BROKEN SILENCE

CHAPTER ONE

Class, work, gym, eat, sleep, repeat.

That was my daily routine, or at least the illusion of one I’d crafted to convince myself I was normal. Ever since I ran away from home,( if I could even call it that ) immediately after graduating from high school cause I just couldn’t survive it anymore, it was and still is hard cause of my mental illness especially my panic attacks which surprisingly seems to have reduced.

But I wouldn’t have survived it all without Catherine.

Catherine was a woman in her late forties who had taken me off the streets, housed me, and hired me to stock shelves at her quiet corner library. Even when the store struggled, she paid me a wage and treated my dark days with quiet patience rather than disgust. Oh did I mention she paid my tuition, living expenses and pretty much every other expense that was to be paid during my first year of college and also gave me a monthly allowance?

Yeah she did.

She was the mother I had always deserved. She notices even the slightest change in my mood and also knows how to calm me down during any of my attacks, something my birth mother would never do, so if I ever mention “my mom” just know she’s the one I’m referring to.

……………………………

I checked my watch again for the hundredth time, time seemed to drag, torturing me, I’ve been waiting in the lobby for what seemed like hours, already impatient and anxious.

My phone vibrated in my palm, breaking the spiral. I looked down at the screen and felt the immediate, softening warmth that always came with seeing Catherine’s name.

"Hello?" I answered softly, stepping away from the lobby.

"Sarah, my baby! I’m so sorry I didn’t call earlier," Catherine’s voice rushed through the receiver, warm and breathless. "Please tell me you’re doing okay. Have they called you in yet?"

A tiny smile managed to break through my tension. Catherine wasn't my biological mother—my real parents had made it clear where I stood the moment I spoke up about my brother—but she was the only woman who had ever treated me like family. She took me in off the streets, gave me a quiet job stocking shelves at her failing corner bookstore, and treated my dark days with patience instead of disgust.

"Still waiting in the lobby, Mom," I whispered.

"Good. Listen to me, darling. You are capable, intelligent, and strong," she said firmly. "Whatever happens in that room, remember how far you’ve come. Keep pushing, my love."

"Thanks, Mom. I love you."

"Love you too, baby. Now go kick some doors down."

I hung up just as the private executive elevator dinged. The secretary at the desk gestured toward me. "Miss Wills? Mr. Reed will see you now. Floor fifteen, double doors at the end of the hall."

The cool air of the fifteen-floor skyscraper lobby did nothing to stop the drop of sweat trickling down my spine. I adjusted the high collar of my black shirt—my body armor—making sure every inch of skin was covered. I smoothed my skirt for the hundredth time, my fingers trembling slightly.

“No one will believe you.”

“You’re nothing but a slut.”

The phantom voice echoed in the back of my mind, loud and suffocating. My throat constricted, and for a terrifying second, the marble floor beneath my heels felt like it was caving in.

Breathe, Sarah. Just breathe. You’re not there anymore.

I forced my lungs to expand, grounding myself in the quiet hum of the fluorescent lights. I couldn't afford a panic attack here. Not today.

I swallowed hard, smoothed my skirt one last time, and stepped into the lift.

The top-floor office was vast, lined with floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the skyline. Behind a heavy walnut desk sat Ryan Reed.

He didn't look up when I entered. His dark hair was immaculately styled, his dress shirt sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing a full sleeve tattoo on his left hand. The air around him practically hummed with power and unyielding authority.

"He flipped through my file. "You have impressive academic marks, but your employment history lists only two years at an independent bookstore. This is an Executive Assistant position to the CEO. It requires discretion, absolute precision, and the ability to handle high-stress environments. Why should I hire someone with zero corporate experience?"

My heart hammered against my ribs, but I met his sharp gaze without flinching.

"Because someone with corporate experience relies on old habits, Mr. Reed," I replied steadily. "I offer complete adaptability. I don't get distracted, I don't bring office drama, and I maintain quiet efficiency under pressure."

A heavy silence filled the room.

"Please stand up for a moment, Miss Wills," he instructed, analyzing me closely.

I stood up, keeping my posture rigid despite my nerves.

"Good. You may sit," he said, nodding slowly. "Do you have children or dependent relatives who might cause unexpected absences?"

“No I don’t have kids neither do I have a dependent parent”

He closed my file with a deliberate snap. He pulled a thick document from his desk drawer and slid it across the mahogany wood toward me.

“You’re hired. You start tomorrow”

Hold on, did he just say HIRED?!!

I blinked, momentarily thrown off by his sudden decision. "I... got the job?"

“Miss Wills, If you’re going to work for me, you should know I hate repeating myself, I said you’re hired and you start tomorrow” he said glaring at me

“Was that clear”

“Yes, very clear sir”

“Good” He dropped the document he was holding in front of me.

“I am a man that doesn’t like wasting time, that’s our contract, go through it before signing” he said, his tone icy. Going back to the document he was working on when i entered.

I took a deep breath before opening the document, scanning through the strict requirements:

It wasn’t something I couldn’t handle— ‘don’t be late or you’re fired, work six days week( Saturday included) cannot leave work when he’s still there unless he tells me to go, I am not allowed to have another job this, as if I could handle it, always have to dress well cause I’m among the face of the company since I’ll be with him most of the time’ no wonder he asked me to stand up

Then I got to the salary part

“Eight thousand dollars per month???” I whispered, my voice trembling.

“You will be handling sensitive company data, my daily schedule, and direct communications. That’s just the base salary, with performance adjustments after the ninety-day probationary period."

I stared at the document, my brain trying to process the numbers. Eight thousand a month. It wasn't just a job; it was complete independence. It was safety.

"Are there any issues with those terms, Miss Wills?" he asked, watching my reaction closely.

"No, sir," I said, picking up the pen he offered. "No issues at all."

"Good. Sign the last page and leave it with Dani on your way out, and meet her tomorrow to show you around or something. Welcome to Reed Enterprises."

I nodded standing up

“Thank you so much Mr Reed”

“Remember resumption time is 9:00 am sharp, I expect you to be here beforehand, and lateness will not be tolerated.”

“Noted sir”

“Good. I expect your best.”

“I promise sir”