A DEAL WITH THE BOSSY BILLIONAIRE

Collateral Damage

Sia’s POV

The morning of my first official day at Chandler Enterprises felt like a whirlwind of confusion, anxiety, and unexpected decisions. I barely had time to process the fact that Rachel had hired me after Rowan humiliated me in the interview. She hadn’t just hired me—she had rescued me, lifted me from the lowest point I had reached since stepping foot into this corporate world.

I stood outside the gleaming glass doors of Chandler Enterprises, staring up at the towering building with a mix of excitement and dread. My new job. A new chapter. But was I really ready for it?

It felt like only yesterday I had been running through the streets, dodging traffic, nearly getting shot, and having my dress ruined. That whole day had felt like a bad dream, only it wasn’t. The chaos had felt like a metaphor for my life—nothing ever quite went according to plan. And now, here I was, trying to fit into a world that felt both foreign and dangerous.

The Day Before

I woke up to the sound of my alarm blaring in my ear, jolting me from a restless sleep. Groaning, I rolled over and slapped the clock to silence it, but the damage had already been done. I was late.

Throwing the covers off, I bolted out of bed and rushed to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face. Today was too important. I couldn’t screw this up. The interview at Chandler Enterprises was my chance to prove myself, to finally break into the corporate world and leave behind the chaos of my past. I wasn’t going to let anything stand in my way.

But of course, the universe had other plans.

I pulled on my best business suit, grabbed my bag, and sprinted out the door, only to find that the buses were on strike. Cursing under my breath, I scanned the street for a taxi, but there was nothing in sight.

That’s when I saw it. My neighbor’s kid’s bike, abandoned on the lawn. It was small, a bit too small for me, but desperate times called for desperate measures. I hopped on the bike and pedaled as fast as I could, wobbling slightly as I made my way toward Chandler Enterprises.

Westbridge Avenue was packed with traffic, and I had no choice but to weave through cars, my heart racing as horns blared around me. Halfway down the street, I hit a pothole, nearly flying off the bike. I caught myself just in time but skidded to a stop. My heels had caught on the pedal, and I didn’t have time to fix them. So, without a second thought, I kicked off my shoes, stuffed them into my bag, and continued the rest of the way barefoot.

But my bad luck didn’t end there.

As I reached the outskirts of the city, I spotted a shortcut through a narrow alley that would take me directly to Chandler Enterprises. It was risky, but I was running out of time. I veered off the main road and took the shortcut, pedaling as fast as I could.

That’s when I heard barking.

I glanced over my shoulder to see a massive dog sprinting toward me, its teeth bared. My heart leapt into my throat, and I pedaled even harder, swerving left and right to avoid obstacles. The dog was relentless, snapping at my heels as I raced down the alley.

I spotted a fence up ahead—a way out. Without thinking, I abandoned the bike and leapt for the fence, my hands gripping the top just as the dog lunged at me. I swung my legs over and landed on the other side, breathless and shaking. I could hear the dog barking furiously from the other side, but I didn’t dare look back.

I stumbled forward, holding my shoes in my left hand as I ran down the street, my hair disheveled, my heart pounding in my chest.

Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, a black car sped through a nearby puddle, splashing mud all over my once-pristine dress. I stood there, drenched in filth, my hopes for a perfect interview crushed.

But then the car screeched to a stop, and a woman stepped out. She was impeccably dressed, her blonde hair perfectly styled, her heels clicking against the pavement as she approached me.

“I am *so* sorry,” she said, her eyes wide with genuine concern. “That was completely my driver’s fault. Are you alright?”

I stared at her, still too stunned to speak.

She looked me up and down, her face softening. “You look like you’ve had a rough morning. Let me help.” Without waiting for a response, she opened the trunk of her car and pulled out a garment bag. “Here, take this. It’s the least I can do.”

I blinked, unsure of what to say. “I… I can’t accept that.”

She smiled warmly, placing the garment bag in my hands. “Nonsense. You’re going to Chandler Enterprises, aren’t you? You’ll want to make a good impression.”

My eyes widened. “How did you know?”

She chuckled softly. “I work there. Well, technically, I run the place.” She extended her hand. “Rachel Chandler. And you are?”

“Sia,” I managed to say, still in shock. “Sia Stanton.”

“Well, Sia Stanton,” Rachel said with a twinkle in her eye, “I think we’ll be seeing more of each other soon.”

I had barely recovered from the chaos of the morning when I found myself sitting in the boardroom, facing Rowan Chandler and his team of executives. The polished walls, sleek furniture, and intimidating stares made me feel small, insignificant. But I wasn’t about to let that show.

Rowan sat at the head of the table, his expression unreadable. His dark eyes bore into me, making my skin crawl with unease. I had met him once before, and that encounter hadn’t exactly gone well. Now, I was at his mercy again.

The interview started with the usual questions—my background, my qualifications—but it quickly became clear that Rowan had no intention of taking me seriously. Every word I spoke was met with thinly veiled disdain. His questions were sharp, condescending, and designed to trip me up.

“Tell me, Ms. Stanton,” Rowan said, leaning back in his chair, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “What exactly makes you think you’re qualified for this position?”

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. “I have experience in project management, and I believe my skills align with the needs of Chandler Enterprises.”

Rowan smirked. “*Believe*, Ms. Stanton? Or are you just hoping we’ll overlook your obvious lack of experience in this industry?”

I felt the heat rising in my cheeks, but I forced myself to remain calm. “I may not have as much experience in corporate environments, but I’m a fast learner and I’m committed to making a difference.”

Rowan’s eyes narrowed. “Committed? That’s rich, coming from someone who can’t even manage to arrive at an interview on time.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but another executive, a man with graying hair and a sharp suit, cut me off. “Ms. Stanton, can you explain how you plan to handle the demands of this position, given your, uh, unconventional background?”

I knew what he was really asking—how could someone like me, someone who had clawed their way up from nothing, possibly handle the high-stakes world of corporate finance?

Before I could answer, Rowan spoke again. “Let’s be honest, Ms. Stanton. You’re not cut out for this. You’re out of your depth here.”

His words stung, but I wasn’t about to let him break me. I straightened in my seat, meeting his gaze head-on. “I’ve faced challenges before, and I’ve overcome them. I may not have the traditional background you’re looking for, but I’m more than capable of handling this job.”

Rowan raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “That’s nice. But unfortunately, I don’t think you’re what we need.”

The rejection was swift, brutal, and delivered with a smug smile that made my blood boil.

“Thank you for your time, Ms. Stanton,” Rowan said, already dismissing me as he turned to his colleagues.

I stood, feeling the weight of humiliation pressing down on me. But as I left the room, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of relief. This wasn’t over. Not yet.

Later that afternoon, as I was gathering my things and preparing to leave the building, Rachel’s secretary approached me.

“Ms. Stanton,” she said with a smile, “I just wanted to inform you that Rachel Chandler has personally approved your employment. You’ll be starting as her executive assistant.”

I stared at her, dumbfounded. “Wait… what?”

“Rachel Chandler hired you,” the secretary repeated, her smile widening. “Welcome to Chandler Enterprises.”

My mind spun. Rachel had gone behind Rowan’s back to hire me. And I could only imagine how furious he would be when he found out.