Not Suitable For Work

Not Suitable For Work

Chapter One

Rain tapped against the bus window as Ava Williams stared at the email on her phone for the hundredth time.

“Thank you for attending your interview with Sterling Insurance Group. We will contact successful candidates.”

Contact successful candidates.

Not you got the job.

Not congratulations.

Just a polite way of saying wait.

Ava sighed and slipped the phone back into her bag.

Four years.

Four years studying Business Administration.

Four years surviving on scholarships, side hustles, and instant noodles.

And now she was twenty-three years old, degree in hand, and still unemployed.

The rent was due next week.

Waiting wasn’t an option.

That’s why she had accepted a temporary job at Eclipse Lounge.

A nightclub.

Not exactly the future she’d imagined.

But bills didn’t care about dreams.

By 8 p.m., Eclipse Lounge was already packed.

Music thundered through the building.

Colored lights flashed across expensive suits and designer dresses.

Ava adjusted her uniform nervously.

“Relax,” another waitress laughed. “You look like you’re walking into an exam hall.”

Ava forced a smile.

“I’ve never worked in a club before.”

“You’ll survive.”

Hopefully.

Her manager handed her a tray.

“VIP section.”

Ava nodded and headed upstairs.

The VIP floor was different.

Quieter.

More exclusive.

Much richer.

One wrong move and she’d probably spill champagne worth more than her monthly rent.

She carefully balanced the drinks.

Then it happened.

A man stumbled directly into her path.

The tray tilted.

A glass tipped over.

Champagne splashed across an expensive black suit.

The entire room went silent.

Ava froze.

Her heart nearly stopped.

“Oh my God.”

Slowly, the man looked down at the stain on his jacket.

Then up at her.

And Ava forgot how to breathe.

Tall.

Broad shoulders.

Sharp jawline.

Dark hair.

The most handsome man she’d ever seen.

And judging by the icy expression on his face—

the most terrifying.

“Are you blind?” he asked coldly.

Ava swallowed.

“I’m so sorry.”

His gaze swept over her uniform.

“Clearly.”

Heat rushed to her cheeks.

The embarrassment stung.

She was already having the worst first day imaginable.

Then the stranger’s eyes narrowed.

For a brief second, something unreadable crossed his face.

Interest.

Curiosity.

Maybe even attraction.

But it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

Without another word, he walked away.

Leaving Ava standing there.

Humiliated.

Ethan disappeared toward the private restrooms without another glance.

Ava stood frozen, clutching the empty tray.

Her cheeks burned with humiliation.

Of all the people in the club, why did she have to spill a drink on the most intimidating man she'd ever met?

"Ava!"

Her manager's voice snapped her back to reality.

She hurried over.

"What happened?" he hissed.

"I'm sorry. It was an accident."

"You need to be more careful. The people in the VIP section aren't ordinary customers. One complaint and you're out of a job."

Ava lowered her head.

"It won't happen again."

"It better not."

The manager walked away, leaving Ava fighting back tears.

This was supposed to be a temporary job.

A way to pay her bills while she waited for her life to begin.

Instead, she was already making mistakes on her first shift.

Needing a moment to compose herself, she slipped away toward the staff restroom.

Once inside, she leaned against the sink and took a deep breath.

"Pull yourself together, Ava," she muttered.

After splashing cool water on her face, she finally felt calm enough to return to work.

She pushed open the restroom door—

And immediately collided with a solid chest.

A strong hand gripped her waist to steady her.

A familiar scent of expensive cologne filled her senses.

Her stomach dropped.

Him.

The champagne victim.

The arrogant stranger.

Ava quickly stepped back.

"Oh my God. I'm so sorry. Again."

Ethan stared down at her.

His dark eyes were colder than before.

For a moment neither of them spoke.

Then his gaze swept over her face.

"You seem to have a talent for running into people."

The comment stung.

"I said I was sorry."

"And I already heard that once."

Ava clenched her jaw.

What was his problem?

"It's not like I did it on purpose."

A muscle ticked in Ethan's jaw.

"No. Just carelessness."

The word hit harder than it should have.

Before she could respond, a beautiful blonde woman appeared beside him.

"There you are, Ethan."

The woman slipped her arm through his.

Ethan's attention immediately shifted away from Ava.

As if she no longer existed.

Without another word, he turned and walked away.

Ava watched them disappear into the crowd.

Arrogant jerk.

She had never met anyone so rude.

And if she was lucky...

She would never have to see him again.

The next morning, Ava was awakened by her ringing phone.

Half asleep, she grabbed it from the bedside table.

“Hello?”

“Miss Ava Williams?”

Her eyes opened instantly.

“Yes?”

“We’re calling from Sterling Insurance Group.”

Ava sat upright.

Her heart began racing.

“We’re pleased to inform you that you’ve been selected for the position of Executive Assistant.”

For a moment she couldn’t speak.

Then tears filled her eyes.

“I got the job?”

“Congratulations. Orientation begins Monday.”

Ava screamed.

Actually screamed.

The woman on the phone laughed.

After ending the call, Ava jumped around her tiny apartment like she had won the lottery.

Because in a way—

she had.

Finally.

A real job.

A real career.

A real future.

What could possibly go wrong?

Monday morning arrived before Ava was ready for it.

She had barely slept.

Every time she closed her eyes, her mind raced with thoughts about her new job.

What if she wasn't good enough?

What if she made a mistake?

What if they realized they hired the wrong person?

At five-thirty in the morning, she finally gave up on sleep.

The tiny apartment was quiet as she climbed out of bed.

Sunlight hadn't even touched the sky yet.

She headed to the kitchen and prepared a quick breakfast, though her stomach was too nervous to eat much.

Today wasn't just another day.

Today was the beginning of everything she'd worked for.

Four years of studying.

Countless sleepless nights.

Endless applications and interviews.

All of it had led to this moment.

After breakfast, Ava stood in front of her closet.

Most of her clothes weren't suitable for a corporate office.

After nearly twenty minutes of debating, she finally chose a crisp white blouse and a fitted black skirt.

Simple.

Professional.

Safe.

She styled her hair neatly and applied light makeup.

Nothing too dramatic.

When she finally looked at herself in the mirror, she smiled.

"You can do this."

For the first time in months, she felt hopeful.

Her mother would have been proud.

The thought made her chest tighten.

Life hadn't been easy since losing her parents.

There had been days when she questioned whether she'd ever make something of herself.

But she had survived.

And today was proof that she was moving forward.

Grabbing her handbag, Ava left her apartment.

The city was already coming alive.

Cars filled the roads.

Street vendors arranged their goods.

People hurried toward their destinations.

As her taxi drove through downtown, Ava found herself staring out the window.

Everything looked different today.

Brighter.

Full of possibilities.

About thirty minutes later, the taxi pulled up in front of Sterling Insurance Group's headquarters.

Ava's breath caught.

The building was breathtaking.

A massive glass structure stretched into the sky.

The company's silver logo gleamed in the morning sunlight.

It looked powerful.

Important.

Successful.

Exactly the kind of place she'd always dreamed of working.

For several seconds, she simply stared.

Then she remembered she was supposed to go inside.

"Don't embarrass yourself," she muttered.

Paying the driver, she stepped out of the car.

The lobby was even more impressive than the exterior.

Marble floors reflected the sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows.

Elegant chandeliers hung overhead.

Employees dressed in tailored suits moved confidently through the building.

Everyone looked like they belonged.

Ava suddenly felt very small.

Very new.

Very inexperienced.

She took a deep breath and approached the reception desk.

The receptionist greeted her with a friendly smile.

"Good morning."

"Good morning," Ava replied nervously.

"I'm Ava Williams. Today's my first day."

The receptionist checked her computer.

"Welcome, Miss Williams. Human Resources is expecting you."

Ava released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

At least her name was in the system.

That had to be a good sign.

After receiving directions, she made her way to the elevator.

Several employees stepped inside with her.

They discussed meetings, deadlines, and projects.

Listening to them only increased her anxiety.

Everyone seemed so confident.

So experienced.

Meanwhile, she felt like an imposter.

The elevator doors opened on the twelfth floor.

Human Resources welcomed her warmly and began the orientation process.

The next two hours passed in a blur.

Paperwork.

Policies.

Introductions.

Office procedures.

By lunchtime, Ava's head was spinning.

Still, she couldn't stop smiling.

This was real.

She was finally employed.

Near the end of the orientation, a woman from HR approached her desk.

"Mr. Blackwood would like to meet you."

Ava immediately straightened.

The CEO?

Already?

She hadn't expected that.

Her pulse quickened.

"Now?"

The woman nodded.

"He's on the executive floor."

Ava quickly gathered her notebook.

As she followed the woman toward a private elevator, a strange feeling settled in her stomach.

Nervousness.

Excitement.

Something she couldn't quite explain.

The executive floor was quieter than the rest of the building.

More luxurious.

More intimidating.

Every step seemed louder than the last.

Finally, they stopped in front of a large office door.

The HR representative smiled.

"He's inside."

Ava swallowed hard.

This was it.

Her first meeting with the CEO.

The man responsible for the entire company.

The man who could make or break her career.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door.

And instantly wished she hadn't.

Because sitting behind the massive desk was a face she recognized immediately.

The man from the nightclub.

The man she spilled champagne on.

The man she had called an arrogant jerk.

Ethan Blackwood.

Her new boss.