1- The Girl Who Spilled Coffee on Trouble.

Rainstorms always made the city look cruel.

The roads outside glittered beneath headlights and muddy water while exhausted people rushed across sidewalks with umbrellas fighting against the wind. Above them all stood the towering black-and-glass building of K Group Holdings — powerful, expensive, impossible to ignore.

For most people, it was simply another corporate empire.

For Ruru, it looked like the only doorway left between survival and disaster.

She stood across the street staring at the building while tightly gripping the strap of her old canvas bag. Her shoes were damp from walking through flooded streets, and the cold wind kept pushing loose strands of hair across her face.

Inside her bag sat three important things:

Her resume.

Her mother’s medical prescription.

And exactly four hundred rupees.

That was all.

Ruru inhaled slowly.

“You can do this,” she whispered to herself.

Her phone vibrated before she could move.

Ma Calling.

Her expression softened instantly.

“Did you eat?” were the first words out of her mouth after answering.

On the other side, Jane sighed affectionately. “Shouldn’t mothers ask that question first?”

Ruru smiled despite her nerves and began crossing the road carefully. “Mothers should also take medicine on time, but mine likes being stubborn.”

Jane laughed quietly, though exhaustion lingered beneath the sound. “You worry too much.”

“I have reasons.”

A brief silence followed.

Both of them understood those reasons without speaking.

Hospital bills. Rent. Loan payments. Electricity dues.

Life had become an endless list of numbers Ruru could barely keep up with.

Jane lowered her voice gently. “Ruru… if you don’t get this job, it’s okay.”

Ruru immediately stopped walking.

“No,” she said firmly. “It’s not okay.”

The softness disappeared from her tone.

“I’m getting this job.”

Because she had no other choice.

After hanging up, Ruru stood still for a few seconds under the rain. Then she straightened her shoulders and walked into the massive building.

The lobby looked like another world.

Golden lights reflected against polished marble floors. Employees dressed in expensive suits moved confidently between elevators while soft piano music echoed through hidden speakers. Even the air smelled expensive.

Ruru instantly felt out of place.

Dozens of applicants already sat in the waiting area clutching folders and resumes. Some wore designer watches. Others practiced answers nervously under their breath.

Ruru quietly sat near the corner.

A girl beside her glanced at her shoes before smirking faintly.

Another applicant whispered loudly enough for others to hear, “Some companies really should improve their screening process.”

Ruru ignored them.

She was used to people measuring worth through appearances.

Her attention shifted toward the digital screen above reception.

FINAL INTERVIEW — EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT POSITION

One position.

Over three hundred applicants.

Salary high enough to change her life.

Ruru clenched her fingers together tightly.

“Okay,” she whispered. “No pressure.”

“Talking to yourself already?” a cheerful voice interrupted.

Ruru turned.

A girl with curly hair and bright eyes dropped dramatically into the empty seat beside her.

Cara.

Unlike everyone else, Cara looked completely relaxed.

“First interview?” Cara asked.

Ruru nodded cautiously.

Cara extended her hand immediately. “Cara. Future millionaire. Current unemployed citizen.”

Ruru laughed before she could stop herself.

“Ruru.”

“Ooo,” Cara grinned. “Pretty name. Terrified face.”

“I’m not terrified.”

“You’re holding your file upside down.”

Ruru looked down in horror.

Cara burst into laughter while Ruru quickly fixed it, embarrassed.

“Relax,” Cara said kindly. “Half these people already look dead inside.”

Ruru glanced around.

Honestly… true.

For the next fifteen minutes, Cara continued talking nonstop about random things — horrible interview experiences, cheap street food, terrible bosses, dramatic roommates.

Somehow, Ruru’s nervousness slowly faded.

That was Cara’s talent.

She made difficult moments feel lighter.

Suddenly, the atmosphere inside the lobby shifted.

Employees straightened immediately.

Receptionists stood up.

Even security guards became alert.

Cara blinked. “Uh oh.”

The elevator doors opened.

And he walked in.

David.

Everything about him felt sharp.

Sharp jawline. Sharp eyes. Sharp silence.

He wore a black coat over a white shirt, rainwater still sliding from dark hair onto his shoulders. His presence alone changed the entire room’s temperature.

People moved aside instinctively as he crossed the lobby.

Nobody dared speak.

Cara leaned closer and whispered dramatically, “Either that’s a CEO or a serial killer.”

Ruru almost laughed.

Almost.

Because the man looked terrifying.

David walked forward without acknowledging anyone. Employees lowered their heads respectfully as he passed.

Ruru frowned slightly.

Arrogant.

Then again, powerful people usually were.

Before she could look away, a small boy suddenly came running across the wet marble floor chasing a toy airplane.

His mother shouted too late.

The child slipped.

Everything happened in seconds.

Gasps echoed through the lobby.

The boy fell directly toward the sharp edge of a marble table.

Without thinking, Ruru jumped from her seat.

At the exact same moment, David stepped forward.

Ruru grabbed the child—

—but collided straight into David.

Coffee flew everywhere.

A loud cup shattered against the floor.

Dark liquid spread across David’s perfectly white shirt.

The lobby went silent.

Absolutely silent.

One employee covered his mouth.

Someone whispered, “Oh my God…”

Cara stared like she had witnessed a public execution.

Ruru froze.

The child clung safely to her arm, crying softly.

David slowly looked down at his stained shirt.

Then at her.

The air suddenly felt difficult to breathe.

Security rushed forward instantly.

“Miss! What have you done?!”

“I-I didn’t mean—”

“You should apologize immediately!”

The little boy’s mother hurried over and took her son, apologizing repeatedly to David in panic.

But David never looked away from Ruru.

His expression remained unreadable.

Cold.

Intense.

Ruru’s embarrassment slowly transformed into irritation.

Because somehow everyone cared more about a stained shirt than the child almost getting hurt.

Typical rich people.

She carefully placed the broken coffee cup onto a nearby tray and muttered under her breath:

“Maybe if rich people walked slower, accidents wouldn’t happen.”

Unfortunately…

David heard it.

The guards looked ready to faint.

Cara whispered, “Ruru. Run.”

David took one slow step closer.

“What did you say?”

His voice was calm.

Which somehow felt scarier than shouting.

Ruru lifted her chin despite her pounding heartbeat.

“I saved the kid,” she replied. “You’re welcome.”

Nobody spoke.

Nobody breathed.

David stared at her for several long seconds.

Most people avoided eye contact with him entirely.

This girl argued with him after ruining his shirt.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Then something unexpected happened.

The crying child suddenly hugged Ruru tightly.

“Thank you, sister…”

Ruru immediately knelt down to wipe his tears gently.

“There, hero,” she said softly. “No more running on slippery floors, okay?”

The boy nodded.

David watched quietly.

The transformation in her expression caught him off guard.

One moment fiery and stubborn.

Next moment unbelievably gentle.

Real.

Not fake politeness.

Not manipulation.

Just genuine concern.

Something inside him shifted slightly.

A receptionist hurried over nervously.

“Sir… the board members are waiting for the final interview session.”

David finally looked away from Ruru.

His gaze dropped toward the folder she accidentally left on the floor during the collision.

He picked it up casually.

Ruru stepped forward immediately. “That’s mine.”

David glanced at the name printed across the resume.

Ruru Sen

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Then slowly — dangerously slowly — the corner of his lips lifted.

Not a smile.

Something worse.

Interest.

“You’re one of the candidates?” he asked.

Ruru suddenly felt uneasy.

“Yes.”

David handed the file back.

Their fingers brushed briefly.

For some strange reason, both noticed it.

Cara noticed too.

And immediately looked like she wanted popcorn.

David adjusted his coat calmly.

“Good,” he said quietly.

Ruru frowned. “Good?”

His gaze locked onto hers again.

“I was getting bored.”

Then he walked away.

The entire lobby remained frozen until the elevator doors finally closed behind him.

Three full seconds passed.

Then chaos exploded.

“Oh my God!”

“Does she have a death wish?!”

“She argued with David Kim!”

Cara grabbed Ruru’s shoulders dramatically. “WHAT WAS THAT?!”

Ruru blinked rapidly. “I think… I ruined my career.”

Upstairs inside the private executive elevator, David stared silently at the coffee stain across his shirt.

His assistant looked terrified.

“Sir, should I arrange another interview panel?”

David’s reflection stared back at him from the mirrored wall.

For the first time in months…

he looked amused.

“No,” he replied calmly.

Then after a pause:

“Keep her in the final round.”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***