CHAPTER 1
882 Words
Charlotte Hayes had mastered the art of staying invisible.
As the executive secretary to the ice cold Nathaniel Sterling, her job was to anticipate his needs, make the impossible possible, and most importantly—stay out of his damn dark way.
That last part was very crucial.
Nathaniel Sterling was not a man to cross,not even in a dream.
So when her desk phone rang, cutting through the quiet hum of her office, and Marla’s voice filtered through, she immediately knew—big trouble.
“Mr. Sterling wants you in his office. Right Now.”
Lottie straightened in her chair. “Did he say why?”
“Since when does he explain himself?” Marla snorted. “Better hurry. He’s in a bad mood.”
Okay Great.
Nathaniel Sterling in a bad mood was the corporate equivalent of a brewing storm.
She closed the document she had been reviewing and grabbed her planner. Then, smoothing down her blouse and summoning every ounce of composure, she stood and walked toward his office.
Her heels clicked softly against the marble floor as she approached the glass door.
Marla shot her a look of sympathy as she pushed it open.
“Good luck,girl!”
Lottie stepped inside.
Nathaniel Sterling sat behind his monolithic glass desk, flipping through a document with his usual detached focus. Every movement was sharp, calculated, predatory.
He didn’t even acknowledge her presence.
At least not at first.
Lottie inhaled, keeping her expression smooth.
“You wanted to see me, sir?”
His eyes flicked up—cold, piercing blue, like ice shards.
“Close the door.”
Something in his tone made her pulse kick.
Lottie turned, shutting the door slowly behind her.
When she turned back, he had already set his papers aside, fingers laced together on his desk. Waiting. Watching.
Then, in his signature, no-nonsense tone—“You are coming to Paris with me.”
She blinked. “I — I —excuse me?”
His gaze didn’t waver.
“We have a deal to close. And I need you there.”
Lottie hesitated, mind racing.
Paris? With him? Last minute?
It wasn’t unusual for assistants to accompany their bosses on business trips, but this was extremely last-minute.
She cleared her throat. “That’s very short notice.”
Nathaniel tilted his head slightly. “And so?”
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
Of course he wouldn’t care.
“I have other commitments aside from working for the company.”
“Cancel them.”
She bristled. “Mr. Sterling—”
His brows lifted slightly. “Was I unclear?”
She opened her mouth, then shut it, forcing herself to stay calm. This was how he worked—blunt, ruthless, completely indifferent to how his demands affected anyone else.
And yet, she had spent the last two years working alongside him, managing his impossible schedule, handling crises before they reached his desk, ensuring his world ran like a well-oiled machine.
She had never questioned him like this before.
Until now.
Lottie exhaled slowly. “I need more than twenty-four hours’ notice for an international trip and this isn't fair to be honest.”
His lips curved slightly. “Do you? Plus life isn't fair to anyone anyways”
She frowned. What was that supposed to mean?
He pushed back his chair and stood.
The air shifted.
He walked around his desk, slow, deliberate. Then he stopped in front of her, standing close enough that she caught the faintest scent of his cologne—rich, dark, dangerously intoxicating.
She squared her shoulders, ignoring the way her heart reacted to his proximity.
He was her boss.
This was just work.
Nathaniel studied her, gaze sharp. “Let me be clear, Miss Hayes.”
His voice was lower now, smoother. “You work for me. If I say you’re needed in Paris, you pack your bags. Understood?”
Her fingers curled into fists at her sides.
This man. The audacity. The arrogance.
“I have a life outside of this office, Mr. Sterling.”
His expression didn’t change. “Do you?”
Her breath hitched.
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
His gaze flicked over her, unreadable. “You work late. You take calls at all hours. You handle problems before they even reach my desk. If you have a life outside this job, I’ve never seen evidence of it.”
Lottie swallowed. He is right — she thought to herself
Was that... concern?
No. Impossible.
This man didn’t care.
“I still deserve some kind of notice,” she said, hating that her voice wasn’t as strong as she wanted it to be.
His jaw tightened. “Be ready by tomorrow.”
He stepped back, dismissing her as easily as he had summoned her.
“This conversation is over.”
Lottie stared at him for a second longer, heart pounding.
Then, without another word, she turned and walked out.
By the time she reached her office, her phone buzzed.
She glanced at the screen.
Flight Confirmation – First Class. 7 AM.
Sterling Enterprises account.
Her pulse raced and she burst into tears.
This wasn’t just a business trip.
This was a game she wasn’t prepared to play.
And something told her—Nathaniel Sterling never lost.
- Writer
