The café on Alder Street always smelled like roasted hazelnuts and warm bread, one of the few comforting things in Emelia Jackson's life lately. She pushed through the glass door that morning with her bag barely hanging on her shoulder and exhaustion clinging to her like a second skin. Three weeks of job hunting had drained her confidence so thin she could practically see through it.
Rent was due in nine days, her savings account balance was… embarrassing. And her mother had called the night before, asking if she was "managing well in the city," which was code for Are you eating enough? Should I worry? Do I need to step in?
Emelia hated that question. She didn't want anyone stepping in. Not anymore. She approached the counter and ordered a hot cocoa, her small ritual when life felt heavier than her backpack. She held the warm cup between her palms, inhaling the steam like it could magically give her energy.
She turned around too quickly and collided straight into a solid chest. Her cup slipped. Her breath hitched.A splash of hot chocolate arched through the air and.. "Oh no, no, no, I'm so sorry!" Emelia gasped.
The man she'd collided with stepped back sharply, hot cocoa dripping from the front of his tailored charcoal suit. A very expensive suit, judging by the fabric.
He was tall, easily over six feet, with dark hair styled in a way that was both effortless and intentional. His jawline looked like it had been carved out of stubborn stone, and his eyes..deep, unsettlingly sharp..landed on her with a mix of surprise and… annoyance.A very controlled annoyance.
"It's fine," he said, though his tone suggested it was absolutely not fine.
"I…I didn't see you there," she stammered, pulling napkins from the dispenser like her life depended on it. "I'm really, really sorry." He took the napkins from her hands, his expression unreadable. "Accidents happen."
But the stiffness in his voice told her this was the kind of man who didn't enjoy losing control of anything, not even his morning suit.
Emelia felt her face burning. "Let me pay for the dry cleaning."
"That won't be necessary," he replied curtly, stepping away as though even her apologies were dangerous. He disposed of the napkins, picked up his untouched coffee from the counter, and nodded once before leaving the café. The door closed behind him with an air of finality.
Emelia groaned softly and raised a hand to her forehead. "Of all days…"
Great. She had officially started her morning by staining a stranger's suit, one who looked like he could buy the entire café without blinking. But she didn't have time to dwell. She had a job interview in forty minutes, the interview she'd been desperately waiting for.She grabbed her bag, inhaled deeply, and forced herself out the door.
---
KANE GLOBAL INDUSTRIES was everything the online photos showed and more, twenty-three floors of glass and steel, sitting like a polished promise in the middle of downtown. Emelia paused in front of the towering building, feeling impossibly small. This was the kind of place only people with strong connections, or stronger luck, got hired into.
She had neither. But she had determination, and that would have to be enough.
Inside, the lobby was a blend of marble floors, gold accents, and quiet authority. People moved with purpose, their footsteps echoing professionalism. Emelia smoothed her blouse, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and walked toward the reception desk.
"Good morning," she said softly. "I'm here for the administrative assistant interview." The receptionist smiled. "Name?"
"Emelia Jackson."
She typed quickly, then nodded. "You're on the list. Someone will escort you up shortly." As the elevator doors slid open, Emelia gave herself one last pep talk. You're capable. You're prepared. Don't let nerves ruin this.
She stepped into the elevator and froze.There he was. The man from the café.Now in a fresh suit. Standing like he owned the air around him. Which, she would soon learn, he did.
He raised an eyebrow when he saw her, recognition flickering in his gaze. Oh no. No, no, no. Emelia wanted to melt into the elevator floor. She started to step back out, but the receptionist gently nudged her forward.
"Mr. Kane, this is Ms. Jackson for the interview." Mr. Kane? Her heart dropped straight into her stomach. This wasn't just any wealthy stranger, this was Adrian Kane, the Adrian Kane. CEO. Billionaire. Heir to one of the most influential corporations in the city. And she had spilled cocoa on him.
Adrian's eyes never left her as the receptionist disappeared. The elevator doors closed with a soft chime. For a moment, the only sound was the hum of the elevator.
Emelia swallowed hard. "I… didn't know you were… Mr. Kane." His lips twitched, not into a smile, but into something like amusement restrained behind a wall of discipline. "And you're the woman who accidentally assaulted my suit." Her face heated. "Again, I'm so, so sorry.."
"Relax, Ms. Jackson," Adrian interrupted coolly. "I'm not going to hold that against you." You say that, but your eyebrows are telling a different story, she wanted to mutter.
The elevator ascended smoothly. Adrian stood straight, hands in his pockets, confidence radiating so naturally that Emelia felt like she'd stepped into the presence of someone carved directly out of expectations and pressure.
When they reached the executive floor, he spoke again. "If you're here for the assistant position, I'll be conducting part of the interview." Her knees wobbled. Of course he would.
"Understood," she said, though her voice sounded squeezed out of her lungs. He held the door for her. She stepped out carefully, hoping she didn't trip and add another chapter to her string of embarrassments.
---
The interview room was sleek and minimalist. Adrian reviewed her résumé in silence, occasionally glancing up with sharp eyes that felt like they were analyzing her entire life story, not just her job experience.
"You worked in three different places over the last three years," he noted.
"Yes. I relocated twice."
"And your last job ended because… the company downsized?"
She nodded. "Unfortunately, yes."
His gaze softened subtly, as if he recognized the struggle hidden behind her calm tone.
He continued with a series of questions, efficient, precise, and almost unfairly intimidating. But Emelia answered each one with as much clarity as she could muster, refusing to let nerves erase her preparation.
And then, to her surprise… Adrian leaned back slightly, folding his arms, his expression shifting into something more thoughtful.
"You're honest," he said simply.
She blinked. "Is… that good?"
"In this company, yes." A small flicker of hope lit in her chest.
Adrian studied her for a long second. "I'll review the remaining candidates, but I'll keep your application in serious consideration."It wasn't a yes. But it wasn't a no.
And for the first time in weeks, Emelia walked out of a building feeling like she might actually have a chance. What she didn't know, what she couldn't know was that Adrian Kane had far bigger plans for her than a job offer.
Plans that would drag her into a world of family battles, inherited obligations, and a betrothal he was desperately trying to escape.
Plans that would make that spilled cocoa the least surprising thing to ever happen to her.