Accidentally Yours

Chapter 1: The Wrong Place –1

Seraphina believed mornings fell into two categories: those that unfolded exactly as planned and those that seemed determined to carefully organize the world upside down.

Her eyes flickered to the digital clock on the dashboard as her fingers tightened around the steering wheel, turning her knuckles white

"Not today." she muttered under her breath.

The line of red brakes stretched into the distance, yet not a single car moved.

Her interview was scheduled in forty-three minutes, and her navigation app predicted another thirty six minutes behind the steering wheel. Seven minutes to spare, assuming the city would suddenly abandon its apparent commitment to making her morning as difficult as possible.

Spoiler: it wouldn't.

Seraphina exhaled slowly, her gaze settling on the leather folder resting on the passenger seat. Inside, her resume, portfolio, and references were arranged in the precise chronological order she had established the previous evening.

She had checked the contents three times before leaving her apartment, inspected her outfit twice in the mirror, and set out twenty minutes earlier than necessary.

She had even skipped breakfast to eliminate every possible source of delay. Yet, despite all her careful planning, she now found herself trapped in traffic with each passing minute bringing her interview uncomfortable closer.

After all that planning, She was somehow losing a battle against the one thing she couldn't organize: Traffic.

Her phone suddenly rang through the car speakers breaking the tense silence.

Amelia.

Seraphina tapped the steering wheel control to answer.

Amelia's cheerful voice filled the car. "Good morning!!"

"Good morning to you too Amelia. I am going to be late."

Seraphina's sudden response made Amelia surprised.

"Wait. Are you serious?"

"Painfully."

"You are never serious before nine in the morning, Sera." Amelia observed.

"It is eight forty-seven, Meli."

"Exactly!" Amelia replied triumphantly. "Which means you still have thirteen whole minutes before you are officially allowed to panic, Sera."

Her gaze settled on the sedan's unyielding bumper, and she released a frustrated sigh.

"At this rate, I won't make it to the interview on time."

"Oh, come on. You are not missing that interview. You left early, didn't you?"

"Yes I did."

"Let me guess. You mapped out the entire journey before you even left your apartment?"

"Of course I did."

"And you checked the traffic too, right?"

"Twice, Meli. I checked it twice."

"Well, if you are late after all that preparation, I am blaming the universe. You have done your part."

"Nice try, Meli, but that excuse wouldn't survive a corporate audit."

"Perhaps you should give it a try, Sera. You might discover that not controlling everything feels rather liberating." Amelia replied.

Despite the anxiety coiling in her chest, seraphina managed a small, breathless laugh. Only Amelia could make a potential career disaster sound like something she might actually survive.

"I will call you when the interview is over." Seraphina said.

"Hang on," Amelia interrupted. "Take a breath, Sera. You are ready for this, and you know it."

Seraphina suddenly realized she has been holding her breath, she drew in a slow, steadying breath and let her tense shoulders relax.

"Thank, Meli. I will talk to you later."

The call ended, and seraphina turned her attention to the rearview mirror. Her dark hair remained sleek and neatly pinned. Her silk blouse was still immaculate and her makeup looked just as polished and professional as she had intended.

At least her appearance was still under control. The rest of her morning was another matter entirely.

At last, the traffic began to move, releasing seraphina from its frustrating grip.

She joined the stream of vehicles making her way to the commercial district, determined to make up for lost time.

Twenty minutes later, She pulled into the underground parking garage beneath the imposing glass and steel tower that housed Vance Group.

She glanced at her wrist watch, and a wave of relief washed over her.

9:12am

Eighteen minutes to spare. Not exactly the comfortable margin she has planned for, but enough time to straighten her thoughts, steady her nerves, and remind herself why she deserved to be there.

Seraphina snatched up her folder, locked the car and hurried toward the elevators.

Just as the elevator doors began to close, she called out from the hallway.

“Hold the door, please!”

The doors paused, then slid apart again, allowing her to hurry inside.

“Thank you,” she managed between breaths, hurrying into the elevator without quite meeting the eyes of her unexpected rescuer.

It was only when the elevator doors closed behind that seraphina finally noticed the man standing quietly in the far corner.

He was tall, with dark hair and air of effortless sophistication that immediately put seraphina on guard. While her mind raced through every possible way her interview could go wrong, he stood in the far corner with one hand trucked into his trouser pocket, looking entirely at ease. He had the sort of quiet confidence that suggested he either owned the building or simply had more important places to be – and no particular reason to hurry to any of them.

His dark eyes flickered to the folder seraphina held tightly against her side before lifting to meet her gaze.

"Interview?" he asked, his gaze briefly settling on the folder in her arms.

Seraphina blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected question.

"Excuse me?"

He tipped his chin towards the folder tucked against her side.

"You have the look."

For a moment, seraphina stared at him, momentarily speechless, then her eyebrows drew together.

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

Seraphina glanced down at her immaculate outfit before looking back at him, disbelief written all over her face.

"I am sorry, but do you make a habit of commenting on the appearance of strangers, or am I simply receiving special treatment today?"

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly, revealing a hint of amusement that only made him more irritating in Seraphina's eyes.

His faint amusement only fueled her irritation. Seraphina pulled the leather folder firmly against her chest, as though it could serve as a shield.

"We have never met. You happen to share an elevator with me, take one look at what I am holding, and somehow decided that gives you the right to analyze my entire morning?"

"I merely asked if you were here for an interview."

"And I am simply wondering what made you think that was any of your business."

He regarded her in silence for a moment, but seraphina met his gaze steadily, refusing to be intimidated.

"Seriously," She continued. Her voice sharp with irritation.

"Where do you get the audacity to make such blunt assumptions about a complete stranger's emotional state?'

A brief silence settled between them. He looked thoroughly amused by her icy response, as though her irritation were far more entertaining than it had any right to be.

Seraphina however, was far from amused. She pressed the button for the seventh floor again, as though the sharp click might somehow persuade the elevator to move faster.

"Next time," she said coolly, "keep your observations to yourself."

His grin widened, entirely unapologetic.

"Want me to be honest?" He rested his index finger lightly against his lower lip, studying her with quiet amusement.

"You look impeccably prepared, a little terrified, and absolutely determined not to let anyone notice the last part."

Seraphina rolled her eyes and turned her back to him. Of course he was amused. Men with that kind of unearned arrogance always seemed to find other people's discomfort entertaining.

"I don't look terrified," She retorted.

"If you say so," he replied, his tone suggesting he didn't believe a word of it.

As the elevator continued his way to the seventh floor, Seraphina fixed her gaze on the digital floor display, deciding that maintaining a cold silence was far preferable to wasting her energy trading words with an annoying self-assured stranger.

Unfortunately, he seemed determined to put her resolve to the test.

"So," he murmured breaking the silence. "Important interview?"

"Yes," Seraphina replied curtly, keeping her eyes on the digital floor indicator.

“Congratulations.”

She cast a brief, lukewarm glance over her shoulder. “Thank you.”

She turned her attention back to the elevator doors, silently willing them to open before her patience wore any thinner.

“What position are you interviewing for?”

Seraphina’s eyes narrowed as she turned to face him. " Do you always interrogate people in enclosed spaces?"

He let out a soft chuckle. “Interrogate?” he echoed, raising an eyebrow as though her choice of words genuinely amused him..

“Yes. First, you diagnose ‘the look,’ and now you’re asking about my career history—” Seraphina paused, giving him a pointed look. “Is there anything else you’d like to know while you’re at it?”

“I was only trying to make conversation,” he replied, his tone still annoyingly casual.

"Then perhaps you should save your conversation for someone who actually wants to participate," Seraphina replied coolly.

For the first time, a genuine surprise flickered across his face. Seraphina simply turned back to the elevator doors, completely unbothered by how bluntly she had dismissed him.

Finally the elevator slowed before coming to a gentle stop, finally reaching the seventh floor.

The elevator doors slide open onto a reception area adorned with polished marble. Seraphina stepped out without hesitation, tightening her grip on the portfolio as she prepared to face the day ahead.

Seventh floor. Communications Department. Interview Room Three.

Seraphina repeated the words silently, using them to steady her thoughts as she made her way down the polished corridor.

As Seraphina approached the reception desk, the man from the elevator brushed past her and stepped into the lobby. Their eyes met briefly, and he gave her a small, infuriatingly deliberate nod before continuing on his way. She ignored him pointedly and turned her attention to the receptionist.

“Good morning,” Seraphina said, approaching the reception desk with a polite smile. "I’m here for an interview.”

The receptionist greeted her with a professional smile.

"Welcome to Vance Group. May I have your name, please?"

“Seraphina Vance,” she replied, offering a polite smile.

The receptionist typed a few details into her computer before looking up with a welcoming smile.

"Ah, yes. Ms. Bennett is expecting you. Please have a seat in the lounge area, and she’ll be with you shortly.”

“Thank you,” Seraphina replied.

She made her way to the modern waiting area and settled into a chair, placing her portfolio neatly beside her. Then she released a slow, measured breath, allowing herself a moment to relax.

The elevator encounter was over. Done with. Forgotten.

At least, that was what she intended to believe.

She opened her portfolio and began reviewing her talking points one last time, unaware that the man from the elevator stood near the glass partition at the far end of the floor.

She didn't know his name. She had no idea what position he held at Vance Group, and she certainly didn't realize that their brief, infuriating encounter was only the beginning of something far more complicated.

Five minutes passed. Then ten, each one stretching Seraphina’s patience a little thinner.

Seraphina glanced at the wall clock. 9:21 a.m. She resisted the urge to fidget, keeping her hands still as she waited.

“Ms. Vance?”

Seraphina rose immediately as a woman in her early forties, dressed in impeccably tailored corporate attire and carrying a tablet, approached her.

“Yes?” she replied, straightening her posture.