Wolvenmark - The Forbidden Mate

Chapter 3 : Coffee Spill Frustration II

Chapter 3 : Coffee Spill Frustration II

Ruby's POV

"Thank you so much! Do you have any questions?" the interviewer asked as we concluded the interview.

"Nothing, everything is clear," I replied with a polite smile. Then, after a brief pause, I added, "I just want to know how many working days I have to wait to get updates from you."

"Oh…" she gasped slightly before answering, "Usually, we'll call you in two to three days." She then tilted her head slightly and asked, "Is that all?"

I nodded in agreement and extended my hand to shake hers. Her grip was firm but friendly, the kind that carried both professionalism and reassurance. With that, the interview was officially over. As I stepped out of her office, I let out a small sigh of relief, the kind that slips out before you even realize you’ve been holding your breath. My palms were still clammy, but my shoulders finally felt lighter. That went well… I think.

The hallway outside felt quieter than when I first walked in, as though the world had slowed just for me. Wanting to shake off the tension, I decided to check out the building’s café. They mentioned it during the orientation, and curiosity tugged at me. A hot drink sounded perfect right now—something to calm my nerves. Hopefully, it’s free, I thought with a small grin. A little reward for surviving the interview wouldn’t hurt.

Following the signs, I wound my way through polished corridors, the faint hum of conversation trailing from nearby offices. The scent of roasted beans grew stronger with each step, guiding me like a beacon. As soon as I spotted the café tucked into the corner of the floor, I quickened my pace and stepped inside.

Warm light greeted me, spilling across neatly arranged tables. The air was thick with the comforting aroma of coffee and fresh pastries. The low chatter of people unwinding between tasks, the hiss of the espresso machine, the clinking of cups—it all blended into a cozy rhythm that made my stomach rumble softly.

I walked straight toward the counter, fishing for the right words to order, when—

"Oops—"

Before I could even process what was happening, someone barreled into me. The collision jolted through my body, and then I felt it: the sudden warmth of liquid soaking through my blouse. My breath hitched in horror.

Oh no.

"I'm so sorry!" I blurted out, my voice shaky. My hands shot for the towel on the counter, and before I knew it, I was dabbing frantically at his coat. My heart hammered against my ribs, the rhythm loud enough that I swore he could hear it. I could feel his eyes on me—sharp, piercing, the kind of gaze that pinned you in place and made your skin prickle. It sent an involuntary shiver rushing down my spine.

"Oh my gosh!" He sighed heavily, exasperation dripping from his tone. "Great, just great. My favorite coat is ruined."

I swallowed hard. Heat rose to my face. I wanted to argue—it wasn’t even my fault! He hadn’t been looking where he was going. But the words tangled in my throat, refusing to come out. So I kept my head lowered, my fingers still dabbing uselessly at the dark fabric.

He dragged a hand down his face, as if wrestling with his patience. "Good thing it's dark. The stain's not as noticeable…" he muttered under his breath.

It’s not even that bad, I thought with a flicker of irritation. People are so dramatic sometimes.

"I'm really sorry," I said again, softer this time, my voice dipping into hesitation.

"Yeah, I get it," he snapped. "But seriously, do you not see people walking around here? You couldn't have taken a second to—"

My eyes widened. Was he seriously blaming me? Frustration sparked hot in my chest, ready to rise, but before I could fire back, he stopped mid-sentence.

His gaze was locked on me.

Not just looking—staring.

It was different now, the sharpness melting into something else entirely. His lips parted slightly, his stormy eyes softening in a way that left me rooted to the spot. For a moment, the noise of the café dimmed, as though the whole world had paused, waiting on whatever it was he had just seen in me.

My stomach flipped. What was that?

"Uh, sir?" I asked hesitantly, my voice breaking the spell. "Are you okay?"

He blinked rapidly, like he was snapping out of a trance. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," he mumbled, his tone suddenly lighter, almost… welcoming. "It was my fault too, I guess. I should've been paying attention."

Oh, wonderful. Now he realized.

I exhaled a small breath, tension easing from my shoulders. "I really didn't mean to bump into you," I added, still gripping the towel. "This is so embarrassing." My cheeks burned—I didn’t even need a mirror to know I was blushing furiously.

"No, no, it's fine." He waved a hand dismissively. "It was an accident. Happens to the best of us."

His lips curved into a small smile, and I couldn’t help but notice—he was actually… handsome.

I cleared my throat quickly, pushing the thought away. "I can make it up to you—get you a new coat or… something. If you want?" The words tumbled out faster than I could stop them.

He let out a low chuckle, amusement glinting in his eyes. "A new coat?" he repeated, clearly entertained. "I mean, it's not that bad. I'll live."

Relief washed over me like a tide. Thank goodness. I didn’t have the money to replace a coat like his, and it would’ve been a disaster if he’d called my bluff.

"Really, it's fine," he reassured, his voice gentler now. "Don't worry about it."

I nodded, feeling the last threads of tension unravel. "Well, I—uh—hope your day gets better," I said awkwardly, unsure what else to offer.

"Yeah, thanks," he replied, his lips tugging into another small smile. "Take care."

Without wasting another second, I turned on my heel and all but power-walked out of the café, weaving through the tables and patrons as fast as I could without looking like I was running from the scene of a crime. My heart was still pounding like a drumline in my chest, and I could feel the flush on my cheeks radiating heat all the way up to my ears.

What the heck just happened?!

I barely managed to make it out the door before I let out a sharp exhale, pressing a hand over my chest as if I could calm my heartbeat by sheer will. Not only did I nearly ruin a stranger’s coat with coffee, but the stranger turned out to be… him. Whoever he was, he carried himself like someone important, someone used to being obeyed. And the way he looked at me—first with fury, then with… whatever that was—had me rattled to my core.

I didn’t even get to try anything from the café!

Groaning inwardly, I dragged a hand down my face. “Well, that was a disaster,” I muttered under my breath.

My shoulder throbbed from the collision, a dull ache that spread down my arm. Honestly, my whole body felt jarred, like every nerve had been rattled loose. He was tall—towering, even—and built like someone who could take down a tree with his bare hands. Running into him was like slamming into a brick wall.

And yet… it wasn’t just the impact that left me shaken.

It was him. His reaction. His anger had cut sharp at first, unfairly directed at me, but then… it shifted. The look in his eyes, that sudden stillness—it was as if something invisible had passed between us. Like the air had changed in that split second, heavy and charged with something I couldn’t name.

I shivered, hugging myself as I walked down the steps of the building.

“Anyway,” I muttered, trying to shake off the memory, “I should head home.”

I had done my part—I’d sat through the interview for the executive secretary position. Now all I could do was hope. That job meant everything to me, and I didn’t want to dwell on the possibility of rejection.

Lost in thought, I barely noticed the vibration in my pocket until my phone lit up. An unsaved number.

I hesitated only a moment before answering. “Hello, this is Rubeus speaking,” I said, trying to sound professional.

“Hello, this is the HR Department of Silver Moon Corporation,” a cheerful voice greeted. “We are happy to inform you that you have been hired as our new executive secretary!”

For a second, I froze.

“Really?” The word came out half-breath, half-gasp, like I couldn’t quite believe what I’d heard. “Thank you so much!” I practically shouted, earning a few curious glances from passersby on the street.

“You will start work tomorrow,” the HR rep continued warmly. “We will send additional information to your email shortly.”

And then the call ended, just like that.

I stood there on the sidewalk, phone still pressed to my ear, my reflection glowing faintly on the black screen. Then it hit me all at once.

I got the job.

“Oh my gosh!” The words burst out, and I spun in a little circle like an i***t, laughing to myself. I didn’t care if anyone thought I was crazy. My heart felt like it was soaring out of my chest.

This was it—my first real job. My first step into something bigger. I’d been so nervous about the competition, about whether I had enough experience, about whether they’d see me as capable. But none of that mattered now.

I did it.

Excitement bubbled up inside me until I could barely contain it. My grin stretched so wide it hurt, but I couldn’t stop. Tomorrow, everything would change. Tomorrow, a whole new chapter of my life would begin.

And for the first time in a long while, I believed—truly believed—that something good was waiting for me.