The tycoon's hidden heart

Episode 3

Lila’s boots clicked sharply as she walked through the well polished marble floor of Wolfe Industries’, . Her heart ran rampant against her ribs, each beat was a reminder of her mission: infiltrate Damien Wolfe’s empire, uncover proof of his corruption, and expose him for all his evil and for destroying her father’s life. The email from yesterday burned in her mind: *Interview for assistant position, Wolfe Industries. 9 AM.* This was her chance to get close to Project Shadow, the shady deal tied to Wolfe’s latest scheme. But Dylan’s face and those green eyes, with the disarming smile from the diner, kept popping into her thoughts, disrupting her focus. She shoved the distraction aside, readjusted her stiff blazer. She wasn’t here to flirt with some accountant. She was here for justice.

The elevator ride up to the 42nd floor felt like forever, the walls covered with mirrors, forcing Lila to face her reflection: auburn hair pulled into a tight bun, hazel eyes sharp with determination, but a little evidence of doubt lingered. Her father’s voice from five years ago echoing in her mind, his hands trembling as he signed away Monroe Tech: *“They took everything, Lila. Don’t let them win.”* She wouldn’t. Not when she was this close to her target, to crushing the man who’d crushed him.

The doors slid open, unveiling a simple yet sleek hallway decorated with abstract art lined accordingly and perfectly. The receptionist with a black suit led Lila into the conference room. Inside, already waiting, a man in a well tailored suit stood backing her, staring at a tablet. Marcus, the CFO, according to his nameplate. He gave her a sharp gaze sizing her up as she entered, like he was a hawk eyeing his prey. Lila’s gut twisted, this guy didn’t trust her, and she didn't trust him either.

“Ms. Monroe,” Marcus said, his voice clipped as he gestured for her to sit. “Your resume is light on the corporate world. Why Wolfe Industries?”

Lila forced a smile, channeling the poised journalist she’d trained to be. “I’m looking for a challenge. Your company’s leading the tech world. I don't think there's anyone Who wouldn’t want to be part of that” Her words were smooth, but her eyes drifted to a file laying on the table labeled *Project Shadow*, from the edges it like it had been handled too often. Her fingers were itching to grab it, but she couldn't cause Marcus’s stare pinned her in place.

He leaned forward. “You were working as a barista. Not exactly high-stakes. What makes you think that you can handle the cooperate world?”

Lila’s jaw tightened, but she kept her tone smooth and even. “I’m adaptable. I’ve juggled deadlines, difficult people, and long hours. I can handle pressure.” She also leaned forward slightly, meeting his gaze. “And I’m good at what I do,digging up things that want to stay hidden.” Those words slipped out, a little too direct, and Marcus’s eyes intensified.

“ Dylan Carter recommended you,” he said, his tone skeptical. “He claims you’re sharp. Care to explain how you know him?”

Lila’s breath caught. *Dylan?* The latte guy from Brewed Awakening? Her mind raced back to their diner chat, his easy laugh and probing questions about her dreams. How did a random accountant have pull at Wolfe Industries? “We met at the café,” she said, keeping her voice steady. “He seemed… observant. Didn’t realize he had that kind of sway.”

Marcus snorted softly. “Dylan’s resourceful. Let’s see if you are. Tell me about your skills.”

Lila rattled off her cover story—admin work, research, multitasking—while her mind churned. Dylan’s involvement was a red flag. Was he more than he seemed? Her eyes flicked back to the *Project Shadow* file. If she could just get a peek, it might tie Wolfe to her father’s ruin. She needed this job, needed to be inside the machine to tear it apart. Marcus asked about her organizational skills, but she barely heard him, her focus on the file. She had to play this smart.

The interview wrapped with a curt nod from Marcus. “We’ll be in touch. Dylan will show you out.” As if summoned, the door swung open, and there he was—Dylan, in a slightly wrinkled blazer, his hoodie traded for a tie that looked like it had fought him and won. His smile was warm, but Lila’s instincts screamed. He was too convenient, too connected to this place.

“Congrats, you survived Marcus,” Dylan said, walking alongside her as they headed down the hall. “He actually is a tough nut.”

“Yeah, well, so am I, I'm tougher even,” Lila shot back, while observing him. His easy charm felt like a mask, but his eyes held a flicker of something deeper—guilt? Amusement? “How’d you swing recommending me? You barely know me.”

Dylan grinned, shrugging it of but his gaze sharp. “I’ve got a good eye the talented. Plus, you looked like you could handle the sharks in this place.” He paused by a window, staring outside. “What do you think of Wolfe Industries? Big, scary empire, or just another gig?”

Lila’s gaze locked on the *Wolfe* logo etched in glass, her father’s broken voice echoing in her ears. “It’s a machine,” she said, her voice low with barely veiled venom. “Grinds up anyone who gets in its way.” She held back the rest of her comments, but Dylan’s eyes softened, almost like he could see the edge of her pain.

“You’re not wrong,” he said quietly, his tone was raw like it was carrying a weight and that made her pause. “But sometimes, there’s more to things than what the headlines or media says.”

His words hung between them, heavy with underlying meaning. Lila’s phone buzzed in her pocket, bringing her attention back. A text from Tess: *Pier meeting tonight. Hacked a camera feed—looks shady. You in?* Her pulse spiked. The Project Shadow lead from the café laptop was real, and tonight’s meeting could be her breakthrough. But Dylan’s gaze lingered, like he was peeling back her layers. Was he just a nosy consultant, or was he tied to Wolfe’s secrets?

“Got somewhere to be?” Dylan asked, nodding at her phone with a teasing smile.

“Just a friend,” Lila said, pocketing it fast. “Just wondering,has anyone ever told you that you are really nosy for an accountant?”

He laughed at her comment, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “And you’re cagey for a barista. Guess we’re both full of surprises.” They reached the elevator, and Lila’s mind raced. She needed to slip back into that conference room, maybe plant a bug or snag a photo of that file. But she had a problem which was Dylan's presence, he was too close, too attentive, too observant.

The elevator doors opened, a man dressed in a dark coat brushed past them, his gaze met Lila’s for a split second before he disappeared into the lobby crowd. The same coat from outside the café. Her stomach tightened, her hand clutching hard on her phone. She glanced at Dylan, whose jaw had tightened, his easy demeanor had completely changed.

“Dylan,” she said, testing to see how he will react or what he'll say, her voice calm and settled. “Do you ever feel like you are being watched?”

“I do,” he said, his tone sharp, his eyes scanned at every corner of the lobby. “Stick around here, you’ll feel it too.” The doors closed, trapping them in the elevator’s hum. Lila’s phone buzzed again—a photo from Tess, grainy but unmistakable: the man in the dark coat, holding a burner phone outside Wolfe Industries, his face half-turned toward a black SUV. But what froze her blood was the background—a glimpse of Dylan’s hoodie, standing too close to the stranger.

*Was Dylan working with Wolfe’s enemies, or was he the one setting her up?*

---