Chapter 2
1032 Words
The next morning, Elena Hayes stood on the sidewalk in front of Knight Enterprises’ towering glass skyscraper, clutching her worn leather bag to her chest. The building glittered in the sunlight like a monument to money and power. Just walking past the revolving doors made her palms sweat.
What am I doing here?
She could’ve run. She should’ve run. Alexander Knight didn’t know where she lived. He probably had more important things to do than hunt down a waitress who ruined his suit. But something about the way he had looked at her last night — a challenge in those cold blue eyes, a warning in his voice — had made her believe he absolutely would track her down. And crush her like an ant.
No, better to face the lion’s den on her own terms.
She smoothed down her thrift-store blouse and stepped inside. The lobby stretched upward with marble floors and steel beams, employees in sleek suits rushing about like models in a luxury commercial. Bella felt every head turn as she approached the reception desk.
The woman behind it looked like she’d stepped out of Vogue. “Good morning. Do you have an appointment?”
Bella’s voice wavered. “Um… Elena Hayes. Mr. Knight is… expecting me?”
The receptionist’s brows lifted almost imperceptibly. A few keystrokes later, she gave Elena a polished smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Twenty-seventh floor. His assistant will meet you.”
Elena thanked her and rode the elevator up, her stomach in knots. Each ding of the floor felt like a countdown to her execution.
When the doors opened, a man in a sleek gray suit was waiting. He was handsome in a perfectly put-together way — dark hair, square jaw, an efficient air that screamed he had no time for nonsense.
“Miss Hayes?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Daniel, Mr. Knight’s assistant. Follow me.”
She trailed after him, trying not to gawk at the sleek offices, the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, the staff who all looked like they belonged on magazine covers. Everything screamed perfection. Everything screamed money.
And then she saw him.
Alexander Knight stood behind a massive glass desk, speaking into his phone in a low, commanding tone. His suit today was black, flawless, his tie perfectly knotted. Not a trace of last night’s wine stain remained.
But when his eyes lifted from the phone and landed on her, Elena’s breath hitched.
The same icy gaze. The same ruthless intensity.
He ended his call without a word of goodbye and leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “Miss Hayes. You’re on time. I wasn’t sure you would be.”
Her pride kicked in. She lifted her chin. “I said I’d be here.”
A faint curve touched his lips. “Good. Let’s discuss the terms of your… repayment.”
Daniel handed her a folder and left silently, shutting the door behind him.
Elena glanced down, flipping it open. A neatly typed contract stared back at her.
Her jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious.”
“Oh, I assure you, I am.”
“You want me to work for you as your personal assistant?” she demanded. “For six months?”
“Correct.” His tone was maddeningly calm. “Six months should cover the debt you owe me.”
She gaped at him. “That’s insane. It was a suit! A piece of fabric. There’s dry cleaning, there’s—”
“That suit was handmade in Milan, Miss Hayes,” he cut in smoothly. “Irreplaceable. And frankly, it’s not the suit that bothers me. It’s the humiliation. You made me look like a fool in front of the most powerful people in this city. That debt is far greater than money.”
Her cheeks flamed. “It was an accident. You act like I plotted against you.”
His eyes narrowed, sharp and unyielding. “Accidents have consequences. Do you think I built my empire by letting people walk away when they wronged me?”
She opened her mouth to argue, but something in his voice — the hard edge of command, the absolute certainty — made the words stick in her throat. He wasn’t bluffing. If she refused, he’d make sure she never worked again. He had that kind of power.
Bella snapped the folder shut. “Fine. Six months. But don’t expect me to bow and scrape.”
For the first time, his lips curved into something resembling a real smile. Not warm, not soft, but amused. “Good. I’d be bored if you did.”
Her pulse skipped. Was that… a compliment?
“Your duties start now,” he continued, standing and coming around the desk. The sheer size of him as he approached made her breath catch. “You’ll manage my schedule, handle correspondence, and ensure my day runs without interruption. Daniel will train you. Do not be late. Do not make excuses. And above all—” His gaze locked onto hers, searing. “—do not challenge me in front of others. Do we understand each other?”
Her heart pounded. Everything in her screamed to tell him off, to walk out and never look back. But she squared her shoulders instead.
“Crystal clear,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm inside her.
“Good.” He turned away, dismissing her already. “Daniel will show you to your desk. Welcome to Knight Enterprises, Miss Hayes.”
She followed Daniel out, fuming, but also shaken. Because beneath her anger, beneath her defiance, one terrifying truth lingered.
Alexander Knight didn’t just intimidate her.
He fascinated her.
- Writer
