The Interview
"She interviews for her dream job at a Somali-owned tech startup. He's the CEO who recognizes her from somewhere—a party, a club, a night neither of them was supposed to remember. Professional becomes personal when he locks the office door."
I recognize him the moment I walk in.
Mahad Warsame. CEO of Hargeysa Tech. The man I went home with six months ago after a party in Shoreditch.
The man who left before I woke up.
"Ms. Farah." He shakes my hand like we've never met. "Please, have a seat."
The interview is professional.
He asks about my experience, my skills, my vision for the role. I answer perfectly—I've prepared for weeks.
But underneath, something else is happening.
"Any questions?" he asks at the end.
"Just one." I lean forward. "Why are you pretending we haven't met?"
He goes still.
"Six months ago. The party at Kojo's. We talked for hours. We went back to your place." I hold his gaze. "You were gone when I woke up."
"That was cowardly." He stands. Walks to the door. Locks it. "And I've regretted it every day since."
"Why did you leave?"
"Because you were incredible, and I panicked." He walks toward me. "Then you walked into my office."
"For a job."
"For something more complicated than that."
I should leave.
Should maintain dignity. Should not let the man who ghosted me corner me in his office.
"This is unprofessional," I say.
"Extremely."
He kisses me.
The interview becomes something else entirely.
Files scatter. His computer gets pushed aside. We make up for six months in minutes.
"Mahad—"
"I'm sorry I left—"
"Then stay—"
"Forever."
He takes me on his CEO desk.
Where he makes decisions worth millions. Where he built something from nothing.
"Yes—"
"I'll make it up to you—" He pushes deeper. "Every day."
We come together.
Collapse into his executive chair.
"About the job," I say afterward.
"You're hired."
"You can't—"
"I'm the CEO." He pulls me close. "And I want you. In my office. In my bed. In my life."
He deals with HR.
Makes arrangements. Different department. No direct reporting.
A year later, I'm running my own team.
And dating the CEO who finally learned to stay.
Best interview I ever had.