Then Unintended Bride

Chapter3

Reina’s POV

The room went silent, and I froze.

The interviewer’s words: Hi. He gestured toward the door, his movements precise and controlled. To me, it's like a punch:

“Reina… that’s the CEO.”

My stomach dropped, and I felt like I could disappear onto the floor.

Adrian, the man I had just drenched, was calmly wiping water off his suit. He didn’t yell. He didn’t even raise his voice. He just moved with that same perfect control that made my nerves spike even more.

The man who had helped me at the café glanced my way, offering a subtle, almost sympathetic look. I barely noticed. My focus was on the mess I had made.

The interviewer tried to explain, stumbling over her words, but Adrian cut her off sharply.

“We’ll discuss this outside.”

My chest tightened. I wanted to melt into the floor.

“Miss Cortez. Outside. Now.”

My heart sank. I was sure I had just ruined my only shot at the job.

I moved toward the door too fast, nearly tripping over my own feet, but caught myself just in time.

The hallway felt colder. I could feel every eye on me, every whisper cutting through my nerves.

I stood outside the room, trying to catch my breath. My hands shook as I wiped them on my skirt, and my hair refused to lie flat no matter what I did.

A few staff members walked past, staring openly. Some whispered. One even laughed quietly. Perfect. Just what I needed.

The interview room door opened behind me.

Adrian stepped out. His suit was immaculate, his hair untouched. He looked at me for a long moment, evaluating me, and it made my cheeks burn even more.

I didn’t move. I didn’t speak. I just followed him, my embarrassment pressing down on every step.

Adrian stopped in front of me and crossed his arms. I felt like he could see every mistake I’d ever made.

“Explain,” he said.

I tried to speak, but my words tumbled out fast and messy. “I… I tripped. The rug caught my foot, and I reached for the table, and the water spilled. I didn’t mean to.”

He didn’t interrupt. He just stood there, stone-faced, watching me flail through my explanation. I felt smaller with every second.

Finally, he asked calmly, “Do you always create this much chaos?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. My face burned, and I could feel my stomach twisting.

The man from the café stepped forward slightly, placing himself between Adrian and me.

“Sir, it was an accident,” he said quietly.

I blinked. Did he know the CEO? That realization made my panic spike even higher.

Adrian ignored him completely. His gaze stayed locked on me, unflinching.

“You will come upstairs,” Adrian said finally.

My stomach sank again. Upstairs? That wasn’t a good sign. I only nodded, following him obediently.

We stepped into the elevator. I moved to a corner and held my bag like a shield. My heart was racing, and I could feel sweat prickling my neck.

Adrian pressed the button for his floor and didn’t speak. He glanced at me once, and I could have sworn there was something in his expression I couldn’t read. I looked away immediately.

The man from the café gave me a small, reassuring smile. I barely noticed it, too mortified to focus on anything else.

The ride felt endless. Each floor that passed made me more tense. I counted silently, wishing at once that the elevator would go faster and slower at the same time.

When the doors finally opened, I took a deep breath and stepped out, bracing myself for whatever would happen next.

The doors opened to a private hallway. It was quiet, sleek, and completely different from the lobby downstairs.

I followed Adrian, still tense and humiliated, convinced I was walking straight into disaster.

He led me to a large office and gestured for me to sit. I collapsed into the chair, clutching my bag like a lifeline, trying not to tremble.

Adrian turned his attention to the papers on his desk, flipping through them. Then he looked at me.

“You still want this job?” he asked, his tone calm but sharp.

I froze for a moment. “I… yes,” I stammered.

He raised an eyebrow and finally said, “I’m Adrian Casagrande. CEO of this hotel. I don’t hire based on first impressions. We value resilience. You came in for the interview anyway, even after what just happened.”

I blinked. Wait… he’s the CEO? And I just… I just spilled water on him. And yet… he’s giving me another chance?

Adrian’s gaze stayed locked on me, still calm, still unreadable.

“You can’t be fired from a job you don’t have,” he said dryly. “I will allow you a second interview. That is all.”

I stared at him, trying to make sense of it. I had ruined everything in my mind, and yet here he was, giving me a chance.

“You’re lucky,” he added. “Clean yourself up. You look like you sprinted here from another country.”

My cheeks burned. I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and embarrassment.

I stepped into the hallway, trying to calm my shaking hands, and froze when I saw the receptionist from earlier.

Her jaw dropped. She stared at me, clearly shocked that I was still standing there.

I walked past her, head high even though I was still trembling inside.