Love Beyond Every Word

The line at Bloom & Bean was wrapped around the counter and out the door, and Calista Cole was already 10 minutes late. She shifted the folder under her arm, balancing two coffees and her last $7.43 in her pocket. Granny’s meds were due Friday. The interview at Crisoms Tech was at 9:00. And the man in front of her was taking forever. “Can you just do a half-caf, oat milk, no foam, extra hot, with one pump of sugar-free vanilla and a dash of cinnamon?” he said, not even looking at the barista. Calista exhaled. Loud. The man turned. He was tall. Navy suit. Watch that probably cost more than her rent. Dark hair, sharp jaw, and eyes that looked like they graded people for a living. “Problem?” he asked. “Only that some of us have real jobs to get to,” Calista said before she could stop herself. “Not everyone can spend ten minutes ordering coffee.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Maybe if you got here earlier.” “Maybe if you learned to say ‘medium latte’ like a normal person.” He stared at her. She stared back. The barista slid his coffee across the counter. He took it, looked Calista up and down — thrifted blazer, worn heels, folder with “Calista Cole” written in pen — and said, “Have a good day.” It wasn’t nice. Calista grabbed her two coffees and walked out, muttering, “Jerk.” --- 9:07 AM. Crisoms Tech, 42nd Floor. The receptionist smiled too brightly. “Calista Cole? For the 9:00 with Mr. Crisoms?” Calista nodded, smoothing her blazer. Her heart was hammering. This job paid enough to cover Granny’s treatments for a year. She couldn’t mess this up. The elevator dinged. The doors opened. And there he was. Navy suit. Expensive watch. Sharp jaw. The coffee shop jerk. His eyes flicked to her name tag, then back to her face. For half a second, something like recognition crossed his expression. Then it was gone. “Ms. Cole,” he said, voice cold and even. “I’m Rowan Crisoms. CEO of Crisoms Tech. You’re late.” Calista’s stomach dropped. Of all the men in New York. Of all the companies. She had just insulted the man who was about to decide if she got the job. “Right,” she said, lifting her chin. “Good morning, Mr. Crisoms.” He didn’t smile. “Let’s see if you’re worth the trouble.” And just like that, Calista walked into the office of the one man she already hated. The man she was about to work with .