chapter One- the interview
Mia Carter had never believed in the kind of love people wrote about in books.
She didn't believe in perfect first meetings, dramatic confessions, or mysterious strangers who appeared at exactly the right moment and changed someone's entire life.
To Mia, life was much simpler than that.
She believed in hard work.
She believed in making her own decisions.
She believed that if you wanted something, you had to fight for it instead of waiting for someone to hand it to you.
And, most importantly, she believed that rich, powerful men who thought the world belonged to them were best avoided.
Unfortunately, on a rainy Monday morning, Mia was about to meet exactly that kind of man.
His name was Adrian Blake.
Twenty-eight years old.
Youngest CEO of Blake International.
A company so powerful that its name appeared on buildings, hotels, technology companies, and business magazines all over the city.
Newspapers called him brilliant.
Business magazines called him ruthless.
Employees called him intimidating.
Mia decided, within approximately thirty seconds of meeting him, that all three descriptions were probably correct.
She stood outside the enormous glass building, holding a folder tightly against her chest.
Rain fell steadily around her, turning the sidewalks into mirrors beneath the gray morning sky.
Mia looked up at the building.
The top seemed to disappear into the clouds.
"Okay," she whispered to herself. "You can do this."
She took a deep breath.
This job mattered.
She had spent months applying for positions and receiving polite rejection emails.
Thank you for your interest.
Unfortunately, we have decided to move forward with another candidate.
We appreciate your time.
She had memorized them all.
This position at Blake International was supposed to be temporary—a junior assistant position in the creative department.
It wasn't glamorous.
It wasn't the dream job she had imagined when she graduated.
But it was a chance.
A chance to prove herself.
A chance to gain experience.
A chance to finally stop feeling like she was standing outside the door of the life she wanted.
Mia adjusted her coat and walked through the revolving doors.
The warmth of the lobby immediately surrounded her.
She stopped for a second.
The building was even more impressive from the inside.
Marble floors stretched across the enormous entrance. Tall windows allowed the gray daylight to spill into the room. Employees moved quickly in every direction, carrying laptops, folders, and coffee cups.
Everyone looked like they knew exactly where they were going.
Mia suddenly felt very aware of the simple folder in her hands.
She straightened her shoulders.
You belong here.
At least, she hoped she did.
She approached the reception desk.
The receptionist looked up with a professional smile.
"Good morning. How can I help you?"
"I'm here for an interview."
"Name?"
"Mia Carter."
The receptionist typed something into her computer.
A few seconds passed.
Then her expression changed slightly.
"Mr. Blake is expecting you."
Mia blinked.
"Mr. Blake?"
"Yes."
"Personally?"
The receptionist looked amused.
"Apparently."
Mia forced a smile.
"Great."
That did not make her feel better.
She had expected to interview with someone from the creative department.
Not the CEO himself.
The receptionist pointed toward the elevators.
"Twenty-third floor."
"Thank you."
Mia walked toward the elevators.
As the doors closed, she stared at her reflection.
She looked nervous.
Very nervous.
"Don't panic," she whispered.
The elevator began moving upward.
Floor after floor passed.
Mia checked her folder again.
Resume.
Certificates.
Portfolio.
Everything was organized.
Everything was ready.
Except her nerves.
When the elevator finally stopped, she stepped into a quiet hallway.
A large sign on the wall read:
EXECUTIVE FLOOR.
Mia swallowed.
A few minutes later, she stood outside the CEO's office.
She looked at the door.
Then at the clock.
She was two minutes early.
"Perfect."
She knocked.
"Come in."
The voice was calm.
Deep.
And somehow intimidating even through a closed door.
Mia opened the door.
She stepped inside.
The first thing she noticed was the view.
The entire city stretched beyond the enormous windows.
The second thing she noticed was the man standing beside them.
Adrian Blake.
He wore a dark suit that looked perfectly fitted, his sleeves neatly buttoned, his posture straight.
He didn't look like someone who needed to prove he was powerful.
He simply looked like someone who already knew it.
He turned toward her.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Mia suddenly became aware of every detail around her.
The quiet office.
The rain against the glass.
The folder in her hands.
And the fact that Adrian Blake was looking directly at her as if he were already judging her.
Then his eyes moved toward the clock.
"You're late."
Mia frowned.
She looked at the clock herself.
Then back at him.
"I'm two minutes early."
"I don't like people arriving at the last minute."
"I didn't."
"You were still walking toward the office when I checked the time."
Mia stared at him.
Was he serious?
She glanced toward the door.
Then back at him.
"I'm sorry."
Adrian said nothing.
Mia continued.
"Should I have teleported?"
Silence.
Her eyes widened.
Why did I say that?
She immediately regretted it.
Adrian raised one eyebrow.
For a second, his expression remained completely serious.
Then something changed.
The smallest hint of amusement appeared in his eyes.
Almost a smile.
Almost.
"Sit."
Mia walked toward the chair across from his desk.
She sat down and placed her folder on her lap.
Adrian took his seat.
He opened her résumé.
His eyes moved across the page.
"You graduated with excellent marks."
"Thank you."
"You've worked on several university projects."
"Yes."
"Creative projects."
"Mostly."
He turned another page.
"You have no professional experience."
"Not yet."
His eyes lifted toward hers.
"Why should I hire you?"
Mia paused.
That was the question she had expected.
She could have given him the usual answer.
I'm hardworking.
I'm passionate.
I'm a fast learner.
But something told her he had heard those answers hundreds of times.
So she decided to be honest.
"Because I learn quickly."
Adrian's expression didn't change.
"Everyone says that."
Mia nodded.
"I don't give up easily."
"Everyone says that too."
She leaned back slightly.
"Then maybe you should ask me something nobody else would say."
Adrian looked at her.
This time, he didn't immediately look back at her résumé.
He studied her.
For the first time, Mia felt as if he wasn't evaluating her grades or experience.
He was evaluating her.
"You're confident."
"Sometimes."
"Arrogant?"
"No."
"What's the difference?"
Mia thought for a second.
"Arrogant people think they're always right."
"And confident people?"
"They know they can be wrong."
The room became quiet.
Adrian closed the folder.
Mia waited.
She wasn't sure if that was a good sign.
He stood.
"You're hired."
Mia froze.
"What?"
"You start tomorrow."
She stared at him.
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes."
Mia looked at the folder.
Then at him.
Then back at the folder.
"That was the interview?"
"Yes."
"You asked me three questions."
"Four."
"Four?"
"You asked yourself one."
She almost laughed.
"That's not how interviews work."
"It is here."
Mia shook her head.
She couldn't believe it.
"You didn't ask about my skills."
"I read your résumé."
"You didn't ask about my goals."
"I'll find out."
"You didn't ask why I want this job."
Adrian picked up another document.
"I don't care."
Mia's mouth fell open.
"You don't care?"
"No."
She stared at him.
Then she slowly stood.
"That's reassuring."
Adrian looked up.
Mia continued.
"I thought companies usually cared whether their employees actually wanted to be there."
"We care about results."
"And people?"
"Results come from people."
"Then perhaps you should remember that."
Adrian's expression became serious.
Mia knew she was pushing her luck.
But she couldn't help herself.
"You'll learn quickly that this company moves fast," he said.
"And you'll learn that employees aren't machines."
Silence.
Adrian slowly stood.
"Excuse me?"
Mia felt her heartbeat increase.
But she didn't look away.
"You heard me."
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Finally, Mia picked up her folder.
"See you tomorrow, Mr. Blake."
She walked toward the door.
Her hand was already on the handle when his voice stopped her.
"Mia."
She turned.
"Yes?"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Don't be late."
Mia rolled her eyes.
"I won't."
She opened the door.
"And Mr. Blake?"
He looked at her.
"I don't teleport."
For the first time, Adrian actually smiled.
Only slightly.
But he did.
Mia walked out and closed the door behind her.
She released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
"Okay," she whispered.
She walked toward the elevator.
"I definitely just argued with the CEO."
She pressed the button.
"And somehow got the job."
Inside the office, Adrian remained standing.
He looked at the closed door.
Then at Mia's résumé.
Something about her was unusual.
Most candidates tried to impress him.
They carefully chose every word.
They avoided disagreement.
They told him exactly what they thought he wanted to hear.
Mia hadn't.
She had challenged him.
She had looked directly at him and told him he was wrong.
And somehow, instead of irritating him, it had caught his attention.
Adrian returned to his desk and sat down.
He opened her résumé again.
Mia Carter.
Excellent grades.
Creative projects.
No professional experience.
Yet she had walked into his office nervous and still managed to argue with him within minutes.
He almost smiled again.
Almost.
He shook his head and returned to work.
It didn't matter.
She was simply a new employee.
A temporary junior assistant.
Someone who would probably realize within a week that Blake International was not an easy place to work.
At least, that was what Adrian told himself.
Meanwhile, Mia stepped out of the elevator and walked through the lobby.
She looked back at the enormous building.
She had no idea what tomorrow would bring.
She didn't know that her new boss would challenge her patience.
She didn't know that their arguments would eventually become famous throughout the company.
She didn't know that Adrian Blake was carrying years of pressure behind his cold expression.
And she certainly didn't know that the man she had decided was best avoided would eventually become one of the most important people in her life.
For now, though, there was only one thing Mia knew for certain.
She had a new job.
And her new boss was impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
