CHAPTER THREE
1473 Words
Natalie barely slept, not because she was excited but because nothing about the previous day made sense.
She had gone from standing outside her former company wondering whether her career was officially dead… to sitting across from Damien Cole while he hired her in less than twenty minutes.
No background checks, no references, no discussion.
Just: “You’re hired."
Men like Damien Cole did not make impulsive decisions. Everyone knew that. He was the kind of billionaire people described with words like calculated, ruthless, and impossible to read.
Which meant one thing: if he hired her that quickly, he already knew more about her than he admitted.
That thought followed Natalie all the way into the morning.
By 7:15 a.m., she was standing in front of Damien Cole Enterprises again, dressed in a charcoal blazer and heels she almost didn’t wear because part of her still didn’t believe she belonged there.
The lobby was quieter than yesterday.
The receptionist glanced up when Natalie approached. This time, the woman’s expression changed slightly. It looked like recognition, then curiosity.
“Good morning, Ms. Brooks.” She said politely.
Natalie paused for half a second. Nobody had called her “Ms. Brooks” in months.
“Morning.”
Before she could say anything else, a voice cut through the lobby.
“You’re early.”
Natalie turned.
A woman was walking toward her confidently, tablet in hand, dark hair pulled into a sleek knot at the back of her head.
Samantha Reed.
Even before she introduced herself, Natalie somehow knew exactly who she was. Everything about the woman screamed control.
“I’m Samantha Reed.” She said once she stopped in front of Natalie. “Mr. Cole’s chief of staff.”
Natalie nodded politely. “Natalie Brooks.”
“Yes.” Samantha replied coolly. “I know.”
Something about the way she said it made Natalie instantly alert.
Her response wasn't rude, and neither was it friendly.
Samantha’s eyes swept briefly over Natalie’s outfit, posture, expression, like she was assessing damage after an accident.
Then, she turned sharply toward the elevators. “Come with me.”
Natalie followed silently. The elevator ride was quiet.
Samantha tapped something on her tablet before speaking. “Mr. Cole’s schedule changes frequently.” She said. “You’ll adjust to it.”
Natalie nodded once.
“He doesn’t tolerate incompetence.”
She continued.
“And he certainly doesn’t tolerate emotional instability.”
That one made Natalie glance sideways. Samantha still wasn’t looking at her.
“You’ve clearly heard things about me.” Natalie said calmly.
Samantha finally turned her head slightly. “I’ve heard enough to know this company doesn’t usually hire people with your reputation.”
There it was. Direct and clean.
Natalie felt the sting anyway, but she refused to show it. “Then maybe this company doesn’t usually have a CEO like Damien Cole.” She replied evenly.
For the first time, Samantha looked fully at her, not with annoyance but interest.
The elevator doors opened before she could respond.
•
•
The executive floor looked exactly like power should.
Quiet hallways, glass offices, people speaking in low voices while carrying million-dollar decisions in their hands like coffee cups.
Natalie followed Samantha through the floor carefully, aware of every stare that landed on her.
People recognized her name, she could tell. Some looked curious, others judgmental.
A few looked almost uncomfortable.
Samantha stopped outside a sleek office near the corner. “This is yours.” She said.
Natalie blinked once.
Office?
She had expected a desk somewhere hidden in the background, not this.
The room was modern and spacious, overlooking Manhattan through wide windows.
Natalie looked back at Samantha carefully. “You already had this set up?”
“It was arranged yesterday.”
Yesterday. Meaning Damien had planned her arrival before she even walked into his office.
That realization settled heavily in her chest.
Samantha handed her a thin folder. “Your access credentials. Schedule outline. Internal contacts.”
Natalie took it slowly.
Then Samantha added, “Your first executive meeting starts in twenty minutes.”
Natalie frowned. “Executive?”
“You’ll be attending alongside Mr. Cole.”
“I’m his assistant.” Natalie said carefully.
Samantha’s expression didn’t shift. “Yes.” She replied. “That’s why everyone is confused.”
Then she walked away. Natalie stared after her.
Okay, so this was going to be a war.
•
•
Twenty minutes later, Natalie walked into the largest conference room she had ever seen.
Conversations stopped almost immediately.
The room was filled with executives dressed in tailored suits and expensive confidence. Several faces turned toward her openly now, curiosity no longer hidden.
Natalie recognized the look instantly.
*That’s her?*
She ignored it and moved toward the far side of the table.
Then the doors opened again. Damien Cole walked in.
The room changed immediately.
Nobody announced him, but nobody needed to.
Power entered before he spoke.
He wore a black suit with no tie, expression unreadable as usual. Calm and controlled. The kind of calm made everyone else more aware of themselves.
Natalie noticed something unsettling immediately.
People feared him, not dramatically, not visibly but enough.
Damien’s eyes landed on her briefly before he took his seat at the head of the table.
“Begin.” He said.
The meeting started instantly.
For the next thirty minutes, Natalie stayed quiet, observing.
Acquisition reports, investment projections, and expansion risks.
The conversation moved quickly, too quickly, for most people outside finance to follow.
But Natalie followed all of it. Every number, every flaw, every inconsistency.
Then, one executive spoke. “We should move forward with the Mercer acquisition immediately.”
Several people nodded.
Damien remained silent.
Natalie glanced down at the report in front of her. Something was wrong.
She scanned the figures again. A hidden debt structure buried beneath projected returns.
Her stomach tightened. The company looked profitable on the surface, but underneath, it was unstable. It was a trap.
Before she could stop herself, she spoke. “That acquisition would be a mistake.”
Silence, there was complete silence.
Every head in the room turned toward her, Natalie realized what she’d done one second too late.
An older executive leaned back slowly, unimpressed. “And you are?” He asked.
Natalie opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted.
“She’s correct.”
The voice came from Damien.
Instantly, the room stilled again.
Damien hadn’t even looked at her. His eyes stayed on the report in front of him.
Then he said calmly. “Continue, Ms. Brooks.”
Natalie’s pulse jumped. Every person in the room was staring at her now. Waiting and testing.
She swallowed once and steadied herself.
“The debt exposure is hidden under projected growth assumptions.” She said carefully. “If the market shifts even slightly, the acquisition collapses under its own financing structure.”
The older executive frowned. “That’s speculation.”
“No.” Natalie replied before fear could stop her. “It’s math.”
A dangerous silence followed, and then Damien finally looked up.
And for the first time since she met him, he smiled.
“Interesting.” He murmured.
The room immediately became more tense because if Damien Cole was interested…
someone was about to lose.
•
•
The meeting ended forty minutes later. People left differently than they entered. Now they were looking at Natalie carefully.
As she gathered her files, she felt someone stop beside her.
Victor Lang. The CFO.
Tall, sharp-eyed, and clearly unimpressed.
“You enjoy making enemies quickly, don’t you?” He said quietly.
Natalie met his gaze evenly. “I answered a question.”
Victor gave a humourless smile. “No.” He replied softly. “You embarrassed someone important.”
Then he walked away.
Natalie exhaled slowly.
Behind her, the conference room doors shut softly.
She turned, Damien was still there watching her.
The silence stretched between them for a moment before he finally spoke. “You saw the flaw in under three minutes.”
Natalie held his gaze carefully. “It wasn’t hidden very well.”
Damien walked closer slowly but not too close, just enough to shift the air around her.
“You’re either very brave.” He said quietly. “Or you still haven’t realized where you are.”
Natalie crossed her arms slightly. “And where exactly am I?”
Damien looked at her for a long moment.
Then he said.”A place where people don’t forgive humiliation.”
“And you just humiliated the wrong man.”
Before Natalie could respond, someone knocked sharply on the conference room door.
Samantha stepped inside, expression tight. “Mr. Cole.” She said carefully. “There’s an issue.”
Damien’s eyes stayed on Natalie. “What issue?”
Samantha hesitated.
“Richard Halston is here.”
- Writer
