Alpha and the wallflower

Chapter 2: A Stroke of Fate

Hayden's POV

I adjusted the strap of my worn leather bag, my fingers trembling slightly as I checked my watch for the third time in five minutes. I was running late—very late. The interview at Brackwood Tower was everything. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance to break into the finance industry after years of hard work and sacrifice. But now, thanks to a series of unfortunate events, I was on the verge of losing it all.

It all started with Mrs. Jenkins, my elderly neighbor. Just as I was about to leave for the bus stop, she called out to me. The sweet old woman had been feeling unwell and asked if I could pick up her medication from the pharmacy. I couldn't say no. I was always the one who helped people, even when I was running behind. But that detour cost me precious time, and I missed my bus by mere seconds. The next one wouldn’t arrive for another twenty minutes. Now here I was, rushing through the bustling streets of the city, my heart pounding in my chest.

My red hair, usually tied back in a simple ponytail, had come loose in my haste. I could feel strands sticking to my damp forehead. I’d chosen my outfit carefully that morning—a plain white blouse, a black pencil skirt, and sensible flats. But now, standing before the towering Brackwood Tower, I felt out of place. The sleek, modern architecture seemed to mock my simple outfit, a reminder of how much more polished the people inside probably looked.

I took a deep breath as I approached the entrance, trying to steady my nerves. I had always been shy, preferring to blend into the background rather than drawing attention to myself. But today, I couldn’t afford to be invisible. This was my moment. This interview was my chance to prove that I was more than just an orphan with a degree in finance. I had worked too hard to let it slip away.

The receptionist at the front desk gave me a polite but slightly disapproving look when I announced I was there for the interview.

“You’re late,” she said, her tone clipped. “The interviews have already started. You’ll need to go straight to the 84th floor—the finance department. Hurry.”

My cheeks burned with embarrassment. “Thank you,” I murmured, trying to hide how mortified I felt, and rushed toward the elevators. My heart was racing as I stepped inside, clutching my folder of documents tightly to my chest. The elevator was empty except for one other person—a tall, broad-shouldered man in a tailored black suit. His expression was unreadable as he pressed the button for the top floor and glanced at me briefly.

“Good morning,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper, hoping I didn’t sound as nervous as I felt.

He nodded curtly but didn’t respond, his attention already back on his phone. I felt a pang of self-consciousness and quickly looked away.

As the elevator ascended, I realized I hadn’t pressed the button for the 84th floor. Shifting my folder to one hand, I reached for the control panel. But in my haste, the folder slipped from my grasp, and everything spilled out onto the floor.

“Oh no,” I whispered, dropping to my knees to gather the papers. My hands shook as I hurriedly scooped everything up, my cheeks burning even hotter. By the time I got everything back in order, the elevator doors opened on the 97th floor. The man in the suit stepped out without a word, leaving me alone.

I quickly pressed the button for the 84th floor, my heart sinking as I realized how much time I had wasted.

On the 97th floor, Silas Blackwood sat at the head of the boardroom table, his expression calm but his mind razor-sharp. He was listening to the reports being presented, his focus unwavering, as always. The Blackwood Group, the empire he had built from the ground up, was thriving. But Silas never rested on his laurels. He was always looking for the next step, the next expansion.

But today, something was different.

As the director of finance droned on about quarterly earnings, Silas’s attention was suddenly pulled away by a scent—a faint, intoxicating aroma that made something stir inside him. It was unlike anything he had ever smelled before—a mix of vanilla and wildflowers, with something uniquely her. His amber eyes flicked toward the door, his senses on high alert.

“Alpha?” one of his pack members, seated to his left, whispered, noticing the subtle shift in his demeanor.

Silas held up a hand, silencing him, his eyes narrowing as he inhaled deeply, trying to pinpoint the source of the scent. It was fleeting, already fading, but it had been enough to awaken something primal within him. His wolf, normally so controlled, was restless now, urging him to find the source.

“Excuse me,” Silas said abruptly, rising from his seat. The room fell silent, all eyes on him as he strode toward the door.

“We’ll continue this later,” he added, not waiting for any response, and left the boardroom.

Just outside the door, his Beta, Lucas, appeared. The confusion on his face mirrored Silas’s own. “Who was in the life with you?” Silas muttered under his breath, already thinking of nothing else.

Lucas said, "Just now?" he continued "I am Not sure I didn't pay much attention, why what happened?"

Silas said nothing and just walked away leaving Lucas all confused. -------

In the elevator, Hayden stepped out on the 84th floor, her nerves frayed but her determination intact. She was ready for my life to change for better.

And Silas, for all his strength and control, had no idea that the woman whose scent had captivated him was just a few floors below, waiting for her chance to prove herself.