Chapter 1 .Introduction

The multi-storey building made of glass and metal was located in the city center and harmoniously coexisted with other modern buildings. The frame of the facade consisted of vertical and horizontal elements of bizarre shape, so the building looked like a huge anthill, in the windows of which people scurried about.Katya shielded her eyes from the sun, raising her hand above her head, palm up. She slowly tilted her head back, trying to see the glass roof of the majestic structure.“Panoramic roof made of translucent materials,” she noted to herself, continuing to study the architecture of the building. Yes, this style has long become familiar to modern shopping and office centers, sports facilities and even residential buildings - wherever light, space and style were important "Well, what can I say? A grandiose idea! Simply breathtaking!"She took out a notebook from her bag and carefully read the name of the street, consulted the inscription on the sign of the house opposite.— Notre Dame de Victoire. No doubt: this is the right address.For the thousandth time, she adjusted her pale blue dress with huge bright pink flowers. It was the best dress in her meager wardrobe. They bought it with their mother at the beginning of summer in the most expensive store during the spring collection sale. Here's just one problem: at that moment it was her size, but now it was indecently fitting.“You need to eat less!” She smoothed out imaginary wrinkles on the fabric. “Or not to stay with her parents for a long time. Because at home it’s impossible to refuse the temptation to eat an extra piece of mother’s pie. In general, it’s impossible to refuse anything!” She swallowed saliva, remembering the tender meat spit-roasted lamb that my father used to cook on weekends. Proudly looked at her patent blue pumps and walked confidently along the pedestrian crossing.Long hair of light chestnut color was gathered into a ponytail with a beautiful hairpin with a huge flower, very reminiscent of a rose from a dress. Pale pink lipstick on her lips, hazel eyes lined with blue shadows. Catherine was proud of her taste.- I'm charming! I am a beauty! Clever and in general ... - So her mother taught her - to repeat these words when for some reason you feel uncomfortable or doubt something, as now."Wow, how well it was possible to match everything to the tone!" Nervously, she adjusted the huge red leather bag on her shoulder.“What? A very high-quality bag! Just think, it’s not in color and looks a little shabby. But everything fit: both projects and sketches.” them on a spring, to which a real slate pencil was necessarily tied.- We must hurry!She had an interview at ten-thirty. She took a deep breath, sucked in her stomach and walked confidently towards the main entrance.Even in her wildest dreams, she would never have dared to come to such a well-known firm and so arrogantly offer her modest services as an aspiring designer. What is there to say? They wouldn't even let her in! She owed this opportunity - to speak personally with one of the three directors of "Compi-Max" - to her latest customer, Clement Beauchard, a very famous lawyer. For the work that Katrin did for this man, she recklessly refused to take payment, which in the current situation was a huge stupidity, because even then she was short of funds.For the past two months, she was interrupted by one-time earnings. Part of the money that her parents, ordinary farmers, were able to collect for her as a gift for graduating from the university, went as a pledge for a rented apartment, and the rest was slowly but surely melting away. And so a lot depended on the interview now.At the entrance she was stopped by the guards and asked to show her pass, which she did not have; then she was offered to go and sign in the visitor's log.“I have an interview scheduled,” the girl quietly answered the question about the purpose of the visit, starting to doubt the success of this venture more and more.Who scheduled the interview for you? asked a huge blond with a prickly, unpleasant look.“Arno Bensalam,” she said automatically, the name she had memorized over the past few days, becoming even more timid.— Fabienne, carefully look through the magazines again.— I looked twice, there are no records.“Maybe I got something wrong?” - stammering, uttered Katrin, slowly stepping back from the table - for some reason, at that very moment, an irresistible desire arose to immediately run away. And yet, ashamed to admit, she experienced a real relief from the fact that she was not missed.- Stand! the thug barked, picking up the receiver from the intercom phone. “Now we’ll find out everything,” and quickly dialed a few numbers on the device.Katherine didn't listen to the conversation at all. She was planning an escape. Apparently, it was too obvious on her face, because another guard walked around the table and stood behind her. Pretty close. “Well, everything was cleared up,” the blond smiled with only his lips, his gaze still remaining evaluating and icy. - You are expected in the office of the director of marketing and product promotion in foreign markets.The guards politely explained the easiest way to get there, but she could not believe that the interview would still take place. As if in a dream, she followed the dark-haired security guard to the elevator, accepted a business card with his phone number and automatically threw it into her bag. She pressed the button and watched in fascination as the doors closed, hiding his promising smile. The next time the elevator doors opened on the fifth floor, she found herself in a bright, spacious hall, in the middle of which stood a huge table. Katya carefully stepped onto the carpet.- Your name? the secretary asked in a faceless voice, not even deigning to look at her.Katherine Welber. I have an appointment…“Sit down,” the inhospitable girl pointed with a thin finger at a huge leather monster chair. - Wait.“I have an interview scheduled for ten-thirty—”“Sit down,” the secretary said insistently, finally taking her eyes off the bright glossy magazine. She had hazel, like a quivering doe, eyes, olive skin, features characteristic of people from North Africa. Not at all embarrassed, she examined the visitor with a critical eye from head to toe and pursed her plump lips in displeasure. - You will be called.Katrin went to the chair and sank into it.“I need this job.” She put the bag on her knees and began to fiddle with the handle. “I really need this job! Monsieur Bochard said that the company bought an entire floor for an office and plans to start renovating the offices in the near future. Individual orders are possible.”