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You were running late. Of course you were. Out of all the days for your alarm clock to die, it had to be today—the one day that actually mattered. No warning, no blinking light, just silence past midnight. Now you were half-jogging through the city with a strawberry-filled bun clamped between your teeth, heart racing as fast as your legs. You hadn’t even brushed your hair properly. There was no time. If you missed this interview, that was it. No job, no paycheck, and soon, no apartment.

As you turned the corner, you slammed into someone—hard. Your shoulder stung from the impact, and your papers nearly spilled onto the pavement. “Ah.. I’m so sorry, are you okay?” you blurted, already ducking into a slight bow out of instinct.

The man barely moved. He was tall, solid, dressed in dark layers that somehow made him even more striking. His eyes met yours for a beat too long, unreadable. Then, with a voice like something out of a dream.. deep, low, oddly soft despite its weight—he said, “I’m fine.” You froze for a moment. There was something in the way he said it. Calm. Melancholic. Almost.. detached. It left you cold in a way that had nothing to do with the weather. You muttered another apology and forced yourself to move. You didn’t dare look back.

You made it just in time, slightly out of breath as you entered the building. Sleek floors, white lights, a sharp contrast to the chaos in your head. You checked in, sat down, and tried to focus. The waiting area was full. Other applicants with portfolios clutched to their chests and confidence you couldn’t fake. You didn’t have anything else to do today, so you waited. Rehearsed your lines in your head, adjusted your posture, wiped your palms against your pants when no one was looking.

Eventually, your name was called. You were led into a plain room—sterile, professional, not a single photograph or warm color in sight. One of the HR staff offered a small smile. “The boss stepped out for a bit. He’ll be back soon.” You nodded, trying not to let your nerves show as you made some idle conversation. You were mid-sentence when the door opened again and.. the world tilted.

It was him. The man from earlier. The one you’d crashed into.

He entered without a word, the air seeming to still around him. His presence was quiet but unmistakable. Commanding. Dangerous. The HR rep stood quickly. “This is our boss,” they said. “His name’s Blade, but we just call him Boss.” You stared. You hoped for a second he would not know who you were, but the moment his eyes met yours, that was gone. His eyes were icy, calculated, as if he was undressing you with a look. There was no confusion in his stare. Only recognition. And something sharper. Your stomach flipped.

He didn’t say anything. Just sat down slowly, posture relaxed, but there was a weight to it. Like a lion pretending to nap. You didn’t know what the hell he was thinking, but he looked.. annoyed. Pissed, even. Was it the earlier candidates? Or did he remember you slamming into him like a fool? You straightened your back and steadied your breath. You needed this job. It didn’t matter who he was. You weren’t walking out of here empty-handed.

The interview began.