CHAPTER3
1141 Words
Rowan’s POV:
I didn’t Sleep that night.
Not because I was excited. Not because I was nervous.
But because my brain refused to accept what had happened.
Hired?
At PureSpace Solutions.
Under him… Cassian Thorne?
The man who looked at me like I was a germ.
I turned on my bed again Staring at the Ceiling.
Atlas was already asleep in the next room.
I whispered into the darkness, “What kind of Company hires Someone after an interview like that?”
My Phone buzzed.
A message from HR:
“Report by 7:00 AM. Uniform required. Full Compliance mandatory.”
Compliance?
The word alone made my Stomach tighten.
Morning Came too fast.
I Stood in front of the PureSpace building again but this time it felt different.
Like walking into a Storm I already knew I wouldn’t Survive gracefully.
I adjusted my borrowed uniform Shirt and Stepped inside.
The receptionist recognized me instantly.
Her Smile was Polite.
But her eyes Said good luck Surviving him…
“Miss Vale,” Someone Called.
A man approached… He was tall and tired-looking, Carrying a tablet like it was attached to his hand.
“Everett Cross,” he introduced himself. “Executive assistant.”
I nodded quickly. “Rowan.”
“I know,” he Said flatly.
That didn’t Sound Comforting.
He gestured. “Follow me. And try not to touch anything unnecessarily.”
I frowned. “I wasn’t Planning to hug the walls.”
“That would be appreciated.”
I blinked at him.
He didn’t Smile.
I was Starting to realize Smiles were rare here.
The hallway outside Cassian’s office was Colder than the rest of the building.
Or maybe it just felt that way because I knew what was waiting behind the door.
Everett Stopped.
“You’ll be assigned Cleaning duties across restricted zones,” he Said. “Mr. Thorne has Specific requirements.”
“Specific like what?” I asked.
He hesitated.
“Like everything.”
Before I Could ask more the door opened.
And there he was… Cassian Thorne…
Already dressed Perfectly. Already looking like nothing had ever disturbed him in his life.
His eyes landed on me.
“Miss Vale,” he Said Calmly.
“Mr. Thorne,” I replied matching his tone even though my heart was beating too fast.
Everett Cleared his throat awkwardly. “I’ll leave you both to—”
“Stay,” Cassian interrupted immediately.
Everett Stopped.
I frowned Slightly.
Cassian’s gaze didn’t leave me.
“You are now employed under PureSpace Solutions,” he Said. “You will follow all operational rules without exception.”
“Okay,” I Said Slowly.
He Stepped Closer.
And I Swear my body reacted before my mind did.
“First rule,” he Said.
I waited.
“No Personal items in work zones.”
I frowned. “What Counts as Personal items?”
“Everything unnecessary.”
That was not helpful.
He Continued.
“No eating near Cleaning areas.”
“No Physical Contact with restricted Surfaces.”
“No unscheduled movement between floors.”
My eyes widened Slightly. “That’s a lot of no’s.”
He didn’t respond.
He just watched me… Like he was waiting to See if I would break already.
Then he Said Something quieter.
“This Company requires discipline.”
I tilted my head. “Okay.”
The first few hours were Structured Chaos.
Everett followed me everywhere.
Cassian monitored everything from glass walls or Cameras I didn’t even notice at first.
Every time I touched Something Slightly wrong Everett would tense.
Every time I adjusted Something out of Place Cassian would Pause what he was doing.
It felt like living inside a Silent exam.
Then it happened.
The Coffee incident again.
Except this time… I wasn’t even involved.
An intern accidentally bumped into me in the break area. I Stepped back quickly to avoid Collision and my elbow hit the Coffee tray he was Carrying.
The Coffee Cups tilted.
Everything Slowed.
“No—” I whispered.
The Cups fell and hot Coffee Spilled across a freshly Sanitized Counter, dripping onto the floor like a disaster in Slow motion.
The room went Silent.
I froze.
“Oh no,” I Said again.
Then I heard a Sharp Footsteps.
Cassian appeared at the doorway and the moment he Saw it everything Changed.
His expression didn’t just Shift.
It Collapsed.
His breathing Stopped for half a Second.
His hands Clenched.
“Get away from it!” he Said instantly.
I blinked. “It’s just—Coffee.”
“GET AWAY!”
The Sharpness in his voice made my body obey before my mind Caught up.
I Stepped back immediately.
His eyes Scanned the Spill like it was Something dangerous.
His jaw tightened.
“Everett,” he Said Sharply, voice low.
“Sir?”
“Sanitation kit. Now!”
Everett moved fast.
I Stood frozen watching him.
Because Something was wrong.
Not normal anger.
Not frustration…. Something deeper.
Something Shaking under Control.
I took a Step forward Carefully.
“Mr. Thorne?” I Said quietly.
His head Snapped toward me.
The look he gave me wasn’t anger.
It was Panic… Pure, Controlled Panic.
“Don’t Come Closer,” he Said.
I Stopped.
That wasn’t a CEO Speaking.
That was Someone… afraid.
The Cleanup took minutes.
But the Silence lasted longer.
When it was finally over, Cassian didn’t look at anyone.
He just Said, “Resume work.”
And walked away.
Later that day I Caught him alone.
It wasn’t Planned.
I just Saw him Standing in a restricted hallway Staring at nothing.
Like his mind was Somewhere far away.
“Mr. Thorne.” I Called before I Could Stop myself.
He didn’t turn immediately.
That alone told me Something was wrong.
He finally looked at me and his expression was guarded again.
“What are you doing here?” he Said.
“I noticed,” I replied Softly. “Earlier… you weren’t okay.”
Then he Said flatly, “I am always okay. And that’s none of your business.”
That was a lie…. Even I Could See it.
I took a Careful Step forward. “That reaction… it wasn’t normal.”
His eyes Sharpened Slightly.
“It was Contamination Protocol.”
“That wasn’t Protocol,” I Said quietly.
His jaw tightened again.
Something flickered in his expression… Something almost Painful.
Then it was gone.
“You do not understand this environment,” he Said Coldly.
I nodded Slightly. “You’re right.”
That Surprised him a little.
“But I understand fear when I See it.” I Said.
For the first time he didn’t have an immediate response… He just watched me.
Then abruptly, he turned away.
“This Conversation is over.”
He walked off fast.
But I Saw it now… Under all that Perfection, Something in him was breaking.
- Writer
