Kim Carter stared at the computer screen like it had personally offended her.
Numbers. Rows. Columns. Receipts. Endless data entry.
She let her forehead fall dramatically on her desk.
"I was not born for this life," she muttered into the polished wood.
"Please don't damage company property with your skull," a calm, motherly voice said.
Kim lifted her head to see Natalie, the elegant, impossibly put-together woman from HR who'd been working at Steele Enterprise since Kim was in middle school.
"You're so dramatic," Natalie chuckled, balancing a stack of forms. "You've barely been at that desk for two hours."
"Two hours?" Kim gasped. "It feels like two years."
"Receptionist work isn't meant to be thrilling. You greet guests, answer calls, type a little"
"'A little,' she says," Kim groaned, flinging an arm across her chair. "Natalie, look at me. I'm wasting my beauty on spreadsheets and printer jams."
Natalie laughed again, shaking her head. "What exactly did you expect when you applied for this job?"
Kim sat up straight. "Honestly, I pictured myself in one of those corner offices with a glass door, wearing heels too expensive to walk in, signing important documents while the city skyline reflects in my window. I'd swivel dramatically in my chair and say things like, 'Cancel my five p.m. meeting, Cynthia.'"
"You don't have a Cynthia."
"Exactly! That's part of the problem."
Natalie gave her a sympathetic pat on the back. "You're young. Work hard, build experience. You'll rise. Everyone starts somewhere."
"But I've been somewhere for too long," Kim whispered.
"Eight months," Natalie corrected.
"Exactly!" Kim cried.
Natalie laughed again, this time walking off with her papers. "I'll see you later, dreamer."
"Bye, office queen," Kim sighed dramatically as the woman disappeared into the elevator.
The moment she was out of sight, Kim slumped back into her chair.
Boredom hit instantly.
Her fingers drummed the desk.
Her eyes drifted to the massive portrait on the far wall ,the official logo of Steele enterprise, owned by the elusive young billionaire whose face remained mostly hidden behind privacy, rumors, and a very strategic PR team.
Kim imagined how he would look.Tall, handsome, brooding, with a jawline that could slice bread.
"Snap out of it Kim" she whispered to herself.
Kim chewed on her lip.
She needed a distraction,She needed gossip,She needed.....
"I'm calling Mia."
With a spin of her chair, she popped her feet up and dialed.
The line rang once before Mia picked up.
"Kim? Aren't you at work?"
"Yes, but I'm on my break."
"You don't have a break."
"Details," Kim waved off, twirling her pen. "Anyway, listen , I've been thinking about your boss ,our boss because he's also my boss technically."
Mia sighed. "Here we go."
"No, really," Kim said, lowering her voice dramatically, even though no one was around. "Tell me again what he's like. The mysterious billionaire. The shadow king of the city. The man whose face could cure nationwide depression"
"Kim."
"I'm serious! People would wake up happier. Babies would stop crying. The economy would improve"
"You've never even seen him!"
Kim leaned closer to the phone, whispering, "That's what makes him even more powerful."
Mia laughed softly. "You're insane."
"No, I'm imaginative," Kim corrected. "And bored. Mostly bored."
"So you called to gossip."
"I called to survive," Kim said proudly. "Now. Back to the important question. How is the mansion? Has he shown up? Did he smile at you? Wink? Accidentally brush your hand? Breathe in your direction?"
"Kim!" Mia burst out laughing. "I haven't even met him yet."
Kim gasped. "You mean he's hiding from you?"
"He's not hiding. He's busy."
Kim narrowed her eyes. "Or he's avoiding you on purpose. Oh my God ,he's shy. A shy billionaire. Mia, you're in a romance novel and you don't even know it."
Before Mia could reply,a shadow fell across Kim's desk.
A very tall shadow.
Kim froze.
Slowly… very slowly… she turned her head.
Standing there was a man in a perfectly tailored suit, hands in his pockets, eyebrows raised in amusement.
Ethan Cole.
Alex's right-hand man.
And one of the only people in this building with direct access to the real CEO.
Kim nearly swallowed her tongue.
"Oh… oh no," she whispered into the phone. "Mia, abort mission. Abort..."
Ethan coughed lightly.
Kim hung up so fast she nearly cracked her screen.
Then she sat up straight like a soldier.
"Mr. Cole!" she squeaked. "Hello! Hi! Good afternoon! Welcome to the… um… company that you already work in… sir."
Ethan's mouth twitched.
"Oh, don't stop on my behalf," he said lightly. "You were on a very entertaining call."
Kim felt her soul exit her body.
"I...I.....I was only,it was just, professional matters?"
"Of course," Ethan nodded, eyes dancing with amusement. "Very professional to discuss nationwide depression cures and shy billionaires."
Kim buried her face in her hands. "Oh my God."
Ethan leaned closer, elbows resting casually on the desk.
"So…" he said slowly, "you're friends with Mia Brooks."
Kim peeked through her fingers. "Yes?"
"And you work here at Steele Enterprise."
"Yes…"
"Interesting."
Kim blinked. "Is that… a bad thing?"
"Not at all." Ethan straightened, the amusement still tugging at his lips. "Just… interesting."
Kim tilted her head, confused.
But before she could ask, he added:
"Relax. You're not in trouble. And… your commentary was very refreshing for a Monday morning."
She covered her face again. "Kill me."
Ethan chuckled,a warm, smooth sound.
Then he tapped her desk lightly. "Carry on with your paperwork, Miss carter. And… maybe avoid romance novel narrations during office hours."
He winked.
He actually winked.
Kim melted into her chair.
"Y-yes, sir."
Ethan walked off, and Kim waited until he was fully out of sight before grabbing her phone and screaming into it:
"MIA. I JUST EMBARRASSED MY ENTIRE BLOODLINE."
And that was how the rest of the office heard Kim cater's dramatic wail echo across the reception floor.