The Unexpected

Back at Copeland & Co.

Rose stood in the waiting area, her smile so tight it could've cracked marble. "Thank you all for coming. The interviews have been cancelled." 

A collective gasp. 

A man in a too-tight suit stood. "What? I flew in from Chicago!" 

Rose didn't flinch. "The position has been filled." 

"How? None of us even got to interview!" 

Rose's eye twitched. "Corporate decision." 

Just as the candidates grumbled and gathered their things, the elevator dinged—and Venus stepped out, adjusting her blazer like she owned the place. 

She took one look at the disgruntled crowd and stage-whispered to Rose, "Sorry, Miss, my car broke down. I am Miss Venus Phillips, and I am here for the interview too."

Venus looked at the other candidates and said to Rose, "Wow. Tough crowd. They really don't like group interviews, huh?" 

Rose's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Ms. Phillips. Follow me." 

Venus trailed after her, oblivious. "So, what's the vibe here, Miss? Strict no-fun policy?"

"I am truly sorry for coming late; the traffic wasn't friendly today."

Rose stopped abruptly and turned. "You've been hired." 

Venus blinked. "…Come again?" 

"As the new marketing manager,. Starting Monday." 

Silence. 

Then— 

"Wait. What?" Venus laughed. "I didn't even—did I black out and interview? Was there, like, a Truman Show situation going on? Hidden cameras?" 

Rose's patience was a fraying thread. "The CEO selected you." 

"The—what?" 

Rose shoved a folder into her hands. "HR will handle your onboarding. Welcome to Copeland & Co." 

And with that, she marched off, leaving Venus standing there, mouth open. 

She looked down at the folder. Then up at the ceiling. 

"Okay, universe," she muttered. "I don't know what game you're playing, but I believe I am not dreaming or in another world."

Venus stood in the middle of the hallway, blinking down at the folder in her hand. Her mind was doing somersaults. Hired? Just like that?

"Okay…" she muttered, "Either I'm the luckiest woman in the world… or I'm being punked."

She turned slowly, staring at the long corridor that led to HR. Her feet started moving before her brain fully caught up.

As she walked into the HR department, a friendly-looking woman with red glasses and twist-out curls looked up from her desk. Her name tag read, Ms. Delia—HR Manager.

"Ah, you must be Ms. Venus Phillips," Delia said, smiling warmly.

Venus gave her a sheepish grin. "I think so? I mean, unless I've suddenly become someone else in a weird body-swap movie."

Delia chuckled. "Come in. We've been expecting you."

"You have?" Venus blinked. "I'm still trying to figure out if I'm dreaming, or maybe I'm a ghost."

Delia laughed and stood up, handing her a neat folder. "Nope. You're very much alive, and this is very real."

Venus took the folder and flipped through it. Inside was her appointment letter—Marketing Manager, Copeland & Co. The salary was way more than she had imagined.

"I haven't even said yes," Venus whispered in awe.

Delia gently pushed two more items towards her: a sleek car key fob and a small golden key on a branded Copeland & Co. keychain.

"What's this?" Venus asked.

"Company car and your accommodation," Delia said, still smiling. "You'll find the address in your folder. It's a company-furnished apartment just fifteen minutes from the office."

Venus's jaw dropped. "Okay, so I really am awake."

"Yes, you are." Delia laughed again.

Venus grinned, shaking her head. "I feel like I won a reality show I didn't even apply for."

"Congratulations, Ms. Phillips," Delia said warmly. "You start Monday. Today, just enjoy the moment."

"Thank you. Honestly, thank you."

"Let me show you your car," Delia offered.

They walked together through the hallway and into the parking lot. Delia led her to a glossy silver Lexus parked in a reserved spot marked MKT-MGR.

Venus whistled. "Wow. She's pretty."

"She's yours," Delia said with a wink.

Venus climbed in and sat behind the wheel. The leather seats hugged her like they were made just for her. She took a deep breath, then pulled out her phone.

Time to call Grandma.

She hit the video call. A few seconds later, her grandmother's face appeared on the screen, her silver hair wrapped in a colourful headscarf and reading glasses perched on her nose.

"Venus! Did you finish the interview?" she asked with that knowing sparkle in her eyes.

"Grandma," Venus said, grinning wide, "Your prayers have finally been answered."

"What happened?" she closer to the screen.

"They hired me! But here's the twist—they didn't even interview me!"

Katherine blinked. "What do you mean?"

"I'm not even joking. I walked in, they cancelled all the interviews, and this lady told me I was already hired. I asked her if I blacked out and missed the whole thing. I thought maybe I was sleepwalking!"

Grandma Katherine gasped. "Hired without an interview? Just like that?"

"Yes!" Venus laughed. "They gave me a car and an apartment, Grandma. Look!" She turned the camera to show the car's dashboard.

"Praise be to God Almighty!" Katherine clapped her hands. "I told you, child, I've been praying without ceasing! God moves in mysterious ways!"

Venus wiped a happy tear from the corner of her eye. "Honestly, it still doesn't feel real."

"Believe it, Venus. You're walking into your destiny."

Venus smiled. "I love you, Grandma."

"I love you too, baby. Now don't drive off without thanking the Lord!"

"I already did… twice!"

They both laughed.

"I'm going to the store now," Venus said, turning the key. "Let's have a little celebration tonight. I'll pick up your favourite tea biscuits."

"Oh, and get plantains too. We'll make that peppered stew you love!"

"Done."

They ended the call, and Venus pulled out of the lot, her heart full. The air smelled sweeter. Even the traffic didn't seem so bad anymore.

At the grocery store, she grabbed a small cart and rolled through the aisles with a bounce in her step.

She hummed to herself as she grabbed juice, snacks, and everything Grandma would need for their mini-feast.

As she placed items on the checkout belt, she muttered under her breath, "Maybe I really did sleepwalk through that interview. Or maybe… maybe the universe is finally playing fair."

The cashier smiled at her. "Big day?"

"The biggest," Venus replied with a grin. "I think I just got the job of a lifetime."

And just like that, the first day of her unexpected journey began—with a lucky break, a luxury car, and Grandma waiting with open arms and a hot pot of stew.