The Man Behind My No-Rules

There were three things I knew about Cassian Rowe before I ever met him. He was rich. He was powerful. And nobody stayed in his company for. very long. The last part worried me. Not because I cared about the. reputation of a billionaire CEO. I didn’t. I cared because I desperately needed a job. My rent was already overdue. My electricity bill was sitting unopened on the kitchen counter, and my bank account had enough. money to keep me alive for perhaps another week. So when I stood in front of the forty-story glass building belonging to Rowe & Co., I took a deep breath. Don’t mess this up. Then I walked inside. Part 1 The lobby looked more like a luxury hotel than an office. Polished marble covered the floor, enormous windows overlooked the city, and everyone seemed perfectly dressed. Everyone except me. I looked down at my plain black blouse and skirt. Professional. Clean. But definitely not expensive. “Miss Vale?” I looked up. A woman in a navy suit approached me. “I’m Mira Solenne. Human Resources.” “Seren Vale.” “I know.” I frowned. “You know me?” She smiled. “You’re the applicant who argued with Cassian Rowe during her interview.” I closed my eyes. Of course she knew. Three days ago, I’d walked into Cassian Rowe’s office expecting a normal interview. Instead, the most intimidating man I’d ever seen had sat behind his desk and studied my résumé. Then he’d looked directly at me. “Why should I hire you?” The question itself hadn’t bothered me. His tone had. It sounded as though he’d already decided I wasn’t good enough. So I’d answered honestly. “Why should I want to work for you?” The silence afterward had been painful. He’d leaned back in his chair. “What makes you think you have a choice?” “Because you need an employee.” His eyebrow had risen. “And?” “And I need a job.” For a second, I’d thought I’d seen amusement in his eyes. Now Mira was staring at me. “You really said that?” “I did.” “You’re brave.” “No.” I looked toward the elevators. “I’m desperate.” She laughed. “That may be why he hired you.” I blinked. “He hired me?” Mira handed me a badge. I stared at it. SEREN VALE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT — CEO’S OFFICE “Executive assistant?” “Yes.” “I applied for an administrative assistant position.” “You did.” “So why am I—” “Mr. Rowe changed the position.” “Why?” “You’ll have to ask him.” Before I could respond, Mira pressed the elevator button. Then she suddenly turned serious. “There are rules.” “Of course there are.” “First, never touch anything on Mr. Rowe’s desk unless he asks you to.” “Fine.” “Second, don’t enter his private office when the door is closed.” “Fine.” “Third, never discuss his personal life.” “That seems easy.” Mira gave me a strange look. “It isn’t.” She stepped into the elevator. “And there’s one more.” I followed. “What?” She lowered her voice. “Never go to the seventh floor after midnight.” I stared at her. “Why?” “Just don’t.” “What is on the seventh floor?” The elevator doors opened. Mira stepped out. “Something you don’t want to know about.” Then she walked away. I stood there for a moment. Something about her answer made me uncomfortable. Part 2 My first day began badly. At 9:13 a.m., I spilled coffee on Cassian Rowe. Not a few drops. Almost the entire cup. It landed directly on his white shirt. I froze. He looked down at the stain. Then slowly looked at me. “I can explain.” “I hope you can.” “I was carrying too many things.” “You were carrying one coffee.” “And documents.” “You had three documents.” I swallowed. “You counted?” “I notice everything.” I reached for a tissue. “I’m sorry.” “Leave it.” His fingers briefly touched mine as he stopped me. Then he released my hand. “Get the contracts.” “Yes, Mr. Rowe.” He looked at me. “I told you during the interview.” I frowned. “What?” “Don’t call me that.” I remembered. “What should I call you?” “Cassian.” I hesitated. “Cassian.” Something changed in his expression. Only for a second. Then he looked away. “Get the contracts.” I turned toward the door. “Seren.” I stopped. “Yes?” “You’re nervous.” “No.” “You are.” I smiled awkwardly. “Maybe because I just ruined your shirt.” He looked down. Then back at me. “Maybe.” I expected anger. Instead, the corner of his mouth lifted. It was the first time I’d seen him smile. And strangely, I wanted to see it again. Part 3 A week passed. I learned Cassian’s routines. He arrived at 7:30 every morning. He left late. He hated unnecessary meetings. He preferred handwritten notes. He never talked about his family. And he never discussed relationships. One afternoon, I noticed something strange on his calendar. Seventh Floor — 11:30 p.m. No name. No company. Just that. I looked toward his office. “Cassian?” He looked up. “Yes?” “There is something on your calendar.” I showed him. His expression immediately changed. “Delete it.” “Should I reschedule?” “No.” “Then what is it?” His eyes met mine. “Nothing.” I knew he was lying. “Okay.” I deleted it. But I couldn’t stop thinking about it. That night, I stayed late to finish a report. At 11:20 p.m., I heard footsteps. Cassian was walking toward the elevator. His jacket was gone, and his tie was loosened. “You’re still here?” “Yes.” “You should leave.” “I’ll be done soon.” “No.” His voice was firm. “Go home.” “Why?” “Because it’s late.” “I’ve stayed late before.” “Not tonight.” The elevator doors opened. He stepped inside. Before they closed, he looked at me. “Seren.” “Yes?” “Don’t go to the seventh floor.” The doors closed. I stared at them. Then at the clock. 11:23 p.m. I should have gone home. Instead, I finished my report. At 11:58, I packed my bag. Then I looked at the elevator. The seventh-floor button was glowing. I remembered Mira’s warning. Never go to the seventh floor after midnight. I should have listened. I didn’t. I pressed the button. Part 4. The elevator stopped. The doors opened. Darkness. I stepped out. The entire floor was silent. No employees. No lights. Only emergency lamps glowing along the walls. “Hello?” Nothing. Then I heard a door closing somewhere ahead. I followed the sound. At the end of the hallway stood a large black door. Light shone beneath it. I reached for the handle. “Don’t.” I froze. I knew that voice. I turned. Cassian stood behind me. But he didn’t look like the man I’d seen all week. He looked angry. And strangely afraid. “What are you doing here?” “I got curious.” “Go downstairs.” “What’s behind this door?” “Nothing.” “Then why can’t I see it?” His jaw tightened. “Seren.” “Cassian.” He stared at me. Then looked toward the door. “This floor contains things that should have stayed buried.” “What things?” “Things that have nothing to do with you.” “Then why are you afraid I’ll see them?” His expression changed. “Because they have everything to do with. you.” My heart stopped. “What?” He was silent. I stepped closer. “Cassian, what is this place?” He finally answered. “Your father worked here.” The world seemed to stop. “My father?” “Yes.” “When?” “Eight years ago.” I shook my head. “That can’t be true.” “It is.” “My father was never connected to Rowe & Co.” “He was.” “Why didn’t I know?” “Because he didn’t want you to.” I stared at him. “You knew my father?” “Yes.” “How?” Silence. “Cassian.” His eyes met mine. “I was there the night he died.” My blood ran cold. “What?” “He knew he was in danger.” “Then why didn’t you save him?” His face tightened. “I tried.” “Did you?” “I did everything I could.” “Then why didn’t you tell me?” “Because your father asked me not to.” I couldn’t breathe. “He asked you to protect me?” “Yes.” “For how long?” Cassian’s gaze never left mine. “Eight years.” My heart broke. “You’ve been watching me?” “From a distance.” “Why?” “Because you deserved a normal life.” “And now?” He took a step closer. “Now your life isn’t normal anymore.” Part 5 I left without another word. The next morning, I barely slept. My father’s photograph sat beside my bed. He was smiling. I was six years old in the picture. He had always promised he’d protect me. But after he died, someone else had apparently taken that responsibility. Cassian. I still didn’t understand why. My phone suddenly rang. Unknown number. I answered. “Hello?” Silence. Then a man’s voice. “Stay away from Cassian Rowe.” My blood ran cold. “Who are you?” “You don’t know what he did.” “What did he do?” The man laughed softly. “Ask him who was holding the gun.” The call ended. The next morning, Cassian immediately noticed something was wrong. “You look tired.” “I am.” “What happened?” “Nothing.” His eyes narrowed. “Seren.” I placed a folder on his desk. “Your ten o’clock meeting has been moved to eleven.” He didn’t look at it. “Who called you?” I froze. “How did you know?” “Because you’re avoiding eye contact.” I looked at him. “Someone called me last night.” His expression hardened. “What did they say?” “They told me to stay away from you.” His jaw tightened. “What else?” “They told me to ask who was holding the gun when my father died.” Silence. I watched him carefully. “Cassian?” He closed his eyes. Then opened them. “You need to go home.” “Answer me.” “Seren.” “Were you holding a gun when my father died?” He didn’t answer. That was enough. “You were.” “I was there.” “That isn’t what I asked.” His hands tightened against the desk. “Yes.” My eyes filled with tears. “You were holding the gun.” “I didn’t shoot him.” “Then who did?” “I don’t know.” “Why should I believe you?” “You shouldn’t.” My heart sank. He stepped toward me. “I can’t ask you to trust me.” “Then what do you want?” His voice became quiet. “To stay alive.” He looked directly into my eyes. “That’s all I want.” Part 6. That evening, I returned home. The apartment was quiet. Too quiet. I switched on the lights. Everything looked normal. I locked the door and walked toward my bedroom. Then I stopped. Something was lying on my pillow. A white envelope. My name was written across it. SEREN VALE My hands began shaking. I opened it. Inside was a photograph. My father. Cassian. And a third man I didn’t recognize. On the back was a date. Eight years ago. Underneath it were six words. HE KNOWS WHY YOUR FATHER DIED. My phone vibrated. Another unknown number. One message. DON’T TRUST CASSIAN. Another message arrived. HE DIDN’T SAVE YOUR FATHER. Then another. HE WAS THERE WHEN YOUR FATHER DIED. I dropped the phone onto the bed. Then I noticed something written across the photograph. A sentence in my father’s handwriting. I knew it immediately. My hands trembled as I read it. SEREN, IF CASSIAN EVER FINDS YOU, DO NOT FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM. I couldn’t breathe. There was another line beneath it. One that made my blood run cold. HE WILL BE THE ONE WHO DESTROYS YOU. I stared at the photograph. Then at my phone. Then toward the locked door. For the first time since I started working at Rowe. & Co., I understood something. The seventh floor wasn’t the real secret. Cassian Rowe was. END OF EPISODE 1