002

Kehlani'sPOV

“Ugh!" I groaned, rolling off my bed and landing on the floor with a loud thud. 

The morning sunlight was cruel. It was pouring into my tiny apartment like it had a personal vendetta against me. 

Pushing myself up, I made my way to the front of my mirror only to see a mascara streaked ghost staring back at me. 

The events of last night played behind my eyes like a reel I couldn’t pause no matter how hard I tried. 

It all started with Room 609, Hunter’s smirk, my slap, the sting of betrayal and then the blue eyed man. 

Groaning softly, I dragged my fingers through my tangled hair because God help me, even in my fury, I remembered him vividly. 

His suit had clung to him in all the right places, soaked and sculpted over muscles I didn’t even want to imagine at that hour. 

His jawline looked like it had been carved by someone who hated imperfections, his blue eyes were something else and I wouldn't be surprised if they could slice through glass and those lips, don’t get me started.

In a nutshell, I had humiliated myself in front of an Adonis.

“I am never drinking champagne again,” I muttered, though technically, I hadn’t even drunk it, I had just weaponized it.

For a second, I allowed myself to imagine what it would have been like to meet him under less dramatic circumstances. 

No doubt, I would have been grinning from side to side and maybe flirted a little. But instead, I had baptized him in sparkling wine and ran away like an idiot when I couldn't stand his gaze. 

“Brilliant, Kehlani ,” I said to my reflection. “That was really smooth.” I huffed. 

Then it hit me; the interview.

“Oh no. Oh no, no, no.” I cried, grabbing my phone from the dresser. 

It was 9:02 a.m.

The interview at Vortex Group which was arguably one of the most prestigious corporations in the city was at nine thirty. 

That gave me less than thirty minutes to get there, and I was still in my pajamas.

“Shit!” I bit out. 

In a haste, I bolted into the bathroom, brushing my teeth with one hand while trying to tame my hair with the other. 

Everything that could go wrong, did. My foundation looked uneven, my blouse had a coffee stain I didn’t notice before, and my skirt zipper decided to jam halfway up.

By the time I ran out of the door, my heart was already pounding like a drumline.

When the cab finally screeched to a stop in front of Vortex’s towering glass building, I didn’t even wait for change. I bolted inside, clutching my folder like my life depended on it.

The lobby gleamed with polished marble floors, gold accents, and a massive chandelier that screamed wealth. 

People in sleek suits and sharp heels moved around like they owned the world.

And there was me, sweaty, breathless and disheveled.

Perfect first impression. — I thought, scurrying towards the front desk secretary.

Panting, I bit out. “Interview for the Executive Assistant position.” 

She lifted her eyes from her computer and then eyed me like I had crawled out of a sewer. “You’re late.”

“I know, I’m so sorry… traffic was…”

“They’re about to start.” She looked over my shoulder toward the boardroom door. “If you don’t get in there now, you’re out.”

I didn’t even think, I ran because I can't afford to lose this opportunity. 

The heavy doors were just about to close when I slipped through, almost tripping over my own heels. 

My bag hit the floor with a thud and at that instant, every eye in the room turned to me.

Oh God. 

Twelve people sat around a sleek, dark conference table. Sharp suits, cold eyes and not a single friendly face in sight.

“I… I’m so sorry,” I stammered, trying to catch my breath. “There was traffic, and…”

“Miss…” One of the older board members squinted down at his papers. “Kehlani Beckham?”

“Yes, sir,” I said quickly, forcing a polite smile but he looked unimpressed. 

“We don’t tolerate tardiness here. The interview started five minutes ago, you should leave.”

“Please, I…” I tried to beg but he cut me off. 

“Out,” he snapped and my heart fell into my stomach with a plop. 

After everything, after preparing for weeks, this was how it was going to end?

“You heard me," the man repeated.

 Seeing that no one was coming to my rescue, I turned to leave but before I could move my feet, a calm, commanding voice spoke from the head of the table.

“Let her stay.”

The air shifted as every head turned toward the man sitting in the center. His legs were crossed with a faint and knowing smirk on his face.

My heart nearly stopped as recognition hit me. 

It was him, the man from last night with the same piercing blue eyes and the same sculpted features. 

Only now, instead of dripping with champagne, he looked lethal in a perfectly tailored navy suit. 

He was just sitting there yet his presence dominated the room effortlessly. He looked composed, dangerous and worst of all, he looked amused.

Beads of sweat broke out on my forehead as I swallowed hard.

What were the odds? Out of every company and every interview in this city, it had to be his.

The older man frowned but didn’t argue. “As you wish, Mr. Chase.” 

Chase; the name hit me like a thunderclap. 

He was the CEO of Vortex Group, my boss if I ever got this job and unfortunately, he was the man I had thrown champagne on.

“Miss Beckham ,” another woman on the board began coolly, “you may sit.”

Mumbling a thank you, I lowered myself into the nearest chair, clutching my folder so tightly that my knuckles went white. 

My hair was still a mess, my shirt was wrinkled, and I could feel my heartbeat echoing in my ears.

Ignoring the other applicants, they began firing questions at me. Some were fair while some outrightly brutal.

“Why did you leave your last position?”

“What makes you think you can handle the pressure of this role?”

“What can you bring to Vortex that others can’t?”

It felt like an interrogation more than an interview and each question came faster than I could breathe. 

But I forced myself to focus, to channel every ounce of calm professionalism I had left. I answered each one clearly and carefully, keeping my eyes off him except that I could feel his gaze.

It was sharp, assessing, and burned holes in my skin.

“So, Miss Beckham ,” Chase said, leaning back in his chair. “Tell me something. Do you usually show up late to important meetings, or was last night just… a warm-up?”

My mouth fell open as I darted my eyes around. I was now the center of attention as everyone was trying to decode what he was talking about. 

And, not going to lie, I wasn't expecting him to bring up last night's scene but he did in the presence of the board members.

“Last night was… an accident. One I sincerely regret and as for this morning, it won’t happen again.”

His lips twitched but it wasn't a smile, “We’ll see,” he said, returning his gaze to his iPad. 

For the next half hour, the questions didn’t stop. It was relentless but I refused to crumble. 

Every time I answered correctly or made a valid point, I caught the faintest flicker of approval in Chase's eyes, though he masked it well behind that unreadable expression.

When it finally ended, I was sweating, exhausted, and convinced that I had blown it.

With my heart in my mouth as I prepared myself for rejection, I watched as the board exchanged murmurs and shuffled papers. 

“She’s hired.” Chase's voice broke through the haze as he pushed himself up. 

“Sir?” the HR director blinked.

Chase's blue eyes didn’t waver. “You heard me. Miss Kehlani performed better than the others so have the offer letter prepared by the end of day.”

Walking around the table with his hands tucked in his pockets, he said, “There shouldn't be any delay." 

“Yes sir," he replied immediately. 

My jaw dropped in surprise. If anything, I should have been thrown out but I was handpicked by the CEO himself. 

The board members looked like they had swallowed nails while I just sat there frozen and trying to process what had just happened.

He was already pushing open the glass door to the corridor when I called out, “Mr. Chase!”

Everyone in the room turned to face me but I wasn't bothered. I hurriedly made my way to his side, clutching my folder to my chest. 

“I just… Thank you. Thank you for giving me a chance, I really appreciate it.” I muttered, holding his hand. 

For a brief second, those piercing eyes met mine. Up close, they were even more devastating. They were icy, calm, yet hiding something dangerous underneath.

Without warning, he shook off my hand. 

“Kehlani ,” he called, leaning closer until his voice dropped to a low murmur that brushed against my ear. “You didn’t merit the job.”

“Huh?" I gulped, my eyes watering. 

"Just don't make me regret hiring you.” Those were his last words then he brushed past me.