Chapter 4 — The CEO
1801 Words
I was halfway through my second cup of coffee when Sophie walked back into the department.
She stopped beside my desk.
“You're back.”
I looked up.
“Obviously.”
“Good.”
She dropped into the chair beside me.
“Because I was beginning to think you got lost.”
“I didn't get lost.”
“Then why did it take you so long?”
I hesitated.
“I had an elevator problem.”
Her expression changed.
“What kind of elevator problem?”
I looked at her.
“The executive elevator.”
Sophie slowly put down the papers in her hand.
“You used the executive elevator?”
“I didn't know it was the executive elevator.”
“You didn't know?”
“No.”
She stared at me.
I sighed.
“Look, I got inside, and this man was already there.”
“What man?”
“I don't know.”
“What did he look like?”
I thought about it.
“Tall. Dark hair. Expensive suit. Annoying.”
Sophie blinked.
“Annoying?”
“Very.”
She leaned closer.
“What happened?”
I told her.
The elevator.
The papers.
The argument.
The way he kept correcting me.
By the time I finished, Sophie wasn't laughing anymore.
She was staring at me like I had just told her I had walked into a lion's den.
“What?”
“Did you say anything else?”
I frowned.
“Like what?”
“Anything.”
“I told him he was arrogant.”
Sophie closed her eyes.
“Oh, Amelia.”
“What?”
“You don't know who that was?”
“No.”
She opened her eyes.
“Are you sure?”
“Why do you keep asking me that?”
She looked toward the hallway.
Then back at me.
“Because the man you just described was Adrian Veyron.”
I laughed.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Amelia.”
I stared at her.
She didn't smile.
My stomach dropped.
“You're joking.”
“I wish I was.”
I slowly placed my coffee on the desk.
“Adrian Veyron?”
“Yes.”
“The CEO?”
“Yes.”
“The CEO we were talking about yesterday?”
“Yes.”
I stared at her.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then I remembered everything I had said.
You're arrogant.
You could have helped instead of criticizing me.
Try not to terrify anyone.
My face went hot.
“Oh my God.”
Sophie covered her mouth.
“I know.”
“I called the CEO arrogant.”
“You did.”
“I argued with him.”
“You absolutely did.”
“I told him not to terrify anyone.”
“Yes.”
I put both hands over my face.
“This is my first day.”
“I know.”
“My first day.”
“I know.”
“I haven't even finished one full day.”
“I know.”
I looked at her.
“Why aren't you laughing?”
She tried.
She really tried.
But then she burst out laughing.
“You should have seen your face.”
“This isn't funny.”
“It is a little funny.”
“Sophie.”
“Okay. Sorry.”
She took a breath.
“But honestly, don't panic.”
“How am I not supposed to panic?”
“Because you didn't know.”
“He doesn't know that.”
“He knows.”
“How?”
“Because Adrian knows everything.”
I groaned.
“That doesn't help.”
She leaned closer.
“He probably won't care.”
“You said he remembers everything.”
“I said he notices everything.”
“That's worse.”
Sophie smiled.
“Maybe he thought you were interesting.”
I gave her a flat look.
“Please don't say things like that.”
“Fine.”
She stood.
“Just don't hide from him.”
“I wasn't planning to.”
“And don't apologize too much.”
“Why?”
“Because you didn't actually do anything wrong.”
I looked toward the executive elevators.
“He probably thinks I'm an idiot.”
“Adrian doesn't think people are idiots.”
“That's reassuring.”
“He thinks they're incompetent.”
I stared at her.
She shrugged.
“Sometimes.”
I shook my head.
“I'm never getting into that elevator again.”
“Probably a good decision.”
She walked away.
Then turned.
“One more thing.”
“What?”
“If he asks for you, don't faint.”
“I won't.”
“And Amelia?”
“Yeah?”
“Try not to argue with him again.”
I gave her a tired smile.
“I'll try.”
For the next two hours, I worked harder than I had all morning.
Not because I suddenly loved spreadsheets.
Because I wanted to forget that Adrian Veyron knew my name.
I kept replaying the elevator conversation in my head.
Maybe I should have apologized.
Maybe I should have said nothing.
Maybe I should have realized who he was.
But how was I supposed to know?
He hadn't introduced himself.
He had simply stood there looking at me like I was an inconvenience.
I couldn't blame myself for reacting.
At least, that was what I kept telling myself.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message from Sophie.
Don't look behind you.
I immediately looked behind me.
She was standing across the room.
She pointed toward the hallway.
I turned.
A man in a dark suit stood near the entrance.
Marcus Reed.
The man Sophie had identified earlier.
He spoke briefly with my supervisor.
Then his eyes moved across the department.
They stopped on me.
My heart began beating faster.
He walked toward my desk.
“Amelia Hart?”
I swallowed.
“Yes?”
“Mr. Veyron would like to see you.”
Everything inside me went still.
Sophie looked at me from across the room.
I could practically hear her saying don't panic.
I stood.
“Now?”
Marcus nodded.
“Now.”
I looked down at my desk.
Then back at him.
“Is there a problem?”
“No.”
That somehow made me more nervous.
“Did he say what it's about?”
“No.”
Of course he didn't.
I picked up my notebook.
My hands felt strangely cold.
Marcus stepped aside.
I followed him toward the executive elevators.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
When the elevator doors opened, I stopped.
Marcus looked at me.
“Something wrong?”
“No.”
I stepped inside.
The doors closed.
For the first time since I arrived at Veyron Holdings, I wished I could disappear.
The elevator rose.
Floor after floor.
Thirty.
Thirty-one.
Thirty-two.
The doors opened.
The executive floor was completely different from the rest of the building.
Quieter.
Darker.
More private.
Marcus led me down a long corridor and stopped outside a large office.
He knocked once.
A voice answered.
“Come in.”
My stomach tightened.
Marcus opened the door.
I stepped inside.
And there he was.
Adrian Veyron.
The man from the elevator.
The man I had argued with.
The man I had called arrogant.
He stood behind a large desk overlooking Manhattan.
He wasn't holding a phone this time.
He wasn't smiling either.
His eyes met mine.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then Marcus quietly closed the door behind me.
I suddenly became very aware of how small the room felt.
Adrian picked up a document from his desk.
“Ms. Hart.”
His voice was calm.
Professional.
Nothing like the man from the elevator.
“Yes?”
“You seem surprised to see me.”
I forced myself to breathe.
“I am.”
“Why?”
I looked at him.
Because I had no idea you were the CEO.
Because I had argued with you.
Because I had embarrassed myself.
Because I had spent the last two hours wishing I could rewind the morning.
Instead, I said,
“I didn't realize who you were.”
One corner of his mouth lifted.
“I noticed.”
My face burned.
“I apologize.”
“For what?”
I hesitated.
“For the elevator.”
He leaned back against his desk.
“What exactly are you apologizing for?”
I didn't know.
That was the problem.
“I was rude.”
“Yes.”
I looked down.
“I'm sorry.”
There was a pause.
Then he said,
“Accepted.”
I looked up.
That was it?
He wasn't angry?
He wasn't going to lecture me?
He simply accepted the apology.
For some reason, that made me more uncomfortable.
“Thank you.”
He nodded toward the chair.
“Sit.”
I sat.
He remained standing.
“I've reviewed your work from today.”
My heart jumped.
“Already?”
“Yes.”
“Is there a problem?”
“No.”
Again.
That word.
No.
He walked around the desk.
“Your reports were accurate.”
I blinked.
“Thank you.”
“You made several useful observations about the market data.”
“I did?”
“You did.”
I wasn't sure how to respond.
He placed the document on the desk.
“You're qualified for this position.”
I relaxed slightly.
Then he added,
“Don't make me regret approving your appointment.”
The relief disappeared.
“I won't.”
His eyes remained on mine.
“I expect competence.”
“You'll get it.”
“I expect honesty.”
“You'll get that too.”
“And I expect you to understand that Veyron Holdings isn't a place where mistakes are ignored.”
I nodded.
“I understand.”
He studied me for another moment.
Then he said,
“Good.”
I stood.
“Am I dismissed?”
“Yes.”
I reached the door.
“Ms. Hart.”
I turned.
He looked at me.
“Next time you use the executive elevator, check the floor.”
I closed my eyes for half a second.
“Yes, sir.”
His expression changed slightly.
Not quite a smile.
But close.
I opened the door.
As I stepped into the hallway, I finally breathed.
I had survived.
Barely.
The elevator doors opened.
I stepped inside.
Before they closed, I looked back toward Adrian's office.
He was still standing by the window.
Watching me.
I turned away quickly.
The doors closed.
I leaned against the wall.
My first day at Veyron Holdings had started with me wanting a fresh beginning.
Instead, I had already argued with the CEO.
And somehow, I had a feeling that was only the beginning.
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