CHAPTER TWO
1154 Words
ARIA
My feet felt glued to the floor as Damian Cross stepped toward me. The room suddenly felt too big, too quiet, too sharp around the edges. His eyes didn’t leave mine for a second, dark, cold, focused, like he could read the thoughts I hadn’t said out loud.
“Come closer,” he repeated.
I took a slow step, then another.
The air between us felt thick, heavy, almost warm from his presence.
Up close, he was even more intimidating. Tall, broad shoulders. A suit so perfect it looked like part of his skin. His jaw sharp, hair dark and neat, not a strand out of place. He looked like someone who never lost control of anything, not even himself.
He studied me, a faint frown as if trying to figure out what I was hiding. I tried not to shake under his stare.
“You made it on time,” he said, voice low and steady. “Most applicants don’t.”
“I… I didn’t want to be late,” I managed, my voice thin.
He nodded. “Good. Punctuality matters here.”
The office felt cold, even though the heater hummed softly.
Everything was clean, modern, and polished. Huge windows showed the rainy city outside. Shelves lined with files and a few metal ornaments. No family pictures. No warmth. It was the kind of space that swallowed sound.
“This is a personal assistant position,” he said, walking toward his desk. “It requires loyalty, privacy, discipline. Can you handle that?”
I nodded, throat tight.
“Speak,” he said, eyes narrowing slightly. “I want to hear your voice.”
“Yes,” I said quickly. “I can handle it.”
He studied me. I wondered if he could hear my heart. It felt loud enough.
He opened my file and flipped through the pages. The soft turning of paper filled the room. My nerves buzzed under my skin.
“What made you apply?” he asked without looking up.
The truth almost slipped out: I’m running. I’m scared. I need somewhere to breathe. But I swallowed it.
“I need a job,” I said softly.
He lifted his eyes. “Everyone needs a job. Why this one?”
I paused. Words refused to come. His stare grew colder with my silence.
“I…” I forced the words out. “I need a fresh start.”
He closed the file. “I expect honesty, Aria. Even if you think I won’t like the answer.”
He picked up a folder and handed it to me, heavier than I expected.
“Tasks. Simple ones to start. Organize meetings, deliver contracts, arrange tomorrow’s schedule.”
I held it close. “Yes, sir.”
“Your interview continues through the day. Fail, you leave. Succeed, you’ll know by sunset.”
“Now go. Close the door behind you.”
I stepped out. Heart racing. The hallway felt colder than before.
As I turned the corner, a voice called out behind me.
“Hey, newbie!”
I spun. Vanessa leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips.
“You’ve met him already, huh?” she said, eyes scanning me.
“I… I don’t know what you mean,” I stammered.
She chuckled, tilting her head. “Oh, come on. Look at you. Gorgeous. Perfect curves, perfect shape.”
I flushed. “I… I’m just here to work.”
Vanessa laughed softly, a teasing, sharp sound. “Work? Sure. But we all know what kind of man he is. Demanding, impossible to impress… and yet, here you are. I can see it in your eyes. You’re liking him already.”
I looked away, heart hammering.
She leaned closer, whispering, a glint in her eyes. “It’s okay. He has that effect on people. Some crumble under his gaze. Some wish they never walked into his office.”
Straightening, she tapped my shoulder lightly, then walked away, leaving me feeling both exposed and strangely encouraged.
I took a deep breath. Contracts first. Simple. Deliver the contracts. Don’t mess this up.
I had barely caught my breath after delivering them when a voice behind me made me jump.
“You’re the new secretary, right?”
People must really like talking in this office, I thought.
I spun around. A young woman with a clipboard smiled at me.
“Uh… yes. That’s me,” I said, clutching the folder like it could protect me.
“The boss is heading out for a meeting. You should prepare yourself to meet him,” she said, stepping aside.
Prepare myself? I blinked. Wait. I thought I came for an interview, not to work.
She didn’t let me finish before walking away. Did I miss a memo? Am I actually hired already? Did I just walk into a trap?
I knocked lightly.
“Sir?”
“Come in,” he said, calm and measured.
I stepped inside. Damian Cross leaned against his desk, scrolling through his phone. He didn’t look up immediately.
“Check your email,” he said finally, eyes still fixed on the screen.
I fumbled with my phone. My inbox popped open: Welcome to the team, Aria. Damian Cross personally approved your hiring.
I stared. Blinked. Was it really that easy, that fast?
He finally looked up, raising a dark eyebrow.
“I can see your thoughts, by the way.”
I froze, cheeks heating.
“I… I didn’t think—”
“I know,” he said smoothly, almost amused. “Most people assume there will be tests, trials, paperwork. I like simplicity.”
He closed the laptop and gestured.
“We have a short ride. Come with me.”
The car waiting outside wasn’t just a Mercedes. It looked like something pulled straight out of a billionaire’s nightmare. Black, glossy, reflective, swallowing every shadow on the street. You couldn’t see through the tinted windows at all.
The guards opened the door for Damian, and another held it for me.
I slid into the seat, trying to make myself small, hands in my lap. I stole glances at Damian—the way he leaned back, calm, every movement smooth and controlled.
I swallowed. “So… the meeting?” I asked, trying to sound professional.
“We’re meeting someone,” he said.
“A client?” I asked.
His lips curved, barely. “No. A woman. Katherine.”
Katherine. The name alone felt heavy.
My mind scrambled. “Uh… okay?”
“We’ve been friends since childhood,” he continued, eyes never leaving the road. “It’s your duty to make sure I don’t say anything that could upset her. And to make her happy.”
Wait. What? How am I supposed to make sure you say something good to her? I thought. No wonder all your secretaries don’t last six months, I added silently, frowning at the absurdity.
- Writer
