Owned by the Billionaire

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Am ready to give my best and learn from any challenges that come my way."

A faint smile tugged at the corners of Ms. Allison's lips. "Good. I appreciate your enthusiasm, Ms. Raine. Now, Come with me, and I'll show you to your new office," Allison offered, motioning for me to follow her down the hallway. As we walked, my anticipation grew, and I couldn't help but wonder what awaited me on the other side of that door.

Navigating through a series of closed offices, Allison eventually stopped outside a wooden-panelled door.

"This is Mr. Knox's office," she said, gently knocking before entering. I followed closely behind, my heart pounding with anticipation.

The room was hushed, and I noticed CEO Knox engrossed in a phone conversation, his back turned towards us.

Despite his focused demeanor, I couldn't help but be captivated by the rich, raspy timbre of his voice as he barked instructions into the receiver. It was a voice that demanded attention.

Seizing the opportunity to gather myself, I took a moment to observe Knox. When he finally turned around, fully aware of our presence.

"I gasped".

I had seen pictures of him in magazines before, but they did no justice to the captivating presence he exuded in person. His husky voice had momentarily halted me, but it was his appearance that rendered me speechless.

Dressed in a white shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up, he revealed tanned, muscular forearms. A loosely knotted black tie hung down his broad chest, perfectly complementing his commanding presence. He was undeniably attractive.

His dark sable hair, neatly cropped to maintain control over its waves, accentuated his features. Sludgy green eyes, intense and piercing, seemed to penetrate right through me. The slight stubble on his square jaw only enhanced his rugged handsomeness, while his high cheekbones and lightly tanned complexion added to his allure. He was nothing short of devastating.

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I observed him, exhaustedly tugging at his crimson tie before unbuttoning the top button of his shirt. His tanned hands, large yet elegant, contrasted against the white fabric.

The expression on his face revealed a mix of concentration and fatigue as he listened attentively to the person on the other end of the line. I couldn't help but wonder who he was speaking to, hoping to catch a glimpse into the world of this investment genius.

Finally ending the call with a brusque click, Knox finally looked at me, assessed me in one sweeping motion, and to my mortification, his narrowed green eyes settled on me—where they remained for several long, unnerving seconds. It felt as if he could see right through me, dissecting my every thought and emotion.

I had never before known someone with eyes that could pin a person to the spot with a mere look, like he was doing to me now. I felt the color rise to my cheeks, partly in embarrassment and partly from the sheer pressure and intensity of his gaze. My palms grew clammy, and I fumbled with the strap of my bag, desperately trying to appear composed.

A winged black eyebrow slightly rose in question.

"Who the hell are you?"

Knox's voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife.

I snapped myself out of my ridiculous inertness, forcing myself to meet his gaze. My instincts kicked in, and I shifted into high alert. My back straightened, and I willed my voice not to tremble.

"I —"

"This is 'Raine Walker,'" I watched dumbly as Ms. Allison introduced me to him.

"Your personal secretary," she stated confidently.

"She was also interviewed by your father," she added.

Knox expressed his displeasure, pursing his lips. "Excuse me?"

Knox's anger simmered beneath the surface as he glanced at me, his eyes lingering on my face. I had never before known someone with eyes that could pin a person to the spot with a mere look, like he was doing to me now. I felt the color rise to my cheeks, partly in embarrassment and partly from the sheer pressure and intensity of his gaze.

He seems to be lost in before he finally speaks up.

Allison, I have to admit, I'm not thrilled about this arrangement," he stated, his voice tinged with annoyance. "Why didn't Father inform me about this?"

Allison maintained her composure, meeting his gaze steadily. "Your father believed it was time for you to have a fresh perspective. Raine impressed him during the interview, and he thought she would be a valuable addition to your team."

Knox's frustration lingered, but he turned his attention towards me. His piercing eyes examined me, causing a shiver to run down my spine. "And you think I needed someone

inexperienced? She doesn't look experienced," he scoffed dismissively, his gaze falling and resting uncomfortably on my chest. To my surprise, I found that I couldn’t breathe and my face reddened even more so with this dilemma. It seemed like an eternity before his gaze lifted to my face once again.

Feeling a mix of self-consciousness and determination, I straightened my posture and met his gaze with a steady look. "Mr. Knox I may be young, but I assure you, I am capable and eager to prove myself. I learn quickly, and I am committed to supporting you in any way I can."

Knox's eyebrows lifted in surprise at my direct response. For a moment, silence filled the room as he considered my words. The tension in the air was palpable, and I wondered how he would react.

Finally, Knox exhaled sharply, his initial anger seemingly subsiding. "Very well, Allison. We'll see how this plays out." With that, he turned on his heel and left the office, leaving me feeling a mix of relief and trepidation.

Ms. Allison let out a deep breath that I could hear, and for the first time ever, I saw a slight smile on her slender, pale face.

"That went rather well."

"Are you kidding me?" I muttered audibly, narrowing my eyes. "He already hates me!"

"Trust me, Miss Raine. It went well."

"I believe you were told to bring some documents?"

"Yes. I brought them," I said, handing her the documents.

She collected them and quickly scanned through, nodding in satisfaction.

Now…” let get you settled in your new office, she said smiling.

We walked down the hallway, to the third room, opposite Knox office. I looked around the office which would be my office, interior decor, everything design was done moderately

"Have a seat. I'll show you what you need to get started, and before you know it, you'll excel on your own," Allison kindly said.

In the middle of the room, was a large desk. On top of it sat a high-end computer and an overflowing in-and-out box. I sat behind the desk As Allison and I worked together for the rest of the morning. I felt a bit overwhelmed, but I genuinely enjoyed Allison's company and was starting to grasp some of the tasks they were doing. After lunch, I felt comfortable enough to admit to Allison that I wasn't exactly qualified for the position, but I was a quick learner and would study day and night to master the systems.

Allison reassured me that Andrew must have seen something in me and that he only hired the best.

"So, I want you to take note of Knox's likes and dislikes. It's very important," she said, looking serious.

I pulled out a notepad from my bag, intrigued.

"Alright, he likes his coffee hot, scaldingly hot, and his minutes need to be on his desk twenty to thirty minutes before he asks for them. Under no circumstances should you put through a call from someone he doesn't want to speak to. That includes random press, friends, family, dates... anyone who isn't on his list for the day. It doesn't matter how urgent it sounds."

As Allison spoke, I scribbled down the details. Most of it seemed like common sense, but it was good to know how strict the boss would be before experiencing it firsthand.

"Don't bring personal issues into work, don't cough or appear sick around him, and don't smile too much," Allison concluded.

"Smile too much?"

"Yeah, he hates it."

"I'm a cheerful person, and I'm pretty sure that's not a fireable offense," I said, folding the notepad and putting it back in my bag.

"You might be surprised. Good luck, you're going to need it," she said.

And with that she left me and returned to her office.