At Nova Tech's headquarters, David and Jessica were preparing to tackle the day as a team.

Ethan had been wise to suggest her involvement; her agency had readily given her the day off, understanding that Ethan Cole was no ordinary client.

Jessica arrived early, stepping into the revamped Nova Tech office, and the transformation stopped her in her tracks.

What had once been a cold, empty space was now a sleek, modern reception area that practically hummed with promise.

It was the sort of place that made you stand a little straighter as if it were watching to see if you belonged.

"Good morning, Jessica," David greeted her warmly as he walked over.

"Good morning, Mr. Turner," she replied, offering a professional smile as her eyes continued to sweep the space in admiration.

David chuckled, waving off the formality. "Just David, please—Ethan insists on it."

Jessica smiled and nodded. "Thank you for including me in this, David. I already feel that it will be a great experience."

And it was true. When she'd first received David's call, she'd been thrilled—not just because of the opportunity to assist with interviews, but because of the exposure to something so fresh, so ambitious.

In just a few days of dealing with Ethan, she'd been given opportunities others might take years to experience.

David smiled knowingly. "No need to thank me—this was Ethan's idea. He was the one who suggested you."

Jessica blinked in surprise, and before she could stop herself, a faint blush crept up her cheeks. She quickly shook it off, straightening her blazer. "Well, I'm ready to get started. Let's find the best people for NovaTech."

David laughed quietly. He understood why someone might feel blushed about being thought of by Ethan, even without any romantic feelings.

'I wonder if you're good with woman, Ethan,' David thought.

David knew he couldn’t let distractions get in the way. Nova Tech was at a crucial point.

He refocused his attention as they walked to the interview room. "I'm really glad you're here," he said warmly. "Managing everything after the interview alone would have felt overwhelming. Having someone like you on the team makes a big difference."

Jessica smiled bigger. "I'm excited to be part of this."

David nodded, "Well, me too."

He felt more positive as he thought about Ethan. After talking with him a few times, David realized that Ethan was a unique founder who really wanted to grow.

Ethan focused on the future with every decision. He often talked about expanding Nova Tech beyond just apps. He was smart enough to avoid taking on too much at once, despite his wealth.

In his work, David had seen many startup founders. Most were eager for short-term wins but didn’t want to build something lasting.

He remembered the early ventures he had supported. He invested his connections and resources, only to be replaced once they found their way. "Business is business," they would say, as if that made their lack of gratitude any easier for him to accept.

"David?" Jessica's voice brought him back to the present.

He blinked, offering her an apologetic smile. "Sorry, lost in thought."

"Everything alright?" she asked, her brow creased with concern.

David laughed, brushing it off. "Yes, all good. Just eager to get things rolling today."

Jessica checked her watch. "We've got about thirty minutes before the interviews start. Let's get everything in place."

As they entered the interview room, the sight of candidates lined up outside caught their attention. Word had spread quickly about Nova Tech—not just the competitive salaries but also the sleek, modern appeal of its headquarters.

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Ethan, with his seemingly unlimited wealth to others, had spared no expense to ensure the day went smoothly.

He'd hired an event management company to organize the process, brought in a security agency to maintain order, and even coordinated with Charles, who had connected Nova Tech to some of the best professionals in the field.

The environment was meticulously designed to be safe, efficient, and, above all, impressive.

Jessica surveyed the room, her gaze taking in the polished organization and the security guards stationed at strategic points. "Wow," she said with a playful smile. "Looks like everything's under control. I doubt we'll have any trouble today."

David laughed, shaking his head. "This is all new to me too. I'm still trying to wrap my head around Ethan's way of doing things."

He gestured grandly to the room, spinning slightly as he took it all in. "You know, I told him we'd only need a small office for five or six people, but look at this."

Jessica chuckled, folding her arms. "He certainly doesn't do anything normal, does he?"

David smiled, a touch of admiration in his expression. No, he doesn’t. And honestly, that’s why I’m excited about the future, even if I don’t know how many years I have left."

He paused and said, "That's why I want to be part of this. I want my final years to be exciting."

Jessica did not know how to respond to such a statement. She could only nodded awkwardly.

They entered the interview room to meet with people from the accounting firm and the HR agency. They knew it would be a long day, and everyone prepared for the many hopeful candidates.

At first, the interviews went as planned. But it soon became clear that not all the applicants were as they appeared. Some only wanted the high salary, while others had exaggerated their resumes in funny ways.

After one particularly lackluster interview, David leaned back in his chair with a sigh. "What a generation we're dealing with," he muttered, rubbing his temples.

Ms. Jane, the HR representative, smirked and held up a resume. "This one claims to have launched three successful apps." She paused for dramatic effect. "But a quick search shows he wasn't even on the team."

Jessica, observing it all with quiet attentiveness, frowned. It was her first time encountering such blatant dishonesty, and she couldn't quite understand why people would stoop to such lengths.

David shook his head, his tone tinged with both humor and exasperation. "Let me guess—he probably copied some bullet points from his old company's website and thought we wouldn't notice. Honestly, Ethan's resume would put this guy's to shame." He slid the paper aside with a flourish.

"That's a 'No' from us."

Mr. Michael, the representative from the accounting firm, chuckled and nodded. "Agreed. Too many lies, and not even convincing ones at that."

As the morning progressed, the pattern persisted—exaggerated qualifications, dubious claims, and a talent pool that left much to be desired. They shared knowing glances and occasional grimaces as the parade of disappointing candidates shuffled through.

But then came Lena Volkov.

"Look at this," Jane said, leaning forward as she scanned the resume. Her voice carried a note of intrigue that made everyone else glance up.

"Wait," Michael interjected, his tone rising in surprise. "Is she the Volkov? As in, from that family?"

Jane nodded. "Unless someone's brazen enough to fake that name—and believe me, nobody would dare."

Jessica gave a puzzled look. "Sorry," she asked, "but what's so special about the Volkovs?"

Before anyone could explain, Lena walked into the room.

She moved with a confidence that commanded attention, her sleek black dress and poised demeanor making her stand out effortlessly.

There was a sharpness to her presence—intelligence wrapped in charm, with just enough edge to keep people guessing.

Jessica straightened in her chair while David adjusted his posture, clearly intrigued.

Lena was not just another job applicant. Behind her neat appearance and strong resume was a carefully built disguise. She was not there for a job—she was there for Ethan.

Lena led a secret group where Mark and Zidan were part of it. She planned everything to sneak into Nova Tech. The resume, credentials, and career history were all a carefully crafted disguise.

Her family's fame helped her create the perfect background, and her calm demeanor completed the act.

During the interview, Lena dazzled them. She spoke with precision and poise, detailing her supposed experience in growing companies, managing high-stakes projects, and navigating the complexities of business expansion.

David leaned forward, visibly impressed. "You mentioned being part of a team that took a company to its IPO in three years. That's quite an accomplishment."

Lena offered a modest smile. "Thank you. It was a challenging process, but it taught me how to excel under pressure and adapt quickly."

Jane, equally intrigued, chimed in. "How do you see yourself contributing to Nova Tech's growth?"

Lena didn't miss a beat. "I believe my experience in scaling operations and my ability to identify untapped opportunities can help Nova Tech become a major player in the industry."

David and the others exchanged approving nods. "Well," David said, his tone warm, "you've certainly made an impression. We'll get back to you soon with our decision."

Lena exited the room with a subtle but satisfied smile. Her plan was on track.

The interview was not about getting a job; it was about gaining an advantage. Once she was inside Nova Tech, she planned to look into Ethan's wealth and connections.

Her main goal was to use that information to outsmart her rivals in the Volkov family and become the leader of the family.

As she walked down the hallway, she saw Ethan enter the building. He moved quickly, focused, and did not look at her.

A wave of disappointment washed over her, mixed with hurt pride. 'How could he not notice me?' she thought, astonished.

She was used to getting attention, especially from men. But Ethan passed her by as if she didn't exist.

'It doesn't matter,' Lena told herself, feeling more determined. 'Next time, I'll make sure he notices me. When he does, I'll be ready to influence him—and Nova Tech.'

She straightened her shoulders and walked away, already planning her next move.