Chapter five

Lauren stormed out of the bistro, muttering curses under her breath as she replayed her unpleasant encounter with the arrogant stranger. She had never met anyone so rude and full of himself.

After taking a few steps, she suddenly remembered she hadn't even ordered her coffee.

She glanced back at the bistro, briefly considering going inside, but the thought of running into that man again changed her mind.

"Not worth it," she muttered before continuing down the pavement.

She checked her phone and gasped. She was running late for her interview.

Hurrying down the street, she glanced at her blouse and groaned when she noticed the brown coffee stains covering the fabric. She tried wiping them with a tissue, but they wouldn't come off. Unfortunately, there was no time to go home and change.

By the time she reached the office building, she was breathless, with loose strands of hair falling across her face. She quickly tucked them behind her ear and walked inside, hoping her appearance wouldn't ruin her chances.

The receptionist looked up as Lauren approached the desk.

"Good morning. How may I help you?" she asked politely.

"Good morning." Lauren spoke calmly. "I'm here for the interview scheduled for this morning."

"May I have your name, please?"

"Lauren Bennett."

The receptionist checked her computer before looking up.

"You're late, Miss Bennett. The interview was scheduled to begin thirty minutes ago."

Lauren's face fell.

"I'm terribly sorry. I had an unexpected problem on my way here." She explained hurriedly. "Is there any chance I could still see the hiring manager?"

The receptionist studied her for a moment before picking up the telephone.

"Please have a seat while I check," the receptionist said, turning towards her computer.

Lauren sat down and tried to relax, but she was too nervous to sit still.

A few minutes later, the receptionist walked over.

"Miss Bennett, you may go in," she said, looking up at her with a polite smile.

Lauren quickly got to her feet..

"Thank you," she replied, forcing a small smile before heading towards the office.

Two interviewers sat behind a large desk. The woman glanced through Lauren's CV before looking up at her.

"Miss Bennett, you're quite late," she remarked, checking the time on her wristwatch.

Lauren shifted in her seat, already feeling uncomfortable. "I sincerely apologise. I had an accident on my way here, and—"

"We understand that unexpected things happen," the woman interrupted, placing the CV on the desk. "But punctuality is very important to us."

"Yes, I understand. I'm sorry," Lauren replied, wishing she could turn back the clock and start the morning all over again.

The man sitting beside the woman looked her over, his eyes settling on the brown stains covering her clothes.

"And you came dressed like this?" he asked, leaning back in his chair.

Lauren glanced down at her clothes. She had hoped the stains wouldn't be too noticeable, but judging by his expression, there was no hiding them.

"I spilled coffee on myself this morning. I tried cleaning it, but the stain wouldn't come off. I didn't want to miss the opportunity, so I came straight here," she explained, trying to keep her voice steady.

The woman closed the file in front of her.

"I'm afraid this isn't the impression we expect from someone applying for this position."

Lauren shifted forward in her seat. "Please, I can explain. I'm qualified for the role, and I—"

"Miss Bennett, we've decided not to proceed with your application," the woman said firmly.

Lauren stared at her, struggling to believe what she had just heard.

"You're not going to interview me?" she asked, her voice dropping slightly.

"I'm sorry, but we've made our decision," the woman replied.

For a few seconds, Lauren sat there, hoping one of them would reconsider. She had rushed across the city to get there, and now she was being turned away without even having the chance to prove herself.

She pressed her lips together before slowly getting to her feet.

"I understand. Thank you for your time," she said, managing a small, polite smile.

Neither interviewer said anything as she turned and walked out.

The moment the door closed behind her, Lauren's shoulders dropped. She made her way down the hallway, replaying the conversation in her head. She couldn't believe they had dismissed her without even giving her a chance.

By the time she stepped outside, her lower lip was trembling as she fought to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill over.