Amelia's POV

"Good morning, ma'am," I said as I stepped into the pristine office of the CR Recruitment Agency.

"Come in, please. Take a seat," a woman with neatly tied auburn hair, probably in her mid-fifties, responded politely.

It’s been a month since I arrived in Greece, and I’m in desperate need of a job. When I first landed here, the only person I could turn to was Lana, my late mother’s friend's daughter. Thankfully, Lana has also been a close friend for years, and she graciously offered me a place to stay. Her small, rented 2-bedroom apartment is all I can ask for right now.

Since then, I’ve been scouring for jobs, and today I find myself in this office. After several rejections, I finally got a call from CR Recruitment Agency. They had a vacancy, not for a role that matched my qualifications, but for a position as a maid at the Royal Palace. It’s not what I expected, but the salary they offered was far better than most clerical jobs here. Given my situation, I couldn’t afford to turn it down.

"Miss Winston, I’m Mrs. Mariana Jones, and I’ll be conducting your interview today," the woman said with a warm smile.

I returned her smile, feeling my nerves kick in. She asked me several questions—about my education, my experience, my hobbies, and my skills in cooking, given the nature of the job. I knew this was coming, and though I felt a little out of place, I reminded myself I had to pull through.

"Tell me about your parents, Miss Winston."

There it was. The question I had been dreading. I inhaled deeply, hoping the lie I had prepared would slide by without any hiccups.

"My parents died in a car accident five years ago. After that, my grandmother took care of me until she passed away last year. I’ve been living with a family friend here in Greece since I had no one left in New York." I spoke softly, the weight of the fabricated story hanging on every word. I had no other choice. I needed this job, and the truth was too complicated.

"I’m so sorry to hear that. It must’ve been incredibly hard for you," Mrs. Jones said with a look of genuine sympathy.

I forced a small, bittersweet smile. "It was, but I’ve learned to accept it. You have to move on at some point."

It wasn’t easy to lie, but circumstances had left me little room for honesty. I just hoped it would be worth it.

"Thank you, Miss Winston. Our office will contact you by this evening if you’ve been selected for the position." I exhaled, realizing I had been holding my breath.

"Thank you, Mrs. Jones. Have a great day," I said before walking out of the office.

Taking a cab back to Lana’s apartment, my thoughts drifted to my real family—the life I left behind. How I wished I could’ve had something more normal, something simple. But simplicity was never a part of my story.

When I walked in, Lana greeted me with her usual upbeat energy. "How did it go?"

"It went fine. I hope I get the job," I replied, trying to stay optimistic.

"You’re overqualified for this, Amy. I’m sure they’ll take you. I have a good feeling about it."

"Let’s hope so," I said, smiling as much as I could.

"Well, freshen up! I made pasta all’uovo for lunch. You must be starving!"

"More than you know. I’ve only had coffee today," I said, heading toward the bathroom.

Later that evening…

I was scrolling mindlessly through my phone when an email notification popped up. I opened it immediately, my heart racing.

Miss Amelia Winston,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected for the position at the Royal Palace. Please report to Gate No. 2 at 8 a.m. sharp tomorrow for further protocols. Attached is your official offer letter, which must be presented for entry. We look forward to having you on board.

Regards,

CR Recruitment Agency

I leaped off the couch in excitement. I got the job!

Lana and I celebrated with margaritas that night. For the first time in what felt like forever, something good had finally come my way. I just hoped this job would bring the stability I desperately needed.