Chapter Four: Real Responsibilities
286 Words
Ivy
The door clicked shut behind me.
Lucian stood near the window, back turned. The skyline behind him bled gold and gray. He didn’t look at me, just said:
“I don’t need a secretary. I need someone who won’t flinch.”
I didn’t answer.
“You’ll accompany me to meetings. Handle personal correspondence. And you’ll keep your mouth shut—no matter what you hear.”
He turned slowly, eyes unreadable.
“If that’s a problem, leave now.”
I didn’t move.
I couldn’t tell if I was terrified or intrigued. Maybe both.
“Good,” he said.
His gaze drifted down, just briefly. It felt like a test—and I’d passed. Or failed. I couldn’t tell anymore.
“You’ll receive access to accounts, files, and people. Use your head. Don’t try to be clever. Clever people die in this business.”
“What business is that?” I asked.
His smile was all shadow.
“The kind that pays well.”
I didn’t answer.
“You’ll accompany me to meetings. Handle personal correspondence. And you’ll keep your mouth shut—no matter what you hear.”
He turned slowly, eyes unreadable.
“If that’s a problem, leave now.”
I didn’t move.
I couldn’t tell if I was terrified or intrigued. Maybe both.
“Good,” he said.
His gaze drifted down, just briefly. It felt like a test—and I’d passed. Or failed. I couldn’t tell anymore.
“You’ll receive access to accounts, files, and people. Use your head. Don’t try to be clever. Clever people die in this business.”
“What business is that?” I asked.
His smile was all shadow.
“The kind that pays well.”
- Writer
