CHAPTER 3 : MY FIRST DAY
1135 Words
TESSA'S POV
“What would I have said?” I thought, staring at my phone as it directed me to voicemail
The next morning came faster than I wanted. I didn’t sleep much. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him. Ethan. His eyes. His voice. The way he’d smiled that night before everything happened. Now, I was about to walk into his company, his world.
I stood in front of the huge glass building that sparkled under the Los Angeles sun. The sign above said DAVIS CONSTRUCTION GROUP in shiny silver letters.
It looked so big and perfect that I almost turned back. I held my bag tight, took a deep breath, and whispered to myself, “You can do this, Tessa. Just stay invisible.” Inside, everything smelled like money. Expensive perfume. Polished floors. People walking fast in neat suits and shiny shoes.
I felt small in my simple cream blouse and black skirt.
I smiled a little, trying to act professional.The receptionist, a pretty lady with short curly hair, smiled at me.
“Hi, you must be the new architect, Tessa Lopez?”
“Yes,” I said quickly.
Welcome, Miss Lopez.” She clicked her computer. “You’re in the Architecture and Design Department, under Mr. Ethan Davis.”
My heart stopped.
Under who?
“Oh uhm, isn’t there someone else I could report to?” I replied.
She gave me a funny look. “He’s the CEO, dear. Everyone reports to him one way or another.”
I smiled weakly. “Right… of course.”
“Orientation starts in the conference room on the 12th floor. Here’s your tag.” She said warmly
As I walked toward the elevator, my hands felt sweaty. I told myself again and again, You can do this. Forget the past. Focus on your future.
The elevator opened with a soft ding sound. Inside, a few people in suits stood silently, typing on their phones. I pressed the button for the 12th floor and tried to look confident.When the doors opened again, I walked into a hallway with soft lights and expensive art on the walls. I could hear laughter and voices from a large glass door ahead that said Conference Room A. Inside, about ten new interns were already seated, chatting nervously.
“Hi!” a girl with blonde hair waved at me. “You must be new too. I’m Daisy.”
“Yeah, Tessa,” I said with a small smile and sat beside her.
We started talking about how hard it was to get in. Daisy said she’d applied three times before being accepted. I told her this was my first job since university, and she gasped, “Lucky!”
Then, the door opened.Everyone went quiet.A woman in a black suit walked in. She looked serious but polite. “Good morning, everyone. I’m Mrs Jones, the HR manager. Welcome to Davis Construction.” She started talking about company rules, projects, and how we’d meet department heads later that morning. I listened carefully, writing notes in my small brown journal.Then she said, “And finally, our CEO will be coming in to welcome you all personally. So please, make a good impression.”My heart skipped a beat.The CEO? Ethan Davis.
Then, I heard a voice behind me. A deep, calm, familiar voice.
“Good morning, team.”
My blood froze. I turned slowly and there he was. Ethan Davis.
In a black suit that fit him perfectly, hair neatly brushed back, eyes cold and focused. The same man from that night.
He didn’t see me at first. He was talking to the others, his tone serious. I sat very still, my heart pounding so loud I thought everyone could hear it. When he finally looked around, his gaze stopped right on me. For a second, I forgot how to breathe. He stared longer than he should have, his brows slightly furrowing like he was trying to remember something.
But then he looked away, expression unchanged.
He didn’t recognize me. I exhaled quietly, feeling my body shake with relief. My little beret disguise worked after all. The meeting went on. Ethan spoke about new projects, deadlines, and something about expansion in Santa Monica. His voice was smooth, confident, and powerful. When it ended, everyone started packing up, but then his voice came again.
“Miss Lopez, Am I right?”
I froze.
Did he just…..?
I turned around slowly. “Y-Yes, sir?”
He looked at me with those same unreadable eyes. “I’d like to see you in my office after lunch. Bring different types of design you think would be good for the company.”
“Yes, sir,” I said quietly, trying not to sound nervous.
He nodded and left, his tall figure disappearing into his glass office. The moment he was gone, Daisy leaned close and whispered, “Wow. You’re already on his radar. Lucky girl.”
Lucky? I thought.
If only she knew.
When lunch came, I could barely eat. My stomach was tight, my palms sweaty. I kept telling myself, He doesn’t know you. You’re safe. But when I walked into his office later, my heart was doing backflips. The room was big and bright. There were shelves full of awards, family photos, and a huge painting behind his desk.
He was sitting, typing something. Then he looked up.
“Miss Lopez,” he said. “Please, have a seat.”
I sat down, trying not to fidget. He looked at the papers in his hand, not at me. “I’ve seen your file. You’re a recent graduate, top of your class. Architecture, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
He nodded. “Good. I like ambitious people.”
For a moment, it felt normal. Then he finally looked up directly into my eyes. It was only for a few seconds, but it felt like time stopped. His gaze softened a little. Confused. Searching.
Like a thought of recognition appeared in his mind. My chest tightened.
He tilted his head slightly. “Have we... met before?”
I froze. My lips parted, but no sound came out. He frowned a little, still looking at me.
My throat felt dry. “No, sir,” I whispered quickly.
He held my gaze for a moment longer, then nodded slowly. “Alright then, Drop the reports and leave.” I stood up. As I walked out of his office, my hands were shaking.
He didn’t remember me, He didn’t. But just as I reached the elevator, I heard his voice behind me, low and quietly speaking to his assistant.
“Get me the list of all new employees from the Architecture Department. Especially the lady that just left my office,Tessa Lopez.”
My heart dropped.
He was looking me up.
- Writer
