BILLIONAIRE'S SPOILED MRS

Chapter 5: The Lion's den

The sleek black sedan pulled up to the front of Blackwood Industries. Maeve took a deep breath, checked her makeup in the mirror one last time, and stepped out. The moment her heels hit the pavement, the atmosphere seemed to shift.

As she walked through the massive glass doors, the lobby went silent. Every head turned. In New York, everyone knew Maeve Williams, the "Little Miracle" of the Williams empire. They expected a girl who would demand a red carpet, but instead, they saw a woman walking with a calm, professional grace.

"Good morning," Maeve said, offering a small, polite smile to the security team and the staff in the lobby.

"Good morning, Miss Williams!" they responded, their voices filled with pleasant surprise.

The whispers started immediately. The rumors always said Maeve Williams was an arrogant, spoiled brat who looked down on everyone. But seeing her greet them so kindly made them wonder if the gossip was wrong. Little did they know, the old Maeve was still very much alive inside—she was just wearing a very good mask today.

The receptionist, acting much more nervous than usual, led Maeve to the private elevator. "The CEO is on the top floor, ma'am. He's expecting you."

When the doors opened on the 50th floor, Maeve stepped out into a world of cold marble and silent tension. She walked toward the large desk where the head secretary sat. The woman didn't even look up. She was typing away, her face twisted into a sour, arrogant expression.

"I’m Maeve Williams," Maeve said, standing in front of the desk. "I believe I have an office to move into."

The secretary finally looked up, her eyes scanning Maeve from head to toe with a look of pure annoyance. "Mr. Blackwood is in a meeting. You can wait over there," she said, pointing a sharp, manicured finger toward a lonely chair in the corner. Her tone was incredibly rude, as if Maeve were a stray cat that had wandered in.

Maeve’s grip tightened on her designer bag. Her blood began to boil. The "old Maeve" wanted to lean over the desk, grab that woman’s cheap headset, and tell her exactly who she was talking to. But she closed her eyes for a second, counting to three. *New day, new me,* she reminded herself.

Suddenly, the elevator dinged again. A man in a sharp grey suit stepped out, carrying a stack of thick files. He was Cassian’s Personal Assistant, Marcus.

The moment he saw Maeve, he hurried over and gave a deep, respectful bow.

"Miss Williams! It is an honor to have you here," Marcus said.

Maeve let out a light, genuine chuckle. "Stand up, Marcus. I’m an employee now, not a guest. No need for the bowing."

Marcus smiled, looking relieved. "Of course, Miss Williams. My apologies. Mr. Blackwood asked me to show you to your workspace and then to his office. Please, follow me."

As Marcus began to lead her away, Maeve stopped. She turned her head slowly to look at the secretary, who was now looking pale and confused.

Maeve gave the woman a sweet, dangerous smile. "By the way," Maeve said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I love that lipstick color on you. It’s so brave of you to wear something that clashes so loudly with your personality."

Before the secretary could even find a word to say, Maeve turned on her heel and walked away, her ponytail swinging behind her.

Marcus led her into Cassian’s massive office. It was empty for the moment, filled with the scent of expensive sandalwood and cold air.

"Mr. Blackwood will be here in five minutes," Marcus said, bowing slightly again before leaving the room.

Maeve stood in the center of the office, looking at the large oak desk. She was officially inside the lion's den. She was nervous, but she felt a spark of victory. She had survived her first ten minutes without getting fired or slapping anyone. For Maeve Williams, that was a very good start.

She looked around his office, it was simple, large and the view from here was amazing.

She sniffed the air, "It smells like him." She whispered a wide smile spreading across her face. The door suddenly clicked open and a beautiful frame came into view.