Fractured Fire and Ice

Final Selection

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And that was dangerous. Because if there was one thing I couldn’t afford, it was losing control.

I ran a hand through my hair, frustration gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. It wasn’t just about the company, or even the selection process. It was about the way she made me feel—off balance, unsettled, and dangerously close to something I hadn’t allowed myself to experience in a long time.

I couldn’t let this get to me. I couldn’t let her get to me. She was just another candidate, another talented student who had caught our attention. But as much as I tried to convince myself of that, there was a small, insistent part of me that refused to believe it.

Her eyes—intelligent, curious, and with that spark of defiance—had been burned into my memory. The way she carried herself, confident yet with an underlying vulnerability, had intrigued me in a way that was hard to ignore. And when she spoke, it was with a conviction that was rare, even among the most seasoned professionals.

I knew better than to let emotions cloud my judgment. My life had always been about control—controlling my environment, my decisions, and most importantly, myself. But Lily Carson was testing the limits of that control in ways I hadn’t anticipated.

Tomorrow, I would see her again. And I would have to face whatever it was about her that was drawing me in. I needed to keep my distance, to remain detached, and to focus on what truly mattered—choosing the best candidates for our company.

But as I stared out the window, the city lights flickering in the distance, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was already too late. If somehow, without even realizing it, I had already lost a piece of that control.

The thought of her slipping away, of someone else recognizing the potential I saw in her, left a bitter taste in my mouth. It was irrational, bordering on possessive, and I hated myself for it. Yet, I couldn’t deny the truth.

Lily Carson was more than just another candidate. And that terrified me.

I would have to tread carefully. One wrong move, and everything I’d worked so hard to build could crumble. But as the night wore on and the city quieted, the one thing I knew with certainty was that tomorrow would change everything—one way or another.

____

The sun was just beginning to rise as I reviewed the final essays submitted by the candidates. We had arrived back at the college early to ensure that everything was in place for the last stage of the selection process. Jisoo, Minji, and I were gathered in the conference room, the atmosphere heavy with the significance of what lay ahead.

I sifted through the essays, one after another. Each was well-crafted, demonstrating a solid understanding of the industry and a clear passion for innovation. But I was looking for something more—something that set a candidate apart, that showed they had the potential to not only meet our company’s high standards but exceed them.

“Anything standing out yet?” Minji asked, he tone casual as he leaned back in his chair, idly scrolling through her phone.

“Some,” I replied, my focus still on the essays. “But nothing extraordinary.”

Jisoo, seated across from me, raised an eyebrow. “You’re a tough crowd, Damien.”

I didn’t respond, flipping to the next essay. The name at the top of the page caught my eye—**Lily Carson**. My attention sharpened as I began to read, each word pulling me in deeper.

Her essay was unlike the others. Where most candidates played it safe, Lily took risks. She proposed bold ideas, challenging conventional thinking with a fresh perspective that was both innovative and grounded. It wasn’t just the content that impressed me; it was the way she conveyed her thoughts, with a clarity and passion that was hard to ignore.

“She’s got something,” I murmured, almost to myself.

Jisoo looked up, curiosity piqued. “Who does?”

“Lily Carson,” I said, handing her the essay. “Read this.”

Jisoo took the paper, her eyes scanning the pages. After a few moments, she nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “You’re right. She’s good. Really good.”

Minji leaned over, glancing at the essay in Jisoo’s hands. “Let me see,” he said, snatching it away playfully.

As Minji read through Lily’s work, I moved on to the next essay, but my mind kept drifting back to hers. There was something about it—about her—that intrigued me, though I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. It was as if she had managed to capture something elusive, something that resonated on a deeper level.

“This one’s a keeper,” Minji declared, tossing the essay back onto the table. “She’s got guts. I like that.”

Jisoo smirked, her gaze shifting to me. “Looks like we’re all in agreement.”

I nodded, setting the rest of the essays aside. “Let’s move on to the interviews. We need to be thorough.”

The next few hours were spent interviewing the top candidates. Each student sat across from us, their nerves barely concealed as they answered our questions. They all had potential, but none of them left as strong an impression as Lily had.

Finally, it was her turn. She entered the room with a calm confidence, her posture straight, her eyes clear. I studied her as she sat down, noting the way she held herself—composed, but not rigid. There was a quiet strength there, one that only increased my interest.

“Miss Carson,” I began, keeping my tone neutral. “Your essay was impressive. You took some risks with your ideas. Care to elaborate on why you chose that approach?”

Lily met my gaze, her expression steady. “I believe that to truly innovate, you have to be willing to challenge the status quo. It’s easy to follow established paths, but the real breakthroughs come when you’re willing to take risks and think differently.”

Her response was exactly what I’d been hoping to hear. It wasn’t just the words themselves but the conviction behind them. She wasn’t afraid to stand by her ideas, even if they were unconventional.

Jisoo leaned forward slightly, her interest evident. “And how do you handle failure? What happens when those risks don’t pay off?”

Lily didn’t hesitate. “Failure is part of the process. It’s not something to fear, but something to learn from. If you’re not failing occasionally, you’re not pushing hard enough.”

Minji exchanged a glance with Jisoo, a silent agreement passing between them. I could tell they were as impressed as I was.

The interview continued, and with each answer, Lily only solidified the positive impression she’d already made. By the time it was over, I knew there was no question—she was one of the best candidates we had.

After she left, we spent some time deliberating, though it was clear we were all on the same page. When it came time to make the final selections, Lily’s name was at the top of the list.

Jisoo was the one to announce the chosen candidates. As she read out the names, I watched Lily closely. Her reaction was subtle—a small nod, a quiet smile—but there was a spark of determination in her eyes that told me she was ready for whatever came next.

Once the announcements were made, the room buzzed with excitement. The selected students, including Lily and her friends Emma and Tyler were congratulated by their peers, while those who hadn’t made the cut tried to hide their disappointment.

As the crowd began to disperse, I caught Jisoo’s eye. She gave me a knowing look, her expression a mix of amusement and approval. I knew what she was thinking—that I had found something special in Lily Carson.

And she was right. But what exactly that meant, I wasn’t sure yet. All I knew was that this was only the beginning.

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