My Protector

Chapter 1: Interview Day

Loren's POV

I groggily opened my eyes to the awful pang of my alarm. Looking at the clock, I realized that I must have hit snooze for the last hour. I jumped out of bed and stepped on my hair brush in the process, causing me to let out a loud yelp.

"Ouch!!" I didn't even bother to check out the damage, I was already late. Today was the interview for my first job since graduating from college this summer, and I was supposed to meet with Kim at a local cafe in just under 1 hour.

I didn't have time to shower so I quickly brushed out my hair and curled it to the best of my ability, hoping that I hadn't left a stray straight strand behind my head. I carefully applied my mascara and had to bypass the rest of my makeup. I picked out a pair of black slacks and a white blouse paired with my black horse bit loafers. Looking at my phone again I sighed with relief, pleased with my ability to put myself together in just twenty minutes. I ran downstairs, grabbed my backpack and keys, and hopped into my car.

It was raining out and the freeways were a mess with the water getting kicked up by all of the cars and semis. I gripped onto my steering wheel as I glided over every invisible puddle. "Of course there would be traffic and weather like this on the day that I needed it the least" I muttered to myself as Sza sang in the background.

 I wasn't normally this grumpy but today was a big day. I was interviewing for a position in the Emergency Department at a local level 1 trauma center. I was going to work side by side with some of the best doctors and trauma surgeons. I wanted to become a doctor myself and this was going to be a huge step towards it.

I parked in a stall right in front of the cafe and grabbed my backpack out of the backseat before walking to the front of the stall where the meter was. I dug around in my back pack for my wallet that I would eventually find out... wasn't even in there. 

My heart sank to my stomach as I remembered that when I went out last night, I moved my wallet to my purse... which was currently sitting on the dinner table... at home.

I groaned out of frustration trying to figure out what to do. If my day is already going this bad I don't want to know how horribly my interview will go. How could I forget my wallet?? My eyes started to water as I realized I didn't even have any cash lying around in any of my pockets. I debated between getting a parking ticket or telling Kim that I wasn't feeling well and just going back home but my thoughts were quickly interrupted when somebody cleared their throat behind me. 

I turned around on my heels and realized that there were about 3 other people standing in line behind me. Oh my God,  I was too busy freaking out about my wallet that I didn't even realize that a line had formed behind me at the parking meter. 

I looked at the source of the disruption, my cheeks burning from embarrassment, and locked eyes with a very handsome man behind me. With my vision still blurred from my tears, I blinked a few times to try and make them evaporate from my eyeballs. The first thing that came to view were his warm hazel eyes that literally radiated power. His dark brown hair was slicked back and he was wearing a navy blue suit, well tailored for his muscular build. 

He didn't say anything except stare back at me as if telling me to hurry the fuck up or move. I shook my head from my thoughts and my cheeks burned up again after I realized I was just awkwardly staring at this poor man who just wanted to pay for his parking and get a coffee.

"I- I'm so sorry, I can't find my wallet. You can go ahead of me". I quietly apologized and diverted my gaze down to the sidewalk.  I could feel the few other people in line staring at me, annoyed that I was keeping them for so long. Listen, I'm annoyed with myself too.

After a few seconds of silence I looked back up at him, wondering why he wasn't saying anything. Uncomfortably, I looked at his eyes again as his gaze went from me to the machine that I was still standing next to. I quickly moved out of the way and opened my mouth to apologize but before I could get a word out, he chuckled and shook his head as if he were amused.

"Which stall are you in?" He asked, looking out at the parked cars which were collecting as people were arriving to the cafe and local stores.

"13" I pointed at my car that was just in front of us. 

He nodded, "and how long will you be here for?".

"Ummm.. uhhhhh.. I-I dont know why?" Thrown off by his question.

"I need an estimate in order to pay the meter." I swear I saw the faintest smile on his cold face.

"Oh of course! Maybe 1-2 hours" I said, making a mental note to smack myself on the forehead when i get home.

Without another word he pushed the number 13 on the parking meter along with the number 2 and slid his card. He handed me a ticket and I just stood there looking at him not sure what to say. He looked up at me and raised an eyebrow as if he was wondering why I was still standing there. I felt like a mere peasant in his presence. 

"Thank you, you didn't have to do that." I spoke softly and turned around to go put the sticker on my window.

"It was either that or spend another 10 minutes watching you rummage through your messy backpack holding up the line" He chuckled yet his face remained cold.

Okay first of all, I was not holding up the line for 10 minutes and secondly who was he to call me out for my messy backpack!!

I thanked him again and walked inside the cafe looking for Kim. She wasn't there yet so I took a seat at the window. I brought out my documents and arranged them on the table, thanking God that I at least remembered those. As much as I tried to get my head in the zone for this interview, I couldn't help but keep thinking about the strange encounter I just had. For some strange reason I felt so drawn to him, I mean sure he was HOT but this was different. Why did he make me so nervous and speechless? I was never like this around any other guy. 

No. Now was not the time for this nonsense. Besides, my boyfriend and I just had a messy breakup and I promised myself that I wouldn't jump into another relationship for a long time. I shook the thought of this stranger from my head, reminding myself not to get caught up in somebody I would probably never even see again.

I felt an unfamiliar tap on my shoulder draw me away from my thoughts and turned around to see a middle aged woman behind me.

"Ms. Richards?" She asked kindly.

"Oh yes hi! You must be Kim!" I nodded my hand and held out my own to shake hers. After our quick introduction she took out her laptop and settled down into the spot next to mine.

"So tell me about yourself" she spoke.

I was about to answer when something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. I saw the man walking towards a shiny black Audi that was next to my... very dirty jeep. I watched as he glanced at my car before getting in his own and I couldn't help but feel embarrassed all over again. 

I forced myself to look away and continued on with my answer. The interview seemed to be going well but it felt like hours before she asked her final question. 

Kim was hard to read, I couldn't tell if she was satisfied with my answers or not. My hands started to get sweaty and I became restless, tapping my foot on the concrete floor. She finished typing something into her laptop and looked at me.

"Welcome to the team Ms. Richards" she smiled, offering her hand to shake.