The Troubled Heart

Chapter3

Today is the day I officially start at Walton Dynamics as Head of Cybersecurity. Permanently and full-time.

The lobby is all marble and glass. Expensive, quiet, intimidating. I tighten my jacket and check my reflection to remind myself: You’re good at this. You’re professional. Keep it together.

A woman steps out from the reception desk, coffee in hand, and smiles. “You must be Henry Reed. I’m Luca Vale. I’ll be handling your orientation today.”

“Nice to meet you,” I say, shaking her hand. “I’m ready to get started.”

She nods. “Great. I’ll show you around, get you set up, and answer any questions. You’ll have full access to your department once we’re done.”

We walk through the halls. She points out various teams with casual efficiency. “IT’s that way, marketing over there. Coffee’s on every floor. And yes, you can take breaks without people judging you,most of the time.”

Her tone is friendly, but nothing over the top. She’s observant, calm and professional. She’s not teasing me and not commenting on anything personal. She’s just guiding me, making sure I settle in.

We reach what I assume to be my office it’s a modest corner room with glass walls, already equipped with a workstation and monitors. My name is already on the desk: Henry Reed, Head of Cybersecurity.

I sink into the chair and start booting up the system. Luca slides a badge across the desk to me. “Access card, network credentials,keys to the server room. Everything you need. You’ll want to start by checking what ever the f**k is wrong with our systems.”

“Got it,” I say, flipping open the laptop. My fingers tap the keyboard automatically, but my mind is racing because I’m nervous.

She looks at me “That should cover it. I’ll step out and let you get settled. Archer might come by later to check in, but he doesn’t usually interrupt the first hour of orientation.”

“Understood,” I reply.

She nods, opens the door, and slips out and it gets silent . My heartbeat thuds in my ears. I glance at the monitors, trying to focus but I’m thinking of how a few months ago I would have been in my phone texting my boyfriend about how excited I am for this new job and how fancy everything here is but that’s not possible anymore because of how much of an asshole he was. A few minutes pass I start scanning logs and updating security protocols when the door opens.

And I look up ,but it takes a while for my brain to process what my eyes was seeing

Archer Walton.

Time stops,at least that’s what it feels like.

Not at a party, not in the rooftop with a drink in hand but in my new office in a navy suit,standing in the doorway like he owns the air in the room. My pulse spikes. My brain scrambles and recognition washes into me immediately . Could he be my new boss ,oh s**t

He freezes for half a second just long enough for both of us to process: Oh. We’re working together.

Then he straightens to CEO mode. No trace of that smirk I recognize from the rooftop , no sign that he remembers that night, no hint that he knows I remember he just looks all professional and Intimidating.

“Mr. Reed,” he says, his voice is sharp and even. “Good to see you.”

I rise, forcing a calm tone. “Mr. Walton. Good to see you as well.”

We stand there, a loud silence is stretching between us. My mind is firing in a hundred directions, studying his every move, but on the outside I’m composed and also professional and trying my hardest not to look like a fool.

“I understand you’re starting today as Head of Cybersecurity,” he continues, tone neutral. “I expect a full assessment of our system with no shortcuts. The last breach caused significant issues I don’t intend to repeat.”

“Yes, sir,” I say, steadying my voice. “I’m already working on it.”

He nods once very brief and authoritative. “Luca will provide whatever support you need.”

He turns to leave, pausing only a fraction of a second to glance at me. The flicker in his eyes is there ,quick and almost imperceptible but he masks it perfectly.

The door clicks shut, leaving me staring at the wall.

My brain short-circuits. Of all the men in LA… of all the worlds I could walk into, why does it have to be him? My boss the man from the rooftop the impossible distracting man.

I sit back down, trying to focus the logs are getting blur in front of my eyes while my hands move over the keyboard, but my thoughts are elsewhere, tangled in disbelief and… something more dangerous.

Minutes later, Luca returns. She leans against the doorway, hands crossed “You good?”

“Yes,” I say quickly. “Just… processing the network.”

She nods, no comments and walks away.

I exhale but heart is still racing. Alone with the monitors, alone with my thoughts. The entire building is quiet. Everything is suppose pop d to feel normal.

But nothing does.

Because now, in this corner office, I realize that my life just became infinitely more complicated.