CHAPTER4
1037 Words
EMILY'S POV
The room emptied the way a Stage Clears after a disaster.
Footsteps faded and Soft conversations dissolved into hallway echoes.
And then it was just me and him in the room.
Ryan remained Seated at the Conference table, fingers loosely interlaced, Posture Calm in a way that felt far more dangerous than anger.
I didn’t move.
My heartbeat was Still loud in my ears from the moment he Said my name in front of everyone.
The door Clicked Shut behind the last employee.
Heavy Silence Settled…
Ryan finally leaned back Slightly in his Chair, his eyes Still fixed on me.
“Come Closer,” he Said.
My legs felt stiff as I obeyed…
Each Step across the Polished floor Sounded too loud.
I Stopped a few feet from the table.
A long Pause Stretched between us.
Then he talked.
“You went on a blind date with me knowing that I'm your CEO here?” he asked Calmly.
My throat tightened instantly.
“No.” I Daid quickly. “I didn’t know it was you.”
A flicker Passed through his expression.
“Interesting,” he Said quietly.
My hands Curled Slightly at my Sides..
He leaned forward, Placing both hands on the table.
“Let’s Clarify Something,” he said.
My Pulse Spiked.
“You Said your name was Chloe.”
The air left my lungs Slightly… My mouth went dry.
Of Course he remembered that…
“I—” I Started.
He raised a hand Slightly.
“Don’t interrupt.”
I froze.
His eyes locked onto mine…
“You introduced yourself as Chloe,” he repeated Slowly. “You Sat across from me under a false identity. You allowed me to believe I was Speaking to Someone else entirely.”
My heart hammered.
“That wasn’t intentional,” I Said Carefully. “It was just a misunderstanding.”
His eyes narrowed Slightly.
“Misunderstanding,” he repeated.
The word Sounded almost offensive in his mouth.
I Swallowed…
“It was a friend’s arrangement, I just filled in. I didn’t think it would matter—”
“That you were lying?” he cut in.
My breath Caught.
I Shook my head Slightly. “I wasn’t trying to deceive you.”
He Stood up Slowly.
The Chair behind him didn’t Creak.
It Simply moved back like even furniture respected his Space.
He walked around the table toward me.
He Stopped directly in front of me.
Close enough that I had to tilt my head Slightly to meet his gaze…
“You let me Sit there, addressing you as Chloe. You responded as Chloe. You built an entire interaction on a name that wasn’t yours.” He said quietly.
My throat felt tight.
“I didn’t think it would go that far,” I said Softly.
“That is not an explanation,” he said.
My fingers Curled.
It felt like no matter what I Said, I was already wrong.
“I didn’t mean to deceive you,” I Said again, more firmly. “I was just trying to get through it.”
His gaze Sharpened Slightly.
“Get through it,” he repeated.
I nodded.
Then he Stepped back Slightly and turned away.
When he spoke again, his tone Shifted Cooler, Professional and detached…
“As of now, you will be assigned to multiple Lrojects and you must finish before the deadline I give you.”
My Stomach dropped.
I blinked. “What?”
He walked back to the table and Picked up a folder.
“You will handle the Eastbridge acquisition review,” he said.
I frowned Slightly. “That’s a high level-departmental task.”
“Yes.”
“But I’m a new employee here and I don't even know how to handle that type of Project.”
“Aren't you here to work?” he Corrected.
My Chest tightened.
“But that’s not realistic for one Person,” I Said quietly.
He didn’t look up.
“It becomes realistic when assigned,” he replied…
My hands Curled Slightly.
“Mercer logistics, and Compliance audit are yours to handle too.”
My breath hitched Slightly.
“That’s… that’s multiple teams’ workload,” I Said.
He finally looked at me again…
“Then you will learn how to function like multiple teams,” he Said.
My jaw tightened Slightly.
“Is this because of the blind date?” I asked quietly.
His eyes held mine longer than necessary.
“No,” he said.
But the Silence that followed Said otherwise…
By midday, my desk filled faster than I Could Process.
Files Stacked neatly but aggressively.
Emails multiplied like they had lives of their own…
Every time I finished one task, two more appeared.
By evening, the office began emptying.
Lights dimmed gradually across floors.
The City outside turned gold, then dark.
I barely noticed…
My world had Shrunk to Spreadsheets and deadlines.
My eyes burned Slightly.
My Shoulders ached.
At some Point, I Stopped Checking time.
At another point, I Stopped Caring.
Because leaving wasn’t an option anymore…
Not with this much unfinished… Not with him watching.
And I Could feel it even without Seeing him.
Ryan was Somewhere in this building observing me.
The last employees left and the floor went quiet.
It became empty and I was alone in the big office.
Except for the hum of Computers.
I leaned back Slightly, rubbing my eyes.
Then I heard footsteps and I froze.
Ryan Stopped beside my desk and then he Spoke.
“If you Can’t handle the workload, you Can resign and drop your resignation letter on my table tomorrow.”
My fingers Stopped moving Completely.
I Slowly lifted my head.
And for the first time Since morning, I Saw Something different in his eyes… Something Closer to certainty, like he was waiting for me to break.
I Swallowed..
“I’m not leaving,” I Said quietly.
There was a Pause, then he leaned Slightly Closer and talked.
“Then you have to do all the work I give you without complaining, Chloe.”
He said and walked away…
Chloe? Is he kidding me?
The name resounded in my ears
“But my name is Emily not Chloe." I muttered to myself.
- Writer
