CHAPTER EIGHT
604 Words
##CHAPTER EIGHT##
OH NO.
He knew. He absolutely knew. But somehow his face revealed nothing which honestly felt more terrifying.
The HR manager smiled nervously. “Everyone, this is our CEO, Mr. Damien Cross.”
Several employees looked intimidated immediately.
Damien barely acknowledged them. His attention remained disturbingly fixed on Elena then slowly. Damien finally spoke. “Miss Rivers.”.
“Yes, sir,” she answered weakly.
The amusement in his gray eyes deepened slightly “Welcome to Cross Global.” The words sounded perfectly professional. But the look in his eyes said something completely different. Something that immediately made Elena realize one horrifying truth
This man was absolutely going to ruin her life. Damien held her gaze for one long, terrifying second before turning calmly toward the HR manager again.
“Continue.”
And just like that.. the room breathed again but Elena did not dare. Because now she had a new problem. Her CEO remembered her. Specifically, he remembered the part where she had suggested getting a hotel room, panicked halfway through flirting running away in heels yelling “YOU ARE NOT MY SPEC!” before escaping into traffic.
Elena stared down at her orientation folder while internally planning her funeral. Maybe i should fake food poisoning or join a monastery. Or legally change my identity.
“Miss Rivers.”
Her soul exited her body again. Slowly, she looked up.
Damien stood at the head of the conference table now, one hand resting casually in his pocket while the other adjusted the silver cufflink at his wrist.
Every woman in the room looked hypnotized. Every man looked intimidated. Meanwhile Elena looked like she was fighting for survival.
“Yes, sir?”
His gray eyes remained calm. “Would you stay after orientation?” The room immediately went silent again.
Several employees looked toward Elena curiously. Oh God. Why specifically her? The HR manager smiled brightly. “Mr. Cross personally meeting new employees is very rare.”
Elena wanted to pass away respectfully. “That’s… wonderful,” she lied weakly.
Damien’s gaze sharpened slightly. Then finally..he walked out.
And the second those doors closed behind him, the room exploded into whispers. “Oh my God.”
“He spoke to her directly.” “Does she know him? “Did you SEE his face?”
Elena sat there silently while chaos consumed her internally.
—
Twenty minutes later, Elena stood outside the CEO’s private office questioning every life decision she had ever made. The executive floor looked unreal.
Even the air smelled expensive.
Damien’s assistant, a sharply dressed woman named Claire, gave Elena a strangely sympathetic look. “He’s waiting for you.” That sounded threatening.
Elena swallowed nervously before walking toward the massive office doors. Then she entered. and immediately froze.
Oh.
Oh this office was dangerous.
Massive glass windows overlooked the entire city skyline.
And standing near the windows Damien Cross. His suit jacket was gone now, revealing the fitted black dress shirt stretched across broad shoulders. The top buttons were undone slightly which honestly felt disrespectful. He turned slowly as she entered.
“Elena Rivers.”
Elena forced a polite smile. “Mr. Cross.”
Silence.
Heavy silence. Then suddenly—
Damien walked toward her.Slowly and calmly. Each step made her heartbeat worse. “Elena,” he said softly, “do you usually invite men to hotels before learning their last names?”
Her face burst into flames instantly. “I can explain.”
“I’d love to hear it.”
“It was supposed to scare you away!” I didn’t know it world escalate to that point.
- Writer
