The Ruthless Biker King

Episode 3 – A Ride Toward Destiny

Elena's POV

Today.

This was the day that could change everything.

I stood in front of the small, slightly warped mirror in my bedroom, smoothing down my navy-blue formal blazer for what felt like the tenth time.

The fabric was cheap, bought from a thrift store down the street, but I had spent three hours the previous night ironing it until the creases were razor-sharp.

A crisp white shirt.

Black pencil skirt.

Low, practical heels.

A neat, tight ponytail.

Simple pearl earrings.

Nothing too flashy.

Nothing too plain.

I wanted them to see my skills—not my clothes. In the corporate world of elite conglomerates, image was a weapon, but competence was armor. I needed both today.

Taking a deep breath, I picked up the framed photo sitting on my crowded bedside table.

It was the three of us.

Mom, smiling despite the exhaustion clear in her eyes, her arm wrapped tightly around a much younger Ethan, who was grinning toothily at the camera. And me, standing proudly beside them.

"I'll get this job," I whispered with a determined smile, my fingers tracing the edge of the silver frame.

"I have to."

The familiar, comforting aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls and dark roast coffee welcomed me the second I stepped inside Rose's Café.

Mrs. Rose looked up from arranging pastries behind the glass display. The moment her eyes landed on me, her hands stopped.

"Oh, sweetheart..."

Her face softened, a look of pure maternal pride washing over her features.

"You look beautiful."

Lily, who was wiping down a nearby table, dropped her rag and gasped dramatically.

"Beautiful? Grandma, she looks like she owns the company already! Look at that posture. Look at that blazer!"

I laughed, feeling the tight knot of anxiety in my stomach loosen just a fraction.

"I wish."

Lily walked around me in a slow circle, chin in her hand, pretending to inspect every single detail with the gravity of a high-fashion judge.

"Perfect."

"Professional."

"And if they reject you, I'll personally march in there and demand to speak to the CEO."

Mrs. Rose chuckled, adjusting her apron.

"They'll hire her before you even reach the reception, Lily. Don't go intimidating the poor executives."

Elena smiled, but as she looked around, she became unusually quiet.

She looked at the faded, peeling walls that had once been a vibrant yellow. She looked at the old wooden tables, marred with scratches and rings from decades of coffee cups. She looked at the tiny, dented counter that had become her second home over the past three years.

This place had sheltered her when the world felt entirely too cold.

She slowly walked toward Mrs. Rose, her fingers lightly brushing against the edge of the counter.

"I... wanted to tell you something."

Mrs. Rose smiled warmly, placing a gentle hand over Elena's.

"What is it, sweetheart? You look so serious."

Elena hesitated before speaking, her heart pounding against her ribs.

"I know..."

She swallowed the lump forming in her throat.

"Till today, I've never really asked anything from you. You've given me a job, flexibility, and kindness when I had nothing."

Mrs. Rose frowned, her brow furrowing with concern.

"You've never needed to ask, Elena. You earn every bit of what you have here."

"If I get this job..."

Elena looked down at her hands, her voice dropping to a fierce, quiet whisper.

"And if the company provides the executive family medical insurance I read about in their prospectus..."

"My mom's treatment will become easier. We can finally afford the specialist in the capital."

Mrs. Rose gently squeezed her hand, listening intently.

Elena tracks the thoughts she had kept locked away for months.

"I'll finally be able to save enough for Ethan's college education. He deserves to go to a good university without worrying about student loans before he even turns eighteen."

"And..."

She looked around the café once again, her eyes sweeping over the worn-out interior.

"I'll repay every month's rent you've let me delay when things got bad."

Mrs. Rose immediately shook her head, her expression turning stern.

"You don't owe me a single penny, Elena. We talked about this."

"I do," Elena insisted, her voice trembling but resolute. "And after that..."

She smiled softly, a vision of the future flashing before her eyes.

"I want to renovate this café."

"New furniture."

"Fresh, modern paint."

"Better lighting."

"A proper, high-end Italian coffee machine."

"I want Rose's Café to become the prettiest little café in the entire city."

Lily's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She stopped her playful antics, looking at Elena with a mixture of awe and deep affection.

"You've been planning this?"

"For months," Elena admitted, a stray tear escaping her eye. "Every time I look at the leaking ceiling or the broken leg on table three, I plan it in my head."

Mrs. Rose's eyes became watery. She reached across the counter and cupped Elena's face affectionately with both hands.

"You silly, selfless girl."

"But—"

"No."

Her voice carried a gentle but absolute firmness.

"I helped you because you're family, Elena. Not because I expected an investment return. I did it because your mother is my friend, and you are like a second granddaughter to me."

Elena's eyes began to fill with tears in earnest now.

Mrs. Rose smiled, her own tears spilling over.

"If you truly get everything you've dreamed of... I'll be the happiest woman alive. And if one day, after all your burdens are lifted, you still want to renovate this place..."

"I won't stop you."

She gently brushed a stray strand of hair away from Elena's face, securing it back into her ponytail.

"But only after you've built your own life. Only after your mother is healthy. Only after Ethan graduates. And only after you've finally learned to spend money on yourself."

Lily nodded dramatically, wiping her nose with the back of her hand.

"Exactly! You need shoes that aren't from the clearance rack first, El."

She wrapped a protective arm around her grandmother's shoulders.

"And besides... if you stop working here, I'll just hire another employee."

Elena laughed through her tears, the heavy emotional weight transforming into lightness.

"You'll replace me that quickly?"

Lily winked, a mischievous glint returning to her eyes.

"I have to. Otherwise, Grandma will realize how slow I actually am and make me wash the dishes all by myself."

Mrs. Rose lightly smacked Lily's arm.

"I heard that."

The three women burst into laughter, the sound echoing warmth into the chilly morning air.

For a brief moment...

Life felt lighter.

Hope felt entirely possible.

Mrs. Rose walked to the back counter before returning with a neatly packed insulated lunch box.

"You'll forget to eat because of the nerves."

"I won't, Mrs. Rose."

"You will."

She placed it firmly inside Elena's tote bag anyway.

Lily handed her a small paper cup with a plastic lid, steam gently rising from the spout.

"And this... is my secret weapon. My lucky coffee."

Elena looked at it skeptically. "You made this? Personally?"

"Obviously."

"...Should I be worried about food poisoning before my interview?"

"Only a little. It builds character."

The laughter echoed through the tiny café one last time before Elena hugged them both tightly, holding on a little longer than usual.

"I'll make you proud."

"You already have," Mrs. Rose whispered against her hair.

The Commute

An hour later, the warmth of the café felt like a distant memory.

Elena glanced anxiously at her wristwatch from inside the suffocatingly crowded city bus. The air was thick with the scent of damp coats and exhaust fumes.

8:32 A.M.

Her interview at Knight Global Holdings was scheduled for precisely 9:00 A.M.

According to the transit map, she still had plenty of time. The skyscraper was only a few miles away. She gripped the strap of her bag, practicing her introduction speech in her head. Good morning, my name is Elena Vance. I have a background in—

BANG!

The entire bus jerked violently forward, the screech of metal grinding against metal tearing through the air.

Passengers screamed in surprise, throwing their hands out to grab onto the nearest rails. Elena was thrown forward, her shoulder slamming into a metal pole. She winced, tightly clutching her bag to her chest to protect her documents.

The driver cursed under his breath, wrestling with the steering wheel before pulling the massive, smoking bus to the dusty roadside.

A few agonizing moments later, he stood up, wiping sweat from his forehead.

"Engine failure! Radiator blew! It'll take hours to get a replacement bus out here!"

A collective wave of panic and angry murmurs spread through the passengers.

"No... no, no, no," Elena whispered, her heart dropping into her stomach.

She quickly checked the time again.

8:41 A.M.

She couldn't afford to be late. Not today. Knight Global Holdings was notorious for its ruthless punctuality. If you were even a minute late, the security gates wouldn't let you up to the interview floors.

She hurried off the bus, her low heels clicking frantically against the pavement. She looked desperately up and down the busy, four-lane road.

Every single taxi that passed already had passengers inside, their yellow lights turned off. She pulled out her phone, her fingers trembling as she opened three different ride-booking apps.

No cars available.

High demand.

Estimated wait time: 15 minutes.

Too long. Way too long. By the time a car arrived, the interview would be over before it even started.

She bit her lip, stepping dangerously close to the curb, her eyes scanning the sea of cars for any sign of hope.

Please...