The golden glow of the Atlanta sunset painted the sky as Venus pulled into their driveway, the new black company car gleaming under the streetlights.
The engine's smooth sound still made her grin. She stepped out with a bag of groceries—juice, snacks, and cookies—ready to celebrate her unexpected win.
Before she even closed the door, her grandmother, Katherine, was already on the porch, her hands on her hips and eyes wide.
"Venus? What in the world… is this the car?"
Venus struck a pose like she was on the red carpet. "Yours truly! Okay—technically, it belongs to the company. But they handed me the keys, so I'm claiming it with confidence!"
Neighbours started popping out of their homes like popcorn. Mr. Rivers from across the street walked over with his hands in his hoodie pockets. "Dang, girl! That ride is clean! You win the lottery or something?"
Venus laughed. "Better! I got hired!"
Mrs. Johnson from next door leant over the fence. "That's the job interview you had today, right? That was today?"
"Yes, ma'am! Let me explain everything inside, this story needs snacks and a couch."
Inside their cosy home, Venus dropped the grocery bags on the kitchen counter and flopped onto the couch. Her grandmother followed, still shocked.
"Alright, spill," she said, sitting besides her. "This morning your car broke down, you left here in a rush… What in heaven happened between then and now?"
Venus held up a finger. "Step one: my car gave up on me halfway down Peachtree. I had to book a ride. I was late, I was sweaty, and I thought I blew it."
"Lord have mercy," Katherine murmured.
"Right? So I get there, and I see a crowd of other applicants—mad as hornets 'cause they were told the interviews got cancelled."
"What?"
Venus nodded dramatically. "Yes. I walk in, apologise to the assistant for being late, and boom—she just says, "You've been hired'."
Katherine blinked. "Hired? Just like that?"
"No interview, no questions, not even a handshake. She just said, The CEO personally selected me for the role."
Their neighbour, Mrs. Johnson, who had followed them in with a juice box in hand, gasped. "You didn't even meet the CEO?"
"Not even a glimpse!" Venus said, grabbing a juice from the bag and cracking it open.
"I told her, 'Ma'am, did I black out and do an interview without knowing?' I legit thought I was being pranked."
They all burst into laughter.
Katherine shook her head, still stunned. "This is God's doing. I knew something big was coming for you."
"And that's not even all!" Venus grinned. "They gave me an apartment too. A company-furnished apartment just fifteen minutes from the office!"
Katherine's hand flew to her chest. "An apartment too?"
"Yes! Everything's covered. They said HR will handle the onboarding on Monday. And Grandma—once my car is fixed, it's yours."
Katherine froze. "You're giving me your car?"
Venus nodded. "Why not? You've been taking the bus for years. I want you driving around Atlanta like a queen."
Katherine's eyes watered. "Girl, don't make me cry. I'll crash that car just from happiness."
Just then, more neighbours showed up, drawn in by the excitement. There were hugs, high-fives, and plenty of "I'm so proud of you" flying around. Someone even brought over cupcakes from the corner bakery.
Mr. Rivers whistled, checking out the car parked out front. "This is your time, Vee. Celebrate it big."
Venus winked. "Trust me, I will. This is just the soft launch."
Katherine leant closer and whispered, "We need to throw a proper celebration later. Real food, maybe even some music."
Venus nodded. "Oh, for sure. I'll even wear heels and pretend I'm rich."
They both laughed.
As the night settled in, and the last neighbour said goodnight, Venus and her grandmother sat together under the porch light, watching the stars peek out.
"I'm proud of you," Katherine said quietly.
Venus smiled, leaning on her shoulder. "You should be. Your prayers finally broke through the ceiling."
She paused. "Though, I still don't know who my boss is. Hope he will not be some super serious guy who thinks jokes are a crime?"
"Well," Katherine said with a smirk, "you'll make him laugh eventually. Or drive him crazy."
"Probably both," Venus giggled.
They sat in peaceful silence for a moment. Then Venus whispered, "I don't know how this happened, Grandma. I didn't even try that hard today."
Her grandmother gave her a look. "Maybe it's not always about trying hard. Sometimes it's just your time."
Venus nodded slowly. "Well, in that case—this is my time. And I'm about to walk into it like I own the place."
Meanwhile, the city lights of Buckhead glittered like scattered diamonds beneath the wide glass windows of Raymond Copeland's penthouse.
Seated in a sleek leather armchair near the fireplace, he swirled a glass of red wine, a subtle smile dancing on his lips.
The wine wasn't the reason for the smile.
He was still thinking about the call he'd received from HR earlier.
"She thought it was a prank, sir," the HR rep had laughed. "She literally asked if she blacked out during the interview. Said maybe she was dreaming—or worse, a ghost!"
Raymond had chuckled then, and now, in the quiet of his luxurious home, the memory made him laugh again.
The soft shuffle of slippers broke the silence. His butler, Alfred, entered the room with the same calm presence he'd always carried.
Older now, with neatly combed grey hair and a sharp sense of wisdom in his eyes, Alfred had been with the Copeland family since Raymond was a boy.
He walked in carrying a linen cloth and gently wiped down the nearby table.
"You look happy this evening," Alfred said, his British accent still smooth with age. "Did something good happen at the company?"
Raymond took another sip of wine, then rested the glass on the side table.
"I just hired a crazy and bold marketing manager," he replied with a smirk.
Alfred paused, lifting a brow. "Crazy?"
"In the most entertaining way," Raymond said, chuckling softly. "She arrived late. The car broke down. Walked into a room full of furious candidates and still had the audacity to joke about it."
"Then she walked right up to Rose—poor Rose looked like she might faint—and said, and I quote, "Maybe I slept off during the interview'."
Alfred chuckled. "Sounds like a handful."
"She is. But I like her. She's not just qualified, she's real. Authentic. People like that are rare in business."
Alfred gave a knowing nod. "You always did appreciate boldness over polish."
Raymond leant back, his expression thoughtful now. "She doesn't know yet. That I'm the CEO. I gave strict instructions. No one tells her until Monday."
Alfred shook his head with a quiet smile. "So, you'll watch from the shadows again?"
"Just for a bit. I want to see how she carries herself when she doesn't think anyone important is watching."
"You already know she's going to be trouble."
"The good kind," Raymond said. "The kind that shakes up a stuffy boardroom and reminds people they have a heartbeat."
Alfred poured himself a small glass of water and sat across from him.
"So, what's next for the bold Ms. Venus?"
Raymond's gaze returned to the skyline. "She'll move into the company apartment near Midtown tomorrow. Start work Monday. But tonight—tonight, she's probably dancing in her living room, calling her grandmother, and celebrating with a juice box and pure joy."
He smiled again.
Alfred gave a soft laugh. "Sounds like she'll bring a little colour into your world."
Raymond didn't respond immediately. He just stared out at the city—its pulse, its chaos, its endless possibility.
"Maybe she will."
Saturday morning...