"Good afternoon, sir," she said, her voice smooth, unreadable. "How may we assist you today?"
Nick smiled, straightening his tie with reflexive confidence.
"I'm here to see your boss — the CEO of Elevate Strategic Group."
The woman offered a practiced nod and tapped her tablet with manicured fingers, never once glancing toward the receptionist behind her.
"One moment, please."
Her tone remained polite, but her eyes didn't flinch — not at his name, his presence, or his status. She didn't ask him who he was. She didn't need to.
Nick waited, unaware that the conversation he had just started was about to turn his ego inside out.
"I'm sorry, sir," she said coolly. "But your name doesn't appear on today's schedule."
Nick's smile faltered slightly.
That wasn't the answer he expected. This wasn't how things usually worked for Nicholas Carter. In most companies, his name alone opened doors. Here, he was just… unlisted.
