Chapter 3 – First Impressions, First Tests
970 Words
The morning sunlight streamed through the skyscraper windows, throwing a golden glow across the sleek conference table. Lila smoothed the skirt of her navy dress, notebook open in front of her, pen poised. She was ready. Or at least she told herself she was.
Her first full team meeting at Blackwood & Associates. A chance to prove she belonged. A chance to show Derek—Mr. Blackwood—that she was more than just a reckless decision from a bar.
“Let’s begin,” Derek said, his voice calm but commanding. He stood at the head of the table, tall and polished in a charcoal suit. Every eye in the room was on him, though Lila swore his gaze flickered toward her for the briefest second before moving on.
“Marcus, start us off with the quarter’s projections,” Derek instructed.
Marcus Lee straightened in his chair, his crisp tie and smug smile firmly in place. Lila had already pegged him as trouble: too smooth, too practiced, and just the right amount of arrogant.
He launched into numbers and charts with confidence, sliding packets across the table. When it was Lila’s turn to present her small portion—an analysis of client data—she felt Marcus’s eyes on her like a challenge.
“New hire’s first big moment,” he said lightly, smirking as though the words were harmless.
Lila forced a smile, ignoring the dig. She walked the team through her slides, her voice steady despite her pounding heart.
Halfway through, Marcus interrupted. “Actually, those figures don’t line up with my numbers. Are you sure about this dataset?”
The question was casual, but the tone was sharp enough to cut. The others looked between them. Lila’s stomach tightened.
She flipped her notes, her eyes scanning fast. “Yes, I cross-referenced with the client’s database last night. Page five of the appendix—here.” She slid the packet forward, tapping her work.
Marcus leaned in, brows raised. “Interesting. Must’ve been a late update, then. Didn’t see it when I reviewed.”
His smirk lingered, but Lila caught the flicker of surprise in his eyes. She had him.
Silence stretched before Derek finally spoke. “Good catch, Ms. Moreno.” His voice was smooth, but there was something deliberate in the way he said it—acknowledging her, not Marcus.
A subtle ripple of respect passed around the table. Lila sat a little taller.
For the rest of the meeting, she held her own, answering questions, presenting with clarity. Every time she faltered, Derek’s gaze steadied her—not warm, but not indifferent either. As though he was silently testing her, measuring her.
When the meeting ended, chairs scraped back and chatter rose. Marcus lingered by the door, his smile tight. “Not bad for your first day in the big leagues,” he said to Lila. “Just don’t get used to hand-holding from the boss.”
Lila bristled. “I didn’t need hand-holding.”
“Of course.” Marcus’s smirk widened. “Just making an observation.”
She bit her tongue, unwilling to give him more satisfaction.
Derek’s voice cut through the room. “Ms. Moreno, a moment.”
Her chest tightened. Was this about the meeting? About… Friday night? She forced her face neutral as Marcus shot her a smug look and finally left.
When the door closed, she turned back to Derek. He stood by the window, city skyline blazing behind him, hands in his pockets.
“You handled yourself well,” he said finally.
Relief loosened her shoulders. “Thank you.”
“Marcus likes to test newcomers,” Derek continued. “Don’t let him rattle you. Precision matters more than confidence.”
Her lips curved faintly. “So I passed the test?”
His gaze flicked to hers, unreadable. “For now.”
The words sent a spark down her spine, though his tone was cool. He stepped closer, the air between them tightening.
“You’re here to work, Ms. Moreno. Don’t forget that.”
“I haven’t,” she said quickly, her pulse betraying her calm tone.
For a long moment, he held her gaze. His expression was professional, but his eyes… his eyes were something else entirely. Heated, conflicted, as if he were fighting the same storm she was.
Then he blinked, the moment shattered. “That’ll be all.”
Dismissed.
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The rest of the day passed in a blur of data reports and onboarding documents. Lila worked harder than ever, determined not to give Marcus—or Derek—any reason to doubt her.
By late afternoon, her head ached, but her pride glowed. She could do this. She would do this.
As she packed her laptop, Sarah’s name flashed on her phone.
> Sarah: How’s the new job, boss lady?
Lila hesitated, thumbs hovering. How could she explain the impossible truth? That her boss was the man who had kissed her like fire, who now looked at her like she was both temptation and disaster?
She typed back only:
> Lila: Surviving. I’ll call you tonight.
---
When she finally left the building, the evening air was cool, sharp with city sounds. She felt both drained and exhilarated—like she’d taken her first real step into this new world.
She was so focused on her thoughts that she almost didn’t notice the man standing by the curb, phone to his ear.
Derek.
The sight of him—broad shoulders silhouetted against the city lights—made her breath hitch. He hung up, his eyes catching hers across the distance. For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then he inclined his head slightly, a gesture so small, so formal, it almost felt like nothing at all.
But Lila’s pulse raced as if it were everything.
- Writer
