Chapter 3
1519 Words
Tricia's POV
The next morning, I didn’t wait for Tima to wake me. I was already up at 5:00 AM, staring at the ceiling and practicing my serious work face in the dark.
I checked my contact lenses again and smoothed my short hair. I put on a dark grey power suit that made me look older and much colder. If Tyrone Black wanted a Senior Business Executive, that’s exactly what he would get. There would be no sign of the girl from that nightclub five years ago.
“Mommy, you look like a boss,” Maxwell said, eating his toast as I kissed him goodbye at the door.
“I have to be, Max,” I whispered. “Be good for Grandma and Tima, okay?”
I got to the Black Group building at exactly 7:50 AM. This time, I didn’t stop at the security desk. I swiped my ID and went straight to the executive elevators.
The 52nd floor was already busy. The secretary with slick hair and a name tag that said Angela pointed me to a glass-walled office right next to Tyrone’s.
"That’s your station, Ms. Green," Angela said, her voice professional. "Mr. Black is already in a meeting. He expects the Q3 projection reports on his desk by 9:00 AM. Here is your login and the physical files."
I didn't waste a second. I dove into the work. I needed to prove my worth through numbers, not through my face. I was halfway done through a complicated spreadsheet when the heavy mahogany doors of the main office swung open.
Tyrone stepped out, but he wasn't alone.
Next to him was a woman who looked like she had walked straight off a fashion runway. Long, blonde hair, perfect skin, and a red dress that probably cost more than my whole apartment. She held onto Tyrone’s arm, laughing like the hallway was her stage. And that way the moment I realized she was Julia Grey, his fiancée.
I had seen her pictures yesterday while I was searching for him online.
I kept my head down, staring at my monitor, but I could feel them getting closer.
"And who is this, darling?" Julia’s voice was high and sharp, like a whistle.
I looked up, forced a polite, empty smile, and stood. "Tricia Green, the new Senior Business Executive. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Grey."
Julia’s eyes scanned me. It wasn't a friendly look; it was the look of a woman checking for a threat. She took in my short hair, my plain brown eyes, and my modest suit. She seemed to relax almost instantly.
"She’s very... efficient-looking, Tyrone," Julia said, patting his arm. "Anyway, don't forget our tasting at two. The caterer is waiting."
"I have a board meeting at two, Julia," Tyrone said. His voice was tired, his gaze already drifting toward me.
"Then move it! You're the CEO, aren't you?" She stood on her tiptoes, kissed his cheek, and walked toward the elevator.
Tyrone watched her go for a moment, then turned his full attention to me. The atmosphere changed instantly, just like yesterday.
"Ms. Green. In my office. Now," he commanded.
I grabbed my tablet and followed him. He didn't sit behind his desk this time. He stood by the window, looking out at the city.
"Did you finish the projections?"
"I'm eighty percent done, Mr. Black. They will be on your desk in twelve minutes."
He turned around, leaning against the glass. The sunlight caught the sharp angles of his face. "I looked into your history last night, Tricia. You disappeared completely for about a year, five years ago. No job history, no tax filings. Why?"
My heart stopped. I should have known he would dig.
"I was caring for my father before he passed," I said, the truth serving as my shield. "It was a difficult time. I took some freelance work under a different name to keep us afloat, but nothing official."
Tyrone stepped closer. He was so close I could smell the expensive scent of his cologne. It was the same smell from my dreams.
"You’re a very good liar," he whispered, his eyes searching mine. "But your eyes... they don't match your voice. You're hiding something, Ms. Green. And I don't like secrets in my inner circle."
"Everyone has a past, Mr. Black," I said, meeting his gaze bravely. "As long as it doesn't interfere with my work, I don't see why it matters."
Suddenly, the door burst open.
"Tyrone! Tell me you saw the news about the merger!"
A man walked in, looking confident and good-looking. He had a playful smile and moved like he owned the room.
He stopped when he saw me. His eyes lit up with some kind of interest.
"Well, well. Who is this lovely addition to the team? Tyrone, you never told me you were hiring beautiful toys."
"She's an executive, Caesar. Not a toy," Tyrone snapped, his voice unexpectedly harsh. He moved slightly, almost as if he was stepping between me and his friend.
Caesar chuckled, walking over to me and extending a hand. "Caesar Chavez. I run the logistics wing. And you are?"
"Tricia Green," I said, shaking his hand briefly. His grip was lingering, and I pulled away as quickly as possible.
"Tricia," Caesar repeated, his grin widening. "I think we're going to be very good friends."
"Ms. Green has work to do," Tyrone interrupted, his jaw tight. "Go back to your office, Tricia. I'll see you for the briefing at noon."
I nodded and hurried out. My heart was racing for a new reason. Tyrone’s reaction to Caesar... it felt like jealousy. But that was impossible. He didn't even know who I was.
The rest of the morning was a blur of meetings and phone calls. By noon, I was exhausted. I went down to the 10th-floor cafeteria to grab a quick coffee, hoping for a moment of peace.
The 10th floor was where the company’s "Annual Children’s Charity Event" would be held in a few weeks. I saw workers putting up decorations and banners.
"Ms. Green?"
I turned around to see a young woman in a Black Group uniform. "Yes?"
"I’m Lila, Tyrone’s sister," she said, giving me a bright, warm smile. She looked nothing like her cold brother. "I'm heading the charity event. Tyrone said you were brilliant with numbers. Could you look over the budget for the children’s play area? I think the contractors are overcharging us."
"Of course," I said, relieved to talk to someone who didn't feel like a predator.
Lila led me to a side table covered in blueprints and spreadsheets. We spent thirty minutes working through the costs. She was kind and funny, telling me stories about how ‘stiff’ Tyrone was even as a child.
"He’s always been the golden boy," Lila sighed. "The weight of the empire is a lot, you know? He hasn't been the same since... well, since a few years ago. He became colder. Like he lost something he didn't even know he had."
My hand froze on the calculator. "Really?"
"Yeah. My mother thinks he needs a wife to soften him, hence Julia. But Julia is..." Lila made a face. "Well, you saw her."
Before I could respond, a small group of kids from the local daycare walked by on a tour. One of them, a little boy with a messy mop of hair, tripped and dropped his juice box near us.
"Oh, careful sweetie!" Lila laughed, reaching down to help him.
Looking at the child made a wave of longing hit me. I missed Maxwell. I checked my phone to see if Tima had sent any updates.
There was a text message.
{Max is being a rebel. He says he wants to see your 'glass castle' today. I told him no, but he's insisting. Miss you!}
I smiled sadly. ‘My glass castle.’ If he only knew how dangerous the king of this castle was.
That evening, I was the last one in the office besides Tyrone. I was packing my bag when I heard a crash from his office.
I ran to the door and knocked. "Mr. Black? Is everything okay?"
"Come in," his voice sounded worried.
I opened the door and saw him by his desk. A glass of scotch was broken on the floor. His tie was loose, his hair messy. For the first time, he looked human.
"It’s late, Tricia," he said, his voice low. "Why are you still here?"
"I was finishing the reports for tomorrow," I said, stepping inside. I grabbed some tissues from the side table and started to pick up the glass.
"Leave it. The cleaning crew will get it."
"It's fine," I whispered.
As I reached for a piece of glass, his hand suddenly shot out and grabbed my wrist. His skin was hot against mine. The sudden touch made me gasp, and I looked up at him.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
- Writer
