THE OVERBEARING CEO AND HIS SECRETARY.

Emily Donald pressed her palms against her skirt, willing the nervous energy to calm. The towering glass building of Romano Global loomed before her like a throne room of the gods. It was beautiful, intimidating, and a symbol of power that she wasn’t used to. She was raised in a cozy two-bedroom home with gardenias in the yard and a mother who made pancakes every Sunday. The cold marble floors and mirrored elevators of the Romano building were a far cry from her world. Still, she needed this job and she didn’t get scared easily. She adjusted her white blouse and stepped inside. “Emily Donald,” the receptionist said, confirming her identity with a crisp nod. “Mr. Romano will see you now.” That name alone made Emily’s chest flutter with uncertainty. Adrian Romano. CEO. Billionaire. Ruthless in business. Rumoured to never keep a secretary for longer than a month. She’d read about him. Charismatic yet distant. Strikingly handsome, with a coldness that could freeze a room. The elevator dinged open on the top floor, revealing a wide office with glass walls and a view of the entire city. And there he was. He was standing behind his desk, tall and commanding in a dark charcoal suit. His broad shoulders stretched the fabric just slightly, and his black hair was slicked back, revealing a sharp jawline and eyes the color of stormy skies. Emily stepped forward, swallowing. “Good morning, Mr. Romano. I’m Emily Don—” “I know who you are,” he interrupted, his voice rich and authoritative. “Sit.” She did, instinctively, unable to hold his gaze for more than a few seconds. Something about the way he looked at her, it was intense, almost devouring. His eyes didn’t roam inappropriately, but they saw everything. “I’ve reviewed your file,” he said, tapping a folder. “You’re overqualified for a secretarial role.” “I—thank you, sir. I’m… I just want to learn. Be useful.” He stared at her in silence, and the silence stretched. “You live in a shared flat?” he asked abruptly. “Yes, with my friend, Lydia,” Emily answered, blinking. “Parents?” “My mom runs a small flower shop. My dad passed away when I was young.” That earned the faintest softening of his features. “I see.” She couldn’t tell whether she was being interviewed or examined. “You’re hired,” he said suddenly. Her jaw dropped. “I—thank you!” “But let me be clear,” he continued, rising to his full height. “You will work directly with me. No tardiness. Absolute discretion. No relationships with clients or colleagues. And you don’t leave until I do.” She nodded, even though the rules sounded strict. Almost controlling. He walked past her slowly, his presence overpowering. “Emily Donald, don’t disappoint me.” And just like that, the job was hers. That evening, Adrian sat alone in his office, staring at her file again. The name. Her soft voice. Those big doe eyes and the way she nervously tucked her hair behind her ear. It had been years since someone looked at him without fear or ambition. She wasn’t like the others. She wasn’t trying to seduce him. She wasn’t intimidated by his money. She just wanted to do her job. And that made her even more dangerous. He stared out the window, the city glittering below. His fists clenched at the thought of her walking home alone. What if someone bothered her? What if a man touched her? The thought made his blood boil. He had to protect her. Even if she didn’t know it yet… she was his.