Our first encounter
1020 Words
Arias pov ***
The deep voice carried effortlessly through the solid wood door.
I tightened my grip on the portfolio tucked beneath my arm before turning the handle.
The office was even more impressive than I’d imagined.
Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across the far wall, offering a breathtaking view of the city skyline. Morning sunlight spilled across dark hardwood floors, a polished walnut desk, and shelves lined with awards, framed photographs, and business books arranged with meticulous precision.
Minimal.
Elegant.
Everything had its place.
Including the man sitting behind the desk.
Lucien Sinclair.
His attention never left the document in front of him.
He signed a page with a sleek black fountain pen before setting it aside and reaching for another.
Not once did he look up.
I quietly closed the door behind me.
The soft click barely registered.
For a moment, I simply stood there, unsure whether to introduce myself or wait to be acknowledged.
The silence wasn’t awkward.
It was… intentional.
He was finishing what he’d started.
A few seconds later, he placed the pen down, closed the folder, and finally lifted his head.
Our eyes met.
Every magazine article I’d seen over the past few months had failed to do him justice.
Lucien Sinclair wasn’t just handsome.
He was… commanding.
Dark hair, neatly styled with just enough texture to keep it from looking overly polished. Sharp features softened by a hint of stubble. A crisp white shirt disappeared beneath a tailored charcoal suit that looked as though it had been made exclusively for him.
There was nothing flashy about him.
No oversized watch.
No loud designer logos.
Just quiet confidence.
The kind that couldn’t be bought.
His steady gaze studied me for a brief moment before a small, professional smile touched his lips.
“Miss Monroe.”
His voice was smooth. Calm.
Not intimidating.
Simply… certain.
“It’s nice to finally meet you.”
Somehow, hearing him say my name made every nerve in my body wake up.
I returned the smile.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Mr. Sinclair.”
He rose from his chair and walked around the desk.
I suddenly understood why people described him as having a presence.
It wasn’t his height.
Or the tailored suit.
It was the quiet confidence with which he carried himself.
He extended his hand.
“Welcome to Sinclair Hospitality Group.”
I slipped my hand into his.
“Thank you.”
His handshake was firm, professional, and brief.
“I’ve been looking forward to meeting the intern everyone keeps talking about.”
I blinked.
“You… know who I am?”
A faint smile crossed his face.
“I make it a point to know everyone who earns a place in this company.”
For reasons I couldn’t explain…
That answer meant more to me than it probably should have.
For a moment, I just stared at him.
The CEO of a multinational corporation knew who I was?
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“I assume that’s surprising.”
“A little.”
“I’ve read every evaluation from your internship.”
Now I was certain I’d heard him wrong.
“You… read them?”
“I did.”
He gestured toward the pair of chairs in front of his desk.
“Please, have a seat.”
I sat, carefully placing my portfolio on my lap.
Lucien returned to his chair but didn’t hide behind the desk. Instead, he leaned back comfortably, his attention fixed entirely on me.
“I like to know the people I’ll be working with,” he said. “Resumes tell me where you’ve been. Evaluations tell me how you perform when no one is watching.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond to that.
“I hope mine were… good.”
“They were exceptional.”
The compliment landed harder than I expected.
“You consistently arrived early.”
I blinked.
“You volunteered for assignments outside your department.”
I smiled faintly.
“There was a lot I wanted to learn.”
“I noticed.”
He folded his hands on the desk.
“You also stayed late on three separate occasions to help another team meet a deadline that had nothing to do with your internship.”
I couldn’t stop the surprised laugh that escaped me.
“You really did read everything.”
“I did yes .”
His expression softened just enough to hint at a smile.
“I notice hard work .”
Silence settled between us, though it wasn’t uncomfortable.
It felt… thoughtful.
“I’ve interviewed candidates with years of executive experience,” he continued. “Some were impressive.”
He held my gaze.
“But experience can be taught.”
His next words came without hesitation.
“Character cannot.”
I wasn’t sure anyone had ever complimented me in quite that way.
“I appreciate that, Mr. Sinclair.”
“It’s not a compliment.”
His tone remained calm.
“It’s the reason you’re sitting here.”
He reached for a slim black folder resting on the corner of his desk and slid it across to me.
“Inside you’ll find your schedule, access credentials, and an overview of how I operate.”
I opened the folder.
The first page was titled:
Executive Office Standards
I glanced up.
He noticed.
“I believe expectations should be clear.”
There wasn’t an ounce of arrogance in the way he said it.
Only professionalism.
“If I ask for something by four o’clock, I expect it by four.”
I nodded.
“If you make a mistake, own it.”
Another nod.
“I don’t expect perfection, Miss Monroe.”
He paused.
“I expect honesty, initiative, and your best effort every day.”
A smile spread across my face before I could stop it.
“I can do that.”
For the first time since walking into his office, Lucien smiled back.
It was small.
Brief.
But genuine.
“I know you can.”
For reasons I couldn’t explain…
Hearing him say those four words made me want to prove him right.
- Writer
