RULE #1
805 Words
Chapter 1: Rule #1*
The elevator dings.
And my entire career flashes before my eyes.
I step into Cole Enterprises with my blazer clutched like armor and my resume memorized. New city. New job. New me.
That’s the plan.
The plan does not include the man already standing in the elevator.
Six foot three. Black suit. No tie. Sleeves rolled up like he was too busy running a billion-dollar company to care about dress codes.
Damien Cole.
I know his face from 2 years ago. From Tyler’s family photos. From the night Tyler cried on my couch because his "cold older brother" wouldn’t speak to him for a month.
Damien Cole also knows my face.
His eyes snap to mine the second the doors close.
“You.”
Just one word. Low. Dangerous.
The air in this tiny box goes from 72 degrees to arctic in 0.2 seconds.
“Good morning, Mr. Cole,” I manage. My voice doesn’t shake. Much. “I’m Ava Monroe. New Strategy Lead. We have the 9am.”
His jaw ticks. He doesn’t answer.
He just stares. Like he’s trying to figure out if I’m the same girl who broke his baby brother’s heart and disappeared.
The elevator feels like it takes 10 years to hit the 40th floor. When it dings again, he steps out first. Doesn’t hold the door.
Cool. Professional. Got it.
I’m halfway across the glass lobby when his assistant jogs up to me.
“Mr. Cole wants to see you. Now. Before the meeting.”
Of course he does.
---
His office smells like cedar and money. Floor to ceiling windows. Port Harcourt skyline behind him. He’s not sitting. He’s leaning against his desk, arms crossed.
The second I close the door, he talks.
“What are you doing here, Ava?”
No “Ms. Monroe”. No small talk.
I lift my chin. “I got the job. Fair and square. 3 rounds of interviews, a case study, and I beat 200 other people.”
“Did HR know who you were?”
“They knew my name.”
Damien pushes off the desk and walks to me. Slow. Deliberate. I swear I can smell his cologne.
“You broke my brother.”
The words aren’t loud. They’re worse. They’re quiet.
“I didn’t—”
“You did.” He cuts me off. “And now you want to work for me?”
I should quit. Right now. Walk out and find another job in another city.
But I need this. The rent. The clean slate. The proof that I’m not just “Tyler’s ex” anymore.
“I’m here to work, Mr. Cole,” I say. “Not to date your brother. Not to cause drama. Just to do my job.”
He studies me for a long second. Then he slides something across his desk.
Employee Handbook. 300 pages.
And on top of it, a yellow sticky note. Written in sharp, black ink.
_Rule #1: Do not get involved with me._
My face heats. “That’s not in the handbook.”
“It is now.” His mouth quirks. Not a smile. A warning. “You sign that, you get the job. You break it, you’re fired. No severance. No references.”
This is insane. This is illegal. This is—
“Fine.” I grab the pen. Sign my name with a hand that’s way too steady. “Rule #1. Got it.”
“Good girl.”
I freeze. Did he just—
He turns away before I can read his face. “Meeting in 5. Don’t be late.”
Dismissed.
---
The conference room is full of suits and tension when I walk in. Damien is at the head of the table. He doesn’t look at me once during the entire merger presentation.
Until my phone buzzes.
On the table. Face up.
*Tyler*
My ex. Damien’s brother.
The room goes silent. 12 executives watch me. Damien watches the phone.
His expression doesn’t change. But his knuckles go white around his pen.
The phone buzzes again.
Tyler: _We need to talk. It’s important._
Damien leans back in his chair. Eyes still on me.
“Answer it.”
My stomach drops. “Sir?”
“You heard me, Ms. Monroe.” His voice is even. Too even. “Answer it. Put it on speaker.”
This is a trap. This is a test. This is Rule #1 staring me in the face.
My finger hovers over the green button.
If I answer, I’m bringing my past into his boardroom.
If I don’t, I’m defying my new boss on day one.
Damien tilts his head. Waiting.
Outside the glass walls, the whole floor is pretending not to watch.
I take a breath and—
---
Coming next
*Chapter 2: Late Night*
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