infectious.

The taxi pulled up in front of Landmark Holdings. The building was massive, sleek, and intimidating. Glass walls reflected the morning sun, and people in crisp suits moved confidently in and out of the revolving doors. My stomach twisted in nervous excitement.

“Wait… are all these people staff?” I asked, glancing at the crowd rushing to the elevators.

“Nope. They’re all here for interviews,” Ann said, her eyes sparkling.

“For the PA position?” I asked, my heart skipping a beat.

I took a deep breath. This was it. My chance. My fresh start.

I drew number seven out of twenty for the interview—a tiny spark of hope. Seven had always been my lucky number, even if it seemed silly to believe in luck. Today, though, I allowed myself to hope.

The waiting area was tense, a mixture of quiet confidence and obvious anxiety. Some candidates whispered to each other, others stared blankly at the floor. I kept my eyes on the polished glass doors, imagining myself walking out of here with a new job, a new future.

When my name was finally called, my legs felt like jelly. The interview room was modern, with a long table and a few intimidatingly professional people staring at me expectantly.

The interview itself surprised me. It was simple—almost too simple. A few questions about my experience, a scenario here and there, and a discussion about my goals. I spoke honestly, tried to keep my nerves in check, and reminded myself that this was my moment. Five minutes later, it was over.

I walked out of the room and immediately resumed my silent prayers. Please, let this be it. Let this be the one.

An hour passed in a blur. We were called to check the results. Ten names out of twenty would be hired. The tension in the room was thick, almost suffocating. Everyone clustered around the board, eyes scanning desperately.

I held my breath, scanning the list. My heart sank. I didn’t see my name at first.

And then—there it was. Number one. PA post. My name.

“Oh my god! I can’t believe it!” I screamed, throwing my hands in the air. The sound of my own voice surprised me. Other candidates stared, but I didn’t care. This was my moment.

Ann squealed beside me, hugging me tightly. “I knew you’d get it! I just knew it!”

I laughed, half in disbelief, half in pure joy. After years of struggling, after moving cities, after countless setbacks, I finally had something to celebrate.

“Yes! I did it!” I whispered to myself, a smile spreading across my face.

This job wasn’t just a paycheck. It was a symbol of my fresh start, a sign that moving on wasn’t impossible. That maybe, just maybe, the future was finally on my side.

I took a deep breath, letting the excitement settle into me. For the first time in a long while, I felt ready. Ready to face challenges, ready to prove myself, and ready to embrace everything Manchester had to offer.

Today, I wasn’t just Ella, the girl running from her past. Today, I was Ella, the PA at Landmark Holdings. And this was my fresh start.

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