Goodbye Alpha, I'm Done - Chapter 27: Chapter 27

I woke up the following morning with a groan, my head pounding mercilessly as the morning light shone on the curtains. The hangover from last night's indulgence was hitting me like a train, and I winced as I reached for the bottle of painkillers on my nightstand.
"Ugh, what was I thinking?" I muttered to myself, popping two tablets into my mouth and chasing them down with a gulp of water. The sharp sting of the medication did little to ease the throbbing in my temples, but I knew I had to push through it. It wasn’t like I had too much to drink anyway but I guess it was because of the fact that I stayed away from drinking for so long, my system was taking a while to adjust.
I glanced at the clock, my eyes widening in dismay as I realized just how late I was. Cursing under my breath, I dashed to the bathroom, turning on the faucet and drawing a quick, steaming bath. I didn't have time for my usual leisurely routine, not when I was already running so far behind.
As I stepped into the tub, the hot water soothing my aching muscles, I mentally went through the contents of my closet, trying to decide on the most appropriate outfit for the day. I settled on a crisp, navy blue pencil skirt that ended above my knees and a white blouse, paired with a pair of sleek, black pumps. Professional, polished, and just a touch of feminine flair – the perfect look for the interview I couldn't afford to miss.
With a heavy sigh, I stepped out of the bath, quickly toweling off and slipping into my carefully chosen ensemble. A quick glance in the mirror confirmed that I looked the part, my makeup applied with a light touch and my hair neatly pinned back.
As I gathered my belongings and headed for the door, I suddenly remembered that my car had a flat tire. My stomach dropped, the reality of having to take a cab to work adding an extra layer of stress to an already frantic morning.
But as I stepped outside, my gaze went wide with astonishment and relief. There, parked neatly at the curb, was my car – the flat tire miraculously repaired. A small smile found its way to the corners of my lips as I realized that Ryker must have arranged for it to be fixed while I slept.
"Thank you, Ryker," I said out loud as if he could hear me.
Shaking off the distracting thoughts, I hurried back inside my house to grab my car keys and began my drive to the company in a haste.
The traffic was heavy, and I found myself fidgeting nervously. Part of me wanted to transform into my wolf and race down to the office so I could get there early enough. But that wasn’t going to make a first impression so I stayed put impatiently waiting for the crazy traffic to end.
When I finally pulled up to the gigantic glass office building, I took a deep, shaky breath and stepped out, my high heels clicking against the marble floors.
"Selena Winters, here for an interview with Beta Caleb," I said, trying to keep my voice calm and composed as I reached the reception desk.
The receptionist, a stern-looking woman with a sharp gaze, fixed me with a disapproving frown. "I'm afraid you're already late, Ms.Winters," she said, in a tone that made it clear I wasn’t welcome. "Beta Caleb has already started the interview process with another client."
I felt my heart sink, the aching in my head intensifying. "I know, I'm so sorry. There was a... situation, and I—"
The woman raised a hand, not allowing me to explain myself. "It doesn't matter. Your interview was at 8 a.m. sharp, and you've missed it. You should have prioritized it if it was so important to you."
I stared at her, my mouth agape. "But... but I can't have missed it. I'm only a few minutes late, I swear. Can’t you just squeeze me in somehow? I promise that I will—"
"I'm afraid it's too late," she interrupted again, glaring daggers at me. "You've lost your chance.You need to leave now otherwise I might have to call security to excuse you out."
I opened my mouth, ready to beg and plead, when I heard a familiar deep voice behind me.
Spinning around, my eyes bulged as I found Alpha Ryker, guarded by a pair of fierce looking bodyguards all dressed in black, striding towards me, his piercing blue eyes fixed on my face. He asked in a commanding voice what the problem was.
"Alpha Ryker," the woman said, her posture instantly straightening. "This woman was supposed to have an interview with Beta Caleb this morning, but she's late."
Ryker's gaze shifted to me, and I couldn’t read the look on his eyes."Is that so?" He paused,and seemed to be thinking about something. "Well, in that case, I'll be the one to conduct her interview."
The woman's eyes grew round in amazement, and she stammered,
"But... but Alpha Ryker, Beta Caleb was supposed to-"
Ryker raised a hand, and she kept shut immediately.
"I'm the one in charge here now, and I'll handle this as I see fit." He turned to me, his expression softening. "Selena, if you'd be so kind as to join me in my office?"
I stared at him, utterly bewildered. "I... Yes, of course, Alpha Ryker."
As I fell into step about to follow him, I couldn't help but glance back at the reception desk, where the woman was staring at us with a mixture of shock and resignation.
"Wait, is he the boss?" I called out with uncertainty.
"Didn’t you know that? Where do you live, under a rock? Now you've really done it," she murmured, just loud enough for me to hear. "Alpha Ryker isn't known for his leniency.You are definitely not getting the job now, you latecomer. "
I felt a chill run down my spine, the realization dawning on me. Was Ryker the new boss of this company? Had I just blown my chance at a job, all because of my own carelessness?