The rain poured mercilessly over the city, turning the evening streets into a blur of headlights and shimmering puddles. Amelia Cruz clutched a brown envelope to her chest, her thin jacket no match for the cold. The hospital bills inside were already wrinkled from her nervous grip, and every step she took reminded her how heavy they truly were.
If she didn't pay within three days, the hospital would stop her mother's treatment.
Her lungs burned as she ran across the intersection, narrowly missing the red light. Just as she reached the gleaming glass entrance of Knight Corporation, a sleek black car came out of nowhere. Its tires screeched, splashing muddy water over her legs. Amelia stumbled back, clutching her envelope like a lifeline.
The car door opened.
A tall man stepped out, his presence so commanding that the crowd instinctively gave him space. His tailored charcoal suit hugged his broad shoulders, and not a single drop of rain dared touch him as if the storm itself respected his authority.
Amelia's eyes widened. She had seen him before. His face was often in the business magazines displayed at the street vendors: Adrian Knight—the youngest CEO in the city, feared in the boardroom and admired by women everywhere.
He glanced at her, his eyes sharp and cold, like steel tempered in fire. "Watch where you're going."
The deep timbre of his voice made her shiver, though not from the cold. She blinked in disbelief. He nearly ran her over, and she was the one at fault?
"I wasn't the one driving like a maniac," she muttered under her breath, brushing raindrops from her face.
To her surprise, his brows twitched. For the briefest moment, something flickered in his expression—amusement? Annoyance?—before his icy mask returned. Adrian Knight wasn't a man used to being talked back to.
He looked her over once, his gaze lingering on her soaked shoes and worn jacket, before dismissing her entirely. Without another word, he strode toward the building. His assistant hurried behind him, holding an umbrella above his head.
Amelia exhaled sharply, her heart still pounding. Rich people. Always acting like the world revolved around them. She shook her head, trying to push the encounter away. She had no time for arrogant CEOs.
Inside the building, she approached the receptionist desk. "I—I'm here for the assistant position interview," she said, trying to sound confident.
The receptionist gave her a quick once-over, lips pressing into a thin line. "Name?"
"Amelia Cruz."
The receptionist typed something, then frowned. "You're late. The interview started thirty minutes ago."
Amelia's heart dropped. She stared at the clock on the wall—she had rushed, but the storm had slowed everything. "Please, can I still—"
Before the receptionist could answer, the elevator doors opened. Adrian Knight stepped out again, his assistant trailing him. Amelia's breath caught.
Their eyes met.
For a second, she swore his gaze lingered on the brown envelope she held. Then his deep voice broke the silence. "Bring her up."
Amelia blinked. "M-me?"
Adrian's expression was unreadable, but his words were firm. "If she's here for the interview, I'll handle it personally."
The receptionist's jaw nearly dropped. The CEO himself? That never happened.
Amelia, still stunned, followed them into the elevator. The air inside was thick, his presence filling every inch. She kept her eyes on the floor, but she could feel his gaze—calm, assessing, like he could see through every layer she tried to hide.
When the doors opened, she stepped into a massive office that overlooked the entire city. Adrian took his seat behind a polished mahogany desk.
"Sit," he commanded.
Her legs wobbled slightly as she obeyed.
His eyes narrowed. "Why do you want this job?"
Amelia clutched the envelope tighter, her mind screaming that she needed money for her mother's treatment. But she lifted her chin, refusing to show weakness. "Because I need it. And because I'm capable."
For the first time, a ghost of a smirk touched his lips. "Bold answer."
Her heart thudded. She wasn't sure if he was mocking her or impressed.
Adrian leaned back, steepling his fingers. His gaze locked onto hers, sharp and calculating. "Very well. You start tomorrow."
Amelia's mouth fell open. "Just like that?"
His smirk deepened. "Do you want the job or not?"
She swallowed, then nodded quickly. "Yes, sir."
"Good." His voice dropped lower, almost like a warning. "But remember this—I don't tolerate mistakes."
Her spine tingled at the weight of his words. She had no idea then that accepting this job would bind her fate to his in ways she could never imagine.
And so, drenched in rain and burdened with hospital bills, Amelia Cruz stepped into a world ruled by the cold, enigmatic CEO—unaware that their fates had just collided.