Married to Julian Grey

Chapter 11

The door opened quietly, and I stepped into Julian Grey's office.

The last time I had stood in this room, everything had happened too quickly. The unexpected promotion, the apartment, the impossible salary increase, and the offer of a chauffeur had left my mind overwhelmed with questions. I had barely been able to process the fact that my entire life had changed overnight.

This morning was different.

The shock had settled, and unfortunately, that meant I noticed him.

Julian sat behind his desk with a file open before him, his attention focused on the documents in front of him. Morning light poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him, outlining the broad line of his shoulders before spilling across the polished surface of the desk.

He wore a perfectly tailored navy-blue suit that complemented his dark hair and sharp features. The jacket rested effortlessly across his broad shoulders, emphasizing a powerful build that even expensive tailoring could not completely hide.

As though sensing my presence, his emerald-green eyes lifted from the file.

For a moment, my thoughts stalled.

Not because his eyes were beautiful. I had already noticed that.

It was because I had seen those eyes only a few hours earlier.

In my dream.

I immediately dismissed the thought. Dreams borrowed faces all the time. My mind had probably taken the image of the most unforgettable man I had met recently and woven it into a dream that had followed me for years.

That explanation was far more reasonable than believing the mysterious man from my dreams had somehow become my employer.

"Good morning, Miss Vale," Julian said calmly.

His voice pulled me back to reality.

"Good morning, Mr. Grey."

I walked farther into the office, reminding myself why I was there.

"Thank you for changing my resumption time," I said.

The corner of his lips lifted slightly. "You were informed."

"Yes. Adrian told me." I tightened my grip on the executive pad. "I still wanted to thank you."

Julian leaned back slightly. "There is no need."

"But there is." A small laugh escaped me. "I genuinely thought I was late again this morning."

For the briefest moment, something unreadable crossed his expression.

"You weren't."

"I know," I said with a faint smile. "Thanks to you."

His expression remained composed. "I adjusted your schedule because your responsibilities have changed."

I nodded slowly. "So my official working hours begin at nine now."

"Yes."

His answers were always brief. Simple. Yet somehow, they often left me wondering if there was something beneath the words he chose not to say.

"Thank you," I said.

His lips curved slightly. "You're welcome."

Silence settled between us, but strangely, it did not feel uncomfortable.

That realization caught me off guard.

There was something about Julian Grey that made me pay attention in a way I never had before.

I had never been interested in men. Not once.

While other girls at university spent hours discussing crushes, relationships, and romance, I had always listened politely without understanding what fascinated them so much. Their conversations had felt like a world I was observing from the outside.

I had gone on one date during university because I wondered if perhaps I was missing something. Maybe I was too focused on my studies. Maybe I simply needed to give myself a chance.

Instead, the experience had only left me more confused.

The man had eventually called me cold.

Frigid.

At the time, I had not even been angry because I honestly did not know how to argue with him. Maybe he had been right.

I had never felt the urge to chase romance. My life had always been filled with other things: my education, my responsibilities, the children at the orphanage, and the people who depended on me.

Love had always seemed like something that happened to other people.

Until now.

And that was what unsettled me.

Not because I suddenly had feelings for Julian Grey. That would have been absurd.

It was because he made me notice things I had never cared about before.

The calm confidence in his voice. The certainty in his movements. The sharpness of his eyes whenever he looked at someone.

Small details.

Meaningless details.

Yet somehow, my mind kept returning to them.

I forced myself to focus.

He was my employer.

My CEO.

Not someone I should be studying like a mystery I needed to solve.

But despite myself, my attention drifted back to him. The neat fall of his dark hair, the sharp line of his jaw, and the quiet strength beneath his tailored suit were details I found myself noticing.

Then my gaze moved lower.

His lips.

The dream flashed through my mind.

The kiss.

Heat rushed into my cheeks, and I immediately looked away.

That was ridiculous.

Julian Grey was my employer.

The man from my dreams was not real.

My subconscious had probably borrowed his face because he was the most striking man I had met recently.

That was all.

Before I could stop myself, I looked back again.

His emerald-green eyes met mine immediately.

For a heartbeat, neither of us looked away.

Then I broke eye contact.

What was wrong with me?

"Elena."

His voice interrupted my thoughts.

I looked up. "Yes, Mr. Grey?"

"Do you have today's schedule?"

The question immediately reminded me why I was standing there.

I lifted the executive pad. "Yes."

I stepped closer and opened the schedule. "Adrian informed me that your schedule was sent to my pad."

Julian nodded. "Good."

I reviewed the itinerary. "Your first meeting is with Bradon Holdings at ten o'clock. At one o'clock, you are meeting with Ivanka Jules, and at two o'clock, Aurelius Group officially launches its new telecommunications company. The evening celebration begins at nine o'clock at Aurelius Grand Hotel."

Julian listened without interruption.

"I've already reviewed the briefing documents for this morning's meeting," I added. "If there are any changes throughout the day, I'll update your schedule immediately."

A small expression of approval crossed his face.

"Good."

The single word filled me with an unreasonable sense of accomplishment.

Perhaps because I wanted to prove that promoting me had not been a mistake.

Julian closed the file. "We'll leave for the conference room in fifteen minutes."

"I'll make sure everything is ready."

"I know."

That quiet certainty stayed with me as I left his office.

The executive floor was already coming alive. Assistants moved through the corridors carrying tablets, folders, and messages, while phones rang briefly before being answered in calm, professional voices.

It was very different from the branch office.

Back there, preparing for a meeting depended on the type of meeting. If it involved only my department or a few other teams, I would help arrange the room, organize files, and make sure everything was ready before everyone arrived.

Executive meetings had always belonged to another world.

Now, I was part of that world.

Even so, old habits were difficult to break.

Although the conference services team handled the executive meeting rooms, I still arrived several minutes early.

Everything had already been prepared. Water bottles were arranged, presentation equipment had been tested, and meeting folders were placed perfectly at each seat.

I checked Julian's briefing folder one more time, confirming that the agenda, financial projections, supporting documents, and contracts requiring his signature were all present.

Satisfied, I closed it.

"Miss Vale."

I turned.

The young clerk from reception stepped inside carrying a stack of folders.

She smiled when she saw me. "I thought I'd find you here."

I returned the smile. "You helped me earlier."

Her expression brightened. "With the coffee?"

I nodded. "I realized I never asked your name."

"Brianna."

"Brianna," I repeated. "It's nice to properly meet you."

"Likewise, Miss Vale."

She placed the folders on the table. "The conference team asked me to bring the visitor copies."

"Thank you."

"My pleasure."

A few minutes later, the executives from Bradon Holdings entered the room.

The final man to arrive was Brad Shaw, the CEO of Bradon Holdings.

Like most executives at this level, he was undeniably attractive, but his confidence carried a sharper edge than Julian's quiet authority. His tailored charcoal suit and easy smile gave him the appearance of a man accustomed to winning.

His gaze swept across the room before stopping on me.

A faint smile appeared.

He looked toward Julian.

"So," he said casually, "another pretty face, Julian?"

The room became noticeably quieter.

Brad's eyes returned to me.

"I've heard Aurelius Group has developed quite a reputation for hiring them young and attractive."

A few restrained smiles appeared around the table.

His tone remained light, but the meaning behind his words was clear.

"I only hope your new executive secretary was chosen for more than her appearance."

Silence settled over the conference room.

Every pair of eyes turned toward me.

And for the first time since arriving at Headquarters, I understood that this position came with challenges far beyond a new office, a larger salary, and a prestigious title.