In my previous life, entering the workforce had been miserable. I had four major companies in the industry I studied that I could realistically apply to. All four were prestigious, known for competitive salaries and opportunities. Initially, I did not feel worthy of any of them. I was just ordinary, and the thought of competing with top candidates was intimidating. So I tried the smaller and medium-sized companies first, only to find the offers laughably low.

  That was the moment I made a decision. No half measures. Go all in, or go home. I submitted applications to all four major companies and prepared myself for the worst. Three of the interviews went exactly as expected. My inexperience and nerves showed, and I failed.

  The fourth company was my last chance. I could not afford another failure. I reached out to Julian from secondary school. He was one of the smartest people I had ever met, academically and strategically. I asked him to review my interview script, polish my answers, and make sure I was as prepared as possible. With his help, I landed the interview, and this time, I succeeded. I was just a hair’s breadth away from being forced into subpar companies.

  I still remember the rage I felt when I received the rejection call from one of the first three companies. I was sitting in my car, gripping the bottle of water I had brought for the interview. The sudden surge of frustration made me stomp on it. At first, my weight was not enough, and the bottle barely crushed. A security guard looked at me like I had lost my mind. I tried again, destroyed it completely, and left the premises feeling a mix of humiliation and triumph.

  This time, in this timeline, I decided to do things differently. I knew exactly who I needed to meet in the company. I knew which allies and enemies would shape my career journey. Leaving it to chance was no longer acceptable. Projects were randomly assigned, and coworkers could make or break the first years. I would not leave my career to luck.

  The first step was Kent. I called the company hotline repeatedly, insisting on a meeting with him. At first, HR was skeptical, but eventually they conveyed my unusual request. Kent, intrigued, called back himself. We agreed on a quick one-on-one meeting in his office.

  When I arrived, he was cautious. He was certain he had never met me before.

  “I have to ask,” he said carefully, “why all the effort to meet me? This is highly irregular.”

  “I am not a scammer or a questionable individual,” I said quickly. My voice carried calm confidence, but I could feel his skepticism.

  He raised an eyebrow. “And how exactly do you intend to prove that?”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  I smiled slightly. “I do not need to prove everything. I simply want to work with you. I am very interested in the projects you are handling. The software, the client interactions, the procedures. I know them all.”

  Kent blinked. “You know them?”

  “Yes,” I replied, “I have worked on similar projects before. I understand the workflow. I know the clients, their behavior, and the expected deliverables.”

  He leaned back, suddenly alert. “Are you some kind of spy? Private investigator? How would you know this?”

  “I am not,” I said carefully, letting the pause hang. “I just know.”

  He frowned, clearly struggling to reconcile what I was saying. I decided to reveal a little more, enough to make him consider me seriously without spilling everything.

  I named a few projects he had led. I mentioned specific procedures and software modules that only someone who had been inside the company would know. His eyes widened. “This is… very precise,” he said.

  “I am serious,” I said. “I want to work under you. I want to progress. And I want to do it with your guidance.”

  He stared at me, silence stretching between us. Finally, he asked, “And why all this? Why go to such lengths before even applying?”

  I paused and chose my words carefully. “Because I know where I want to be in a few years. I know what will happen if I follow the usual path. I have a unique perspective. And if we work together, I can make sure our efforts are mutually beneficial.”

  Kent’s suspicion was evident. I leaned in slightly. “I will be completely honest. I know details about your life that even colleagues do not. For example, how you met your wife, your honeymoon in the Maldives, and your GTR sports car that you eventually sold because the fuel costs were too high. And I know this because I… knew you in another life.”

  His mouth opened slightly, a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. “Another life?”

  “Yes,” I said simply. “I also have resources at my disposal, enough to seize major opportunities when they arise. Millions are ready to be deployed, but I need guidance and access first. I want to grow steadily with your protection, climb responsibly, and prepare for the right moment.”

  Kent’s expression changed. He had gone from skeptical to intrigued. He was a practical man, ambitious and slightly greedy. The offer of a partnership with both opportunity and insight caught his attention immediately.

  “I see,” he said slowly. “You are… serious.”

  “I am,” I replied. “I am offering a chance for both of us to benefit. If you agree, you will also see substantial gains in your bank account. I am not asking for blind trust, just collaboration.”

  After a long pause, he finally leaned back, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “You are either insane, or brilliant. I am not sure which. But I am willing to take the risk. I need to see how far this goes.”

  And just like that, the path was cleared. Kent became my first ally in this company. He pulled strings to secure my entry, gave guidance during my probation, and shielded me from early enemies who would have otherwise forced me out. The first months were challenging, but with Kent’s protection, I had a foundation on which to build.

  It was a different start than in my previous life. This time, I controlled more variables. I had foresight. I had resources. But most importantly, I had strategy. Every move was deliberate, every word calculated, every meeting designed to secure the long-term objective.

  This was the beginning of my adult working journey.