If they glared at each other that way any longer, bullets would start flying from their eyes.

“You?? What are you doing here??” He asked, his brow raised as she walked up to him.

“I should be asking you the same thing.” She said, her brows creased as she walked towards him.

“So you’re stalking me. Typical.” He stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

She scoffed,”Don’t flatter yourself, I have better things to do than to waste my time stalking an entitled douchebag.”

“Watch your mouth.” He warned, his tone stern.

“Or what??” She challenged as she stood before him, her eyes blazing with defiance, lifting her chin to meet his eyes.

“First you almost kill me, and now you follow me like a creep!” She starts, pointing her index finger at his towering figure, “Stay the fuck away from me, alright??” She warned and as she walked away, she muttered, “arrogant piece of -“

“Sir! You’re here! We weren’t expecting you so early.” A voice called out from behind her, as she took her seat, waiting for her name to be called – thats if it wasn’t called already.

“I would have come earlier, if not for… unforeseen circumstances.” His voice reached her ears, and her breath hitched.

Why were they calling him sir? Was he a client of theirs? She brushed it off her mind and tried to focus only on the interview.

Whoever he was, that wasn’t important. All she needed to do was try her possible and impossible best to get this job.

She grabbed a bottle of water placed beside her chair, as with every other candidate, and took a sip to ease her nerves.

“Boss, would you like me to get you anything?” The voice called out again, and this time, she turned.

She was looking to see who the lady was addressing, but the only person in her line of vision was…

It couldn’t be.

The universe wasn’t that cruel.

There must be a mistake somewhere.

“Coffee. Black.” And with that, Alexa choked.

“Are you okay??” The candidate beside her asked, concern lacing her voice as she rubbed Alexa’s back.

“I-I’m good, I’m good.” She responded quickly, clearing her throat and wiping the tears in the corners of her eyes.

Her heart was racing in her chest. She could not believe what she had just heard.

Maybe she was mistaken. Yes, it had to be a mistake.

She turned again, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible in her attempt to catch a glimpse of him.

He was no longer there.

Maybe it was a figment of her imagination. Maybe she was just hallucinating due to to stress. Yes, of course that was it, it had to be -

“I know, he is to die for.” The other candidate said, a dreamy smile on her face.

“I’m sorry, who?” Alexa asked, confused

“The boss, Mr. Cole, he’s so handsome I’d give up everything I am just to have a night with him.” Her eyes gleamed as she whispered.

It was at that moment Alexa knew she was done for. Finished.

Of course the one job that could have changed her life now laid in the hands of one of the most annoying and arrogant men she had ever encountered in this life. And she wasn’t exactly… polite.

She let out a loud groan as she reclined into the chair, “oh god, no…” she said under her breath.

How was she going to get out of this now??

As if the universe heard her, through her peripheral vision, she saw him again, striding towards the elevator.

At that moment, she had to make a choice, however difficult. Which was more important, her pride and dignity or her survival?

She needed this job. This was her last hope. If she didn’t get this job…

She sprinted to the elevator and stepped in just before the doors shut.

He regarded her with a brow raised, “Have you come here to beg?”

She had to bite her tongue to restrain herself from saying something she would regret, again.

“I apologize for the manner I spoke to you earlier today, but that doesn’t make me any less qualified for the job.” She spoke with a confidence that never seemed to elude her, but on the inside, she was scared.

Scared of being ridiculed.

He chuckled, “With the way you were running your mouth, one would think you owned a company.”

“I responded in a fit of anger, and regardless of how justified my reason may be, I apologize.”

“Justified?” He questioned as he approached her, “You insulted me and you have the audacity to claim it’s justified?”

Her back was already against the wall as she gazed at him, her heart beating faster in her chest.

She swallowed and she spoke “I only said what I said because you almost ran me over and -“

“And you still have the effrontery to talk back to me?? To make excuses??” He leaned in, his sky blue eyes coated with ire.

“I’m not making excuses. I’m simply explaining what prompted my actions.” She retorted, her patience growing thin. She was tired of being respectful to a man that seemed to have no respect to give.

“I cannot have a nut case working in my company. You belong in a psych ward, not here.” He stated, stepping away from her as he adjusted his tie.

“Count yourself lucky, many have said less to me and worse befell them,” He said as the door of the elevator opened, “but I assure you, you will pay dearly for the disrespect.” Those were his last words before he stepped out, leaving an eerie feeling in the atmosphere.

As the doors closed again, she sunk to the floor, burying her head in her hands.

Why does it always end this way for her? Always with a rejection? Always in disappointment?

As if she didn’t have enough on her plate already, she had to make an enemy out of the most powerful man in New York.

Would she have to relocate again? Hopefully, it wouldn’t get to that point.

She got on her feet and wiped the invisible dust off her shoulders.

No matter how hard life punched her in the face, she would always muster the strength to land a blow in return.

And as she walked out of the building, she was determined that the next blow would be fatal.

But she was completely unaware that this was the beginning of the end.