1. MEETING HIM.

Emma walked into her friend’s fashion shop, Velora Boutique, with a sigh.

She had lost her job. Again.

At this point, unemployment was becoming a personality trait.

“Hi, Luan,” Emma said as she walked to the counter.

Luan looked up from the notebook she was writing in and smiled. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

“Long story short, I got fired again. So now I’m officially jobless.”

Luan laughed softly, not looking surprised at all. “Emma, it would be a miracle if you kept a job for five months.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “I still need money for that beach outfit.”

“The beach outfit,” Luan repeated, and they both laughed.

Kristie had called it unnecessary, but Emma didn’t care. Everyone going to the beach party was getting one, and she refused to be left out.

“Well, guess what?” Luan said excitedly. “We have it in stock, and my boss said I could get it at a lower price if I do well this month.”

Emma’s eyes lit up. “Seriously? Show me!”

Luan led her to the display. “I need to get back to work, but take a look. Then come meet me, I might have a job opportunity for you.”

Emma barely heard the last part.

The outfit on display was stunning.

The fabric looked soft and expensive, hugging the mannequin perfectly. It was even prettier than the pink one she had planned to buy.

Then she checked the price.

$300

“What?!”

Emma stared at the tag in horror.

Even all her savings wouldn’t be enough.

“Who even buys clothes this expensive?” she muttered.

“I want that.”

The deep male voice made her turn.

A tall man stood beside them, dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit. Everything about him screamed money.

And arrogance.

He pointed directly at the same outfit.

Emma folded her arms. “Sorry, it’s already taken.”

The man glanced at her, then looked at Luan. “It doesn’t seem taken.”

“I need it,” he said calmly. “Prepare it for me.”

Emma frowned.

The nerve.

He was acting like she wasn’t even there.

“I said it was taken,” she snapped.

He turned slightly, finally looking at her.

He was annoyingly handsome, with sharp features and an unreadable expression that made him look like everyone around him was wasting his time.

“If you wanted it that badly,” he said coolly, “you should have gotten it earlier.”

Emma stepped closer, refusing to back down.

“What kind of man buys women’s beachwear anyway?”

That made him pause.

He looked down at her with a cold stare that made her swallow.

Then he said:

“If you really wanted it, you would’ve bought it already. But it looks like you can’t afford it.”l

Emma’s mouth fell open.

Did he just call her broke?

Luan quickly packed the outfit while silently begging Emma not to continue.

But Emma was furious.

“Why don’t you pay for it then?” she shot back. “Let’s see how rich you really are.”

A faint smirk appeared on his lips.

Without another word, he handed his card to Luan.

She swiped it.

Approved.

Emma stared in disbelief.

He actually paid.

And from the satisfied look on his face, he knew exactly what he had done.

Luan handed the card back awkwardly. “Thank you. Have a nice day.”

The man nodded and walked away.

Emma watched him leave, still stunned.

Then she turned to Luan.

“What just happened?”

Luan laughed. “That man is rich rich.”

Emma groaned. “I hate him.”

Then she sighed.

“You said something about a job?”

Luan nodded. “There’s an opening at Draxen Group. My friend works there. They need an assistant to the CEO, and the pay is amazing.”

Emma’s eyes widened.

“Draxen Group? That company is huge.”

“I know. You should apply.”

Emma nodded slowly.

She needed the money.

“Text me the address,” she said.

The next morning, Emma was running late.

She had borrowed heels, a blazer, and trousers from Kristie just to look presentable enough for the interview.

And now traffic was ruining everything.

“I woke up early, dressed early, left early, so why am I still late?” she yelled, making the driver jump.

With no other choice, she got out and ran the rest of the way.

When she finally reached Draxen Group, she stopped in awe.

The building towered over the street, sleek and intimidating.

Emma suddenly felt very small.

She took a breath and stepped forward.

Then a speeding car splashed mud across her trousers.

Emma froze.

Then slowly looked down.

Mud.

On interview day.

Her anger exploded instantly.

The black car stopped ahead, and before thinking, Emma marched toward it.

The driver’s door opened.

A man stepped out.

Emma stopped.

It was him.

The man from the boutique.!!

“You again?” she snapped.

He frowned slightly, recognizing her.

Emma threw her hands in the air.

“Why are you always ruining my life? First the outfit, now this?”

She kept ranting while he stood there, calm and completely unbothered.

Then his eyes dropped to the mud on her trousers.

Finally he understood.

“Firstly, my apologies,” he said. “But I have a meeting right now, so can we handle this later?”

Emma stared at him.

The audacity.

“You have a meeting?” she said. “I have an interview! Fix this!”

“I can’t.”

That was it.

Emma bent down, scooped up mud, and smeared it across his cream-colored suit.

“There,” she said, stepping back. “Now we’re even.”

For the first time, his composure cracked.

He stared at the stain in silence.

Then his lips curved into a slow smile.

“Interesting,” he murmured.

Emma turned and walked away.

Jerry watched her go, amusement fading into something colder.

No one embarrassed him and walked away untouched.