"Ugh, can I just skip all my job interviews today because I literally have nothing to wear?" I groaned, holding my phone up for Claire on FaceTime.

She smirked on the screen, rolling her eyes. "Seriously? You have an entire closet full of cute stuff. Just throw on your usual cool-girl vibe and call it a day."

"Claire, this isn’t just any gig. It’s my first real adult job interview. I can’t exactly stroll in wearing my worn Frye boots and those ripped jeans I love."

"Well, you’re not asking the right person—music was my escape from looking professional," she teased, flashing that trademark mischievous grin.

Her easy confidence always made me smile. Claire was the kind of friend who could light up any room with her platinum blonde hair and that fierce spirit underneath. Tough on the outside but golden inside, she kept me grounded no matter how much I doubted myself.

"Hang on," I said, dropping the call briefly to run to my closet. Moments later, I flipped the camera so Claire could see. "How about this?" I twirled in a sleek blouse and tailored pants.

"Perfect. Approved. Now go slay," she cheered before we said our goodbyes.

I took a deep breath, glancing in the mirror one last time for a confidence boost before stepping out into the bustling city.

Hours later, I sat on a bench outside the last office I’d visited, replaying the interview in my mind. "Well, Ms. Williams, your grades are impressive and you’re clearly intelligent," the interviewer had said with a polite smile, "but we need someone with more hands-on experience." He shook my hand and wished me luck before I left.

Five interviews down and nothing but polite rejections. "Why is finding a job so damn impossible?" I muttered, frustration bubbling inside me. How was I supposed to build experience if no one would give me a chance?

I glanced up and realized I had no clue where I was. The streets looked unfamiliar, darker, less welcoming. I must’ve taken the wrong subway somewhere along the way.

"Great," I cursed under my breath, pulling out my phone to order a cab. Then the screen went black—dead battery.

A cold shiver ran down my spine as the evening chill settled in. Darkness was creeping in fast, and this part of town felt far from safe.

Trying to keep my head down, I searched for the nearest subway entrance when a murmur of voices pulled my attention.

A group of men stood ahead—tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in sharply tailored suits that gleamed even in the streetlight. Normally, I might have felt a flicker of attraction, but now, surrounded by shadows and their imposing presence, I was anything but calm.

Still, I swallowed my fear and stepped forward. "Excuse me," I called out, voice wavering slightly, "I’m really lost. Could you tell me how to get back to the subway?"

The air shifted immediately. One of the men sneered, "Well, well, what do we have here? A scared little girl out past curfew."

I instinctively clutched my purse tighter, heart pounding. Another stepped closer, eyes cold. "What’s a pretty thing like you doing wandering these streets alone?"

They began to circle me, their smirks growing wider as the tension thickened.

Suddenly, a sleek black Audi A8 slid to a smooth stop beside us. The back door opened, and a voice, low and commanding, cut through the night.

"Leave her alone."

The men hesitated, then retreated as the figure stepped forward.

My breath hitched as the man approached—tall, impeccably dressed, with dark hair that caught the dim light and eyes sharp enough to unsettle and intrigue at once.

My thoughts raced. 'This is it. This is how I go out. Goodbye, cruel city.'

He studied me with a half-smile. "What’s a beautiful woman like you doing wandering these streets alone at night?"

"I... honestly don’t know," I admitted, voice small.

His chuckle was low, sending a thrilling shiver through me—dangerous and yet oddly comforting. "Job interview?" he guessed, his eyes lighting with amusement.

"Yeah," I said, suddenly a stream of words pouring out. "I just moved here... didn’t get the job. They want experience I don’t have yet—"

He raised an eyebrow, lips twitching in a smirk. "Sounds familiar."

I laughed nervously, feeling the tension ease ever so slightly. "If you could just point me to the subway, I’ll be on my way."

His gaze sharpened, voice firm. "My driver will take you."

"No, really, you don’t have to—"

"I insist," he said, opening the car door for me.

Reluctantly, I slid inside, still scanning him, waiting for a name or some clue.

"Thank you," I whispered, hoping to sound grateful and not scared.

"No need to thank me," he replied smoothly. "By the way, it’s better you didn’t get that job in this part of town. It’s not safe here. I’ll make sure I see you again soon."

The door clicked shut, and the engine hummed to life. As the car pulled away from the shadows, I finally let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding and dared to wonder what kind of world I’d just stepped into.