Amelia Thomas tightened her grip on the leather folder in her hands as the tall glass doors of Willow Enterprises slid open before her. The headquarters of one of the city's most powerful corporations loomed above her like a tower of authority, gleaming in the morning light.
Her heels clicked softly against the marble floor as she made her way across the vast lobby. With each step, she felt the weight of her purpose. She had concealed her true identity, her past, and her wealth. Today, she was just another job applicant a woman desperate for a chance.
The receptionist at the desk offered her a polite smile before glancing down at the list in front of her. "You're here for the interview with Mr. Willow?"
"Yes," Amelia replied, striving to keep her voice steady.
The receptionist pressed a button on the phone and murmured into it. "The applicant has arrived." After a brief pause, she nodded toward the private elevator at the far end. "You may go up. Top floor. Mr. Willow is waiting."
Amelia thanked her and walked toward the elevator. The ride upward was silent, but her heart raced, pounding heavily in her chest as if warning her that the man she was about to meet would be anything but ordinary.
When the doors slid open, she stepped into an office floor that felt more like a kingdom than a workplace. Glass walls revealed breathtaking views of the city skyline, expensive art adorned the corridors, and the air felt colder, sharper.
At the end of the corridor, a door stood open. Inside was the man who would determine her future.
Noah Willow.
He sat behind a dark mahogany desk, a tall figure clad in a perfectly tailored suit. His presence filled the room, even in stillness. His sharp features radiated confidence, and his dark eyes were unreadable as they lifted from the document he had been studying.
For a long moment, he simply stared at her. His gaze was neither polite nor welcoming; it was piercing and calculated, as if he were already dissecting her without uttering a word.
"Miss Thomas," he finally said, his voice smooth and deep, carrying a weight that made her spine stiffen. "Sit."
Amelia crossed the room and lowered herself into the chair across from him. She placed her folder neatly on the desk, but he didn't glance at it. His eyes remained fixed on her, cold and unwavering.
"You applied for the position of my personal secretary," he stated. "Why?"
The bluntness of the question didn't catch her off guard. She had done her homework. Noah Willow was notorious for his ruthless approach, his impatience, and his obsession with control.
She folded her hands in her lap and replied calmly, "Because I believe I am capable of handling the demands of the position. I am organized, efficient, and I understand the importance of discretion."
"Discretion," he repeated slowly, as if savoring the word. "Do you know what working for me entails, Miss Thomas?"
"I assume it requires more than ordinary efficiency," Amelia replied carefully.
A faint smirk tugged at his lips not a kind one, but rather the smirk of a man who found challenges entertaining. "It requires complete obedience. I do not tolerate mistakes. I do not tolerate weakness. And I do not tolerate secrets."
Her chest tightened at the last word. Secrets. He had no idea how many she carried. But she kept her face calm, meeting his gaze without flinching. "Then you will not be disappointed."
He leaned back in his chair, one hand resting against his jaw as he continued to study her. "Your résumé is impressive. Too impressive for someone applying for a secretary position."
Amelia felt a flush creep up her neck. She had been careful to craft a background that appeared competent but not suspicious. Still, Noah's eyes were too sharp.
"I chose this position because I want to learn directly from someone at the top," she said smoothly.
For the first time, Noah's gaze softened just slightly. But it wasn't approval; it was intrigue.
"You are bold," he murmured. "Most people tremble when they sit across from me. You do not."
"I came here to work, not to tremble," Amelia replied before she could stop herself.
The air thickened. His smirk deepened. "Interesting."
He rose to his feet, his height intimidating, his presence overwhelming as he walked around the desk to stand beside her chair. Amelia's pulse raced, but she forced herself to remain still.
Noah placed a hand on the back of her chair and leaned down, his lips close to her ear. His cologne was sharp, commanding, intoxicating.
"Tell me, Miss Thomas," he said quietly, "if I hired you, would you obey every order I give you? Without question?"
Amelia turned her head just enough to meet his gaze. Their faces were inches apart. Her lips parted before she spoke, her voice calm but laced with challenge. "I would obey. Until the order crossed the line of my principles."
For a moment, silence enveloped the office. His eyes narrowed, dark and dangerous, but she didn't look away.
Then he straightened, his expression unreadable once again. "You start tomorrow. Eight sharp. Do not be late."
Amelia rose to her feet, gathering her folder. "Thank you, Mr. Willow."
As she walked to the door, she felt his gaze burning into her back. She didn't need to turn around to know he was watching, measuring, already planning.
And as the door closed behind her, Noah leaned back against his desk, a slow smirk curving his lips.
"Miss Thomas," he whispered to himself. "You are going to be trouble."