“Stop playing CEO,” my sister laughed at Easter, “your tech thing is embarrassing,” and when

Marcus stood in the doorway, blinking as if trying to convince himself that he was seeing things. The air in the boardroom felt charged, like the moment before a thunderstorm. Jennifer and Marcus Williams exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of surprise and anticipation. I could feel the weight of the moment, but I remained calm, my face a careful mask of professionalism.

“Good morning, Marcus,” I said, breaking the silence.

He cleared his throat and finally found his voice, though it wasn’t as steady as the confident man I remembered from Easter. “Maya,” he said, almost as a question.

“Please, take a seat,” I gestured toward the chair opposite me.

Jennifer began the formalities, asking Marcus about his experience and his vision for the role. As he spoke, I watched him regain some composure, his words becoming smoother as he described his achievements and strategies. Yet, there was a hesitance that hadn’t been there before, as if he were keenly aware of the irony of the situation.

I listened, nodding at appropriate moments, but my mind was half in the room, half with the memory of our family dinner. It was surreal to see him here, in my world, speaking the language of business that he had claimed I didn’t understand.

“Thank you, Marcus,” I said, once he had finished his presentation. “Your experience is impressive.”

He gave a tight smile, clearly unsure of what to expect next. “I appreciate that, Maya. I really do.”

As Jennifer and Marcus Williams asked their final questions, I leaned back, considering my words. I wanted to be fair, objective—everything Lauren wouldn’t have expected of me.

“We have a few more candidates to interview,” I said, keeping my tone professional. “But we will get back to you soon.”

He nodded, standing up and extending his hand. This time, I shook it. “Thank you for the opportunity,” he said, his voice more humble than it had been over Easter.

When the door closed behind him, Jennifer leaned forward. “Well, that was interesting.”

“Interesting is one word for it,” Marcus Williams added with a chuckle.

I shrugged, trying to keep things light. “Let’s focus on the qualifications, not the family connections.”

Jennifer nodded, but her eyes sparkled with curiosity. “You handled that well, Maya.”

I smiled, feeling a sense of relief. It was just another interview, I reminded myself. But as the day went on, I found my thoughts drifting back to Marcus and Lauren, wondering what their dinner conversation would be like tonight.

The rest of the interviews went smoothly, and by evening, I was back in my office, the city lights glowing through the window. I sat at my desk, thinking about how different my life was from what my family imagined. They saw one version of me, but here, I was someone else entirely.

I opened my laptop, intending to check some emails, but instead, I found myself typing a message to my family. Just a simple check-in, nothing revealing, but with a hint of warmth that I hoped they’d understand.

Before shutting down my computer, I logged onto Facebook and posted about the recent events, teasing that there was more to this story. If you want to read more, leave a comment below the Facebook post. Part 3 is coming soon.