Collided worlds

Chapter eight

Rayna's POV

She was still trying to wrap her head around what had happened outside her office an hour ago.

The eye contact. His unbothered expression. The way he had just turned and walked away like she was nothing interesting — even though she had clearly startled him first.

She pushed the thought away firmly.

It was just her first day. She didn't have to see his face again unless something work related came up. This was a big office. There was absolutely no reason their paths needed to cross unnecessarily.

She sighed.

So this is what she had signed up for.

She was not going to let this job become something she regretted. She had worked too hard to get here. She continued going through the files on her laptop, determined to focus, when a knock on her door interrupted her.

She was grateful to have her own office — no shared workspace, no having to make small talk with strangers every five minutes. Just her, her desk and her files.

She stood up and opened the door.

A chubby guy with a friendly smile stood on the other side.

"Good morning. The MD asked me to come get you."

"Okay, thanks," she replied calmly.

She closed the door behind her and exhaled slowly.

Could this day get any worse?

She adjusted her clothes quickly, smoothed her ponytail and straightened her back.

She hated that he was her superior. A huge one at that. But she was Rayna Olaolu — first class degree, zero tolerance for nonsense — and she was not about to let some arrogant rich MD make her feel small in her own workplace.

She walked toward his office and knocked.

"Wait".

Rayna stopped at his door.

The audacity. He had sent someone to call her urgently and now she was standing outside being told to wait. She pressed her lips together and counted silently.

"You can come in now."

"Finally," she muttered under her breath, pushing the door open.

She let her eyes move around his office briefly. It was large and impeccably decorated — clean lines, expensive furniture and walls accented in deep blue. She blinked. Blue was her favourite colour.

She filed that information away and said nothing.

Her eyes finally settled on him. He was looking up from his laptop, watching her with that same unreadable expression.

Trojan's POV

"Took you long enough," Trojan said, leaning back in his chair.

She didn't flinch. Didn't apologize. Just looked at him with a small composed smile like she was waiting for him to say something worth responding to.

He studied her quietly. She had come in looking put together — the black pants fitted her well and she carried herself like someone who knew exactly what they were worth. He had expected nerves. There were none.

He noted that. Filed it away.

Why was he even analyzing her?

He cleared his throat and adjusted his tie.

"Since it's obvious you want to act professional — like we've never met, like you didn't bump into me and ruin one of my favourite shirts — that's fine," he said, rolling his chair slightly with the casual energy of someone addressing a child. "You're working under me now. You don't really have a choice but to show respect."

She coughed lightly.

"Anything to say?" he asked.

"Actually yes," she said. "Not to be rude — but is this what you called me here for? Or do you have something important for me to do?"

He almost smiled.

"Thought you'd lost that voice of yours."

She straightened slightly. "Whatever happened at the supermarket should stay there. I just got this job and I really don't want to lose it. So like you suggested — can we keep things strictly professional and move forward?"

She had said it all in one breath.

"I don't let things go easily," Trojan said simply. "But I'll set it aside. For now." He paused. "And yes — I do have something for you."

He pulled open a drawer, retrieved a thick stack of files and slid them across the desk toward her.

"Go through all of these. Sort them, correct every error and have them back to me before the end of the week."

She picked them up and flipped through the first few pages. Then she looked up.

"This isn't related to my job description."

"I know."

"Consider it a welcome assignment," he said. "End of the week."

She held his gaze for a moment. "Fine."

"That'll be all."

He watched her turn and walk out. The door closed behind her with a firm bang that echoed through the office.

Trojan sat back in his chair.

Then he laughed — quietly, to himself.

This was going to be very entertaining.