Brittany woke up before the sun even had a chance to rise, her mind already swirling with a mix of plans and worries.
Stay under the radar. Earn his trust. Wait for Noah's signal.
That was the new game plan.
By the time she reached WrenTech's sleek glass tower, the city was still shaking off its morning slumber. Taking a deep breath, she swiped her new ID badge and stepped into the polished marble lobby.
The receptionist looked up. "Mr. Wren asked to see you as soon as you arrived."
Her stomach dropped. Already?
The atmosphere on Damien's floor felt different - It was thicker, almost like the stillness that hangs in the air just before the storm.
He stood by the window, one hand casually tucked in his pocket, the other cradling a cup of black coffee. The skyline framed him like a work of art — cold, immaculate, and untouchable.
"Good morning, Ms. Taylor."
His voice was steady, impossible to read.
"Good morning, sir."
He turned to her, his gray eyes scanning her face. "You're early."
"I… wanted to make a good impression."
A faint smile played on his lips. "That's one way to go about it."
He gestured toward the chair across from his desk. "Have a seat."
Brittany complied, doing her best to keep her nerves in check.
Damien set his coffee down. "I've decided to put your multitasking skills to the test."
"Of course," she replied quickly. "What do you need from me?"
He tapped on the tablet resting on his desk, the screen illuminating with a series of files. "You'll be in charge of all internal correspondence for the next two weeks. Every memo, every report — they'll come through you first."
Her heart raced. That meant she'd have access to everything. This is definitely a trap. She thought.
"Understood," she said, keeping her voice steady.
But then he added, "And you'll be joining me for every external meeting this week."
She blinked in surprise. "Every meeting?"
His gaze sharpened. "Is that a problem?"
"No, sir. Just… unexpected."
"Good." His tone softened a bit. "I like to see how my employees handle pressure."
As she nodded, he leaned in closer, resting his elbows lightly on the desk. "And one more thing."
"Yes?"
"If you ever step into my office without permission again…" His voice lowered, measured and serious. "I won't be so forgiving."
She swallowed hard. "I understand."
But instead of brushing her off, he smiled — not in a cruel way, but with a hint of something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Curiosity, perhaps. Or maybe recognition.
"Great. Let's see what you can really do, Ms. Taylor."
Hours later, Brittany was at her small desk outside his office, typing up a summary report when the telephone buzzed.
"Ms. Taylor, Mr. Wren would like you to join him in the boardroom. Now."
Her heart raced. She grabbed her notepad and stood up.
But as she followed Damien down the hall, she couldn't shake the icy, twisting feeling in her stomach — Damien was up to something.