Enthrall

Chapter 6

The Evans Family

Evie

Monday morning arrived with typical Manchester drizzle and a level of nervousness I hadn't felt since the day I'd first posted about Enthrall online. I stood outside the building that would house our headquarters, looking up at seven floors of windows reflecting the grey sky.

George was waiting for me in the lobby, along with three men who could only be his sons. The family resemblance was unmistakable they all had George's height and strong jawline, though each had their own distinct presence.

"Evelyn, I'd like you to meet my boys," George said warmly. "This is David, my eldest."

David stepped forward with a confident smile. He looked to be in his early thirties, with dark hair and an easy charm that probably made him very popular at business dinners. "Pleasure to meet you, Evelyn. Dad's told us so much about your brand. Impressive work."

"This is Marcus, my middle son."

Marcus was quieter than David, with thoughtful eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses. He nodded politely but seemed more interested in observing than talking. "Hello, Evelyn. I look forward to working together."

"And this is Liam, my youngest."

Liam Evans was not what I had expected. Tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair that looked like he'd run his hands through it and sharp green eyes that seemed to assess everything around him. When he shook my hand, his grip was firm to the point of being almost aggressive.

"Miss Jones." His voice was crisp, professional, and completely devoid of warmth. "I understand you'll be taking the president position."

"That's right," I replied, trying to match his professional tone.

"And you've never run a company before."

It wasn't a question, and there was definitely judgment in his voice. George shot him a warning look.

"Liam will be your CEO for the launch period," George said smoothly. "He has extensive experience in operations and scaling businesses."

"How extensive?" I asked, looking directly at Liam.

"I've been CEO of three different companies, taken two from startup to acquisition, and increased revenue by an average of 340% within the first year." He delivered this information like he was reading from a resume, but there was challenge in his eyes.

Great. My fake boss was going to be an arrogant perfectionist who already didn't think I belonged here.

"That's impressive," I said carefully.

"We'll see if you still think so after we've worked together."

The tension in the air was thick enough to cut. David jumped in quickly. "Why don't we show you around the building? The renovations are almost complete."

As we toured the floors, I found myself studying Liam. He asked detailed questions about everything – workflow efficiency, supply chain logistics, quality control measures. He clearly knew what he was doing, but his attitude suggested he thought everyone else was incompetent until proven otherwise.

"The manufacturing floor needs better ventilation," he noted, making annotations in a leather notebook. "And these workstations aren't ergonomically optimal."

"I'll have that addressed immediately," George replied.

When we reached what would be the executive floor, Liam opened the door to a corner office. "This will be mine," he announced, not asking for confirmation.

It was a beautiful space, but it was also the office I had mentally earmarked for myself when I eventually took over as CEO. Not that I could say anything about it now.

"Evelyn, your office is just down the hall," George said, leading me to another corner office the one I'd fallen in love with during our first tour.

"It's perfect," I said honestly.

"You won't be using it much initially, though," Liam interjected. "I assume you'll want to be hands-on during the launch phase. Learn how things actually work."

If only he knew how hands-on I was planning to be.

After the tour, George pulled me aside. "I should mention, I haven't told the boys about your... assistant plan yet. When would you like to start?"

"Tomorrow," I said impulsively. "I want to jump right in."

"Are you sure? Liam can be... challenging."

I looked back at Liam, who was deep in conversation with Marcus about production timelines. He gestured with sharp, precise movements, and even from across the room, I could see the intensity in his expression.

"I'm sure. What's my cover story?"

"You're Evie James, recent business graduate looking for experience in fashion retail. I'll tell them I'm doing you a favor for a family friend."

Evie James. Close enough to the truth that I wouldn't forget, different enough to maintain the illusion.

"Perfect. What time should I be here tomorrow?"

"Eight AM sharp. And Evelyn?" George's expression was serious. "Don't take anything Liam says personally. He's brilliant at what he does, but he doesn't have much patience for people he perceives as inexperienced."

I glanced back at Liam, who was now examining a wall outlet with the intensity of someone defusing a bomb.

"Don't worry about me, George. I can handle difficult people."

As I left the building that evening, I realized I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Tomorrow, I'd walk back through those doors as Evie James, assistant to a man who clearly thought the actual owner of the company was an unqualified amateur.

This was either going to be the best learning experience of my life, or a complete disaster.

Possibly both.