Chapter 4 THE TENTH FLOOR

The insistent chirping of her phone dragged Aiko from a restless sleep, William's small, pale face a persistent shadow in her mind. She slapped a hand down on the snooze, that familiar feeling of exhaustion clinging to her. But the thought of that final interview at Tanaka Holdings, her only opportunity for a better life, pushed her up.

Morning rush was chaos. Helping William dress, his left arm stiff and bandaged. "Listen, dear," she told him, adjusting his little backpack, "that arm needs to rest, okay? Don't do too much today, you hear?".

At school, Mrs. Devi's smile had worry lines. "Good morning, Aiko. William bravely recounted his fall. Don't worry, we'll keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't fool around too much."

Aiko sighed. "Thank you, teacher. He knows he needs to be careful, but you know how five-year-olds are, right?" The doctor's appointment for his plaster cast loomed, the cost a heavy weight in her heart.

Leaving William in Mrs. Devi's care, Aiko rushed to the bus stop , her stomach doing somersaults of nerves. Yesterday's call – the final interview for business analyst – kept replaying. Last few only, they said. This was it, the difference between suffering and maybe, just maybe, a decent life for her and William The high-class lobby of Tanaka Holdings felt even more intimidating this time. Clutching her old-fashioned handbag amidst all those designer briefcases, Aiko registered. They pointed her to a waiting room, all fancy chairs and a view that made her head spin. The other candidates? Reliable-looking, all sharp and confident.

Aiko tried to encourage herself. She had endured single parenthood, worked hard through studies while doing all sorts of part-time, even scolded that wealthy woman who'd hurt William. She could handle this interview.

But time dragged. One by one, the others got called in, their interviews quick. Aiko's worries started to boil. Had they forgotten her? Was the final interview already finished for everyone else? Just as she was about to ask the receptionist, the interviewer, Ms. Lee, practically flew back in, her face looking confused.

"Aiko! Oh, so sorry! Big mistake in our schedule. Your name... lost from the list. Please, forgive me. The business analyst jobs... absolutely all filled already. So, so sorry."

Aiko's heart dropped. Another hope targeted negatively.

Ms. Lee, seeing Aiko's sad face, clasped her hands.

"But," she said quickly, her voice a bit hopeful, "because of this mix-up and seeing your impressive resume, there's one more opening. Cleaner for the tenth floor. Very important job, you know. All the big bosses there. Pay is $3,800 a month, with benefits. You can also keep an eye out for other openings later."

Three thousand eight hundred? Aiko's brain did a quick calculation. Still a lot more than her current salary. Not the career she dreamt of after all that studying hard, but the money... satisfying. In her head, she thanked her past self for not being lazy in her business courses. Thirty-eight hundred... almost four times her hotel cleaning pay!

A wave of relief, unexpected and strong, hit her. Not the dream, but a step-up. A chance to take it easy a bit and make sure William was okay.

"Ms. Aiko?"

the interviewer, Ms. Lee, prompted gently, her gaze holding a curious blend of sympathy and professional assessment.

"Given your background, are you still... open to discussing this opportunity?"

Aiko met her gaze, a newfound steel hardening her resolve. Pride was a luxury she couldn't afford.

"Yes, Ms. Lee," she replied, her voice clear and steady, a quiet determination simmering beneath the surface.

"Yes, I am very interested in learning more about the tenth-floor cleaner position."

This unexpected detour, born from an administrative blunder, felt less like a defeat and more like a strategic pivot. William's well-being was her only compass now.

"Excellent."

Ms. Lee's smile held a genuine warmth this time. "Let me introduce you to Mr. John, our Head of Building Maintenance. He'll give you a tour of the tenth floor."

Mr. John, a man whose kind eyes belied a meticulous nature, led Aiko towards the hushed elevators. As they ascended, his voice was a low murmur, outlining her schedule and responsibilities. But it was the tenth floor itself that truly silenced Aiko. Stepping out of the elevator was like entering another realm. The air was rarefied, carrying a subtle, expensive fragrance.

Thick carpets swallowed sound, and sunlight streamed through vast windows, revealing a panorama of the glittering cityscape. Sleek, minimalist offices, adorned with striking, abstract art, spoke of quiet power and unimaginable wealth. It was a stark contrast to the cramped reality of her apartment and the bustling, utilitarian corridors of the Pan-Pacific.

As Mr. John detailed the almost sacred rituals of cleanliness expected in each pristine space; The elevator doors chimed open again, announcing a new arrival. An almost imperceptible shift rippled through the hushed corridor, a silent acknowledgment of someone important.

Aiko, her senses still reeling from the sheer opulence, barely glanced up. But then, a voice, cool and resonant, cut through the quiet.

"Good morning, Mr. Tanaka."

Her head snapped up, an involuntary reaction.

Standing a few feet away, radiating an aura of effortless authority in a perfectly tailored suit, was him.

The enigmatic figure from that blurred night at the Pan-Pacific.

Jian Tanaka. A jolt of recognition, sharp and undeniable, shot through Aiko.

Beside him, her face a carefully constructed mask behind designer sunglasses, even indoors, was a woman with striking, almost severe features. Miss May.

Jian offered a series of detached nods to the murmured greetings, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings with an air of preoccupied importance. He didn't seem to register Aiko amidst the handful of other staff present.

But Miss May's sharp eyes, however, missed nothing. They flickered to Aiko, and a flicker of something cold and calculating tightened her lips.

As Jian moved with an almost regal grace towards a corner office, Miss May's manicured fingers subtly tightened on his arm, her voice a low, silken thread that carried an unmistakable edge.

"Mr. Tanaka," she murmured, her gaze fixed on Aiko.

Jian's polished stride faltered almost imperceptibly. His dark eyes flickered towards Aiko, a fleeting, unreadable expression – a ghost of familiarity perhaps? – crossing his features before he swiftly masked it. The potent recognition that surged through Aiko seemed to elicit nothing more than a cursory glance in return.

Miss May pressed to her advantage, her voice dripping with a saccharine concern that belied the venom in her words.

"Mr. John, who is this?"

"Aiko, the newly hired Cleaner, ma'am"

"I know her. A careless single mom. Are we entirely certain Aiko is the most... suitable candidate for this floor? It demands a particular level of dedication and, shall we say, uninterrupted focus. Single motherhood, as I understand, can present... significant time management challenges. Perhaps someone with fewer personal commitments would be better equipped to maintain the impeccable standards required here."

Her words hung in the rarefied air, a subtle but potent poison aimed directly at Aiko's fragile opportunity.

Aiko's spine stiffened. Miss May's thinly veiled attack, dripping with condescension, ignited a spark of defiance within her.

"With all due respect, Miss May,"

Aiko began, her voice surprisingly steady despite the tremor of indignation running through her, "my personal circumstances have instilled in me a strong sense of responsibility and time management. I am a dedicated worker, and I assure you, I am more than capable of fulfilling the requirements of this role."

She met Mr. John's gaze directly, hoping her sincerity shone through.

Miss May scoffed, a delicate wrinkle appearing between her perfectly sculpted brows.

"Oh, please. We all know how demanding children can be. This floor requires someone who can be available at a moment's notice, someone whose priorities lie solely with the company's needs, not with school runs and sick days."

She cast a dismissive glance at Aiko's worn shoes.

Before Aiko could formulate a sharp retort, a cool, authoritative voice cut through the tense air.

"That will be enough, Miss May."

Jian Tanaka's tone was clipped, his attention now fully focused on the two women. His dark eyes, sharp and assessing, moved from Miss May's condescending expression to Aiko's quiet but firm stance, as he took in Aiko's determined gaze.

For a fleeting moment, something about her beauty, the resilience etched on her face, sparked a distant, unwelcome memory, a ghost of a past intimacy he instantly suppressed, a tightening in his chest he quickly dismissed.

He turned to Mr. John, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Mr. John, if you believe Ms. Aiko is capable of performing the duties as outlined, then let's give her the opportunity."

His gaze flickered back to Aiko. "Everyone deserves a chance to prove their worth." There was a subtle finality in his tone, effectively silencing Miss May's objections.

Mr. John, clearly sensing the CEO's implicit directive, nodded promptly. "Yes, Mr. Tanaka. I was impressed with Ms. Aiko's willingness and her understanding of the role."

Aiko's breath caught in her throat. Relief washed over her, so potent it almost buckled her knees.

Miss May, however, was visibly displeased. Her lips tightened into a thin line, and a cold fury simmered in her eyes as she shot a venomous glance at Aiko before turning back to Jian with a practiced, charming smile.

"Of course, Mr. Tanaka. Your judgment is always sound." The false sweetness in her voice was unmistakable.

Jian offered a curt nod to both women before turning and striding towards the large corner office, with Miss May following him. With a decisive click that echoed in the sudden silence, he closed the door, effectively shutting Miss May out.

A flush of mortification crept up Miss May's neck. Her carefully constructed composure wavered, and she shot a furious glance at the closed door before turning her wrath on the nearest available target: Aiko.

"This is your fault,"

Miss May hissed, her voice low and venomous, her eyes narrowed behind her designer frames.

"You and your... obvious attempts to garner sympathy. Don't think for a moment that Mr. Tanaka doesn't see through your little act."

Aiko met Miss May's glare with a newfound, albeit cautious, defiance. The desperation for the job warred with the simmering resentment at Miss May's continued arrogance. She needed this job, desperately, but she wouldn't be cowed. Not completely.

"My apologies, Miss May," Aiko replied.

The sarcasm hung heavy in the air, a small act of rebellion born from necessity. Aiko knew she was treading a dangerous line, but the injustice of Miss May's blame fueled her retort. She had to make it clear she wouldn't be an easy target.

Miss May's face contorted with rage.

"You... you insolent little cleaner! You think you're clever, don't you? You'll learn very quickly that disrespecting me is a career-limiting move."

"On the contrary, Miss May," Aiko said, maintaining a facade of polite indifference, "I'm rather hoping this job will start my career. And as for cleverness... well, I'd hardly consider pointing out the obvious feat of intellectual prowess."

Miss May took a menacing step closer, her eyes blazing.

"You will regret this,"

She spat, her voice a low, venomous promise. "I promise you, your life here will be miserable. Every speck of dust, every misplaced item, will be your personal hell. I will be watching you, and I will make sure you pay for this humiliation. Consider this a declaration of war."

She punctuated her threat with a sharp, pointed finger before turning on her heel, her expensive heels clicking angrily on the polished floor as she stalked away towards the elevators, a picture of wounded pride and seething fury.

Aiko watched her go, a chill settling over her despite the warmth of the Singaporean morning. She had won this small skirmish, but she knew Miss May's promise wasn't idle.