Liam’s pov

The wood-paneled boardroom hadn’t changed in a decade—thick blinds, leather chairs, and the quiet weight of legacy hanging like dust in the corners. I let them all take their seats first, watching as each executive settled in with guarded expressions.

They were still adjusting to me at the helm, still waiting for the moment I’d slip and prove I didn’t belong.

I smiled anyway. Let them wait.

“We need a brand ambassador “

Chairs creaked. One or two heads lifted sharply.

I stood and walked to the screen at the far end of the room, clicking through to the slide I’d prepared.

A mock campaign headline glowed: “Delivering More Than Packages. Delivering Trust.”

“Not a celebrity influencers,” I clarified. “I mean someone professional . Trained. Polished. But not wannabe stars. Someone believable. Someone who can speak for us and carry a script without sounding like she’s reading one.”

Julia—communications—spoke first. Always the brave one.

“You want to hold auditions? Like they do for movies?”

“Exactly,” I said. “We hold auditions. Quiet at first. We control the process, the branding, the contracts. We’re not just picking a pretty face—we’re selecting the public voice of this company.Someone who will be the face of this company for the next five years.”

Patel looked baffled. “Why not use one of our actual employees?”

“Because we’re not selling forklifts,” I said, voice steady.

“We’re selling trust. In a market full of missed deadlines and broken promises, people don’t just want to see crates and ships. They want to believe someone’s got it under control. Someone warm. Someone who walks through a warehouse with heels and makes it look purposeful.Someone who looks them in the eye and says, ‘We’ll get it there. You can count on us. ”

Julia leaned forward. “You’ve already got a profile in mind?” I continue.

I nodded. “Early-to-late twenties. Grounded but articulate. Someone who can look corporate without feeling sterile. Someone who can do press, social, movies. And yes—if needed—stand in front of a camera and sell us with one line.”

“What about backlash?” Joe asks.

Looking slightly worried “don’t you think the industry might view us as… superficial?”

“They already think this company is irrelevant,” I said, folding my arms.

“We control the image, we control the message. We make it clear: she will be our voice, but the mission is real. And we’ll bring her into the company fold. No vapid influencer garbage. She trains with us. Learns the ops. Walks the docks. Understands the brand before she ever speaks for it.” I continue.

Julia was nodding slowly now. The others were quiet, watching her.

“This could work,” she said. “If it’s authentic. If the woman isn’t just beautiful, but believable.”

“That’s the point of the audition,” I replied. “We don’t want perfect. We want presence.”

Silence fell.

The kind that came before hard decisions or dumb ones. But I didn’t care.

They didn’t have to like the idea.

They just had to execute it.

“The audition holds next week.” I inform them.

As I walk out of the conference room, my assistant Miles closely behind me reading out the next item in my itinerary

“Sir, you have a meeting with an investor in five minutes.” He says.

“Let’s get this over with.” I reply. Heading in the direction of my office

Aria’s pov

Ever since the awards ceremony my commercial value has shot through the roof.

I’m currently sitting in my manager Laura’s office reviewing all my job offers. Ranging from movie scripts, talk shows appearances, magazines features… the list goes on.

“What are you thought on being a brand ambassador for a shipping company?” My manager/best friend asks though I’m not sure why.

“Personally, I have nothing against it but public opinion is a scary thing. Stuff like that usually backfires because people say it’s fake” I reply.

“Yeah, but what if the company is willing to educate their brand ambassador on how the company work. You know… help them understand what they are presenting to the public?” She says.

“That’s actually quite smart. I wonder who thought of that. Are there any requirements for the part?” I asked feeling intrigued.

“It’s an open audition, it states they want someone who’s reliable, early to late twenties and bring that WOW factor”. Laura replies

“Sounds easy enough, can you help sign up? I’m interested”. I say.

“You sure about this? With your level of exposure you could be acting in blockbuster movies.” She says with seriousness.

“This is just something I want to try out. If I get it, I get to understand a little about the shipping industry and if I don’t at least I know I tried.” I say

“Okay, it’s your choice. I’ll help you sign up.” She tells me

I offer her a smile. This is one of the reasons she’s my manager and my friend. She doesn’t make me do things I don’t want to and whenever I make up my mind about something, she wholeheartedly supports me. I couldn’t asked for a better friend.

We met in college a few years ago while we were studying and striving to achieve our dreams. I will never understand her though.

I mean for someone so pretty why become a talent manager when you have the looks to be a star yourself? She always says she doesn’t like the attention and made me promise that I will sign her as my manager and become the first artist she manages. Anywhere I go, she goes. I mean if that isn’t loyalty I don’t what it is.

I signed with her during our last year of college and we’ve been together since. Everyone in the industry knows we’re a package deal.

“Now let’s go, you have a photo shoot with verve magazines this afternoon.” I hear her say.

“Okay. Let’s go.” I say as I start making my way towards her office door.

A few hours later

The elevator doors slid shut behind me , sealing off the soft buzz of the agency’s media floor.

I roll my shoulders back slightly—still holding perfect posture out of habit—but allowed my expression to relax now that the shoot was done.

It had gone well. Clean looks, timeless styling, the kind of editorial that would sit on newsstands for months.

I know how to pose and how to give the camera what it needed without overselling. The photographer had complimented my composure.

The creative director said I made the clothes look “alive.”

Laura and I split ways when we got to the parking lot

“Go home and have a good rest. See you tomorrow.” She tells me while giving me hug.

“You too.” I reply returning the hug.

I head towards my SUV and slid into the back seat.

“All good today, miss?” My driver asks while looking at me through the rearview mirror.

“Yeah. Just a little bit tired.” I reply offering him a smile which he returns and nods at me.

By the time I get home I head towards the bathroom to take a shower then change my clothes into something comfy.

I take out my phone to check out the information of the brand ambassador deal that I asked Laura to help me sign up for.

The selection process is divided into two categories. The screening process where you send your résumé to the company and the final selection which will be the live audition where you act out the script in front of the company’s representative.

The first category shouldn’t be an issue. My résumé is very impressive. So I just have to prepare myself for the second phase of the audition.

According to what Laura sent me, the list of people who advance the second will be announced tomorrow then the audition will take place 2 days after that.

“Oh”. I mutter to myself. I just realized I know nothing about the company whose ambassador role I’m trying to get.

Not that I can blame myself I barely pay attention to economics news. I only listen to the entertainment new because that’s where my career lies.

I head towards my living room sofa to take a sit and searched up the name of the company.

Turns out there are a lot of news articles surrounding this company due to the recent change in ownership.

Just then a new article pops up

I click to load it.

The article loads:

“Another One Bites The Dust:Liam Prescott’s acquisition spree continues with Veriton Dynamics’s purchase”

I furrow my brows. That name. Liam. The photo loads slowly at the top—a sharp, confident man in a tailored navy suit, smirking slightly at the camera.

I feel my heart stutter.

“No way.” I whisper under my breath.

I sit up straight and zoom in on the picture.

It’s him. Liam. My Liam. The same Liam who left without saying goodbye five years ago. Just vanished.

As I lay in my bed trying to catch some sleep my mind can’t help but wander back to the new article.

I wake up the next morning to the sound of my alarm clock. I stretch my arm to turn it off and take a look at the time.

8 am. I barely had any sleep. I stayed up tossing and turning thinking about the article.

I get up from the bed to freshen up and get ready for the day when I receive a new text from Laura.

Laura:Good morning sunshine. The results for the first phase of the selection is out. You passed. You can now proceed to the audition. Her text say

Me:That’s great news. Thank you. See you soon. Love you. I reply

Laura: replies with a blowing kiss emoji.

As I put down my phone to continue my preparation for the day, I can’t help but feel conflicted.