Chapter 3 A Terrible First Impression

Ella's POV

I remained frozen in the hallway long after Miles disappeared inside the elevator.

I had imagined meeting Miles Ravengard countless times over the years. But never, not even once, had I imagined our first meeting would involve me crashing into him and spilling an entire cup of hot coffee all over his expensive suit.

And he called me clumsy.

I pressed my lips together, remembering the cold way he had looked at me.

Miles Ravengard was unbelievably arrogant. I hated the way he had spoken to me as though I were some incompetent employee who had no business working for his family's company. He could have accepted my apology instead of making me feel even worse than I already did.

But no matter how much I wanted to be angry with him, I couldn't completely blame him.

I had been the one rushing through the hallway without paying attention, and I had ruined his expensive suit on his first day back.

I groaned quietly and covered my face with both hands. Of all the people in this entire building, why did it have to be him?

Margarette had told me only this morning that her brother would be arriving tomorrow. I thought I still had time before I finally met the mysterious Miles Ravengard.

Apparently, I had been wrong.

Not only had he already arrived, but I had managed to make myself look like a complete disaster in front of him within seconds of meeting him.

Wonderful.

"Ella?"

I quickly lowered my hands and turned toward one of my colleagues.

"The chairman has been looking for you."

My stomach dropped.

The coffee.

I looked down at the empty cup still in my hand and wanted the floor to open and swallow me.

"I'm coming."

My colleague nodded before walking away.

I released a long breath and tried to calm myself.

None of my coworkers knew that I lived at the Ravengard mansion. I had asked Marcus to keep that information private because I didn't want anyone thinking I had been hired because of my connection to him.

Aside from the people in HR who needed to know, everyone believed I was simply another newly hired employee.

I wanted to prove that I deserved my position without Marcus's name protecting me.

And now, on my very first day at Ravengard Group, I had failed to deliver the chairman's coffee because I had spilled it all over his son instead.

I sighed and straightened my clothes before heading toward the elevator.

As the doors closed, Miles's face immediately returned to my mind.

Those cold eyes, that intimidating expression, and that irritatingly handsome face refused to leave my mind.

Handsome or not, Miles Ravengard was arrogant, and no amount of good looks could change that.

The elevator stopped at the executive floor, and I stepped out before making my way toward Marcus's office.

His secretary gave me a small smile.

"He's waiting for you."

I nodded and knocked softly on the door.

"Come in."

I opened it and stepped inside.

Marcus was standing beside his desk when he looked at me.

"There you are." He smiled and gestured for me to come closer. "How is your first day going?"

I hesitated, waiting for him to ask about the coffee he had sent me to get.

When he didn't, relief washed over me. Apparently, he had forgotten about it, and I certainly wasn't going to remind him that his coffee was currently decorating his son's expensive suit.

"It's going well," I said, trying to sound convincing. "There's a lot to learn, but I like it here."

"I'm glad." His expression softened. "I know this is only your first day, but I hope you'll be happy working here."

I smiled. "I'm sure I will."

I couldn't tell him that I had originally wanted to work somewhere else. Marcus had already done so much for me, and I didn't want to hurt him by admitting that part of me had wanted to build a life outside the Ravengard family's influence.

But standing there now, I found myself strangely grateful that I had accepted the position.

And for some ridiculous reason, Miles being back seemed to have something to do with it.

I immediately frowned at myself.

Seriously, Ella?

The man had insulted me less than an hour ago, and somehow his presence was already making me feel differently about working here?

It was probably just because I had spent years wondering about him. Nothing more. At least, that was what I told myself.

Marcus studied me for a moment before smiling.

"There's actually something else I wanted to talk to you about."

"What is it?"

"You probably already know that Miles is back."

My heart skipped unexpectedly.

For a moment, all I could see were cold eyes, an intimidating expression, and coffee spreading across an expensive white shirt.

I forced the memory away.

"Yes. Margarette mentioned he was coming home."

"He arrived earlier than expected."

I knew that now.

Marcus walked around his desk and stopped in front of me.

"Miles has been away for ten years. You've heard about him, seen his photographs, but the two of you have never really had the chance to know each other."

"That's true."

"I want that to change."

I looked at him curiously.

"What do you mean?"

"I want you and Miles to spend some time together. Get to know each other."

My eyes widened slightly. I wasn't sure why Marcus suddenly seemed so interested in bringing Miles and me closer, but there was something unusually serious in his expression.

"You are Conrad's daughter, but after he died, I promised myself I would always take care of you. Somewhere along the way, you stopped feeling like someone I had a responsibility to protect. You became family."

Emotion tightened my throat.

"Uncle Marcus..."

He squeezed my hand gently.

"And if I'm allowed to be a little selfish, I've always hoped that one day you might truly become my daughter."

I blinked at him in confusion.

"But I already think of you as family."

Marcus smiled knowingly.

"I meant my daughter-in-law."

My breath caught.

"Miles?"

"Who else?"

Heat rushed into my cheeks so quickly that I immediately looked away.

"Uncle Marcus!"

His quiet laughter filled the office.

"I'm only telling you what I've always hoped for."

I opened my mouth to argue, but nothing came out. My mind betrayed me by bringing Miles's face back again, and my stomach immediately filled with butterflies. I pressed a hand against it, annoyed by my own reaction.

This was ridiculous. The man had insulted me less than an hour ago, and now I was standing in his father's office blushing because Marcus had suggested I might someday marry him.

"I'm not asking you to marry him tomorrow," Marcus continued, amusement still in his voice. "Just give him a chance. Get to know him before deciding what kind of man he is."

I swallowed and tried to ignore the warmth still spreading across my cheeks.

"I'll try," I said, still unsure how I felt about the idea.

"That's all I'm asking," Marcus replied with a smile.

He glanced at his watch before continuing. "Now, there's another reason I called you here. We're having a welcome party for Miles at the mansion tonight."

"A party?" I asked in surprise.

"Yes," Marcus replied. "I invited a few important guests to celebrate his return."

I hadn't expected that. Then again, Miles had been away for ten years. Of course Marcus would want to celebrate his son finally coming home.

"I want you to leave work early today," he continued. "Go home and get ready. I expect you there before the guests arrive."

"But it's my first day. I can finish my shift."

Marcus shook his head. "You'll have plenty of time to work tomorrow. Tonight, I want you home with the family."

I smiled. "All right."

"And don't worry about finding something to wear. Your gown is already waiting in your room."

My eyebrows rose. "You prepared a gown for me?"

"Of course."

"Uncle Marcus, you didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to." His expression softened. "Tonight is important to me. My son is finally home, and I want everyone I consider family there."

Warmth filled my chest.

"Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me, Ella."

I smiled and turned toward the door, but before I could reach it, Marcus called after me.

"And Ella?"

I stopped and looked back.

A suspicious smile appeared on his face.

"Try to give my son a better second impression tonight."

My smile immediately disappeared as I stared at him in disbelief, realizing he had known about the coffee the entire time.

"You didn't forget about the coffee?"

Marcus burst out laughing.

I walked out of his office with my face burning while his laughter followed me into the hallway.

So much for hoping I had gotten away with that.