HIS HUMAN MATE

Clara's POV: Breathe Clara, Breathe. Clara Reyes mentally went through the steps of respiration as she stepped out of the cab and into her new life as the secretary to Victor Hughes, the CEO of Hughes Wines, the most successful wine company in the country and top ten worldwide . She was extremely aware of the fact that she was immensely unqualified for the job and with her sweat stained shirt and rumpled pants, she definitely looked more lacking of her place at the prestigious company even more than she thought. Lack of skillset and unpreparedness was one thing, but Clara had an aesthetic that stuck out like a sore thumb amongst the other employees she walked passed. Where they were dressed to the nines, blurring the lines between office elegance and a royal party worthy outfit, Clara was one who preferred to don her hand knit sweaters, long pleated skirts and doc martens. Walking through the building, Clara was taken back to how she felt during her almost-interview with the chief of staff, waiting in the reception area with the other candidates. She felt like prey, whose defences were being stripped down by the scrutinizing gazes of the shark like staffs. They hardly spared her a glance but the second-long looks and snooty expressions were all the confirmation she needed...they did not think she belonged. Well, tough luck. Clara was used to feeling like an outcast, feeling like she didn't belong. She may be soft spoken and overly sunny but she was no weakling and had a back bone that could have only come from the things she had gone through. Pressing the button to the fifth floor on the elevator, she took a deep breath, steeled her spine and made up her mind, she was not going to cower. For anyone. Victor's POV 5 days earlier Victor was exhausted. Back to back meetings flooded his schedule, most of them with less than pleasant clients and family drama which being the first born and first son made him the 'foreperson'of, as his dad would say. Not only that, he also had a shitload of paperwork which his last secretary had wrongly filed, prompting him to take the task on himself for assured accuracy. He needed a break, Where was Erin anyway? He thought to himself, mentally summoning the 5'5 Japanese- American man, who rounded the corner of the office with his personal assistant. Victor stepped directly into Erin's line of vision, drawing his attention away from the conversation he was engaged in "How are the interviews going?" He asked Erin, his Chief of staff who he had tasked with employing a new secretary. "I have shortlisted a few from the number of applicants that came in last week and I will get started on interviewing the next batch in the next 30 minutes or so" "How many people have you interviewed so far?" "25 and shortlisted 5" Erin replied. "I need it to go quicker" he said, actively keeping his temper on a leash by reminding himself that Erin was not the source of his frustrations and was doing the best he could as fast as he could. "I am making a thorough search to find you someone of great skill who is insightful and sharp" Victor nodded to show his approval while looking around the reception area where the last batch of applicants to be interviewed waited. All suit and tie, different shades of the same bored looks, he studied them looking for just an inch of personality he could inteprete, then he saw her. Wearing a God awful crochet -or knit- sweater, paired with an even more hideous plaid skirt, she sat, eyes roaming the room, hand wringed raw, fidgeting and visibly tense about the interview but that wasn't what caught his breath at all. Her beauty wasn't what made his heart beat a million times faster, no. It was the one word which was as quiet as a whisper but echoed loudly in his head. He could not believe he had found her, he could not believe he stood mere feet away from her, his mate. He was barely aware of Erin speaking, allowing his voice to escort him down the hall and in front of her. "Hello" he said to her, fixing his brightest smile. She must have recognized him as she put on a nervous but kind smile and got to her feet. "Hello, Mr Victor. It's nice to meet you" she replied with a soft tone and outstretched hand, waiting for a handshake. Her melodious voice failed to register as Victor senses filled with the stench that clouded the room but seemed to ooze more from her. His mate was human. His mate was human and he was pissed. 30 years in this world for this? For someone that would not be able to hold her own in the case of an altercation or emergency? For someone that came from the weakest species of animals created?. Surely, the Goddess was mistaken. His change in temperance must not be obvious to the lady and she still stood with a smile on her face though her hands were now dropped at her side. "What is your name?" he asked, voice clipped, maintaining his composure but still bristling with misplaced anger. "Clara Reyes, sir" she replied, cherry and unaware. "When you resume on Monday, wear something more appropriate and easy on the eyes" His insult clearly went over her head as she gave him a disbelieving but happy stare, registering only the meaning behind his unsavoury comment "I got the job?" "Go to HR to guide you through the onboarding process" He said, ignoring her questions and walking away, leaving behind a room full of confused candidates and an even more confused Erin. He did not know why he did that, he should have sent her away or at the very least ignored her existence and what it meant but something came over him, something he guesses has to do with the mating bond. The Goddess had added another source of frustration to the long list and he needed a beer.