Dancing With The Enemy

CHAPTER 2

(Edward's POV)

I stood by the coffee machine, the steady stream of dark liquid filling my cup. It was one of the few moments I allowed myself some peace. The aroma of fresh coffee wafted through the office, a brief respite before diving back into the chaos of numbers, emails, and meetings. My back was to the door when I heard the familiar knock, followed by the sound of it opening.

My jaw tightened. Interruptions were the last thing I needed right now.

“Come in,” I said flatly.

I didn’t turn around immediately. There was no need to. I already knew it was Philip—punctual and formal, as always. I finished pouring my coffee, taking a small sip, relishing the brief moment of stillness. Then Philip spoke, confirming my assumption.

“Good morning, Mr. Jones,” Philip started with that overly formal tone of his. He always sounded like he was about to recite some prepared speech.

I exhaled slowly, setting the cup down on the counter before finally turning around. “Morning, Philip,” I responded coolly.

But as I turned, something—or rather, someone—caught my eye. She stood next to Philip, tall, composed, her dark, curly hair framing her face in a way that made her look striking. For a brief moment, I hesitated.

“You?” The words came right out of my thoughts.

I could read the expression of confusion, realization and camouflage all at once on her face as I said the word. She looked familiar, like a half-forgotten face from a dream. But I quickly dismissed the thought. Whatever it was, it didn’t matter.

It’s not like me to be caught off guard, and I wasn’t going to start now. Instead, I shifted my focus back to Philip, keeping my cool as if the momentary flicker of recognition never happened.

“Why are you here, Philip?” I asked, more as a formality than out of any real curiosity. I could guess the purpose of his visit.

“I came to personally introduce the new Chief Financial Officer to you. Today is her first day, and she—"

I cut him off mid-sentence, annoyed already. “Are you about to read me her biography, Philip?” I interrupted, already irritated. “I have better things to do.”

I walked over to my desk, slid into my chair and immediately opened my laptop. The numbers on the screen provided an easy distraction from the woman standing before me. I didn’t need introductions or pleasantries. What I needed was results.

Philip stammered, looking like he was caught between a rock and a hard place. Before he could collect himself, the woman beside him stepped forward.

“My name is Tonya. Tonya Kings. I'm the new CFO for your company,” she said, her voice clear and firm.

I paused. The directness in her voice was enough to make me glance up from my screen. I slowly turned my head to look at her. Dark, curly hair framed a face that was as confident as her voice. Her eyes met mine without hesitation.

I hadn’t expected this. Most new employees, especially executives, try too hard to impress, fumbling over their introductions, overly eager to please. But this one—Tonya—stood there like she belonged, like this office was already hers.

“I was beginning to wonder if you could actually speak,” I said coldly, studying her. A test. I wanted to see how far I could push her. I enjoyed seeing people break under pressure, and I had a feeling this woman would be no different.

“I can, actually,” she started, but Philip, ever the peacekeeper, nudged her. Clearly, he didn’t want her to say anything that might set me off. She ignored him and continued, “However, I believe your company has systems and protocols for handling introductions like this. I assume you wouldn’t want to disrespect those, and the same goes for me as a new staff member.”

My eyes narrowed as I leaned forward, our eyes locking in a tense stare. The audacity of this woman. She was challenging me on her first day?

But there was something about the way she held herself, the confidence in her voice—it intrigued me and irritated me at the same time. She wasn’t backing down, and neither was I.

We stared at each other for what felt like minutes, a silent battle of wills. Eventually, I leaned back, breaking the tension. “Tonya, yes?”

“Yes, Mr. Edward. That’s the name,” she said, not a hint of hesitation in her voice.

“I see. I hope you're as good on the job as you are at making first impressions,” I said, my voice laced with warning. “I'll be watching you. Don't disappoint me. You can leave.”

She nodded, and with that same calm, steady demeanor, turned and walked out of the office. I watched her go, noticing the slight smirk on her face. It irritated me more than I wanted to admit.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind her, I turned my focus back to Philip, who was still standing there like a nervous wreck.

“Get out, Philip,” I said coldly.

He scurried out of the office, and I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling. I couldn’t shake the feeling she’d left behind. Who was this woman? And why did she feel so damn familiar? It was unsettling.

I shook my head, trying to push the thought of her away.

---

Later that afternoon, I found myself in the backseat of my car, heading to a meeting with OCJ Group. The day had been a mess of emails and calls, but I couldn’t shake the earlier encounter with Tonya. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face, her eyes challenging me. What the hell was that?

I arrived at the OCJ Group headquarters shortly after, and as usual, eyes followed me as I walked through the building. It was something I was used to—people always paid attention when I entered a room.

I was led to the conference room, where I was scheduled to meet Lizzy Owens, the CEO. I’d worked with her company before, and while I respected her, I wasn’t the type to offer much in terms of pleasantries. Results were all that mattered.

Lizzy entered the room, her confident steps echoing as she approached. She was in her early 40s, and her sharp gray hair and intelligent eyes gave off an air of authority. We shook hands briefly before sitting down to discuss the project.

“I’m glad we could finally meet in person, Mr. Jones,” Lizzy said, her voice professional and measured.

“Likewise,” I replied. “I trust you’ve assembled the best team for this project.”

“Absolutely,” she said. “We’ve brought in our best. They’ve handled similar projects, and I assure you, they won’t disappoint.”

“I want to meet the team lead before I leave,” I said. “It’s important that I assess their capability.”

Lizzy smiled slightly, though there was a hint of hesitation. “Of course. She should be here shortly.”

“She?” I repeated, my irritation rising again. “Are you telling me the team lead is a woman?”

“Yes,” Lizzy replied, her voice firm but careful.

“Mrs Owens, I do not work directly with women.” I said sternly, ensuring she gets the message.

“I understand your concerns Mr Edward. However, she’s the best we have. I wouldn’t have assigned her to this project if I didn’t trust her judgment.”

I wasn’t thrilled by the news. In my experience, working with women in leadership roles was… difficult. I preferred working with people who were efficient and didn’t come with the drama that often accompanied women in power.

“If this project fails, your company will cover every penny I’ve invested in this project. That better be in writing,” I said.

Lizzy’s jaw tightened, but she nodded. “If that’s what it takes to ease your concerns, the agreement will be on your desk by Monday.”

“Fine,” I said shortly. “Now, can I meet her?”

Lizzy nodded and pulled out her phone, making a quick call. “Come to the conference room now,” she said before hanging up.

I leaned back, waiting. A few minutes passed before the door opened, and in walked the team lead.

Her eyes locked onto mine, and I saw the shock in them. She sure looked surprised to see me.

Why, though?

“What the f**k?” she muttered under her breath, clearly stunned.

I blinked, just as surprised. This wasn’t just a coincidence.