THE COLD ZAYDEN COLE
581 Words
CHAPTER TWO
Zara froze, the heat of the coffee now nothing compared to the heat rushing to her cheeks.
“I’m so sorry…” she began, reaching for the tissues in her small bag she took along with her
“Don’t,” Zayden Cole cut in, his tone like ice. “You’ve done enough.”
The receptionist suddenly found something interesting on her desk, pretending not to hear. Zara’s heart hammered as Zayden’s piercing gaze swept over her, taking in her sneakers, her gym tank, the trembling coffee cup in her hand.
“Come with me,” he ordered, turning on his heel without waiting for a response.
She swallowed hard, glancing at the receptionist, who merely gave her a good luck look before Zara hurried after him.
They stepped into the elevator. The air inside felt heavier than outside, thick with silence. Zara tried not to stare at him, but her eyes betrayed her the strong jawline, the precise way his hair was styled, the calm authority in every movement.
The elevator chimed, and they stepped into an office that looked like it belonged on the cover of Architectural Digest. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a skyline view, while the furniture was sleek, minimal, and expensive.
Zayden walked behind a wide glass desk, removed his suit jacket with a controlled motion, and placed it neatly on the chair. The coffee stain on his shirt was stark against the white.
“Do you have any idea how much this shirt costs?” he asked without looking at her.
Zara’s lips parted. “A lot?”
His eyes lifted to hers, unamused. “Fifteen hundred dollars.”
She choked on her own spit. “For a shirt? Sir, you could buy a whole year’s rent in some places for that”
“This isn’t some place,” he interrupted. “And you’ve just ruined it.”
Zara’s hands clenched around her bag strap. “I said I’m sorry. It was an accident. I didn’t even know who you were”
“Exactly,” he said, his voice low. “You don’t know me, yet you walked into my building uninvited, dressed like…” He stopped, his eyes flicking over her again. “...like you were here for anything but a professional reason.”
Her mouth fell open. “Excuse me? I came to drop my résumé, not…whatever you’re implying.”
Zayden leaned back in his chair, studying her like she was a puzzle he didn’t want to solve. “Your name?”
“Zara Smith.”
He picked up her résumé from his desk. How did he even get it that fast? she wondered. His eyes scanned the page with a speed that made her nervous.
“No job since graduation?” he asked flatly.
Her stomach twisted. “It’s… been hard finding the right opportunity.”
He tapped the paper against the desk, thoughtful. “You clearly don’t meet my company’s standards.”
Her hope sank until he added, “But I do have a temporary opening. My secretary resigned yesterday.”
Her head shot up. “Are you… offering me the job?”
“I’m offering you a test,” he corrected. “Three days. If you’re still standing by the end of it, we’ll talk about making it permanent.”
Zara hesitated. “And if I fail?”
His lips curved not into a smile, but something sharper. “Then you walk out of here owing me for the shirt.”
- Writer
