Chapter 3: First day in hell
1500 Words
Lana
I stood outside the gleaming glass tower of Moretti Enterprises, heart hammering as the morning sun reflected off the skyscraper like a warning. My black pencil skirt and white blouse felt suddenly inadequate against the sheer power radiating from the building. After everything that happened on my birthday,walking in on Derick buried deep inside Mia, hearing her moan about how much better he felt than me,I thought nothing could rattle me anymore.
I was wrong.
This place rattled me.
I took a deep breath and stepped through the revolving doors into a lobby that screamed old money and ruthless ambition. Marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and an enormous black-and-gold logo dominating the wall. Security guards in tailored suits eyed everyone like they knew your secrets. A beautiful receptionist with a perfect smile directed me to the executive floor.
My stomach twisted the entire elevator ride up. Ethan Moretti. The arrogant bastard who had hired me after being deliberately cruel in the interview. His cold voice still echoed in my head: We don’t coddle weakness here. I hated him already. Hated his arrogance. Hated how his intense gaze made my skin feel too tight.
The elevator dinged on the 52nd floor. The doors opened into a sleek, modern workspace that looked like it belonged in a luxury magazine. Glass walls, minimalist furniture, and an atmosphere thick with quiet intensity. People moved with purpose, voices low, as if raising them might summon something dangerous.
A young man with warm brown eyes and an easy smile approached me almost immediately.
“You must be Lana Parker,” he said, extending a hand. “I’m Theo Lang. Welcome to the madhouse.”
I shook his hand. His grip was firm but kind,normal in a way that felt refreshing after the interview with Ethan. “Nice to meet you. Is it really that bad?”
Theo laughed softly. “Depends on who you ask. Some days it’s exhilarating. Other days…” He glanced toward the corner office with the closed door. “Let’s just say the boss doesn’t suffer fools. You’re reporting directly to him, right?”
I nodded, already dreading it. “Apparently.”
Theo gave me a sympathetic look. “I’ll show you to your desk. If you need anything,coffee, escape route, someone to complain to,I’m two desks over.”
He led me through the open-plan area. My desk was sleek, fully equipped, and positioned dangerously close to the massive corner office that belonged to Ethan. The glass walls meant I could see straight into his domain if the blinds weren’t drawn.
Theo leaned in conspiratorially as I set my bag down. “Word of advice? Don’t let him intimidate you. He respects people who push back. But between us… he’s been in a mood lately. Something’s got him on edge.”
“Great,” I muttered. “Exactly what I need.”
Theo’s smile turned playful. “Hey, at least you’ve got me here to balance things out. Lunch later? I know a great sandwich place nearby that isn’t owned by the company.”
The offer was light, friendly, and felt wonderfully normal. A small smile tugged at my lips,the first real one in days. “I’d like that.”
Before I could say more, the door to Ethan’s office opened.
He stepped out like he owned the air itself. Tailored black suit that probably cost more than my rent for a year. Crisp white shirt. The top button undone just enough to show a hint of tanned skin and the edge of what looked like a tattoo. His dark eyes locked onto me immediately, intense and unreadable.
“Miss Parker,” he said, voice clipped and commanding. “My office. Now.”
No greeting. No welcome. Just an order.
Theo gave me a quick, encouraging nod before disappearing to his own desk. I straightened my spine and walked into Ethan’s office, chin high even as my pulse raced.
He closed the door behind me with a soft click that felt far too intimate. The room smelled like expensive leather, aged whiskey, and something darker,power. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the city. His desk was massive, minimalist, and intimidating.
“Sit,” he commanded, moving behind his desk like a king taking his throne.
I sat, crossing my legs and meeting his gaze head-on. I refused to let him see how much he unsettled me.
Ethan leaned back, studying me with those piercing eyes. “Your first assignment. I want a full campaign strategy for the new luxury real estate division by end of day tomorrow. Impress me, or don’t bother coming back on Wednesday.”
My jaw tightened. “That’s an impossible deadline.”
His lips curved into a cold smile. “Then you’d better work efficiently. I don’t tolerate excuses. This company rewards results, not sob stories about how hard life is.”
The dig hit close to home. He didn’t know about my birthday, but the arrogance still made me furious. “I’m not here for your pity, Mr. Moretti. I’m here to work. But if you expect miracles without reasonable time, maybe you should hire a magician instead of a strategist.”
Something flashed in his eyes,amusement? Heat? He leaned forward. “There’s that fire again. Good. Channel it into the work. I expect excellence, Lana. Not mediocrity.”
The way he said my name,low, almost intimate,sent an unwanted shiver down my spine. I hated it. I hated him.
He slid a thick folder across the desk. “Everything you need is in here. Don’t disappoint me.”
I took the folder and stood. “I won’t.”
As I reached the door, his voice stopped me again. “One more thing.”
I turned.
“Welcome to my world. Try to keep up.”
I walked out without another word, fury simmering in my veins. Theo caught my eye as I returned to my desk and mouthed, “You okay?”
I gave him a tight nod and dove into the work. The day blurred into a haze of research, strategy notes, and caffeine. Moretti Enterprises was luxurious but cutthroat. Everyone moved like sharks circling. By lunch, my head was pounding.
Theo appeared at my desk right on time. “Ready for that escape?”
We went to a small sandwich shop a block away. The normalcy felt like a balm. Theo was funny, easygoing, and completely unlike Ethan. He told me about his two years at the company, the office politics, and asked gentle questions about my background. I kept the betrayal vague but mentioned a rough breakup.
“You seem like someone who deserves better,” he said softly, eyes warm. “If you ever need a friend who isn’t terrifying… I’m around.”
I smiled genuinely. “Thanks, Theo. I might take you up on that.”
We returned to the office, and I threw myself back into the campaign. Hours passed. The sun set, and most people left. I stayed, determined not to give Ethan any ammunition to call me weak.
Around eight-thirty, his office door opened again.
“Still here, Miss Parker?” His voice was dark, almost approving.
I didn’t look up. “Trying not to disappoint you, remember?”
He stepped closer, stopping beside my desk. I could feel the heat of him. “Good girl.”
The words sent heat flooding through me,anger and something dangerously close to unwanted arousal. I finally looked up, glaring. “Don’t call me that.”
Ethan’s eyes darkened. “Why? Does it bother you?”
“Everything about you bothers me,” I snapped before I could stop myself.
He chuckled, low and dangerous. “We’ll see about that.”
He left me there, heart racing and furious. I worked until nearly ten, then finally packed up, exhausted but satisfied with my progress.
On the way out, I vented everything to Sophia over the phone as I walked to the subway.
“He’s an arrogant asshole,” I told her. “Rude, controlling, and way too intense. I hate him.”
Sophia laughed softly. “But he’s hot, right?”
“Sophia!”
“What? I’m just saying. Hate can turn into other things.”
“Not with him,” I insisted. “Never with him.”
But as I lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, Ethan Moretti’s intense gaze haunted me. His voice. The way he said my name. The dangerous aura that surrounded him.
I hated him.
I really, really did.
Yet something told me I was already caught in his orbit.
And I had no idea how to escape.
Later that night
I couldn’t sleep. The memories of Mia and Derick kept resurfacing,his groans, her moans, the betrayal that still cut deep. I cried quietly into my pillow again, hating how weak it made me feel. Twenty-four years old and completely starting over.
Tomorrow would be another day in Ethan Moretti’s world.
God help me.
- Writer
