HER ONLY EXCEPTION

Chapter 10 -ACCIDENTAL ENCOUNTERS

Andrea couldn't sleep. She'd spent the whole night tossing and turning her mind replaying the email from HR over and over until the words were burned into her brain.

By the time her alarm went off at 6 AM, Andrea was already awake and absolutely livid. She got dressed with sharp, angry movements; pulled her hair back into a sleek ponytail and applied her makeup perfectly because she'd be damned if she walked in there looking rattled.

If Henry Moore wanted to play games, fine.

She could play too.

Andrea arrived at Crestview at 8:12 AM, her jaw set and her hands steady despite the fury simmering beneath her skin.

When she walked past the analytics department, her old desk was already cleared. Everything was gone; her coffee mug, notebooks and even the small succulent Rachel had given her. All of it packed neatly into a cardboard box sitting on an empty chair. Like she'd never existed there at all.

Rachel and Emily weren't in yet, but Alex was. He looked up as Andrea approached, his expression caught between sympathy and morbid curiosity.

"So it's true," he said, lowering his voice. "You're really going to be his assistant."

Andrea let out a faint smirk "Apparently I don't have a choice."

Alex winced. "Good luck. Lindsay lasted a year before she got transferred back down here. I heard she cries in the bathroom at least twice every week."

Andrea headed toward the elevators without responding.

"Seriously, Andrea!" Alex called after her. "If he makes your life hell, just say the word. We'll back you up if you want to file a complaint."

Andrea stepped into the elevator and jabbed the button for the 50th floor. She wasn't going to file a complaint. She was going to march up there and tell Henry Moore exactly what she thought of his little power move.

The 50th floor was eerily quiet when she stepped off the elevator. Henry's office occupied the entire corner; large windows with a view of downtown Chicago and sleek modern furniture. Everything looked sharp, cold and expensive.

Lindsay sat at the desk outside his office, packing her things. Her expression soured the moment she saw Andrea.

"You're early," Lindsay said coolly.

"I was told to report at 8:30."

"Well, I'm not done packing." Lindsay's tone was clipped. "You can drop your box over there and wait." She gestured dismissively toward a smaller desk tucked into the corner, half-hidden behind a filing cabinet.

Andrea picked up the box and moved without a word, her anger burning hotter. Lindsay watched her with barely concealed hostility. "Mr. Moore is usually in meetings until 8:30. Don't disturb him."

"Wasn't planning on it," Andrea said tightly before setting the box down with more force than necessary.

“Phew…I can do this. I've survived worse than an arrogant CEO who sees himself as a god complex.”

By 8:25, Andrea needed some caffeine before she snapped. The executive floor had its own coffee station; a small, pristine kitchenette around the corner from Henry's office.

Andrea poured herself a cup and leaned against the counter, trying to calm the rage still simmering in her chest.

"I can see you're already making yourself comfortable." Henry's voice cut through the silence.

Andrea's entire body went rigid then she turned slowly. Henry stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed. He wasn't wearing his suit jacket yet, just the white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, tie loosened slightly at the collar.

He looked completely at ease. Like he hadn't just upended her entire career without asking.

Something inside Andrea snapped.

"Why the f*ck did you do that?" she said, her voice low and shaking with barely controlled fury.

Henry raised an eyebrow. "Good morning to you too."

"Don't." Andrea set her coffee down hard enough that some sloshed over the rim. "...don't stand there and act like this is normal. You transferred me without warning, without even having the decency to tell me to my face."

"I sent an email."

"An email?" Andrea's voice rose. "An email isn't a conversation, Mr. Moore. You can't just decide someone's entire career path because you feel like it!"

"I can, actually." His tone was maddeningly calm. "I'm the CEO. Personnel decisions are well within my authority."

"That's not the point!"

"Then what is the point?"

Andrea took a step toward him, her hands clenched into fists. "The point is you didn't ask me or give me a choice. You just made a decision and expected me to fall in line like this is something normal."

Henry's expression didn't change, but he looked satisfied. "And what would you have said if I'd asked?"

Andrea faltered for just a second. "I..um…that's not…"

"You would've said no." Henry pushed off the doorframe and took a step closer. "....refused and made some excuse about wanting to stay in your department and we both know why."

"Because I don't want to work directly for you!" Andrea shot back. "You're impossible. Demanding. I mean you make everyone around you miserable!"

"You know that's not why."

"Yes, it is!"

"No." Henry's voice dropped lower as he took another step toward her. "...It's not."

Andrea felt her breath coming faster. "Then why don't you enlighten me?"

"Because you're afraid."

She scoffed, "I'm not afraid of you."

"Not of me." Henry's gaze locked onto hers. "Of this."

He moved closer, close enough that Andrea had to tilt her head back slightly to meet his eyes.

"There is no 'this,'" Andrea said, her voice shaking.

"Isn't there?" Henry's voice was soft but dangerous. "...then why did you slap me in that elevator? Huh…why did you shove me away when your body was telling me something completely different?"

Andrea's face burned. “You're crazy"

"Hmm…am I?" He stepped even closer, invading her space. "Because I felt the way you responded to my touch before you caught yourself."

"That was just…"

"What?" Henry cut her off. "a mistake? Or an accident?" His eyes dropping briefly to her soft lips "Or the truth you're too stubborn to admit?"

Andrea's back hit the counter. She hadn't even realized she'd been retreating.

"So this is why you transferred me," she said, her voice trembling with anger. "Not because I'm qualified or because you need an assistant. But because you can't stand that I said no."

Henry's expression darkened. "You think very highly of yourself."

"And you think you can have whatever you want just because you're rich and powerful."

"I don't think that." Henry leaned in slightly, his hands bracing on the counter on either side of her, caging her in. "I know it."

She felt her heart slamming against her ribs. "Get away from me."

"Make me." He said proudly

"I'm serious, Henry…"

"So am I." His voice dropped to almost a whisper. "You can lie to yourself all you want, New girl. Pretend you don't feel this. But I know the truth."

"There's no truth?"

"There is, you want me just as much as I want you."

Andrea's breath hitched. "You're completely insane."

"Maybe." Henry's gaze held hers, intense and unwavering. "But you're still here. You didn't quit or push me away. You came up here ready to fight me, which means part of you wants this just as much as I do."

"I came up here to tell you what an arrogant, controlling asshole you are,"

Henry's mouth curved into a faint smile. "And yet here we are."

They were so close now that Andrea thought he was going to kiss her already.

She hated that her body was responding to the proximity. Hated that some traitorous part of her wanted to close the distance between them and…

No.

Andrea shoved him back. Hard.

Henry stepped away, his expression unreadable.

"This," Andrea said, her voice turning firm, "is exactly why I don't want to work for you. Because you think you can manipulate me or control me. Make me into whatever you want me to be."

"I don't want to change you," Henry's hand came up, his fingers brushing lightly against her jaw. "I want you exactly as you are."

"You want to own me." She pushed his hand away.

"No." His eyes locked onto hers. "I want you to stop lying to yourself."

Then he reached past her deliberately this time, his arm brushing against hers and grabbed his coffee mug from the counter behind her.

The contact sent a jolt through Andrea's entire body. Henry brought the mug to his lips and took a slow sip, his eyes never leaving hers.

"My office," he said, his voice controlled. "8 AM tomorrow. Don't be late."

"What? I thought I was starting today."

"Today is orientation. Lindsay will show you the systems." Henry turned and headed toward the door. "Tomorrow, you work directly for me."

He paused in the doorway and glanced back at her.

"And again?" His voice was soft now "Run all you want, but we both know you can't run forever."

Then he was gone.

Andrea stood frozen in the kitchenette, her entire body trembling, she pressed her palms flat against the counter, trying to calm herself.

Henry had admitted it. He transferred her because he wanted her close and the worst part was that some part of Andrea wanted this too, even though she refused to admit it.

She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly.

This was a disaster because not only is she his assistant now but she'd been trapped and there's no going back. “OMG, I'm so screwed”